RisqueSommelier.com

Risqué, a lover, believer and consumer of aphrodisiacs has finally found an aphrodisiac in wine form. Full of love, lust and beauty, this mystical potion was quickly plucked in the night allowing for “cold skin maceration”, fermented in stainless steel and then aged on lees for 4 months. Truly a gift from the gods via Cotes de Gascogne.

The salacious scent revels soft floral and zesty citrus leaving a downy softness on the nose. On the tongue slides Verve (enthusiasm and vitality) with mossy and earthy notes, then after a delayed response explodes surprising tangerine and mandarin orange ending with a little stoney minerality and “racy acidity”.

Beautiful with a sweet Malpeque oyster topped with a light squeeze of citrus or paired with double crème brie.

Risqué says open the bottle and drink it solo because you really need to feel this wine first before taking on any delicacies. Aphrodisiac Magnifique!

Alcohol 12.5% ($12)

Radog 2006 Dry Gewürztraminer, Monterey County, CA

It has been said that a dog with a loosely wagging tail is usually a dog that is friendly or excited. Risqué would believe this after his LUSHES anxiously wagged their tails in anticipation for more of the Radog Dry Gewürztraminer…everyone was certainly excited…and amazingly enough…wagging their tails.

Radog is certainly the best in show strutting a winning color of pale, pale straw and sniffing scents of light wet straw, sweet honeysuckle, white peach and light minerality notes. One wag of the tongue and flavors from this Alsatian style wine bark of bergamot, lime zest, juicy ripe peach, Bartlett pear, Gala apples and honeysuckle that are deliciously curled around a distinctive minerality note.

Training Risqué LUSHES is a difficult task. For Risqué …it takes a lot of discipline and obedience training with dedication and unconditional love to develop a LUSH’S keen sense of smell, taste and ability to retrieve a good bottle of wine. But in the end they are truly Risqué’s best friend.

Would you be a good dog LUSH and fetch pour Risqué some more of the fabulous Radog 2006 Dry Gewürztraminer?

Alcohol 13.8% ($19)

Grasso 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Olive Ridge Vineyard, Napa Valley, CA

Loves come and loves go… and occasionally you find someone something that you want to hold on too… Holding is a skill… a discipline… an art to be perfected. “A little now… and a lot later” is Risqué’s motto when it comes to retention.

The 2005 exudes a showy garnet… almost black juice with scents of huge chewy oak, tobacco, blackberry, cherry, cedar and a touch of licorice. Opening further, a lovely essence of English toffee is revealed. The huge iron tannic spine structure carries in the mouth more chewy oak, very dark juicy berry and broad leaf cigar tobacco leading to a long finish of smoke and mocha. Risqué recommends lengthy decanting to reduce the alcohol content. Having been “barrel aged for 19 months in 66% new tight-grained French and Hungarian oak”, this unfined and unfiltered gem is definitely a keeper and should be added to your wine cellar as it will benefit from many years to come.

A case of this delicious collectable Cab Sav… will certainly satiate the now… but Risqué would recommend two… one for now and one for the later. One night stands are built on the here and now… Relationships are built on the long term… This one’s worth your investment of time… a true keeper!!!

Alcohol 14.5% ($54)

Ironstone Vineyards 2006 “Obsession” Symphony, CA

WOW! Risqué is rarely caught without a highly accurate assumption of just about anything in life… Men… Love… Food… and it is especially true with wine. The Obsession shattered Risqué’s accuracy. The bottle was a gift from some of Risqué’s lushy neighbors several years back and he had hesitated opening it as his assumption was that it was a sweet Riesling’esq liquid which isn’t among Risqué’s favorites.

The color is barely darker than white tea but don’t let it’s pale appearance mislead you as the nose explodes with fruit… ripe peaches, mouthwatering grapefruit, green pear, exotic ginger and sweet honeysuckle all with a soft wet shale minerality. As it nova’s in your mouth it again delivers more tangy grapefruit and lime with sweet florals and honey with the same sophisticated minerality all settling into a crisp, clean finish.

This Symphony is not only memorable… it has etched it’s taste portrait on Risqué’s palate and mind and has him “OBSESSING” over more!

Alcohol 12.0% ($8)

 Tudor 2005 Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Maria, CA

When Risqué thinks Dynasty, Ramessis, Ming, Caesar, Von Hapsburg, the House of Bourbon and Alexis Carrington come to mind, however Risqué is remiss not to mention the House of Tudor… which encompassed just a few notable Royals like Henry VIII (and a few expendable wives) and Elizabeth (the highly disputed Virgin Queen) number one. This stately and regal Pinot Noir pays great homage to every great Dynasty and especially to it’s Patronym… Tudor.

The legs of this crystal clear jeweled cherry liquid cling to the glass resembling arched cathedral windows and present a royal cherry nose crowned with earthy mushroom, rare Chinese tea, treasured sweet tobacco and fragrant Lebanon cedar. Across any Henry, Elizabeth or Mary’s lips this long reigning Pinot proclaims huge juicy rich Queen Anne cherry, wild brambly raspberry and yet undiscovered cola.

While Risqué sipped this from his best English Crystal (Carrington… adored the Bitches!!!) glasses he could not help but wonder… what would the Tudor Dynasty have said about the origin of this noble Pinot???… St. Lucia… Catholic you know… Mary could lose her head over it!

Alcohol 13.8 ($39)

Perfect pairs are rare among food and wine but rarer in our human lives. Risqué had the honor and privilege of sharing a night with his newly wedded Nephew and his perfectly paired lovely Bride, where they shared a decadent and entwined repast at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine in Orlando.

Cakebread Cellars 2006 Chardonnay, Napa, CA

Swaying bamboo yellow swirled in the low light perfumed with exotic vanilla, buttered toast, crisp apple, ripe pear and Florida orange blossom florals. More crisp pear filled the mouth with heightened sweet woody notes and juicy acidic pineapple.

Alcohol 14.1% ($40)

The Cakebread Chardonnay paired symbiotically with our perfectly coupled Roy’s sushi selections of Tuna Roll topped with Hamachi, Salmon & Avocado along with another roll of Seared Kobe Beef wrapped around Dynamite Crab, Tempura Asparagus & Avocado finishing with Island Style Ahi Tuna Poke served with Baby Greens, Truffled Soy and Inamona Jus.

Risqué’s choice of wine for the Honeymoon party was equally yoked.

Laetitia 2006 La Colline Pinot Noir, Single Vineyard, Arroyo Grande Valley, CA

In the romantically dim light the hues of this liquid were dark ruby surrendering a stupendous old rose and antique cedar chest nose, perfect in celebration of a wedding along with earthy moist forest floor, cola and aromatic pink pepper. The fine tannic frame supported a giant Pinot marrying more delicious cola, ripe cherry and buttery sticky caramel.

Alcohol 14.5% ($60)

Risqué intuitively requested the La Colline to accompany his connubial choice of entrée, Rustic Spice Grilled Filet Mignon & Teppanyaki Seared Tiger Shrimp with a Pearl Onion Cabernet reduction and Scampi Beurre Blanc.

Pure BLISS! Congratulations and every wish for a perfectly paired future… to the Newlyweds! Sunny and Ryan.

Last week Risqué was in the HOT humid sun of Orlando where thousands of beautiful handsome men…and women gathered for GayDayS Orlando to frolic scantily in the sun, blatantly cruise the parks, daringly ride the rides and if in Risqué’s company, drink fabulous wine. Risqué had the pleasure of hosting a fantabulous LUSHES wine tasting party featuring delicious wines from Leona Valley Winery to holding court over a spectacular dinner at Seasons 52 where Risqué converted six fine looking men into Risqué LUSHES… boys always love to compare Pinots!

Etude 2006 Pinot Noir, Carneros, Napa Valley, CA

A delight to every LUSHES nose was the very fruity cherry, soothing coffee, cola and fresh raspberry that ends clean. On the tongue bursts a Burgundian style wine of earthy mushroom, big ripe plum and cherries with hints of oregano. Risqué found it paired fabulously with his spinach salad topped with blue cheese, Anjou pear, toasted pine nuts drizzled with a light vinaigrette.

Alcohol 14.2% ($40)

Freeman 2005 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, CA

With wafting scents of earthy mushrooms, dark sweet plum and silky dark chocolate, the tastes wrapped around the tongue with huge dark cherry, cola, espresso and BOYsenberry all nicely balanced and pairing well with entrees that encompassed mushroom flatbreads, to pork tenderloin and lamb chops.

Alcohol 14.2% ($40)

Depending on whether one likes a big Pinot or a beautifully shaped Pinot, Risqué finds each have their own ability to bring pleasure to his lips.

Risqué found himself with an afternoon in need of some entertainment, especially of the liquid variety and the moment couldn’t have provided a better opportunity. Seated at the Wine Merchant Wine Bar at the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero in San Francisco, the friendly Wine Steward offered Risqué a flight tasting of Hartley Ostini’s Hitching Post Winery collection of Pinot Noir. Four delicious Pinot Noir’s with which Risqué spent his afternoon:

2006 Cork Dancer, Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara ($30)

This liquid is a beautiful Garnet color with a bright fruit nose loaded with pure unadulterated cherry. The mouth is tantalized with Tart Cherry a wonderful pronounced mushroom earthiness and lots and lots of rich cola… Delightful!!!

2005 Cargassachi, Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills ($43)

Slightly tea stained rose colored succulence yields a nose with plenty of damp and earthy forest floor. Lusciously soft and supple in the mouth it is brimming with wild strawberry, tangy rhubarb with a lingering spice filled cedary finish… Intoxicating!!!

2006 Rio Vista, Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills ($43)

Purple tinged garnet colored jewel has spectacular nose filled with dried fig, ripe cherry, green cedar and a wisp of smoke. The liquid has a satiny mouth feel with sweet cola, cherry conserve on a elegant and refined tannic frame. The lengthy cherry filled finish is delightfully integrated and balanced with the wood, fruit, acid and tannins… marvelously sophisticated. Risqué would never have guessed this was a California Pinot Noir!!! Amazing!!!

2006 Highliner Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara ($43)

The sparkling garnet liquid has a bright cherry fruit filled nose with earthy Shitake mushrooms. The impression of sweetness floods the mouth along with rich toasted oak frame supporting a body of dried concentrated plum and tart cherry. This wine will age nicely… well over 10 years. Stupendious!!!

It had been a long time since four such lovely beauties had left Risqué a bit overwhelmed yet very pleasantly satiated… He hopes it happens again very…. very… soon.

2006 St. Rita’s Earth, Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills ($35)

Little to no nose but lots of alcohol… typical Pinot Noir flavor with Cola aftertaste but quite HOT in the mouth.

Eagle Eye 2005 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, CA

Risqué definitely has an eagle eye for that which is extraordinary. He has perfected his eagle eye in his transition from beautiful young chicken to savvy hawk. Risqué’s refined skills lead him to this savvy hawk Sauvignon Blanc.

The liquid treats the eye with yellow that glints with light summer green. The fresh soaring nose yields the traditional varietal grapefruit with bolder notes of succulent tropical guava, fragrant green lime, ripe Anjou pear and florals dominated by citrus blossom. Crisp and clean reign supreme on the palate with nuances of more sweet guava, Anjou pear and tangy lime. Delish with herbed Chevre and dried fruits!

If you find yourself as somewhat of a savvy hawk or savvy chicken, swoop down…not go down, and wrap your talons around this beautiful bottle.

Risqué says…”Watch out my little chickadees!!!”

Alcohol: 13.75% ($20)

Patz & Hall 2005 Chardonnay, Russian River (Dutton Ranch), CA

Risqué prefers beautiful blond men on Tuesdays… or whatever day and the same is true with mouth watering delicious Chardonnays… on Tuesday!!! But this is a “Blond” that Risqué would get oral with… any day.

Of course the color would be… a handsome sunny yellow natural blond with aromas rich with butter and toasty toffee, honey, ripe pineapple, cardamon balancing against a sophisticated minerality. The 100% Chardonnay was sur lie aged in 45% Burgundian French Oak barrels yielding a mouth filling and rich nectar of toasted oak, bountiful butterscotch, citrusy acidic Island pineapple, nice minerality and settling into warm buttered brioche.

Risqué dons his sun glasses (and just a little gay apparel!)… a pair of toasty buttered blonds and several chilled bottles of this decadent warm weather treat…. Here’s to his pool boys! Yum!

Alcohol: 14.7% ($39)