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Toads Hollow Rods Pride 2004 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

Risqué’s renowned grasp has been well perfected and his reach towards Rods Pride is evidence of his mastery. His grip on the bottle and stem held firm to the last drop.

Risqué’s adoration towards anything French was heightened on learning that Rod was once a dancer in Paris… go tell! “The label pays tribute to Rod’s youthful days as a dancer in Paris and on Broadway. The back label shows (Rod) in “full leap” (…go tell!) and the front label is the “Toad Reflection”. Rod believed that wine was the perfect blend of the earth and the arts.”

With a clear sparkling raspberry hue, Rod’s Pride emanates Pinot Noir juices with huge delicious tart cherry, pomegranate, old fashion violet, exotic vanilla, sweet spice and an earthy mushroom essence. The lush’s mouth taste shadows the tart cherry, pomegranate and mushroom nose and offer a zesty bright orange peel climax.

Risqué devoured an Irish cheddar, gruyere, caramelized onions and tomato grilled panini along with Rod’s Pride. For those that are wondering Risqué suckled on Rod’s Pride at Sportsman’s Fine Wine and Spirits in Phoenix, Arizona.

Leap now and grasp Rod’s Pride!!!

Alcohol ? % ($45)

2005 Toasted Head Chardonnay

Risqué loves all types of wood – hardwoods, softwoods, wormwood, (ap)plywood, bentwood, Elijah Wood and even Tiger Woods. But of all the wood, Risqué is mostly emphatic about oak wood, especially if it is toasted.

Glinting light straw yellow, this Chardonnay boasts a wonderful toasted nose, imparted from the toasted staves and heads of the oak barrel. The lightly smoky butterscotch aromas are enlivened with tangy tangerine, ripe green pear, spice and faint musk.

Six months of sur les barrel aging delivered a medium bodied liquid, soft and creamy with buttery vanilla and balanced with crisp acidity revealing nectarine and citrus with more mouth filling mid palate spice. The finish is very long… carmeled toasted oak… toasted oak… and more… toasted oak!

Great head… Toasted Head that is…

Risqué is ready to do some woodwork!

Alcohol 13.9% ($15)

Carmel Road 2006 Pinot Noir, Monterey, California

All Risqué’s LUSHES know that Risqué has a huge affinity for continually putting big pinots in his mouth and thus… he knows average when he sees or tastes it. Turned on by Carmel Road’s 2006 Pinot Noir, Risqué considers this Pinot to be definitely…“Bigger than Average”.

The 100% Pinot Noir shows a ruby gem like color that fades to a lustrous rich purple. Soothing to the nose is exotic spicy cinnamon, kola nut, huge cherry, deep blackberry, warm mocha and light fresh violets. In the mouth is a little earthiness (as with many pinots) with succulent fruit forwardness of ripe cherries and blackberries, ending with a toasty moderate happy finish. 7 ½ months (not inches) of aging in French oak barrels has produced a tasty wine full of fruity girth that is expected to last through 2012. Risqué has his hands all over it!

Risqué would swirl, sip and pair this wine with truffle fries and a medium-rare bistecca topped with a mix of exotic and wild sautéed mushrooms.

Size is definitely important when selecting a Pinot, especially in a world where most consider themselves bigger than average. Risqué recommends the Carmel Road 2006 Pinot Noir as it is not only better than average… it is bigger than average.

So bigger is better!

Alcohol 14.0% ($20)

Quivira Fig Tree Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Dry Creek Valley

Risqué is always in pursuit of a nice tight end and when the cute flirtatious flight attendants (who just so happen to have tight ends) from Happy Landing poured a second vino into his penetrable wine glass, Risqué’s heart stopped.

A light pale yellow glistens in the wine glass while crisp clean scents of Black Mission fig, sweet honeysuckle and juicy melon fill the nose. Bright tastes of orange, honey tangerine and quince invigorate the taste buds providing a crisp tight ending to this 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon varietal blend. In addition, Quivira winery has been certified for organic and biodynamic farming.

The beautiful scent of fig, bright citrus tastes and tight ending satisfied Risqué’s pursuit for a gratifying wine, thus allowing him more time to focus on what else…the other tight ends.

Risqué loves Big… Risqué loves Fig… and Risqué loves a tight end!!!

Alcohol 13.7% ($18)

Groth 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley

Proudly and fondly having much experience in the art of groping, Risqué is always delighted when his efforts return more bountiful rewards than expected. He reminisces about a recent unexpected rendezvous with a really yummy delicious LUSH in a crowed room with Joni Mitchell in the background singing … didn’t it feel good? It still brings a smile to his face.

Risqué toasted with this deep dark garnet wine proudly displaying the forward scent of smoky tobacco and enlarging to rich dark concentrated plum, herbal sage and oregano. In the mouth… a delightful tastefulness of rich plum, exotic spice, ripe cherry, heavy shale minerality. On the backside, it develops unexpected hidden characteristics of cola, coffee and toffee as the wine opens. Consisting of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot, If you insist on groping this now… Risqué recommends that you decant to dispel some of the heat which will also dissipate over the next 10 years of careful tendering.

Risqué does love his immediate gratification but sometimes… the anticipated wait delivers even more than the fantasy. Lay your hands on this lusty Cabernet Sauvignon and enjoy the GROTH grope… Risqué is certain it will bring a smile to your face.

Alcohol 14.7% ($58)

Silver Unoaked 2006 Chardonnay Santa Lucia

When Risqué thinks of silver he thinks of his fine silver stowed away in his china cabinet, the rings that grace his masculine fingers and the favorite toys hidden away… beneath his bed. After partaking of the SILVER unoaked Chardonnay Risqué now has to find a place he can privately enjoy this delicious liquid…

A very pale yellow liquid sparkles about Risqué’s glass with a nose of pink grapefruit, soft brie, tart kumquat, warm toast and caramel green apple with a lovely light minerality. The scents of grapefruit and brie are carried into the mouth of this Chablis style wine that also capture a honey’esq bouquet of mixed floral and sweet shallot which present a wonderful level of sophistication in the nose and crisp taste and finish.

The delicious glint of Silver is high on Risqué’s list for must hoard…. Someone hide the SILVER!

Alcohol 14.2% ($42)

Muhammad Qasim
(1627) Musée du Louvre, Paris, France.

Wine Pourer

Illuminated miniature of Shah Abbas I (1571-1629), Persia

Shah Abbas I, through the story of this ancient gay poem, tells of the Muslim prince embracing his servant wine boy through its seductive lyrics… “May life grant all that you desire from three lips, those of your lover, the river, and the cup.”

Risqué firmly presses his lips against his wine cup contemplating the lips of his lover and that of the river flowing from his cup.

Input needed LUSHES… should Risqué exchange his pool boy for a wine boy?

Ten Knots 2006 Beachcomber White Wine, Paso Robles

Warm summer tropical trade winds brush against Risqué’s face with the rising humidity just adding to his thirst for something, cool, exotic and refreshing! His white sails were neatly trimmed for a smooth adventure into the evening with gorgeous lushes and a delicious view of the sun sinking into the Pacific. Risqué’s desires were met with complete satisfaction at 10 knots with this 47% Viognier, 46% Rousanne and 7% Marsanne Rhone style white from Paso Robles.

The sun danced across the golden citrine color which yielded pure sunshine through the Meyer lemon custard nose parsed with sweet toasted coconut. Again this viscous liquid is pure buttered tropical sun in the mouth with a huge impression of sweetness and more Meyer Lemon, toasted coconut, dried apricots and ripe juicy orange papaya… all with a perfectly clean, lightly acidic and soft, dry finish.

Risqué is always more about the journey than the destination and this white blend certainly helped to billow his sails and take him to his desired destination… ahhhh… get the message and enjoy this pure tropical bliss….

Alcohol: 14.9% ($21)

George Quaintance, a man of many talents was once a portrait artist, ballet dancer, coiffure designer, photographer, director of local plays, graphic artist, sculptor, night club dancer, body-builder and ultimately (tongue in cheek) just an art editor

George photographed nude men when it was virtually illegal and even Tom of Finland has openly admitted to copying Quaintance’s artistic style. His works paved the way for contemporary gay erotic art when there was no queer asphalt… This is not your average Bathhouse… as Risqué would love to find a bathhouse as beautiful as this and especially…. men as perfect as this. Risqué pictures himself among the Lilly pads tugging on the swath for the opportunity to meet their divine acquaintances.

Foxen 2006 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley

Holy Virgin Mary, this is fountain head pinot noir! In a lowly little shack, along a dusty road in “Santa Maria” this savior was born where horses, donkeys and doves foretold the coming. Risqué journeyed through many days and nights via German camel seeking out, beneath the star, this humble but sacred place to worship this divine effluence. Risqué cannot figure why the original account did not bring Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh and Foxen Pinot Noir.

This leggy medium-bodied liquid is a gift of royal purple garnet. The virgin pour from the bottle expose hints of sophisticated terroir quickly dissipating in the glass unveiling beautiful pinot fruit with a lovely wild shitake mushroom earthiness, cola, dried strawberries and cherries. Slipping across the tongue like a satin swath is huge pinot fruit coated in the exotic spices of cinnamon and cardamon, more cola and root beer with raspberries and cherries providing the ultimate incarnation of Pinot Noir.

May the Virgin of Foxen be with you! Hail Marys full of…Wine.

Alcohol 14.8% ($40)