One of Risqué’s favorite DVR recorded TV Series is Desperate Housewives.  When he ran across the bottle of Longoria Chardonnay, a bewildered excitement grew on his face as he couldn’t help but wonder, “Could Eva (Gabrielle) be making wine?”, as he heard she often visit’s wine bars in Santa Barbara County.  Soon visions of Wisteria Lane impaled Risqué’s mind as he closed his eyes and imagined perfectly manicured lawns, rows of comfortable houses, white picket fences and himself becoming Bob Hunter’s new boyfriend, while sitting on the porch sipping the 2007 Chardonnay with Gabrielle, Lynette, Bree, Susan and Edie… in Risqué’s favorite Spiegelau wine glasses of course!

The Chardonnay’s scent is similar to what Risqué imagines the scents to be found on Wisteria Lane… with wafts of Citrus Blossom and fresh Peach curtailed with a hint of Minerality.  The lively flavor is filled with Lemony Snickerdoodles, Floral Apples and a long finish of Honey Oak on the backside revealing subtle Pineapple acidity and lavish texture.

Risqué feels the Chardonnay makes a fabulous pairing with any white fish or organic grilled chicken dressed with a light lemon pepper sauce.  Longoria Wines also suggests pairing with sautéed Oysters.  Delish!!!

The Cuvee Diana is comprised of Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard grapes and the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard where the “Rancho Santa Rosa grapes were harvested during the first week of October at fairly ripe sugar levels while the Sanford & Benedict grapes were harvested during the third week of October at moderate sugar levels. Both grape lots were whole cluster pressed, then settled and fermented in French oak barrels. Barrel aging took place in the same barrels for ten months on the original lees, or sediment… approximately 30% of the barrels were new”.   Risqué … and winemaker Rick Longoria believe that this practice creates a certain essence and richness to the wine.

Risqué applauds winemaker, Rick Longoria for taking him down Wisteria Lane and creating this wonderful 100% Chardonnay, but saddened that he only made 119 cases… making Risqué a Desperate Oenophile!!!!

14.5% Alcohol ($28) Screw Top

Have you ever had a craving for something on the sweet side… but not that sweet?  Where you feel like your cheating… but not really?  One day Risqué found himself shopping in the supermarket… incognito of course… in a place… well, we’ll call Costco.  This is certainly not a foreseeable crime, but this desperate time called for desperate measures and Risqué was desperate for something sweet… but not.  Unfortunately, Risqué’s local Costco wine selection has seen better day as now it seems their wine display has become the same old tired assortment.  In desperation, Risqué found himself picking up a bottle of Firestone 2007 Riesling and thought, “What the hell!”

A couple swirls and a deep inhale expose brilliant sweet honey, fresh floral and honeysuckle with a noteworthy backbone of citrus.  From the nose one would expect the taste to be overwhelmingly sweet, but the sensory innervations of the tongue reveal a crafted off-dry style with a slight sweetness of honey, melon such as honeydew and Meier lemon while coating the mouth with a nicely balanced acidity. The Riesling is cool fermented in stainless and is not only food friendly, but excellent for sipping.

Risqué made yet another stop on his way home and picked up some local Thai cuisine.  Maybe it is because the Thai boy that works at the restaurant is sweet on him and goes out of his way to make Risqué feel like a Queen King or maybe Risqué knows how sweet a Thai massage feels… Hmmm!  Desperate times call for desperate measures!

Risqué soon got his wine home, chilled it and paired it with the Thai cuisine.  The pairing brought joy to Risqué’s face as the food and wine created an oral orgasmic pleasure to the innervations of his tongue.

Risqué is not so desperate after all!!!

13% Alcohol ($12) Screw top

Risqué was pleased to join Kathleen Inman of Inman Family Wines, in a wine tasting at Napa Valley Valley Grille in Westwood where he imbibed in Chef Joseph Gillard’s incredible pairings with Inman Family Wines…

The pairing…simply to die for!!!

Hors d’oeuvres

“Little Farm” Membrillo Glazed Heritage Pork Belly…which had Freeze Dried Pomegranate Seeds
Pan-Seared Diver Scallop and Organic Prosciutto…and Watermelon Zest
Wild Mushroom Fritters with Truffle Aioli
Paired with Inman Pinot Gris 2007 Russian River Valley

First Course

Rosé Poached Pear and rosé syrup and buratta cheese
Paired with Inman Rosé of Pinot Noir 2008 “Endless Crush” Russian River Valley

Main Course

Salmon Creek Farm Roasted Heritage Pork Loin and roasted farmer’s roots vegetables
Paired with Inman “OGV” 2006 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

Also poured glasses of the Thorn Ridge Ranch 2006 and 2007 Pinot Noir

Cheese Course

Farmstead Artisan Cheese “Little Farm” membrillo, mostardo and homemade digestive crackers
Paired with the Inman 2006 Russian River Pinot Noir, Sonoma County

Risqué , befuddled that some of his Risqué LUSHES did not make it to the swirling wine affair, shrugged his shoulders, sighed and continued cavorted with his new Risqué LUSHES!

It has been said the Risqué has been gifted with subtleties of flair. Whether it is decorating, fashion, cooking or all the flair he has received on Facebook, Risqué detected a certain flair when he came across a Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard’s 2004 Durif.

A deep dark burgundy ripples in the glass flairing to purple edges. Right out of the bottle, spice dominates the scents leading to over ripe dark fruit, cedar and black pepper. More dark fruit, blackberries and a light oaky finish delights the taste buds in a full bodied, medium tannin wine that could lie down a few more years.

Risqué decided to decant the wine, reducing the amount of spice that brought on a delightful earthiness and calmed the tannins making it delicious and drinkable now…some would call it panache!

Petite Sirah actually is synonymous with the Durif grape derived from Dr. Francois Durif, an amateur French botanist and was planted in the US by James Concannon in 1883. Somewhere in the 1880’s the growers changed the name to Petite Sirah. In 1961, Concannon Winery became the first to bottle Petite Sirah on its own. Risqué’s tendency towards flair would have renamed the very common sounding Durif as well!!!

Having also a flair for pairing food and wine, Risqué chose to pair the Durif with a thick medium-rare Pepper Rubbed Grilled Rib-eye. A flamboyant delight…Delish!!!

Alcohol 14.0% ($18) Natural Cork Closure

Risqué , in his endeavor to find anything Risqué had a delightful evening last night enjoying the musical holiday tunes of the West Coast Singers. Risqué wishes everyone a happy Weiner Wonderland.

Risqué is inevitably attracted to a perfect set… set of pearly white teeth, set of ripped abs, set of hard pectorals, set of defined guns… and oh, not to forget, his delicious set… of LV Luggage! It seems determined that he would be drawn to Hitching Post’s 2006 “Perfect Set” Pinot Noir.

With a clear glinting Ruby Red, one quick swirl of the glass provokes essences of bright raspberry, earthy mushroom, Sarsaparilla and embracing spice. Its oral penetration announces a lively and rustic tart raspberry, cherry, a subtle tanginess on the backside that sets up some bilious swirling tannins.

Risqué recommends letting the wine breath and pairing it with food….   As Risqué created his own “Perfect Set” by pairing it with some matched medium rare grilled Kobe Rib-eye steaks topped with a sharp horseradish sour cream sauce…. Almost as dreamy as the perfectly matched set of bright sapphire blue eyes of his gorgeous dinner date… Absolute luxury!

Alcohol 14.5%  Natural Cork Closure  ($60)

AVANT, the latest State-of-the-Art Tapas and Wine bar in Buellton, California is where Risqué chose to socialize last Saturday, as he did what he loves most… partake of the reward of the Gods! One of Risqué’s Winemaker LUSHES, Nick Morello, opened the doors to this innovative establishment only a couple weeks ago where they pour 32 different and amazing wines served alongside delectable inspired Tapas.

What makes AVANT State-of-the-Art are the machines that dispense their wines. Just like Risqué’s favorite slot machines, one inserts their card given to them by the staff into the machine. Fortunately, AVANT has a description of each wine so the anticipating Oenophile (or Novice) is able to make an almost sure bet/selection as to what wine will bring the most payoffs by selecting a 1 oz. taste, half glass sample or full glass indulgence.

And just like Risqué’s favorite gambling den, the amount you invest/consume is tracked on the card. Of course, this can be a surprise for a satiated LUSH as to how much were the spoils when the card is swiped and totaled on the computer register before departure.

After Risqué played his luck on the Vino Jackpot machines, he ventured on to amuse his palate with Chef Chris Warrick’s wine pairing special where he paired his creativity with some of Imagine’s prize wines.

Chef Chris paired…

Imagine 2008 Chardonnay with a slice of Robiola Bosnia cheese …perrrfect with the butteriness of the Chardonnay!

Imagine 2006 Viognier with Shrimp Crostini and Chimichurri …delightful complement where the Viognier is a nice counterbalance to the garlicky Chimichurri. Wow!!

Imagine 2006 Pinot Noir with Grilled Shrimp tightly wrapped in Serrano ham …the Berries, cinnamon and nutmeg in the Pinot enhances the saltiness of the ham and sweetness in the shrimp.

Imagine 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon paired with some slices of Barolo Sausage …black cherries, currants and a hint of chocolate contend with the salt and spice of the sausage. Amazing!!

Risqué was a bit confused as to where AVANT was located as the GPS on Risqué’s M5 only told him so much… Risqué offers the following advice… “Just go gaily forward to the backside” as AVANT is located behind the Terravant facility. Nick assured Risqué that better signage will prevail soon as Risqué tantalizes his LUSHES to visit AVANT’s Vino . AVANT is located at 59 Industrial Way H, Buellton CA.

Risqué recommends to all his LUSHES that they hit the machines at AVANT and win big with a Vino Jackpot!!!

More info about AVANT can be found in the Santa Barbara Independent, on Twitter and AVANTS website which will be up later this week.