Safe

We don't get a lot of sharks here in Ohio, but when we do I am well protected against them.  Now to choose a wine.

Spring Morning

When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest. The only thing that could spoil a day was people and if you could keep from making engagements, each day had no limits. People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself. - Ernest Hemingway

 A beautiful walk with the dog on a spring morning.

First Rose'

The early rose' wines are back in the local marketplace to be followed by many more.  My first crack at one was a 2015 Martin Ray Russian River Valley Rose' of Pinot Noir.  There was a section of fresh, wild spring salmon on the grill and the rose' was the right wine.  A spring salmon (Springer) is the first catch of the year from the Columbia River and is a chinook salmon.  They are caught as they enter the Columbia River, full of the fat the stored after several years in the Pacific Ocean.  The salmon was grilled over alder wood. 

This was a bright red wine with lots of aromas of strawberries, cherries and flowers. The first sip was fruity and broad and tasted like spring.  It was wide and expansive in the mid palate and bone dry on the finish.  A very nice wine that was oh so easy to drink. 

2105 Martin Ray Russian River Valley Rose' of Pinot Noir.  12.5% alcohol and $16.

Spring Evening

The calendar says it is still winter but the weather here says it is spring.  A beautiful evening last night to sit on the patio and fire up the grill.  With a week of heavy rain coming sitting outside and eating last night was like getting a flu shot for the coming misery. 

Dinner was a fresh trout on the grill with grilled asparagus and lemons.  Fresh rosemary and thyme were stuffed inside the trout for added flavor.  I love the taste of the juice from the grilled lemon when it was squeezed over both the trout and the asparagus.

The wine was a 2013 Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc from the Horse Heaven Vineyard from the Horse Heaven Hills a.v.a. in Washington state. 

Citrusy wine with grapefruit and lemon flavors, but wonderful herb and grassiness to go along with the fruit.  Nicely balanced, tart wine and fairly priced. It was a good match for the trout.

2013 Chateau Ste. Michelle Horse Heaven Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington.  13% alcohol and $14.

Older Wine on a Young, A Spring Day

I'm in to the last round of cellar cleaning and yesterday was a neglected Riesling, a 2004 Willi Schaefer, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer.  This is the entry level wine for Willi Schaefer.

The color had just a bit of gold hue to it, but not nearly as much as one would expect for an 11 year old wine not intended to age.  It smelled of fresh apples and cardamon, almost like an apple pie.  Still sharp and tart tasting, the flavors were a sweet apple loaded with crispness and a bit of citrus.  The finish was long and not as sweet as one would expect thanks to a great bit of acid at the finish.

Yes, it had been a very well stored wine but this was still a joy and a treat for a wine that should have been heading downhill.  It was not.  And on a warm, sunny late winter day it was perfect with a light chill on the patio that had been neglected since last autumn. 

2004 Willi Schaefer Riesling. Mosel-Saar-Ruwer.  9% alcohol by volume and a beautiful $12 when purchased eight or more years ago. 

A Diversion

During a walk with the dog recently there was an interesting sight along our path.  After a recent dry period the rain and snow returned, but the heaviest amount was north of us, upstream on the Great Miami River.  A day later the roiling water had reached my area, while the local side streams remained perfectly clear of runoff.

The above picture was taken at the spot where Crain's Run meets the Great Miami.  The water from the run was clear and pure coming off the hillside while the brown, muddy water of the Great Miami was flowing rapidly by and backing up a bit into Crain's Run.  A bit farther to the right the water was perfectly clear to a depth of several feet. 

Wine later!

Nearly Spring

There is much more light in the mornings now that spring is closer.  I love the light on a sunny morning.  The resident canine and I encountered this group of Canada geese on our early morning walk a few days ago.  The dog was somewhat disappointed that the geese were already in the water as one of  her favorite things is to chase them into the water.

The photograph below was taken about forty minutes later and about half a mile downstream.   A beautiful morning.

And I have to add here that the one glass of Barbaresco discussed in the post below this one was just as good, if not better, on the second day. A delicious wine that was a treat to drink.