#this one’s for you teau

[moss-in-hiding]

listen i promised polynesian jinbei so i deliver polynesian jinbei

[fennecthunderfox]

Do you have any details about your Swap and Fell aus? I am curious about it!

Hey, sorry it took so long for me to respond to this. I had meant to answer way sooner and then I got sucked into other projects and meant to work more on this and then just… forgot. But I’m here now and I’m just gonna sum it up as best I can. It may be a bit scatterbrained, so I apologize in advance. 

It's been a while since I’ve worked with them, but I can give a basic rundown on them! They’re part of my “False AU Trio.” In which all the AU names have a prefix that means or implies “fake” so people know upfront they’re different from the typical swaps and fells on purpose. 

QUASISWAP

With QuasiSwap, my personal twist on it is in the environment. In QS, it’s not just the characters that swap, the area aesthetics swap too. 

-The Ruins become monochrome like New Home and are now called “Old Home.” 

-Snowdin Forest/Snowdin became cybernetic like The CORE and is now called “Loggedin.” 

-Waterfall is still dark, but instead of pretty cyan waters it’s now crimson red magma making this location “Magmafalls.” 

-Hot Land is now “Hot Springs” due to its proximity to Magmafalls heating up the water. 

-The CORE is now called “The Nexus” which is not a name that means much of anything, but it is VERY cold here. CDResort (MTT Resort) is actually built somewhat inside The Nexus because CDR likes the cold better than the hot. 

-And finally New Home- which I can’t remember the fun name for- is purple and plant covered like the Ruins. It might just be called "The Capital" sorta like how "The Ruins" is very self-explanatory as a name.

Character swaps are about what you’d expect. And while they all have codenames, they call each other by their real names with a few exceptions. Those exceptions are the skelebros and the ghosts, but I will list all swaps and codenames below.

-Chara with Frisk. Code named Chipper and Fable. Chipper because they’re generally a happy kid- usually smiling and Fable because you hear stories about them. 

-Asgore with Toriel. Code named Usher and Arch. Usher because he’s the one guiding Chipper through the Ruins and Arch is short for monarch.

-Papyrus with Sans. Their code names are P and CSG, and while it’s rare for anyone to actually call Sans CSG, it’s a lot more common for people to call Papyrus P. This is because my take on Swap Sans is basically just Brian David Gilbert- BDG for short. For an example of the energy this swap sans has, watch this compilation I found on YouTube.

-Alphys with Undyne. Codenamed Alpha and Psi-- after Greek letters. Alpha cause she’s a leader and Psi cause it looks like a trident and also is used as a symbol for “Water potential in movement of water between plant cells,” says wikipedia. 

-The Ghost Cousin Trio does a Rotation Swap. Napstablook takes Mettaton’s role, their name becomes CD Rob and Cyber Duke [REMIX] depending on their form. (While “duke” is typically a masculine word, CDR is still a nonbinary character. Duke is just a title I chose.) Mettaton takes Mad Dummy’s/Mad Mew Mew’s Role and is called Shining Dummy and Shining Wan Wan after possessing a life-sized vocaloid-style statue. (He becomes a dog boy instead of a cat girl.) And Maddy takes Napstablook’s Role, known to her friends as Rabbit, but her full name is Rabenant (A port-man-teau of Rabid Revenant.) These three go by these names in the story.

-Flowey/Asriel is too important to swap roles with anyone. He still changes, however. Instead of saying “Howdy” like Asgore he says “Greetings” like Toriel. And instead of a golden flower, he’s a crimson flower to match up to the red leaf aesthetic the Ruins have in the actual game. Flowey’s codename is “Leaf” and apparently I never gave Asriel a proper codename in this AU. I’ll give him one later.

-Temmie gets swapped with the Annoying Dog because both of these characters represent an actual person and it’s good to remember that Temmie- while not the creator of Undertale- made a lot for the game. 

PSEUDOFELL

PseudoFell is interesting, because instead of the codenames being an out of universe thing for me to differentiate who I’m talking about, the pseudonyms are actually a feature of the AU. Every pseudonym (should) start with the same letter as the character’s real name. 

Fray (Frisk)*, Facet (Flowey), Treason (Toriel)**, Sin (Sans), Punishment (Papyrus)***, Uproar (Undyne), Naething (Napstablook), Mauled Doll (Maddy), Macabre (MTT), Apathy (Alphys), Agony (Asgore), Axiom (Asriel), and Cairn (Chara). 

*Used to be spelled Frey, but I have since changed to the correct spelling.

**Considering changing her name.

***Sin will absolutely shorten Punishment’s name to “Pun” and he HATES it. 

As a bonus, Annoying Dog and the Tems are Toil and Trouble. AD used to be Toil, but I think AD being Trouble while all the Tems are Toils would be better. They can say “TOi!” and I have no doubt that Pun would consider AD to be nothing but Trouble. 

The reason the pseudonyms happen is because of trust issues and an old belief that giving someone your real name gives them some sort of power over you. Therefore, if someone actually trusts you enough to tell you their full name, it’s a real big deal. 

The main difference, however, is that I’ve introduced a special 2nd form monsters can take called a “Phobos Form.” The Phobos Form is typically a sharper, scarier version of the monster. Final Froggit would be the Phobos form of Froggit in this universe rather than a stronger, separate monster. 

The more powerful a monster is, the bigger, scarier, and stronger their Phobos Form is. The bosses in the game basically become Kaijus. I used to have concept art of these Phobos forms-- and you can still find them if you look hard enough-- but I find them to be… not great designs these days and would rather not present them as if they’re definitely canon to my AUs still. 

FAUXSWAPFELL 

You didn’t ask about this one, but of the trio I have talked about this one the least so you may not have known it existed. 

FauxSwapFell takes the location swaps of QuasiSwap and the pseudonyms and phobos forms of PseudoFell and combines them into one AU. 

The character swaps are mostly the same, however the Ghost Cousin rotation swap rotates counter to the QuasiSwap rotation. So Mad Mew Mew becomes the idol, Mettaton becomes the ghost snail farmer, and Napstablook becomes the dummy/doll. 

The other thing is that rather than becoming big scary kaijus, the Phobos Forms in FauxSwapFell are more like cryptids or scary on an unsettling level. Some forms may not have one distinct shape and shift between two forms. 

As for the pseudonyms in this AU, there is no theme for the characters’ names. Sans and Papyrus are named Neon and Argon in this universe and are color coded orange and purple respectively to match the colors of those two noble gases. (Gaster is Krypton and Corsiva- if you know who that OC is- is Xenon.) 

All this being said, most characters in this AU don’t have a codename yet. This is the least developed of the 3 AUs and the only reason it’s developed at all is because of being a combo of the other two. 

On the subject of color schemes, in my head the whole world is really desaturated except for the bright pops of color the characters have like Neon’s orange or Argon’s purple. Because of this I sometimes refer to FauxSwapFell as "Swapfell NEON" because they only standout colors on the characters are the bright highlight color.

Aaaaaand that's about it for now. I'd love to do more someday, but at the moment I sadly don't have time to really do much of anything with these AUs. There is a glimmer of hope that the overtime at work will end soon, so maybe I'll be able to get back into fun fanworks next year. Until then, thank you for listening~

[alternis]

third eye au titans: this 'Skylark' has to be one of batman's. he's secretive, broody... super smart (and smug about it)

third eye tim: you want me to write reports? what's next, I gotta do vigilante homework too? I understand you have 'procedures'... but I thought we were here to fight crime, not waste time on paperwork

TEau titans, sensing something not quite right:

[jacquelinemerritt]

Dragon Ball Z: Abridged Episode 26 Review

Originally posted December 3rd, 2015

Hashtag three act structure.

So, there’s this relatively important idea to storytelling in Western culture called the three act structure (inciting incident, rising action, climax), and you’re probably familiar with it, but you might not be familiar with the idea prevalent among writers that every good story is composed of three act structures nested within one another down to the moment.1 The idea that it’s necessary for a story to be good is, of course, bullshit (and hella Euro-centric), but it’s a useful method for constructing a story.

I bring all this up because the fight against Freeza can be relatively easily divided into a three act structure, and nested within the first act of the fight (which is centered around his transformations) is a solid three act structure, with his arrival in his first form being the inciting incident, his second and third forms serving as the rising action, and the final form giving the first act its climax.

That’s important to “Alien vs. Piccolo,” as Team Four Star chose to speed through Freeza’s second and third forms and begin the third act of the fight in this episode. We get to see Piccolo kick the second form’s ass, get his ass kicked by the third form, and Freeza move past that to the final form all in the span of nine minutes, and despite this, it never feels particularly rushed.

I suspect that that is due to the fact that on its own, this is a pretty boring second act. Freeza’s transformation signifies that he has more power and therefore presents more of a challenge to their characters, but the slow and drawn out nature of his transformations means that they very quickly become uninteresting, as they basically are serving to stall until the real fight can begin. “Alien” gives us both “stalling” transformations at once though, and so we get to end on the high note of Freeza being in his final form, presenting the true nature of his challenge to the heroes.

The other reason this works so well is that Team Four Star wisely strays away from the actual fight against Freeza for the majority of the episode, opting to show us only key moments of Piccolo’s confrontation with Freeza. The rest of the time is spent on Vegeta’s escape attempt and subsequent plan for self-immolation, and we get some fantastic interactions between him, Krillin, and Dende as a result.

At the end, when Team Four Star focuses back in on Freeza for the last time, it’s to give us the perfect reminder of how threatening he is, regardless of power level, as he mercilessly murders Dende, our one and only white mage.

Rating: 4/5

If you liked this review, please consider supporting me on Patreon.

Stray Observations

1So, according to this theory, every shot in a film would individually contain an inciting incident, rising action, and climax, while also serving in a set of shots as one of those things, and that set of shots serves as one of those things in a scene, which serves as one of those in a sequence, which serves as one of those within an act of the film, and then the acts come together to make the film.

Vegeta: “Power levels are bulls***!”

“I can see the future! Gohan is the strongest in the universe but still doesn’t do crap!”

Piccolo: “Actually that looks more like a pla-TEAU!”

Krillin Owned: 26, because he cracked his own neck.

I love that the reason Piccolo stands there while Freeza transforms is because Nail is distracting him.

Dende: “That’s right. I’m your white mage. And nobody f***s with the white mage.”

[spade-riddles]

He followed that page about 2 weeks ago. It had a different profile picture and was private up until yesterday. So I personally do not believe the song is Toe singing. Plus, what aspiring musician has a PRIVATE social media page? The nepotism is strong (unless it’s Austin, but we know he’s talented. Lol)

This is just like when Toe’s IG was private for the longest, then made conveniently made public.

If you look at the “About the account”, Toe’s IG page was created in 2014…the first picture is from 2015….made public around August 2018…and what do you know? The first picture from 2018 is the cactus picture….from the first date of the rep tour. The one he attended with his mom where it was made a point to have clips of him “smiling with pride” as Taylor sang gorgeous.

Comical.

Especially when Teau du Jour has been gaining 1,000 followers a day as of late. Lol

[novumtimes]

Detectives investigating Bar Therapy fire seeking publics help to identify people in area at time of blaze

Arson squad officers are appealing for help to identify a person seen around the time of the fire that gutted Mandurah’s Bar Therapy in April as they continue to investigate the deliberate blaze. Specialist officers from the arson squad released CCTV footage on Friday and put out an appeal to identify a person and a group of runners who passed the heritage bar on Mandurah Terrace in the early hours of April 23. Investigators believe the fire, which gutted the bar and caused $350,000 in damage, was deliberately lit. Your local paper, whenever you want it. They want to speak to a person seen walking along the nearby boardwalk towards the Mandurah bridge around the time of the fire who was wearing a white-sleeved hoodie, shorts over bike shorts or skins and carrying a blue sports bag. Detectives also want to speak to a group of runners captured passing the bar on CCTV footage that morning and anyone who was in the area around Bar Therapy between 5am and 5.30am. The fire caused significant structural damage to the historic bar, which was built in 1928 and started life as Tuckey House on part of the site of the Tuckey family owned Peel Inlet Preserving Works. Bar Therapy co-owner Marie TeAu told the Mandurah Times the blaze destroyed the bar and half of the roof. Ms TeAu said they would rebuild but the extensive damage meant it was unclear how long it would take. The blaze was one of several fires in Mandurah believed to be deliberately lit this year. The Mandurah Forum Kmart store was recently closed for several weeks after a person broke into the storeroom and set it alight, causing damage estimated at $100,000. Rewards of up to $25,000 are available for information that leads to the identification and conviction of an arsonist. Anyone with any information relating to the Bar Therapy fire is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperswa.com.au. Source link via The Novum Times

[redstarcat]

okay so I absolutely, utterly, fanatically adore all of your TEAU Essek art, right? I need you know just how strongly I feel about it because as much as I love it as a whole, it pales so much in comparison to how I feel about the doodle you made of Essek just after his bath.

Just, akskdjdjsnssjsmshdbsksldk!! No words 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Good to know! Here's another one

[thevalleyisjolly]

Thoughts on an AU where instead of going to work at the Soltryce Academy, Caleb and Veth start up a magic school together in Nicodranas:

After a couple of years, Veth and Caleb start a small magic school together.  They go back and forth on the name -Veth insists on Widogast Academy while Caleb is in favour of the Brenatto School- before settling on Nicodranas House, a neutral, functional name.

Absolutely no one calls it Nicodranas House.

A non-comprehensive list of things the school has been called:

The House (students, locals, most people in casual conversation)

Das Haus (Caleb)

The Magic Cat-teau (coined by Beau, since they rented their first campus building from Marion who was busy dismantling the Gentleman’s slave trading operations and said they could use the Chateau while she was gone)

A Mistake (Caleb during grading time)

Nott the Best Magic School (Jester)

“A den of noisome children” (Yussa)

Brenatto’s Nascent Nine-Sided School (Veth)

Veth takes charge of the administrative side of things and is terrifyingly brilliant at it, but also teaches a few official classes on spell creation and offensive combat magic, and a few unofficial lessons on sneaking around, shooting people, and stealing stuff.  She and Yeza are amicably divorced but still raising Luc together, who is actually the school’s first student.  Yeza likes his work at the apothecary too much to give it up permanently, but he’s a regular guest lecturer on alchemy at the House.

Caleb teaches most of the classes, with a specialty in transmutation.  He won’t teach any dunamantic spells (he’s not taking the chance that they won’t make their way to the Cerberus Assembly via spies or loose lips) but if you ask the right questions, he will go off on a long and interesting spiel about dunamantic principles and the strictly hypothetical combination of dunamancy with other schools of magic, say, transmutation?

(One of the many betting pools at the House is how Professor Widogast knows so much about super secret Dynasty magic.  The most popular theory is that he was a spy during the war and seduced a Dynasty mage to learn their magic secrets, because obviously Professor Widogast fucks, have you seen him?  It may have been Veth who started that rumour, it may have been a disguised Essek.  Who’s to say?)

Beau is a frequent visitor, and always gives the best history talks.  Whenever it gets out that Expositor Lionett is in town, students will camp out in front of the office just to make sure they’re there when the sign up sheet for her seminar gets posted.  Teaching isn’t really Yasha’s passion, she’s just here to see her friends and support Beau, but she and Caduceus do chaperone the yearly wilderness survival field trip (aka both Caleb and Veth remember their early days together and they want their students to at least have some basic survival skills if they ever end up on the run from the law, which given the examples of their teachers, is not an entirely unreasonable expectation).

(It’s always in a perfectly safe area that the Mighty Nein spend the previous few weeks clearing of any real danger so that it’s really just a camping trip, because they’re never going to let any child under their care be put in danger)

Everyone looks forward to the camping trip.  Yasha is genuinely amazed that the kids love her and that they’re not frightened of her and that they trust “Ms. Yasha” to look after them.  When she plays the bone harp round the campfire at night, they hang on her every note and there’s not a dry eye by the time bedtime comes.  Caduceus likes having an excuse to go travelling again for a few weeks, see his friends, pass on some of his knowledge about plants and fungi and the inevitability of death and destiny to a captive audience.  Caleb and Veth enjoy the week of sleeping in and actually getting to spend more than five minutes on something without being interrupted by a student.

There’s a half dozen rumours and a betting pool about who Professor Widogast is dating, ever since someone left a rare tome on demiplanes on his desk one Winter’s Crest, neatly wrapped in fine wrapping paper that had a small pattern of hearts on it.  And did you see the way Professor Widogast blushed when he saw it?  The current front-running theory is that Professor Widogast is in a throuple with the hot pirates that drops by every so often in a whirlwind of chaos, the ruggedly dashing half-orc captain and the cheerful blue tiefling lady in a green cloak who always has so many interesting stories.  Who else would have the opportunity to go travelling to distant lands and get their hands on such a rare book?  Besides, Ms. Lavorre definitely looks like someone who’d love cute, novelty things like printed wrapping paper, it has to be them.

(This is the best present anyone has ever given the Mighty Nein collectively.  Caleb almost takes psychic damage when he walks into class one day to find Fjord lecturing his enraptured students about the serious bonds that form when you make blood pacts with people, and also about not cutting open your palm because so many important blood vessels are there and you might bleed to death without a good cleric.  Oh, I think your teacher can tell you more about that if you have any questions)

((Essek, the absolute traitor, muses with a deadpan expression that he’s thinking about spending more time at sea, since Professor Widogast clearly has a thing for sailors.  And it would give him the opportunity to thank Jester again for that lovely wrapping paper she helped him pick out.  Caleb casts Immovable Object on his robes))

They eventually have enough students that they build a new campus, a proper wizard’s tower.  Yussa helps with the design, including a particularly pointed suggestion that the tower should be located on the opposite side of the city from his.  He’s fond of the Mighty Nein, but all those “loud and...excitable” students of theirs are a bit much.  The tower has nine (NEIN) levels, seven of which are for the school’s use.

(Beau: “So shouldn’t you call it Nicodranas Tower now?  Not really a house anymore, is it?”)

The eighth level is for the Mighty Nein whenever they come by, a home to wait for them and welcome them back.  They host old friends when they come to visit, and there are long nights sitting by the fire and talking of the old days with Calianna, Reani, Shakäste, a retired Bryce.  Nila and her family once, on a vacation to the coast, and Twiggy drops by occasionally to sweep all of them (plus a less than reluctant Yussa) off into another adventure inside the Happy Fun Ball.  Keg is confused to see Kingsley, but then again, stranger things have happened with the Mighty Nein.  Kiri is a frequent visitor - to no one’s surprise, she is an adventurer with her own adventuring party, although they weren’t expecting her to be a cleric (Jester is delighted beyond measure and instantly teaches her Sending).

Caleb and Veth live on the ninth level, a private sanctum that only the Mighty Nein and Veth’s family have ever seen.  Somehow they manage to squeeze a lab, a library, a teleportation room, a cat room, and four bedroom suites (two for Caleb and Veth, one for Luc, one spare) into the space, and Beau insists that there has to be some kind of demiplane magic fuckery going on here to get so much out of the square footage.  Mostly it’s Yeza staying in the extra room when the evening runs long.  Sometimes Essek, because everyone needs their space every now and then. 

(The cat room is a cat’s paradise, with all the climbing trees, scratching posts, and other amusements a cat could desire.  The tower has at least a dozen cats hanging around at any given time.  There are a lot of strays off the street, and a half dozen rescue cats who spend their days lounging in warm corners and terrorizing the mice.  Caleb’s favourite is a small white cat rescued from the gutter which he calls Pearl, Veth is particularly fond of a loud and wrinkly hairless cat which was a Winter’s Crest gift from Fjord and which she calls Button)

((Fjord: “I was just so reminded of you when I saw her that I knew at once you'd be great friends.”))

And usually they’re not alone, not in this tower, this home that they built for their children and their friends and their family.  If there isn’t a mini emergency going on with the school, there’s old friends dropping by and family to look after.  Veth and Yeza are determined to give Luc happy homes and loving parents, and Caleb spends most nights with Essek when he’s here.  Sometimes they even put down their books and spell notes and latest magical breakthroughs and actually go to bed.

But here’s the truth about Nicodranas House that everyone knows, and it’s that even as this a place full of learning and care and love, there’s a fundamental part of this place that will always be just Caleb and Veth’s, that will always be their home.  Because once upon a time, two lonely people who thought they were nothing met each other in a lowly jail cell, and together they found something worth living for, and that’s the type of bond that the world could break itself on.

In the early hours one warm summer morning, in a messy study on the ninth floor of the tower, the home they built together, a bleary eyed man in sleep-rumpled mage’s robes slowly wakens from his lengthy sleep, catching his small, snoring, truest friend in the whole world curled up asleep beside him.

[captainkirkk]

You know what I thought and went to do like a f.o.o.l ? Think that Smitten Soldier and Teau Boat au combination was Canon to tea au and went a hunting through the fic to find that one reference. It was all a lie, I've been struck down by my greed to read someone loving zuko. Anyways imagine if smitten soldier quits being a soldier and becomes an employee on the Jasmine Dragon cuz he read that one novel that had this exact plan to get closer to crush and it worked.

I think we talked about this AU crossover! But in the end, there wasn’t enough room for me to include him, even as a reference. Sorry, SS. Your legacy will live on in text posts only. 

[mansexy-club]

Ratatouille Script - Dialogue Transcript

Voila! Finally, the Ratatouille script is here for all you fans of the Patton Oswalt animated chef movie. This puppy is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay and/or viewings of the movie to get the dialogue. I know, I know, I still need to get the cast names in there and all that jazz, so if you have any corrections, feel free to drop me a line. At least you'll have some Ratatouille quotes (or even a monologue or two) to annoy your coworkers with in the meantime, right?

And swing on back to Drew's Script-O-Rama afterwards -- because reading is good for your noodle. Better than Farmville, anyway.

Ratatouille Script

Although each of the world's countries

would like to dispute this fact,

we French know the truth:

The best food in the world

is made in France.

The best food in France

is made in Paris.

And the best food in Paris, some say,

is made by Chef Auguste Gusteau.

Gusteau's restaurant

is the toast of Paris,

booked five months in advance.

And his dazzling ascent

to the top of fine French cuisine

has made his competitors envious.

He is the youngest chef ever

to achieve a five-star rating.

Chef Gusteau's cookbook,

Anyone Can Cook!

Climbed to the top of the bestseller list.

But not everyone

celebrates its success.

Amusing title, Anyone Can Cook!

What's even more amusing is that

Gusteau actually seems to believe it.

I, on the other hand,

take cooking seriously.

And, no, I don't think anyone can do it.

This is me.

I think it's apparent

I need to rethink my life a little bit.

What's my problem?

First of all, I'm a rat.

Which means life is hard.

And second, I have a highly developed

sense of taste and smell.

Flour, eggs, sugar, vanilla bean...

Oh! Small twist of lemon.

Whoa, you can smell all that?

You have a gift.

This is Emile, my brother.

He's easily impressed.

So you can smell ingredients?

So what?

This is my dad. He's never impressed.

He also happens to be

the leader of our clan.

So, what's wrong

with having highly developed senses?

- Don't eat that!

- What's going on here?

Turns out that funny smell

was rat poison.

Suddenly, Dad didn't think

my talent was useless.

I was feeling pretty good about my gift,

until Dad gave me a job.

Clean.

Clean.

That's right. Poison checker.

Cleanerific.

Cleanerino.

Close to godliness.

Which means clean.

You know, cleanliness is close to...

Never mind. Move on.

Well, it made my dad proud.

Now, don't you feel better, Remy?

You've helped a noble cause.

Noble? We're thieves, Dad.

And what we're stealing is,

let's face it, garbage.

It isn't stealing if no one wants it.

If no one wants it,

why are we stealing it?

Let's just say

we have different points of view.

This much I knew:

If you are what you eat,

then I only want to eat the good stuff.

But to my dad...

Food is fuel.

You get picky about what you put

in the tank, your engine is gonna die.

Now shut up and eat your garbage.

Look, if we're going to be thieves,

why not steal the good stuff

in the kitchen,

where nothing is poisoned?

First of all, we are not thieves.

Secondly, stay out of the kitchen

and away from the humans.

It's dangerous.

I know

I'm supposed to hate humans,

but there's something about them.

They don't just survive.

They discover, they create.

I mean,

just look at what they do with food.

GUS TEAU ON TV:

How can I describe it?

Good food is like music you can taste,

color you can smell.

[highwaywhump]

Taeus: memories

Okay, there hasn’t been any proper whump yet, but it’ll come! I don’t even think I need any CWs/TWs on this one. Oh well. All in good time.

--

It’s one of those mornings in April when you just know it’s spring. 

The dew is weighing the grass blades down, and shimmers almost magically in the early morning sun. It's not warming yet, it’s just providing light in abundances. 

Taeus sits on the steps leading up to the back porch. He has a blanket wrapped around him, one of those heavy, colorful, quilted things that don’t really fit in in any home, but that every home still seems to have. In his hands is a cup of tea, steaming in the cold morning air. 

Had Handler Mason seen him now, he would have been as good as dead. 

Taeus tries not to think about it, but it’s hard not to. He isn’t supposed to have moments like this, serene an all to himself. Well, they’re not exactly all to himself. Sir Thomas was the one who told him he was far too pale, and to “Go get some vitamin D in you”. Taeus picked up the fact that it was some kind of joke, but it was a reference which he had to - painfully so - ask about to understand. 

He had a vague idea of the concept of vitamins, but it was foggy and dull and far away, and if he tried to think too hard about it, a sharp pain would shoot up in the back of his skull.

So he thought it best not to think about it. Sir Thomas had told him, after his question about the vitamin, to go sit in the sun for half an hour every day before starting his tasks. Taeus had carefully worded another question, because he knew that questioning his owner’s words was as good as forbidden, but shouldn’t he make breakfast and prepare the thermo cup of coffee for Sir Thomas first?

“Well, you’re right, I would like breakfast. Breakfast first. But then, you have to get out!” 

That last remark was accompanied by a smile and a laugh, so Taeus wasn’t frightened by the words. He carefully scrambled the eggs, sliced the bread and prepared the coffee-cream-concoction. Sir Thomas told him to bring a blanket and something to drink for himself when he went out as well, because it, strictly speaking, still was a little cold to be sitting outside. 

Taeus had taken to slightly smiling whenever he thought about his owner. He knows he shouldn’t, he knows he is only lucky that anyone wants him at all, and that he should be happy if all he was allowed to do was to scrub his nails away on the floor of the house.

But how could he not smile, when one of his daily tasks was to sit outside and bask in the sunlight, like some...

...some...

...some what?  

His inner monologue fails him. There should be some kind of reference there, but it’s missing. 

Don’t think to much about it. It hurts to think. 

Just enjoy the sun. 

Taeus carefully blows on his tea before trying to sip it. It’s still too warm to drink, so he settles his hands around it and leans back against the pillar that supports the porch roof.

He is allowed to lean? Yes. He’s still sitting. Leaning is allowed. 

While he sits this way, leant back, eyes half closed, with the sun trying to break through his light eyelashes, his brain goes very still and quiet. The ocean in his head dies down, becomes flat, doesn’t rage anymore. 

It’s just peace. 

Then, something slips. 

He doesn’t mean to, he truly doesn’t, but something just turns impossible and slippery and shoots up, like a fish jumping out of the ocean. 

Suddenly, he’s back. 

He doesn’t know where, or how, but everything is suddenly very familiar. It’s memories he hasn’t thought about in a long time. 

Gusts of wind, rough, but playful, trying to knock him over. Someone laughing behind him, a girl’s laugh, and then his own laugh, and another boy’s, and someone’s long, blond hair in a messy braid and someone’s wild, brown eyes. The wind blows, and then they run, all four of them, him, the girl, the other boy, and the wind. 

Suddenly, they’re wet, but still laughing. They’re cold, but they’re all burning inside. Waves crash down around them, grey water under a grey sky, they tumble and fall and roll around, but get back up. Muscles aching from trying to balance, but the good kind of ache, and wet, black fabric cling to their bodies, and more waves, salt, water, laughter, wind.

Then, it’s quiet. They’re done. For today, at least. No more waves to ride. Only cocoa, blankets, a purring cat. 

An orange tabby, sitting on a windowsill. 

He’s like some orange tabby on a windowsill. 

Taeus awakens with a sudden jerk, hot tea splashing over the edge of the cup, landing on the porch steps and narrowly avoiding the quilted blanket. 

His heart is beating wildly, but he isn’t afraid, just confused. 

The memories just came to him, he didn’t have to break through the painful wall that holds everything away at the back of his mind. And they weren’t dull  and foggy, they were crystal clear in every aspect. 

And it was him. He knew it was him. The two others, he was less sure about, but they were there with him, that much he knew. 

Suddenly, he whimpered and had to hold his head. The wall and the pain was coming back. He scrambled to set down the tea cup carefully, so that he wouldn’t spill any more of it, before he heaved and curled in on himself, arms wrapped tightly around his head, groaning.

It was a harsh, unapologetic pain. For a few unbearable seconds, his vision grew dark and chaotic, the stabbing pain trying to pierce through his skull. It was as if the mental blockade caught up with him, took revenge. 

No, no, stop, you weren’t supposed to see that. 

He remained in that curled up position on the porch steps for several minutes, until he was sure that the pain was gone. The wall had built itself up again, maybe even taller and stronger than before. Almost all the memories slipped away, and the pain hissed at him, threatened to return if he tried to reach for them as they disintegrated.

Teaus slowly picked up the tea cup again, now too cold to enjoy. He drank it anyway, because it would an unnecessary waste to pour it out.

Still, he couldn’t help but smile. 

Right now, basking in the sun, he was an orange tabby on a windowsill. 

[sabrinasbookpdf]

#PDF [Download] Carolyn Westbrook Vintage French Style Homes and gardens inspired by a love of France ebook

#PDF [] Carolyn Westbrook: Vintage French Style: Homes and gardens inspired by a love of France ebook

Carolyn Westbrook: Vintage French Style: Homes and gardens inspired by a love of France

[PDF] Download Carolyn Westbrook: Vintage French Style: Homes and gardens inspired by a love of France Ebook | READ ONLINEhttp://read.ebookcollection.space/?book=1782495487

Author : Carolyn Westbrook Publisher : CICO Books ISBN : 1782495487 Publication Date : 2018-4-10 Language : Pages : 160

To Download or Read this book, click link below:

http://read.ebookcollection.space/?book=1782495487

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Synopsis : #PDF [] Carolyn Westbrook: Vintage French Style: Homes and gardens inspired by a love of France ebook

Stunning and inspirational French-style interiors and chic décor from Carolyn Westbrook.Stunning and inspirational French-style interiors and chic décor from Carolyn Westbrook. When it comes to styling interiors, designer Carolyn Westbrook has a distinct signature look that combines her love of French style and vintage charm. In Part One of this new book, Carolyn first leads us on a tour through 10 specially photographed locations that are perfect examples of her vintage French style. Carolyn’s own Texan plantation family home is included, alongside other stunning houses that evoke the look—a grand château, French farmhouse-style, a mid-century modern take on French design, and more. The homes all feature individual and eclectic styles, skillfully partnering inherited treasures alongside new purchases and successfully mixing pretty junkstore finds with designer pieces. In Part Two, Details and Vignettes, pretty displays and vignettes from the homes featured on earlier pages are captured, teaching you how to group collections and showcase treasured items to best effect.

[wineanddinosaur]

25 of the Best Sauvignon Blancs for 2020

A classic French grape, Sauvignon Blanc has been the star player in Loire Valley Sancerre and a key supporting role in white Bordeaux wines for centuries. With a variety of flavor profiles that reflect its terroir (Old World Sauvignon Blancs tend to have a prominent minerality, while versions grown in Australia, California, and New Zealand are known for their grassiness and notes of tropical fruit,) and ease of growing in sunny climates, it’s no wonder Sauvignon Blanc remains one of the most popular wines in the world.

Regardless of where it comes from, Sauvignon Blanc’s crispness and acidity make it ideal to pair with food — especially light, fresh vegetable dishes and zingy goat cheese. To help you find the perfect Sauvignon Blanc the next time you’re looking for a dry white with plenty of character (and history), we’ve pulled together a list of the best we’ve tried in the past six months. The wines on this list all scored a B+ or higher in our wine reviews, and are arranged by score and price.

Here are 25 of the best Sauvignon Blancs you can buy right now, with reviews written by VinePair tastings director Keith Beavers.

Oak Farm Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A) ($19)

A Sauvignon blanc worth the higher price point, with notes of wet flint rock and pear. With a swirl, honeysuckle and a subtle hint of mint and nectarine emerge. The palate has a nice, peppy, medium acidity that delivers a clean and creamy mouthfeel. It’s a great wine to share with your wine friends.

Marco Felluga Russiz Superiore Sauvignon Collio 2018 (A) ($21)

A focused and angular white wine, with sharp notes of ripe Bartlett pear (the ones mom put in your lunchbox), mint, and beeswax. The wine also releases some wet rock and cut grass with a swirl. The mouthfeel is clean, with acidity calming the deep fruit notes just enough to be refreshing. For the price this is a wonderfully made Sauvignon Blanc if you’re looking to switch up your Savvy B source.

Château Rieussec R de Rieussec Blanc Sec 2018 (A) ($25)

Salty and sweet all at once with notes of wet rock and green apple along with a hint of coconut. The palate is dry and zippy, with nice sharp edges softened by vibrant acidity and good fruit integration. This is on the expensive side for a Bordeaux blanc, but wow is it worth the pennies.

Le Domaine Saget Pouilly-Fumé 2017 (A) ($32)

The nose greets you with rich pear and tarragon aromas that mingle with ripe gooseberries and jasmine. Among these aromas is a persistent flinty wet rock aroma that really brightens up the wine in tandem with the medium acidity. The palate is very balanced with the slightest grip. This a beautiful, mature, and focused wine; you can’t go wrong here.

Justin Vineyards & Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A-) ($15)

Gotta say I think this might be one of the best Savvy B deals from Cali. It is crazy balanced, smells like apricots, pineapple, and orange pith, is under screw cap, and costs under $20. The acidity is bright, the palate is refreshing, and the flavor lingers for a moment after sipping to remind you how fun it is. The success is in the fact that all elements of this wine are where they need to be, giving every aroma and texture its due time for you to enjoy. Did I mention it was under $20?

Château Sainte-Marie Vieilles Vignes Entre-Deux-Mers 2018 (A-) ($15)

This wine is a Sauvignon Blanc-dominant blend but it only plays a supporting role. The aromas we associate with Savvy B (bell pepper, gooseberries) are way in the background as the Semillon and Muscadelle take center stage, creating earthiness. What I am saying is this wine reminds me more of a Chardonnay from southern Burgundy (Macon) but with frothy, well-rounded acidity, and notes of white flowers and lemon-mint yogurt. It is such a pleasure to drink and is only $15.

Outlot Sauvignon Blanc 2016 (A-) ($19)

Salty caper brine and lemon zest with white floral vibes open the nose of this wine. There’s even some basil leaf and mineral-driven crushed concrete. The palate has a fullness to it, and a nice grip, while all the aromas fold into each other among medium acidity. This is a great food white for grilled veggies and a summer salad with goat cheese and walnuts.

Priest Ranch Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A-) ($19)

Easy-drinking and mineral-driven, with notes of pear, the slight bitterness of gooseberries, and sweet tarragon aromas. With a swirl some white peach (sweeter than yellow peach) and flinty wet rock emerge. The palate has a leanness, with a nice medium acidity, making it an easy-drinking wine even though the alcohol is up there. A great wine for sharing with friends at the end of the day.

Gamble Family Vineyards Gamble Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A-) ($25)

Zippy, creamy, and dry all at once. That’s what we got going on here. All the smells of tropical fruits, like kiwi and mango, and a whiff of white pepper are kept in check by extremely refreshing acidity. The palate will give you a nice drying sensation, making this a great wine for ceviche or anything that incorporates fresh goat cheese.

Rusack Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A-) ($26)

Going against the current style in California is this dry, crisp, mineral-driven Sauvignon Blanc. The fruit is lean and smells like fresh sliced pear and mint yogurt. The mouthfeel is grippy, with very high acidity stabbing the fruit notes on the palate, keeping them in check. This is a great wine to sit and drink with good friends, and just let the wine do most of the talking.

Jean Reverdy et Fils Sancerre La Reine Blanche 2018 (A-) ($26)

Sancerre is always going to be a little expensive so finding quality is key to enjoying wines from here. This is a great example of said quality. This is a very refreshing wine with quiet aromas of bell pepper balanced by notes of mint yogurt and wet flint rock. The acidity is focused and vibrant, lifting the wine on the palate. If you see this bottle, you are guaranteed good quality for spending a few extra bucks.

Domaine Vincent Delaporte Sancerre 2018 (A-) ($27)

If you see the word “Cavignol” on the label of a Sancerre bottle, know that it will not be as sharp as you are used to. And that’s a good thing. Imagine all that flinty wet stone and lemon with the laser sharp acidity fattened up just a bit. It’s still crisp, but there is a salty roundness on the mouthfeel that soaks in and grips the palate for a moment before letting go. It’s pricey (most wine from here is) but with some goat cheese drizzled with honey and walnuts flecked with fresh cracked black pepper you might as well be in the Loire Valley.

Lismore Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (A-) ($28)

Sauvignon Blanc in wood is now happening, and this wine is a good example of how well this can be done. The nose opens with candied pineapple, peaches, and pears. There is also some vanilla from a kiss of oak. The palate is grippy and well balanced, doing away with classic bell pepper notes to make room for minty yogurt and coconut.

Aperture Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (A-) ($40)

A unique take on the grape with barrel fermentation bringing notes of vanilla and coconut. With a swirl there is a sweet, flaky pastry aroma drizzled with lime oil and a hint of basil. The acidity is calm, and the mouthfeel is slick, with the well-integrated high-alcohol slipping and sliding. It’s a hefty price, but interesting enough to justify the coin.

Mason Cellars Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (B+) ($11)

A great go-to in a pinch with notes of lemons and pears combined with a hint of pepper. There are aromas of green apple and lime as well with a swirl. The palate is sharp and crisp with wet stone minerality. It’s under screw cap, well under $20, and under the umbrella of anytime wine.

Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($11)

Balanced notes of gooseberries and lime form the nose, along with a hint of pear. The palate is clean and mineral-driven, with a slight note of wet flint rock. It is a very balanced wine from a region with such aggressive flavors. This is a zesty, crowd-pleasing wine that’s affordable and great for sipping at sunset and just chillin’ with friends.

Kenwood Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2016 (B+) ($11)

This wine is creamy and clean with nice medium acidity and notes of pear and chamomile. There is a subtle gooseberry aroma, along with some orange peel, as the wine opens. On the palate the wine is calm and creamy with a minty tinge. You can’t go wrong with this $11 Cali Savvy B and it will please any crowd.

Kono Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($13)

Cannabis mingles with gooseberries and pear, with some hints of aloe and basil not far behind. The palate is calm, with a little bit of weight and a little bit of sweet. And that’s totally fine, because this wine is really good for the price and the bottle looks cool, too. At $13 it pairs well with beach bonfires, suburban cookouts, and rooftop blowouts.

Benziger Family Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($13)

A great quality-to-price value, with notes of wet flint rock and gooseberry along with some white pepper. With a swirl some citrus and lemongrass emerge, along with a hint of basil. The palate is soft, the acidity is almost frothy, and there is a nice weight while still being refreshing.

Nautilus Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($15)

Prominent aromas of gooseberries and pear dominate the nose, along with subtle hints of quince. There is a hint of grapefruit and lime oil as the swirls begin. The palate is bright and it has a nice high acidity, amplifying the aromas. This is a great example of how the lower price point of this wine should taste.

Mt. Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($16)

This is a great, clean, and crisp wine with a good grip on the palate. It has a nose that smells like nectarines and watermelons, and a dry palate that begs for a picnic. For a bottle from New Zealand to be under $20 is a big deal, and the quality is so there.

Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($19)

More of a subtle example from the land of aggressive aromas, with focused notes of wet concrete, gooseberries, and lemon. Hovering over these aromas is ripe pear, which carries over to the palate. The mouthfeel is soft and creamy, with great structure.

Balletto Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (B+) ($20)

It’s always interesting when this grape sees oak, and here it works, creating a unique nose of capers and lychee. With a swirl some lemon crops up, along with some grapefruit. On the palate the oak comes around with vanilla and coconut aromas. It has a zippy acidity as well, so none of the more intense aromas overwhelm.

Reyneke Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (B+) ($23)

Peaches and cream mingle with white peach and tarragon aromas. This is a unique style for this grape, as it sees some oak bringing a nice yogurt-like mouthfeel with an added aroma of lemon curd. The acidity is calm, and a bit honied, due to the oak exposure. It’s a very balanced and interesting wine.

Patient Cottat Sancerre Anciennes Vignes 2018 (B+) ($28)

Ripe and peppery up front with heady aromas of dill and mint yogurt. This wine is made from old vines, which gives it a rich concentration on the nose. The palate, however, is steely and lean, with wonderful wet stone and white peach notes. In the higher range of the $20s for Sancerre, but it’s a great one for a wide range of palate preferences.

The article 25 of the Best Sauvignon Blancs for 2020 appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/25-best-sauvignon-blancs-2020/

[spade-riddles]

It’s August…Fall weather soon come and we are 3 months from red TV….yet, people decided to choose clownery. I’m so exhausted.

(Re: “We come to your blog to laugh at you”.)

That’s the point, Anon. You come to the blog….by your own admission/choice. Just like some (ok damn near all) of Toe’s “stans”…choose to ignore common sense and what’s right in front of them.

This is what happens when people only pay attention to image and not actual lyrics….how she plants the seeds in advance to make parts of her lyrics “make sense” later. Like Jake and the scarf—which his own sister said she had no idea about when asked about it a few years ago even though it was left at her house. She and Jake being pap’d walking with those coffee cups. She and Harry with the airplane necklaces.

The Met Gala. No pictures of the two of them interacting whatsoever, yet plenty of pictures of Karlie/Taylor dancing and Taylor dancing with Tom Hiddleston….and yes, that was the one where Brandon Maxwell buzz cut Karlie’s dress. Oh yeah, Karlie herself told that story in her Klossy video about her Met Gala looks over the years. It’s still on her YouTube for you to watch.

Other Karlie hints over the years:

When she hinted on IG days before Taylors SNL performance that she’d be performing False God—holding out a glass of wine. (Got the wine for you) (October 4, 2019)

When she wore a white suit and tie and captioned the picture as “off the wall”—that was before the AMAs when Taylor beat Michael Jackson’s record for most AMAs. Off the Wall is one of his best selling albums. (November 14, 2019)

The folklore related posts that generated articles when folklore came out, which EVERYONE damn near said or mentioned was about her….but your beloved “producer” couldn’t be bothered to mention the album once.

The time she got caught listening to “Lover” the song after it came out on Spotify via her listening history and when it was mentioned on here, she turned it off. Still hilarious.

So what’s funny is how Toe stans were so up in arms about people realizing that Betty is a song about two girls to the point where Taylor had to throw a pivot and suddenly say it’s from a boy’s perspective. Just to appease certain people. Yet..when she claimed WB was Toe…it was suddenly ok that the song *could be about two girls because he “worked” on the song.

I guess you missed Jack’s comments about songwriting and producing credits recently, Anon. Hopefully, Teau du Jour didn’t suffer any broken feet or toes when they were stepped on with the comments.

[johnboothus]

25 of the Best Sauvignon Blancs for 2020

A classic French grape, Sauvignon Blanc has been the star player in Loire Valley Sancerre and a key supporting role in white Bordeaux wines for centuries. With a variety of flavor profiles that reflect its terroir (Old World Sauvignon Blancs tend to have a prominent minerality, while versions grown in Australia, California, and New Zealand are known for their grassiness and notes of tropical fruit,) and ease of growing in sunny climates, it’s no wonder Sauvignon Blanc remains one of the most popular wines in the world.

Regardless of where it comes from, Sauvignon Blanc’s crispness and acidity make it ideal to pair with food — especially light, fresh vegetable dishes and zingy goat cheese. To help you find the perfect Sauvignon Blanc the next time you’re looking for a dry white with plenty of character (and history), we’ve pulled together a list of the best we’ve tried in the past six months. The wines on this list all scored a B+ or higher in our wine reviews, and are arranged by score and price.

Here are 25 of the best Sauvignon Blancs you can buy right now, with reviews written by VinePair tastings director Keith Beavers.

Oak Farm Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A) ($19)

A Sauvignon blanc worth the higher price point, with notes of wet flint rock and pear. With a swirl, honeysuckle and a subtle hint of mint and nectarine emerge. The palate has a nice, peppy, medium acidity that delivers a clean and creamy mouthfeel. It’s a great wine to share with your wine friends.

Marco Felluga Russiz Superiore Sauvignon Collio 2018 (A) ($21)

A focused and angular white wine, with sharp notes of ripe Bartlett pear (the ones mom put in your lunchbox), mint, and beeswax. The wine also releases some wet rock and cut grass with a swirl. The mouthfeel is clean, with acidity calming the deep fruit notes just enough to be refreshing. For the price this is a wonderfully made Sauvignon Blanc if you’re looking to switch up your Savvy B source.

Château Rieussec R de Rieussec Blanc Sec 2018 (A) ($25)

Salty and sweet all at once with notes of wet rock and green apple along with a hint of coconut. The palate is dry and zippy, with nice sharp edges softened by vibrant acidity and good fruit integration. This is on the expensive side for a Bordeaux blanc, but wow is it worth the pennies.

Le Domaine Saget Pouilly-Fumé 2017 (A) ($32)

The nose greets you with rich pear and tarragon aromas that mingle with ripe gooseberries and jasmine. Among these aromas is a persistent flinty wet rock aroma that really brightens up the wine in tandem with the medium acidity. The palate is very balanced with the slightest grip. This a beautiful, mature, and focused wine; you can’t go wrong here.

Justin Vineyards & Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A-) ($15)

Gotta say I think this might be one of the best Savvy B deals from Cali. It is crazy balanced, smells like apricots, pineapple, and orange pith, is under screw cap, and costs under $20. The acidity is bright, the palate is refreshing, and the flavor lingers for a moment after sipping to remind you how fun it is. The success is in the fact that all elements of this wine are where they need to be, giving every aroma and texture its due time for you to enjoy. Did I mention it was under $20?

Château Sainte-Marie Vieilles Vignes Entre-Deux-Mers 2018 (A-) ($15)

This wine is a Sauvignon Blanc-dominant blend but it only plays a supporting role. The aromas we associate with Savvy B (bell pepper, gooseberries) are way in the background as the Semillon and Muscadelle take center stage, creating earthiness. What I am saying is this wine reminds me more of a Chardonnay from southern Burgundy (Macon) but with frothy, well-rounded acidity, and notes of white flowers and lemon-mint yogurt. It is such a pleasure to drink and is only $15.

Outlot Sauvignon Blanc 2016 (A-) ($19)

Salty caper brine and lemon zest with white floral vibes open the nose of this wine. There’s even some basil leaf and mineral-driven crushed concrete. The palate has a fullness to it, and a nice grip, while all the aromas fold into each other among medium acidity. This is a great food white for grilled veggies and a summer salad with goat cheese and walnuts.

Priest Ranch Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A-) ($19)

Easy-drinking and mineral-driven, with notes of pear, the slight bitterness of gooseberries, and sweet tarragon aromas. With a swirl some white peach (sweeter than yellow peach) and flinty wet rock emerge. The palate has a leanness, with a nice medium acidity, making it an easy-drinking wine even though the alcohol is up there. A great wine for sharing with friends at the end of the day.

Gamble Family Vineyards Gamble Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A-) ($25)

Zippy, creamy, and dry all at once. That’s what we got going on here. All the smells of tropical fruits, like kiwi and mango, and a whiff of white pepper are kept in check by extremely refreshing acidity. The palate will give you a nice drying sensation, making this a great wine for ceviche or anything that incorporates fresh goat cheese.

Rusack Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A-) ($26)

Going against the current style in California is this dry, crisp, mineral-driven Sauvignon Blanc. The fruit is lean and smells like fresh sliced pear and mint yogurt. The mouthfeel is grippy, with very high acidity stabbing the fruit notes on the palate, keeping them in check. This is a great wine to sit and drink with good friends, and just let the wine do most of the talking.

Jean Reverdy et Fils Sancerre La Reine Blanche 2018 (A-) ($26)

Sancerre is always going to be a little expensive so finding quality is key to enjoying wines from here. This is a great example of said quality. This is a very refreshing wine with quiet aromas of bell pepper balanced by notes of mint yogurt and wet flint rock. The acidity is focused and vibrant, lifting the wine on the palate. If you see this bottle, you are guaranteed good quality for spending a few extra bucks.

Domaine Vincent Delaporte Sancerre 2018 (A-) ($27)

If you see the word “Cavignol” on the label of a Sancerre bottle, know that it will not be as sharp as you are used to. And that’s a good thing. Imagine all that flinty wet stone and lemon with the laser sharp acidity fattened up just a bit. It’s still crisp, but there is a salty roundness on the mouthfeel that soaks in and grips the palate for a moment before letting go. It’s pricey (most wine from here is) but with some goat cheese drizzled with honey and walnuts flecked with fresh cracked black pepper you might as well be in the Loire Valley.

Lismore Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (A-) ($28)

Sauvignon Blanc in wood is now happening, and this wine is a good example of how well this can be done. The nose opens with candied pineapple, peaches, and pears. There is also some vanilla from a kiss of oak. The palate is grippy and well balanced, doing away with classic bell pepper notes to make room for minty yogurt and coconut.

Aperture Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (A-) ($40)

A unique take on the grape with barrel fermentation bringing notes of vanilla and coconut. With a swirl there is a sweet, flaky pastry aroma drizzled with lime oil and a hint of basil. The acidity is calm, and the mouthfeel is slick, with the well-integrated high-alcohol slipping and sliding. It’s a hefty price, but interesting enough to justify the coin.

Mason Cellars Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (B+) ($11)

A great go-to in a pinch with notes of lemons and pears combined with a hint of pepper. There are aromas of green apple and lime as well with a swirl. The palate is sharp and crisp with wet stone minerality. It’s under screw cap, well under $20, and under the umbrella of anytime wine.

Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($11)

Balanced notes of gooseberries and lime form the nose, along with a hint of pear. The palate is clean and mineral-driven, with a slight note of wet flint rock. It is a very balanced wine from a region with such aggressive flavors. This is a zesty, crowd-pleasing wine that’s affordable and great for sipping at sunset and just chillin’ with friends.

Kenwood Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2016 (B+) ($11)

This wine is creamy and clean with nice medium acidity and notes of pear and chamomile. There is a subtle gooseberry aroma, along with some orange peel, as the wine opens. On the palate the wine is calm and creamy with a minty tinge. You can’t go wrong with this $11 Cali Savvy B and it will please any crowd.

Kono Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($13)

Cannabis mingles with gooseberries and pear, with some hints of aloe and basil not far behind. The palate is calm, with a little bit of weight and a little bit of sweet. And that’s totally fine, because this wine is really good for the price and the bottle looks cool, too. At $13 it pairs well with beach bonfires, suburban cookouts, and rooftop blowouts.

Benziger Family Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($13)

A great quality-to-price value, with notes of wet flint rock and gooseberry along with some white pepper. With a swirl some citrus and lemongrass emerge, along with a hint of basil. The palate is soft, the acidity is almost frothy, and there is a nice weight while still being refreshing.

Nautilus Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($15)

Prominent aromas of gooseberries and pear dominate the nose, along with subtle hints of quince. There is a hint of grapefruit and lime oil as the swirls begin. The palate is bright and it has a nice high acidity, amplifying the aromas. This is a great example of how the lower price point of this wine should taste.

Mt. Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($16)

This is a great, clean, and crisp wine with a good grip on the palate. It has a nose that smells like nectarines and watermelons, and a dry palate that begs for a picnic. For a bottle from New Zealand to be under $20 is a big deal, and the quality is so there.

Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($19)

More of a subtle example from the land of aggressive aromas, with focused notes of wet concrete, gooseberries, and lemon. Hovering over these aromas is ripe pear, which carries over to the palate. The mouthfeel is soft and creamy, with great structure.

Balletto Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (B+) ($20)

It’s always interesting when this grape sees oak, and here it works, creating a unique nose of capers and lychee. With a swirl some lemon crops up, along with some grapefruit. On the palate the oak comes around with vanilla and coconut aromas. It has a zippy acidity as well, so none of the more intense aromas overwhelm.

Reyneke Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (B+) ($23)

Peaches and cream mingle with white peach and tarragon aromas. This is a unique style for this grape, as it sees some oak bringing a nice yogurt-like mouthfeel with an added aroma of lemon curd. The acidity is calm, and a bit honied, due to the oak exposure. It’s a very balanced and interesting wine.

Patient Cottat Sancerre Anciennes Vignes 2018 (B+) ($28)

Ripe and peppery up front with heady aromas of dill and mint yogurt. This wine is made from old vines, which gives it a rich concentration on the nose. The palate, however, is steely and lean, with wonderful wet stone and white peach notes. In the higher range of the $20s for Sancerre, but it’s a great one for a wide range of palate preferences.

The article 25 of the Best Sauvignon Blancs for 2020 appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/25-best-sauvignon-blancs-2020/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/25-of-the-best-sauvignon-blancs-for-2020

[redstarcat]

TEAU -

I was already obsessed with Essek, I am now spreading that obsession to little Bean.

What color are Beanie's eyes? And do you think he may grow to have teeny little tusks and fangs, or just one or the other?

Well, I can't tell you anything about the tusks or fangs, but I can at least tell you about his eyes.