It's been hot, real hot!

[Andy Velebil]

Yesterday it was 105 where I work and today is forcast to be even hotter in the L.A. valley areas at 111 degrees

Not fun at all, this is hot, hot, hot and working outside yesterday I felt like an egg on a skillet. Being sick with a summer cold also didn't help the situation. It's suppost to cool down a little starting saturday or sunday, which I am hoping for Needless to say, no drinking for me till it cools down a little and this cold goes bye bye.

[Frederick Blais]

55 with bright sun this morning in Montreal :) I had such a great night of sleep with windows open and a good hot blanket

[Glenn E.]

It's supposed to be 75 with light showers here in Seattle today.

[Andy Velebil]

I'm heading to the airport as we speak and I'll bring some Port to drink too

[Glenn E.]

The Seattle Port Authority has been notified to turn back anyone bearing one or more bottles of Pink Port...

[Andy Velebil]

The Seattle Port Authority has been notified to turn back anyone bearing one or more bottles of Pink Port...

Thanks for the heads up, I put it in a 2003 Croft bottle instead

[Roy Hersh]

Where are you headed Andy? Or just picking someone up?

[Andy Velebil]

Where are you headed Andy? Or just picking someone up?

I was just joking that I could catch a plane up there to get out of this heat. My feet are firmly planted until they leave for Portugal in October!

Although last weekend I did visit the brother and fiance in Oakland for a few days...she works for an airline and sent me a free ticket to come visit since I won't have the opportunity to see them until the holidays. Free trips are always nice. The best part was she could hand carry my wine bottles on the plane...no checking them on

[Marc J.]

100+ degrees this afternoon......no Port, just cold beer. Although being my birthday weekend I was planning on opening up a nice bottle of Port, but that just isn't in the cards!

Marc

[Symington Family]

Same in the Douro. Its not been a particularly hot summer, but rainfall is lacking. The skins are still thick and the berries will start to raisin if there is not rain. Should the picking begin early, before the Baumes shoot ever higher? Or hold out for rain to plump the berries and soften skins? Thank god all I have to do is market this wine. If I was a winemaker, I would be going grey (faster).

Opened a bottled matured Smith Woodhouse '95/99 tonight. What a stunner. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Also had a Chateau Fieuzal '06 (red) and a glass of PinAlta '05 (a gracious gift). The PinAlta needs more time in bottle but showed characteristic Douro strength.

[Andy Velebil]

100+ degrees this afternoon......no Port, just cold beer. Although being my birthday weekend I was planning on opening up a nice bottle of Port, but that just isn't in the cards!

Marc

Marc,

Happy birthday

Last night was cold beer at the Chivas v. Galaxy game. A good game, but the beer sure hit the spot. Today is another scorcher of 100+ I feel bad for all those firefighters here in L.A. battling that massive wild fire. I think it's over 20,000 acres now

[Andy Velebil]

Same in the Douro. Its not been a particularly hot summer, but rainfall is lacking. The skins are still thick and the berries will start to raisin if there is not rain. Should the picking begin early, before the Baumes shoot ever higher? Or hold out for rain to plump the berries and soften skins? Thank god all I have to do is market this wine. If I was a winemaker, I would be going grey (faster).

Opened a bottled matured Smith Woodhouse '95/99 tonight. What a stunner. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Also had a Chateau Fieuzal '06 (red) and a glass of PinAlta '05 (a gracious gift). The PinAlta needs more time in bottle but showed characteristic Douro strength.

Thank you for the update.

Can you let us know who you are though, it would be much appreciated. Thanks