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Tag: pinot forward

  • We’ll Toast January 1, 2023 with a Bottle of Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvee

    If we were forced to choose a favorite Champagne, it would be Bollinger. We haven't enjoyed a bottle of Bolly for a while and decided to open another year of toasting each new month with the warm memories of past bottles of Bollinger. 

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    We love the spirit of Lily Bollinger, who managed this great house for many years and established its worldwide reputation. She said, "I drink it when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company, I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it—unless I’m thirsty." 

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    We've enjoyed this pinot-forward champagne many times in many places. As we raise our glasses to toast the new year, we'll remember toasting the ocean from a deck overlooking Provincetown harbor.

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    We've shared bottles with friends at home and on our roof deck. We toasted the reopening of some of our favorite restaurants, on April fool's day 2021. During the past three years, we've raised glasses of Bolly with friends on computer screens because it was not safe to do so in person.

    So many sparkling wines remind us of other times and other places. We hope to share a few of these bottles and the stories that made them memorable in the year ahead.

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    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

    We purchased our bottle (on sale) at Gordon's Wine and Spirits for $74.99.

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: © 2017- 2022 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • We Toast December 1st with Memories of Dining Out and Discovering Champagne Pierre Gerbais at Little Whale!

    The latest Champagne to make our favorites list is Champagne Pierre Gerbais Grains de Celles Extra Brut. This year we were able to dine outside until Mid-November. Each meal called for a special celebration since we didn't know when we'd be switching over to takeout at our favorite spots. 

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    By now, you all must know how we love discovering new sparkling wines. Even if it seems a wine will be out of our comfort zone, we'll try it when it was selected by one of our wine mentors. When we discovered a half bottle of this Champagne on the wine list at Michael Serpa's newest restaurant, Little Whale Oyster Bar, we ordered it even though it was described as "Extra Brut."

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    Here's What We Learned From the Importer Becky Wasserman:

    "Champagne Pierre Gerbais is a fourth generation domaine in the Aube. It is spearheaded today by the 20-something Aurélien Gerbais, a handsome-nerdy-hipster winemaker who is unnervingly self-assured for his age, yet soft-spoken and humble. At Gerbais, there are old vines, organic vineyard management, intelligence, respect, passion, relevance, training and drive enough to take this house to the very top of a small band of visionary champagne makers in the Aube who include Aurélien's friend and neighbor Cédric Bouchard, and the small houses of Marie Courtin, Jacques Lassaigne, Ulysse Collin, Horiot, Vouette et Sorbée, etc."

    The blend is unusual at "Pinot Noir (50%), Chardonnay (25%), Pinot Blanc (25%)"

    This bottle had a lot going for it. It is Pinot forward, as are many of our favorite sparklers; it has Pinot Blanc, one of Penny's favorite varietals; and it was a Michael Serpa pick, which we consider highly recommended. 

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    We've not been able to find this wine locally but plan to see if we can repeat our meal of halibut, swordfish, and beet salad with a bottle of Champagne Pierre Gerbais Grains de Celles Extra Brut as takeout from Little Whale today. Remember you can support your favorite restaurants who offer wine to go by occasionally adding a bottle to your order. Let's hope the state continues to allow this option to help restaurants make it through the slow winter season.

    UPDATE: Yeah! They had a half bottle on hand! We bought it to recreate our meal. However, Penny was craving the chowder, so we shared the sword, beet salad, and chowder!

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    We enjoyed our first taste with a bottle at Little Whale for ~$60

    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods, adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2022 Penny Cherubino 

  • Bollinger Special Cuvée Champagne Wraps Up Our Year of Monthly Toasts with Favorite Sparkling Wines

    As our year of monthly toasts with old favorites comes to an end, we will enjoy a bottle of Bollinger Special Cuvée Champagne. It ticks all the boxes for what we love in a Champagne.

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    We often will compare Pinot-forward sparkling wines to Bollinger when judging what we like or don't like about them. This outstanding cuvée is the perfect choice to complete our goal of toasting each month in 2018 with an old favorite instead of auditioning twelve new contenders. Besides, enjoying time with old friends is always a good idea.

    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we've raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month. We invite you to join our Sparkling Resolution and raise a glass of something sparkling on the first of each month in 2019!

    IMG_2475 (1)

    Here's what the winemakers tell us about Bollinger Special Cuvée Champagne.

    For people like us who just buy a bottle of wine and enjoy it because we know we love it, taking a fresh look at the official notes can actually give us different nuances to look for and enjoy.

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    Details

    "Blend: 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Meunier. Over 85% Grands and Premiers crus. 

    Maturation: cellar aged for more than twice the time required by the appellation. 

    Dosage: moderate, 8 to 9 grams per liter."

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    Tasting Notes

    "To the eye: a golden colour, distinctive of black grape varieties; very fine bubbles. 

    To the nose: a beautiful aromatic complexity ; ripe fruit and spicy aromas ; hints of roasted apples, apple compote and peaches. 
    On the palate: a subtle combination of structure, length and vivacity ; bubbles like velvet ; pear, brioche and spicy aromas, notes of fresh walnut."
     
    Bollinger is a Champagne to share with special friends to celebrate life's special moments or to pop open when the wine itself is to be the occasion.

    We purchased our bottle at Federal Wine and Spirits, but it is widely available and can occasionally be found at bargain prices. Expect to see it in the $60 to $70 range.

    Here's to 2019. Cheers!

     

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2018 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Bollinger Special Cuvée Champagne Wraps Up Our Year of Monthly Toasts with Favorite Sparkling Wines

    As our year of monthly toasts with old favorites comes to an end, we will enjoy a bottle of Bollinger Special Cuvée Champagne. It ticks all the boxes for what we love in a Champagne.

    IMG_2471

    We often will compare Pinot-forward sparkling wines to Bollinger when judging what we like or don't like about them. This outstanding cuvée is the perfect choice to complete our goal of toasting each month in 2018 with an old favorite instead of auditioning twelve new contenders. Besides, enjoying time with old friends is always a good idea.

    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we've raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month. We invite you to join our Sparkling Resolution and raise a glass of something sparkling on the first of each month in 2019!

    IMG_2475 (1)

    Here's what the winemakers tell us about Bollinger Special Cuvée Champagne.

    For people like us who just buy a bottle of wine and enjoy it because we know we love it, taking a fresh look at the official notes can actually give us different nuances to look for and enjoy.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016767f2467e970b-800wi

    Details

    "Blend: 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Meunier. Over 85% Grands and Premiers crus. 

    Maturation: cellar aged for more than twice the time required by the appellation. 

    Dosage: moderate, 8 to 9 grams per liter."

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016767f20185970b-800wi

    Tasting Notes

    "To the eye: a golden colour, distinctive of black grape varieties; very fine bubbles. 

    To the nose: a beautiful aromatic complexity ; ripe fruit and spicy aromas ; hints of roasted apples, apple compote and peaches. 
    On the palate: a subtle combination of structure, length and vivacity ; bubbles like velvet ; pear, brioche and spicy aromas, notes of fresh walnut."
     
    Bollinger is a Champagne to share with special friends to celebrate life's special moments or to pop open when the wine itself is to be the occasion.

    We purchased our bottle at Federal Wine and Spirits, but it is widely available and can occasionally be found at bargain prices. Expect to see it in the $60 to $70 range.

    Here's to 2019. Cheers!

     

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2018 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Argyle Vintage Brut 2013 Is Our choice to Toast October 2018 with an Old Favorite!

    We've made Argyle Vintage Brut 2013 our choice for October in this year of favorite sparkling wines!

    We almost always have a bottle of this outstanding sparkler in our wine rack, so we pulled one out to chill and to toast one of our favorite months of the year.

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    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month! Here's some basic info about this one.

    The Facts:

    Vintage Brut | 2013 Willamette Valley AVA

    Bottle Fermented, Aged on the Yeast,

    60% Pinot Noir — 40% Chardonnay, ABV: 12.5%

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    The last time we reported to you on this particular vintage of this particular wine, we said:

    "As spectacular as ever! Great body with nice Pinot-forward character. Shared with friends as we all raised our glasses to toast the arrival of July! Already have another bottle on-ice and ready to go!"

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    Here's to October 2018! Raise a glass of one of your favorites with us! And, while you're toasting, raise a glass to a great winemaker Rollin Soles!

    Related Posts:

    Argyle’s Rollin Soles Talks Wine with BostonZest

    March Sparkles with Argyle’s 2001 Extended Tirage Brut – It’s a Sure Thing!

    Oregon’s Argyle Brut to Light-Up July!

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Argyle Vintage Brut 2013 Is Our choice to Toast October 2018 with an Old Favorite!

    We've made Argyle Vintage Brut 2013 our choice for October in this year of favorite sparkling wines!

    We almost always have a bottle of this outstanding sparkler in our wine rack, so we pulled one out to chill and to toast one of our favorite months of the year.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401b8d291d312970c-800wi

    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month! Here's some basic info about this one.

    The Facts:

    Vintage Brut | 2013 Willamette Valley AVA

    Bottle Fermented, Aged on the Yeast,

    60% Pinot Noir — 40% Chardonnay, ABV: 12.5%

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401bb09aab7a0970d-800wi

    The last time we reported to you on this particular vintage of this particular wine, we said:

    "As spectacular as ever! Great body with nice Pinot-forward character. Shared with friends as we all raised our glasses to toast the arrival of July! Already have another bottle on-ice and ready to go!"

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401bb09aab81e970d-800wi

    Here's to October 2018! Raise a glass of one of your favorites with us! And, while you're toasting, raise a glass to a great winemaker Rollin Soles!

    Related Posts:

    Argyle’s Rollin Soles Talks Wine with BostonZest

    March Sparkles with Argyle’s 2001 Extended Tirage Brut – It’s a Sure Thing!

    Oregon’s Argyle Brut to Light-Up July!

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Spending Time with a Sparkling Old Friend This July – Argyle Vintage Brut

    Well look who stopped by to help us ring in July – a sparkling old friend from Oregon who goes by the name of Argyle Vintage Brut 2013!

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    While we’ve had a long, happy relationship through the years, it’s been awhile since we’ve shared each other’s company.  

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    This Pinot-forward sparkler comes from Argyle’s Grower Series and promises a rich, round peach nature helped along by “… the complexity of honey, cherry kernel and lingering anise.”

    The balance and focus of the finish is said to come from the wine’s “… dynamic acid backbone and edgy minerality.”

    Just this past April, Wine Spectator awarded the 2013 Argyle Vintage Brut 89 Points, praising it as “Crisp and precise, with apple and pomelo aromas and sleek, tangy flavors that finish with vibrancy. Drink now. —T.F.”

    Screen Shot 2017-06-30 at Friday June 30 20173.51.49 PM

    Hmm … Sounds a lot like the old friend we remember. We also remember meeting Argyle's Founder Rollin Soles (in the Argyle photo above) at Bauer Wine & Spirits. (Check out: "Argyle's Rollin Soles Talks Wine with BostonZest" in Related Posts below.)

    Catching up after time apart can mean a bit of uncertainty. Maybe one or both of you have changed? We’ll let you know how it goes.

    Until then, “Here’s to July!” and our Sparkling Resolution!

    The Facts:

    Vintage Brut | 2013 Willamette Valley AVA

    Bottle Fermented, Aged on the Yeast,

    60% Pinot Noir — 40% Chardonnay, ABV: 12.5%

    We purchased our bottle of Argyle Vintage Brut 2013 on sale for $20 at Bauer Wine & Spirits.

    * (07.04.2017) Update: As spectacular as ever! Great body with nice Pinot-forward character. Shared with friends as we all raised our glasses to toast the arrival of July! Already have another bottle on-ice and ready to go!

     

    Related Posts:

    Argyle’s Rollin Soles Talks Wine with BostonZest

    March Sparkles with Argyle’s 2001 Extended Tirage Brut – It’s a Sure Thing!

    Oregon’s Argyle Brut to Light-Up July!

    Our Sparkling Resolution

    Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List
     

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino

    Photography: © 2017 Penny Cherubino   

     

  • Spending Time with a Sparkling Old Friend This July – Argyle Vintage Brut

    Well look who stopped by to help us ring in July – a sparkling old friend from Oregon who goes by the name of Argyle Vintage Brut 2013!

      IMG_0050

    While we’ve had a long, happy relationship through the years, it’s been awhile since we’ve shared each other’s company.  

     IMG_0049

    This Pinot-forward sparkler comes from Argyle’s Grower Series and promises a rich, round peach nature helped along by “… the complexity of honey, cherry kernel and lingering anise.”

    The balance and focus of the finish is said to come from the wine’s “… dynamic acid backbone and edgy minerality.”

    Just this past April, Wine Spectator awarded the 2013 Argyle Vintage Brut 89 Points, praising it as “Crisp and precise, with apple and pomelo aromas and sleek, tangy flavors that finish with vibrancy. Drink now. —T.F.”

    Screen Shot 2017-06-30 at Friday June 30 20173.51.49 PM

    Hmm … Sounds a lot like the old friend we remember. We also remember meeting Argyle's Founder Rollin Soles (in the Argyle photo above) at Bauer Wine & Spirits. (Check out: "Argyle's Rollin Soles Talks Wine with BostonZest" in Related Posts below.)

    Catching up after time apart can mean a bit of uncertainty. Maybe one or both of you have changed? We’ll let you know how it goes.

    Until then, “Here’s to July!” and our Sparkling Resolution!

    The Facts:

    Vintage Brut | 2013 Willamette Valley AVA

    Bottle Fermented, Aged on the Yeast,

    60% Pinot Noir — 40% Chardonnay, ABV: 12.5%

    We purchased our bottle of Argyle Vintage Brut 2013 on sale for $20 at Bauer Wine & Spirits.

    * (07.04.2017) Update: As spectacular as ever! Great body with nice Pinot-forward character. Shared with friends as we all raised our glasses to toast the arrival of July! Already have another bottle on-ice and ready to go!

     

    Related Posts:

    Argyle’s Rollin Soles Talks Wine with BostonZest

    March Sparkles with Argyle’s 2001 Extended Tirage Brut – It’s a Sure Thing!

    Oregon’s Argyle Brut to Light-Up July!

    Our Sparkling Resolution

    Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List
     

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino

    Photography: © 2017 Penny Cherubino   

     

  • Bollinger Rosé Champagne Is Our Choice for Our New Year’s Toast!

    This year, our choice of a wine to welcome in 2015 is Bollinger Rosé Champagne. This lovely pinot forward wine comes from one of our favorite Champagne houses. We’ve featured the Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut many times across the years. Thanks to a tasting at Brix Wine Shop, we were able to taste three wines from the Bollinger line: The Special Cuvee (to remind ourselves why we like it), the Rosé, and the 2004 Grande Annee.

    DSC_5116 - Version 22014-12-18bollinger-rose-champagne-new-years-eve-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    While we don’t go to a lot of wine tastings, we are tempted when we can sample wines that are seldom available by the glass or when we can meet a great winemaker, importer, or another of our heros of the wine world. Thank you to Brix for the number of times they have delivered such an opportunity. 

    DSC_5103 - Version 22014-12-18-Bollinger-Rose-champagne-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    We start each month with a glass of bubbly and each year we search for a very special wine for the first sip of the new year. Since we are definitely part of the stay at home on New Year’s Eve contingent, we have been known to splurge on this annual tradition. 

    Without tasting the line, we might have selected the Grande Annee based on the wonderful tasting notes we’ve read and its reputation as one of the truly great Champagnes. It is! And we enjoyed every sip as this wine showed what careful aging can do to add je ne sais quoi to Chardonnay forward Champagne. Making it our sparkler for a new year was tempting.

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    But, the Rosé hit our sweet spot. With more pinot in the mix and just the right note of fresh fruit and acidity, it won our hearts. 

    Make no mistake, we loved all three Bollingers, but sitting here on New Year’s Eve, we know that the Rosé will keep us smiling from the first pop of the cork to the final drip as we hold the bottle upside down over a glass to slide out the last drop.

    We’re posting this early so that you have time to buy a bottle if you are tempted by our choice this year. 

    Here’s More About Our Sparkling Resolution

    And, Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

    Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

    The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine

    The New Wine Lover’s Companion

    The Wine Bible

     

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino, 3rd photo courtesy of Bollinger
    Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

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  • Toast August with Mumm Napa Brut Prestige

    When we gathered American sparkling wines for our July 4th celebration, Mumm Napa Brut Prestige was easy to find. And, sometimes that is a very good thing to say about a good wine. 

    DSC_2905 - Version 22014-06-14- California-sparkling-wine-mumm-napa-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    You’ll find this California sparkler on many wine lists and in a wide range of retail shops. While we love exploring smaller production, less widely known wines, it’s wonderful when we look at a shelf or wine list and find a wine we know we’ll like among less interesting offerings.

    DSC_2876 - Version 22014-06-14- California-sparkling-wine-mumm-napa-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    This is a pinot forward mix of the traditional Champagne blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier with a dash of Pinot Gris added for distinction.

    Mumm Napa says, 

    “If you asked winemaker Ludovic Dervin to name the quintenssential Napa Valley Sparkling wine, his answer would inevitably be Brut Prestige. Our signature cuvée, this versatile wine is sourced from more than 50 prime Napa Valley vineyards to create an infintely elegant, gorgeously balanced wine. Delicate golden peach color, tantalizing hints of melon, spice and toasty vanilla, with a crisp lingering finish. This sparkling wine has won more medals at major wine competitions than any other wine in its class.”

    DSC_2908 - Version 22014-06-14- California-sparkling-wine-mumm-napa-© 2011 Penny Cherubino (1)

    This is a food-friendly wine that can also step in for toasting at an event or sipping on the deck by the sea. 

    You can download the full detail notes from Mumm here:  Download Wine notes Mumm Napa Brut Prestige

    DSC_2917 - Version 22014-06-14- California-sparkling-wine-mumm-napa-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Currently, the price point for this lovely sparkler hovers around $20 at retail. That makes it a fine choice for a celebration or a gift. So raise your glass of bubbles with us to celebrate a new month. And, keep Mumm Napa Brut Prestige in mind when you find yourself in search of a familar, dependable sparkler at a good price. 

    And, here is the latest edition of The Oxford Companion to Wine that has been posing with this month’s star wine.

    Here’s More About Our Sparkling Resolution

    And, Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

    By the way, Friday Links will return next week. Meanwhile, here are a few of our past weekly recommendations for you to click and explore.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino  

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