Part
of Croscill's premium White Label collection, Kyoto Bedding seeks to
embody the spirit of the Japanese city. Sophisticated comforter is
soft, alabaster polyester/rayon jacquard with raised golden florals and
leaves. Comforter is backed in cotton jacquard sheeting. Imported.

85th Anniversary Limited Edition

In celebration of 85 years of refined Italian craftsmanship, Aurora is proud to present the 85th Anniversary Limited Edition. This collector’s item is available in an elegant red marble resin with solid silver trim. The cap features an oval-shaped top with in-laid mosaic-type Aurora logo and a precious jewel clip inscribed with the number 85. A floral motif reminiscent of Aurora’s first models adorns the band of the cap as well as a serial number that certifies the authenticity and uniqueness of each piece. Retail Price: $ 1500.00

If you are looking for fine French wine and food, consider the Beaujolais region of southeastern France. You may find a bargain, and I hope that you'll have fun on this fact-filled wine education tour in which we review a local white Beaujolais wine.

Among France's eleven wine-growing regions Beaujolais perhaps surprisingly ranks number eight in total acreage devoted to the grape. However, it is one of the best-known wine regions to a large degree because of the enormously successful Beaujolais Nouveau marketing campaign. I review Beaujolais Nouveau wine in a companion article in this series.

Beaujolais wine is usually, but not always, red. Beaujolais white wine comes from a variety of grapes including Chardonnay as in the wine reviewed below, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Aligotй.

There are no cities in the entire region so tourists will have to be satisfied with the 14 mile (23 kilometer) Beaujolais wine route and its villages. Most of them are. This wine route is home to nine of the Beaujolais grands crus including Chiroubles, reviewed in a companion article.

Not far from the wine route is Villars-les-Dombes (population four thousand) with an excellent bird sanctuary, including four hundred species of birds. Continue south to the medieval walled town of Pйrouges (population about one thousand) on a hilltop. This town was the setting for the movie The Three Musketeers. Before reviewing the Beaujolais wine and imported cheeses that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region. Start with Cuisses de Grenouilles (Frogs Legs). For your second course savor Quenelles de Brochet (Poached Fish Dumplings). And as dessert indulge yourself with Galettes de Pйrouges (Pйrouges Pancakes).

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Pisse-Dru Beaujolais Blanc 2004 12.9% alcohol about $10.00

Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. The name "Pisse-Dru" comes from an amusing French vintners expression: when an old vigneron says with a smile of satisfaction on his face, "зa pisse dru", it means that the vintage he has just tasted is to his liking and that the fresh juice of the grape will grow into a perfect and delicious bottle of wine.

Yellow-green color with hints of gold. Fine and fruity on the nose, this wine shows aromas of quince and small yellow plum with some floral nuances. A very pleasant wine with a long finish. Serve chilled with hors d'oeuvres, grilled seafood, cold-cuts, poultry with light cream sauce and cold pasta salads. And now for the review.

My first meal consisted of barbecued chicken with potatoes cooked in chicken fat and green beans in tomato sauce. The wine had a nice tingling taste and was refreshingly acidic. It really cut the grease of this quite greasy meal.

My next pairing was with a commercial chicken pot pie perked up by a Chinese hot sauce. This Beaujolais Blanc was once again refreshingly acidic, light and fruity. But it was fairly short and overpowered by a hot sauce that wasn't very hot. The wine had no such problem with poppy seed cake.

My final meal was an omelet with brown mushrooms, local provolone cheese, and the fixings. I was surprised and somewhat disappointed that the wine was quite light when paired with a mild-tasting omelet.

I next tried this wine with an Italian Bel Paese, a mild buttery cheese that people suggest to accompany fruity wines or to be eaten alone as a snack or a dessert. This pairing was a relative success; the cheese seemed to soften the wine's acid and bring out its fruit.

My last tasting was with a French Saint-Aubin, a soft cow's milk cheese traditionally packed in a wooden box. This cheese has a creamy brie-like texture and a stronger taste. The cheese was a little strong for the wine.

Final verdict. Like most people I know, I have a limited budget. This wine was fine for the price. It doesn't go well with everything, most wines don't. But it goes very well with food that I really like (barbecued chicken and greasy potatoes), and I am planning to buy it again.

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Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine French or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His major wine website is www.theworldwidewine.com His major article website is www.travelitalytravel.com

Vegas is naturally associated with gambling. Then came the inexpensive food, in order to get people to stay near the casinos to... gamble. Later came shows to attract people to the casinos to, well, gamble. But Vegas has evolved. Fine restaurants, shows solely for the sake of entertainment and - finally - great shopping has arrived. Today, the Las Vegas visitor will find more choices than any amount of plastic could cover. The shops offer everything from run-of-the-mill clothing to fine chocolate to exotic cars, all done Vegas-style, of course.

Several of the hotel/casinos have become shopping meccas as well. One of the largest is the 175,000 square foot, tri-level complex at Caesars. The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace are located at 3500 S. Las Vegas Blvd ('The Strip') and provide over 100 shops to choose from. Versace, the famed clothing designer, sells clothing but has added a Home Collection shop full of rugs, dishware and other items for your own royal abode. The equally famed jewelry design company, Harry Winston, has a shop at The Forums. Between the pair, your plastic is sure to get dented, but save some for The Cheesecake Factory. After all that shopping you deserve dessert. The 100,000 square foot shopping area at Mandalay Place may not be the town's largest, but it is second to none. There are over 40 shops that offer everything from golf accessories to doggie spa products.

The latter, Lush Puppy, is a dog's best friend. Stuffed full of beds, sweaters and dog toys, your best friend can even get a fortune cookie made just for him or her. After you've eased your conscience by spoiling Rex, spoil yourself at 55 Degrees Wine & Design. An array of tablet PCs allow even the most technophobic to easily select from a huge selection of fine vintages. Sally up to the wine bar and try out a few. Improve your knowledge of wine, or any number of subjects, by visiting The Reading Room. This bookstore has a selection of books not generally found in any other retail store. You can pick up a tome on Ancient Greek oenology or brush up on the latest information available on glass-blowing techniques in British Columbia. Located at Mandalay Bay, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd, be sure to stop into the Chocolate Swan and indulge. Then slip over to Giorgio Caffé & Ristorante. Life is uncertain, eat dessert first.

The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian is another themed shopping area with a wide variety of choices. Movado watch company offers fine timepieces not far from the elegant clothing at Ann Taylor's. As the street performers entertain you, walk along the canal and listen the gentle sloshing of the gondolas transporting visitors along a half-mile journey. Take a ride yourself, then step off and do some window shopping. Enjoy the simulated St. Mark's Square while you peruse the Venetian glass figurines, such as the exquisite hand-blown dolphins from Ripa de Monti. Go next door to Il Prato and pick out a delightful costume mask for the next royal ball. Select some fine stationary to make out invitations and get a personalized wax seal so the guests will know immediately from whom it came. Speaking of wax, be sure to check out the Madame Tussaud's while you're there.

For sheer size and number of stores, try the Desert Passage complex at the Aladdin. With 475,000 square feet of retail space, and over 130 stores, you're bound to find something to please. While you're there, check out the full-sized freighter anchored next to a North African dock. Casablanca never looked so intriguing. Stick around for dinner and go to the excellent New Orleans restaurant, Commander's Palace. Crawfish to crawl for. Las Vegas has a dozen other shopping centers and hundreds of independent shops scattered over Fremont Street, The Strip and elsewhere. You'll have to come several times just to pick your favorites. Take that afternoon plane and zoom in for a fun weekend where the shopping is no gamble.

 

Leaping Horse Chardonnay and Merlot presented in a keepsake gull-wing box. This holiday favorite makes an excellent corporate gift!

These well known Californian wines are perfect for any occasion. The Merlot is juicy and balanced with a light to medium body while the Chardonnay is crisp, delicate and light to medium bodied.

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