#Bordeaux Blend

[wine-porn]

Bloc Party

I can’t believe my luck at stumbling on a producer in Paso making such delicious, drinkable wines. Across the board. Great vineyard sources, all, and here is a great example. Sure the west-side gets all the plaudits and blingy price-points, but as I have long championed: the vast sprawling expanses of east-side make the *working-man’s* wines–especially cab and merlot. I’m guessing probably…

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#Best wine reviews #Bordeaux Blend #Central Coast Critic #Detente #Detente Wines #eastern bloc #eastside paso robles #El Pomar #Paso Robles #PAso robles best wineries #Paso robles Cabernet #Red blend #soif #Soif Wine Blog #Stephen McConnell #Stephen McConnell Wine Blog #Steve McConnell #Steve McConnell Wine Blog #wine1percent

[ruou-tot]

Cordier Collection Privee Bordeaux

Cordier Collection Privee Bordeaux có màu đỏ đậm đầy hấp dẫn, thu hút thực khách bằng vẻ đẹp sang trọng, huyền bí. Sắc đỏ cùng hương thơm của rượu đã phần nào thể hiện sự kết hợp hoàn hảo giữa ba giống nho Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot và Cabernet Franc. Cordier Collection Privee Bordeaux thể hiện những tầng hương ngọt ngào, sắc nét của hoa quả chín như dâu tây, anh đào, mâm xôi, violet, việt quất… Điểm nhấn trong hương thơm là nốt trầm của gỗ sồi, chocolate và vanilla chậm rãi lan tỏa trong khứu giác. Rượu mang vị chát rõ ràng, bám chặt nên vòm miệng do sự lão hóa của ba giống nho trong thời gian dài. Dòng vang đỏ này còn mang lớp acid và tanin cân bằng, tạo nên độ chua và chất rượu mềm mượt, trung hòa vị giác khiến tầng vị trở nên sống động, trôi chảy.

#wine #Bordeaux #ruouvang #Cordier Collection Privee Bordeaux #Bordeaux Blend

[wine-picks]

🇫🇷 🍷 It's Thirsty Thursday & I'm enjoying excellent 2010 Château Coufran (93 pts, $44) from Bordeaux tonight. 85/15 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Arrived in LCBO VINTAGES a couple of weeks ago. Full review: https://rebrand.ly/stold73

#wine #vin #red wine #red blend #merlot #cabernet sauvignon #haut medoc #bordeaux #france #wiyg #winelover #wineoclock #thirsty thursday

[iridescene]

✐ hi Iryth!! black, or red! you can do my name or a quote from gintama you really like, i hope you are doing well :3

Send me a ✐ and I'll handwrite a prompt/word/quote of your choice in a color of your choice.

#hi caim!! i hope you're doing a bit better now :') #thank you for sending this in!! #again the lighting of my place doesn't do the ink color justice #seize the night is such an amazing color; it's the very hue of a night sky within a distant memory of mine #i guess people can see it as a deep shade of bordeaux so in a way its also a perfect blend of black and red :3 #also i love this quote so so much; top 10 quotes that changed the course of my life tbh #thank you so much for this brilliant prompt #:caim: #creasions #:outlook:

[ehxcelling]

Bordeaux Blending Masterclass

#Bordeaux Blending Masterclass

[sgiandubh]

Some people look for the most ridiculous reasons to base their hatred... have you seen that? Now Sam didn't create his products because he didn't 'develop the recipe', he just paid for it. Oh, for God's sake 🙄 https://www.tumblr.com/maximumwobblerbanditdonut/744755136698646528/excuse-me-are-you-the-creator-of-your-drinks-the?source=share

Dear Ridiculous Hatred Anon,

That particular blogger, whom I have long suspected (without being able or really caring to substantiate) to be one of the Mordor Sopranos' clone outlet, is particularly hateful towards S.

Like a dog with a bone, that page will obsessively focus on the tiniest details and feel compelled to have an opinion on just about anything you could think of, from hair transplants, to whisky blending, to sweating, to acting, to ghostwriting. Now, that is a mouthful and goes to prove Google research skills do not an intelligent person make. Not as long as you still generously place your commas between subject and verb, in your excruciating phrases.

If this blogger wants to show equanimity and fair play, I suggest to own her reasoning and bravely shout out her dissatisfaction to people like the Rothschilds, who simply bought the mythical Pauillac red wine Château Brane-Mouton and renamed it Château Mouton Rothschild. In 1853. Bottled and sold directly from the property since 1920, just because the Earth continues to turn around the Sun without all the naysayers.

It is one of the greatest red Bordeaux wines on this planet, indeed. But the Rothschilds had no part to play in that mysterious alchemy between soil, sun and water. And the names of its curators, called maîtres de chai, who meticulously take care of the whole process, while known, are never widely publicized.

I suggest you ignore that parochial fuckwit who thinks she is a sophisticated person just because she has access to a keyboard and the Internet. Things are not different when it comes to spirits and S did nothing wrong, this time.

And before she screeches back, let's have a look at this 1996 (an exceptional year, by the way) grand cru classé Mouton Rothschild AOC bottle, bearing the name and signature of the baroness Philippine de Rothschild:

PS: I know a thing or two about wine not only because I lived in France for a good while. I know a thing or two about wine because that was my grandfather's all-consuming passion, by family tradition (they hailed from the Pays Basque, a long and complicated story). An almost teetotaler who produced his own. Go figure.

#anon #fandom #shitshow

[angelasscribbles]

A Fervid Fixation Epilogue

Series: A Fervid Fixation

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings: Riley x Drake

Rating: Teen

Warnings for this chapter: None

Word Count: 686

My other stuff: Master List.

In the Ariége department of the Occitania region of France, outside a sparsely populated village nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains not far from the borders of both Spain and Andorra, a young boy with chestnut-colored hair flying out behind him ran across the verdant green fields of his family’s ranch screaming, “Papa! Papa!”

“Wait, Gabriel!” His mother laughed as she shifted her ten-month-old daughter from one hip to the other, “Papa is coming! Move out of the way of the horses!”

It was October and Drake, along with the handful of other ranchers in the area were returning with the Mérens horses from their annual migration back down into the valley from the mountainside where they had spent the summer months.

Gabriel’s cousins joined him, all three boys running and jumping with excitement.

Riley looked at Savannah and shook her head as she laughed, “Every year!”

Savannah laughed in agreement as she watched her sons. One with russet brown hair and blue eyes like the father that he would never know, and one with the raven hair and brown eyes of the man that had raised them both.

Anton wasn’t always a present father, his job often keeping him away, but he was a doting one and their relationship was full of love and affection.

Drake often joked that it was the only reason Anton, aka Jason, had helped them escape. Because Savannah, whom he had kept in touch with after helping Drake stage her disappearing act, would have never forgiven him otherwise.

Anton came and went but Drake, Riley, and Savannah had made the small ranch their home. Located in the south of France, it was far out of the way of touristy destinations like Paris, Provence, Bordeaux, or Versailles. Well away from any place that a royal tour or diplomatic detachment might visit.

Drake and Savannah had already spoken fluent French while Riley had barely known two words in the beginning, but she had eventually learned to speak French like a native. As far as any of their neighbors knew, Drake and Savanna, aka Dominic and Sylvanna were from Normandy, and Riley, aka Ranae, was from Canada. All of the children were native speakers.

When the herd was back in their winter pastures, Drake trotted his horse to the yard and dismounted, “Who wants to help me untack Thunder?”

“Me! Me! Me!” all three boys jumped and squealed gleefully.

“Okay,” he laughed, “Come here!” He picked the boys up one by one and swung them up onto the sturdy back of the five-year-old Mérens gelding.

He made a purposeful detour past Riley so he could stop and kiss her. He leaned into her with a smile “Missed you!”

The boys giggled as he pressed his lips to hers.

“Papa!” The baby girl in her arms reached a hand out to pat his face.

“You too, mon bébé!” He kissed her chubby cheeks and hugged Savannah before giving Riley another smile as he led the horse to the stables.

That night after dinner, baths, and bedtime stories, Drake climbed into bed and held his wife close as his kids, sister, and nephews slept safely just down the hall and gave silent thanks for whatever miracle had brought her into his life and allowed them to successfully escape the wrath of a jilted king.

It had been five years since they had fled Cordonia. Five years of living mostly off the grid. Five years of raising Mérens horses, blending with the local farmers, and hiking in the mountains until they knew their way to the remote cabin Drake had built hidden deep in mountains well enough to find it in the dark.

Behind a false wall in the back of the walk-in closet in the master bedroom sat an old, scuffed-up duffle bag filled with cash, weapons, and forged passports giving them citizenship in a myriad of countries. While he hoped they never needed to use it, he was never without an escape plan, just in case.

After all, the statute of limitations on murder never expired.  

Merens Horses

#fervid fixation #trr au #drake walker #drake x riley #riley brooks #drake x mc #choices fic writers creations #cfwc fics of the week #trr #trr drake #trr au fanfic #trr fanfic #choices trr #the royal romance fanfic #trr fandom #choices the royal romance #trr fanfiction #the royal romance #drake walker x mc

[pink-moon-stick]

Wardrobe Post 2023 Part 1: OPs

Mary Magdalene - Tarte Tatin OP - "Classic Beige"

A new purchase, but I'm already in love. I'm hoping I can get the other colourways!

Mary Magdalene - Carlotta OP - "Shell Pink"*

This one was a rescue (yes, it's the WW carlotta) I got for cheap from a pal! It had horrific dye bleed/fading and was missing its bow and neck ties. I decided to dye it red to mimic the Strawberry colourway, and it came out to be basically a perfect match! I used the original waist ties to add gussets to the sides, and then I found some cotton sateen to dye up and used that to replace the neck ties and bow. Im working on replacement waist ties, but haven't finished yet. It's become one of my favourite dresses!

Mary Magdalene - Fleur Antionette OP - "Iris"

This one's another rescue-- when I got it it was stained and altered. I redid the gussets, added lining, and got the stains out. Currently working on replacing the bows!

Victorian Maiden - Chiffon Doll OP - Brown

I got this one at a swap meet and am obsessed with it! The bodice is cotton, so it's very breathable and comfortable, and it's great layered over sweaters and blouses!

Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Sugar Bouquet Shirring OP (2005) - White

One of my favourites! I'm mostly into classic lately, but old school sweet has a place in my heart. I actually prefer this version to the 2023 version-- there's a drawstring in the neckline that makes the shoulder measurement somewhat adjustable to prevent bust gapping. It is a little shorter, though, so bloomers are a must for me!

Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Sugar Bouquet Shirring OP (2023) - "Antique Blue"

The modern edition! I was lucky enough to get this through the preorder lottery-- I kind of regret not getting the ichigo mousse colourway as well. The cut is very comfortable, with lots of stretch, and its long enough to hit at the knee for me. It does have a lot more poof than the 2005 edition, though, and requires multiple petticoats for me.

Alice and the Pirates - Toi et Moi OP - Black x Bordeaux

One of my few remaining polyester dresses! It's actually a cotton-poly blend, and the weave is very breathable, especially since the lining is cotton. It's quite long, too, so very nice for taller people. I really love violet prints, so I couldn't bring myself to let this one go.

Alice and the Pirates - Princess Serenity OP - White (one colour)

This was a dream dress that I actually managed to get BNWT for retail price! It hadn't even been taken out of the original plastic. It's very detailed and lovely, there's several layers of fabric and lots of gold embroidery. It's a little too fancy and rare to wear out often, but I am happy to own it as a sailor moon fan.

#Lolita Wardrobe #Wardrobe 2023 #OPs #Mary Magdalene #BTSSB #AATP #Victorian Maiden

[paladinkit]

Tour de Fleece 2023

While I'm still spinning for the Tour de Femmes extra week, I thought I'd put my totals for main tour up here now :) @a-tour-de-fleece

I completed seven projects (and made progress on several spindle projects as well). My completed spinning totaled 856g/ 1.9lb, and my finished skeins would measure 1405yd laid end to end, with yardage of individual plies totaling 3247yd. Individual project photos and totals below the cut!

time for another adventure - 149yd/154g polwarth/silk/tweed Inglenook Bordeaux mirror-plied bulky rustic yarn. An experiment in thicker singles (some success, less evenness than I'd like) and my first time mirroring colors in a ply. surprised and enchanted by how the color turned out.

transformation - 160yd/103g silk/rambouillet Fresh Lotus Designs silk lap plied to a Rambouillet singles -- this one was straight up a trans metaphor in the spinning. new and surprisingly challenging work (silk laps are a bitch to draft it turns out). gorgeous and worth it. stabilized when paired with work from my past (the rambo single came from deep stash). also it's pride colors c'mon.

a long delayed dusk - 228yd/125g merino/silk/mohair/stellina home blended 2-ply DK yarn -- spun and plied entirely on the first challenge day. deep stash blended fiber I utterly failed to spin in 2019 (too many lengths!) but I achieved it now. @damnfool-of-a-took picked the colors in the first place and she still loves them

underwater dreams - 294yd/100g Polwarth Cozy Hearth Yarn Works Island Time fractal 3-ply fingering yarn -- this is some of my dye work! it's not actually listed in the store bc I was trying for something else when I made it, but I did take notes so who knows, it may be listed someday. it turned out shockingly perfectly given this was absolutely the spin I zoned out on the most. literally my most even and exact and perfect yarn ever.

as above so below - 199yd/150g BFL/merino/tencel/noil/angelina Ajem Fiber Arts Nebula & High Tide marled woolen aran yarn -- made me fall in love with batts again. SO fluffy and fun to spin! and this kind of color busyness is more my speed <3

berries ripen in the gold - 72yd/134g BFL/muga silk Fresh Lotus Designs home blended thick and thin yarn -- my first blending board rolag project in a long while. next time I'll load less on each board, as these were tricky to draft and the spinning suffered for it, but I'm still really happy with the colors, and since it was a gift for my wife and she loves it, that's good enough :)

the cool refreshing taste of being yourself - 303yd/151g Merino/tussah/flax Inglenook Cucumber z-plied 3-ply light worsted yarn -- it's a traditional 3-ply but backwards. it's the basic three fiber types drenched in a snazzy dye bath. it's absolutely being used for witchcraft.

#fiber arts #handspun #tour de fleece

[shibasommelier]

2012 Seña

So this is very nice Bordeaux blend from a Chilean winery founded by Robert Mondavi and Eduardo Chadwick. Loads of Bordeaux notes - cassis, plums, fresh leather, cherries, and a hint of nutmeg on the nose. Cassis, dark cherries, and plums on the palate with lovely sweet spices to round it out.

4/5 bones

$$$$$

52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Carmenere, 12% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot

14% abv

Aconcagua Valley, CHILE

#shiba #Shiba inu #wine #red wine #Aconcagua valley #chile #shibe #doge #red sheeb #sheeb #cute #dogs #animals

[spilladabalia]

French bookstore Librairie Mollat, in Bordeaux, seamlessly blends people’s faces with book covers

#librairie mollat #bookfaces #book covers #books #photography

[wine-porn]

Per Bordeaux

While the Zinfandel thing is over, and most are still staking claims on Rhone varieties ruling Paso, I often say I think Cab is going to be the ultimate legacy for the region. Basically the only thing I agree with Daniel Doau on–maybe for different reasons, maybe not. The west side is full of madrone and manzanita higher up and classical nut orchards below: everything the Napa Valley was and is.…

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#2014 #Bordeaux Blend #Cabernet Sauvignon #Central coast cabernet #Meritage #merlot #Paso port #Paso Port Company #Paso Robles #PAso robles best wineries #Paso Robles Cab Collective #Paso robles Cabernet #Pasoport #Per caso #Per Caso Cellars #Red blend #Soif Wine Blog #Stephen McConnell Wine Blog #Steve Glossner #Steve McConnell Wine Blog #wine1percent

[mishy-mashy]

I lost the OG post where I was talking about the EX novel 4

Anyway, I got the book and haven't even read it straight because I'm too excited to do that, and

Spoilers.

- Reinhard really just had to blink and everyone died, huh...

- Groovy Gumlet is cute

- Julius is cute. He's also the MC here

- I thought that when the wiki said they didn't show Reinhard VS Cecilus, but cut to the aftermath, they were exaggerating for the sake of the wiki summary... they literally did this. Just said something like 'Begin!' and we cut to Cecilus covered in cuts

- Translations are a bit strange (Cecilus = Cecils, Ia = Ire, In = Innes, Vollachia = Volakia...)

- Cecilus is good at blending in to the point Ferris (a demihuman) didn't notice him, but Julius still happened to through magic

- Groovy makes an appearance screaming and flying through the sky and I like it. There's just a distant "YAAAAAAAHHHHH" from the forest

- Julius is really kind and compassionate here. He's also extremely perceptive of everything that I was surprised and half-scared because how???

- Cecilus is literally that guy who comes into work late, a disheveled mess

Vincent: Where are your two swords?

Cecilus, who arrived late: At the blacksmiths. I was late, so when I got out of bed, I just grabbed the two first swords I saw, and—

Is literally the gist of one of their conversations

- Julius is cute

- Cecilus almost got mistaken for a woman at first glance

- I like Groovy a lot. He swears like a sailor, is super cute, walks around with weapons galore, and his name is GROOVY

Like. Awesome puffballs.

- Vincent refers to Cecilus as a thing, talking about how he had absolutely no situational awareness from the start, being completely out of the loop the ENTIRE TIME

- Is Bordeaux buff or something under those old clothes??

- THE ART.

- Ferris's feminine appearance is commented on

- Reinhard wears a Collar of Submission for those who are into that

#cecilus is literally a live 'speak of the devil and he shall appear' and this happens with Vincent #reinhard wears a collar and i never needed to be made aware to that possibility #groovy is cute funny and screams a lot so hes even more endearing #groovy should have more appearances #julius uses complicated magic and doesnt even use cantations for some of them #which means he's skilled at magic #or is it different because he's a spirit user? #i really like the book #i just stare at the cover because it's so vibrant #i cant sit still to read it though #i made a post like this earlier and it got swallowed up so i tried remembering what i did mention #i think groovy needs more appearances to be fleshed out more #unless he's already served his purpose? #rezero #re:zero #re zero #ex novel 4 #julius juukulius #groovy gumlet #HIS LAST NAME IS GUMLET #baby gumdrops hyena cutie #reinhard van astrea #ferris #felix argyle #vincent vollachia #cecilus segmunt #i think i talked more earlier

[wine-picks]

🇫🇷 🍷 TGIF! Enjoying this excellent 2020 Château Guillou (92 pts, $25) from Bordeaux tonight. Blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Arrives in LCBO VINTAGES this weekend. Full review: https://rebrand.ly/hfb3psl

#wine #vin #red wine #red blend #merlot #cabernet franc #cab merlot #montagne-saint-emilion #bordeaux #france #lcbo #wiyg #winelover #wineoclock #tgif #friday night

[rottingmanifesto]

The History of New Bordeaux

Situated just a few miles north of New Orleans, Louisiana, “Bourbon City” is home to a unique blend of cultures, night life, history, and music, as well as being one of the busiest ports in the Gulf of Mexico, alongside its sister city. Founded by the French, ruled by Spanish forces for roughly 40 years then purchased as part of 1803’s Louisiana Purchase, New Bordeaux hosts a unique blend of Creole and Latin American cultures and vibrant (though tumultuous) history. The city has always been trapped in a power struggle between countless groups, but despite issues both social (poverty, crime rates, racial strife) and natural (slowly sinking land, hurricanes, floods), New Bordeaux persists as a testament to human will.

France & Sister City

The first residents of what would become New Bordeaux were Native American nations— Chitimacha, Coushatta, Tunica-Biloxi, amongst many other nations— though following the French exploration during the 1600-1700s (not including De Soto of the 1540s), most indigenous nations had been pushed away from the mouth of the Mississippi River. It was Bienville of France who established the first main settler colonies in the late 1710s, alongside New Bordeaux (which was just considered an outer territory of Nouvelle-Orléans). The city was officially established in 1718, though the original name has been lost to time as different areas called the city different names. Many historians have coined this as the “Proto-Bordeaux” period.

During this time, numerous groups lived in the territory, including: French settlers, formerly enslaved people (typically from the English colonies though not always) as well as free Black people, a few Latin American groups (primarily what is now known as the Dominican Republic and Cuba— note that the surge in this population would occur mostly during the Spanish Trials), and a few natives who had not been successfully pushed out of the region.

Spanish Trials to Louisiana Purchase

While New Orleans fell to Spanish power in 1763, Proto-Bordeaux navigated Spanish influence by avoiding interaction beyond trade. Though they did eventually “fall” into Spanish rule, it took two years for a semi-peaceful transition of power to occur. Under Spanish rule (though not nearly as strong as Spain’s grip on NOLA), Proto-Bordeaux now legally had a class of free People of Color (whereas beforehand it was a disputed but mostly accepted rule) and traded heavily with Cuba, Mexico, and other Latin American countries. The strong Catholic influence showed through the city’s architecture and art despite the Spanish not being extremely active in the city.

In 1796, Proto-Bordeaux faced the “Spanish Trials”, which was an attempt by the Spanish ruling class to unite the areas in hopes of economic gains and control. Countless people were put on trial as “insurrectionists” for disagreeing or speaking out against unification— the records however seem to indicate that most of these people who were put on trial were in fact not speaking out against unification but rather the injustices they faced from other groups in the city. The city would eventually tear itself apart in 1798 before a tentative reunification under brief French rule, thus ending the “Proto-Bordeaux” period.

In 1803, Louisianan territory reverted back to French rule but was sold quickly after by Napoleon in order to gain money to fund his war(s) in Europe. New Bordeaux became a wealthy port city for the United States.

Pre-Civil War

Alongside its sister city, New Bordeaux’s ports sailed raw materials and products to the Caribbean, South America, and Europe. Thousands of enslaved people were sold in its markets, but its free Black community thrived. Until the 1830s, the majority of its residents still spoke French or a local dialect that combined Spanish, French, and Native American languages. New Bordeaux notably had (and still has) a slightly different accent from New Orleans.

During the War of 1812, there was a small battle against British forces, and despite the smaller numbers, New Bordeaux’s citizens won and were able to push the British a bit more south.

Crime organizations from each neighborhood/area began to show up around this time, though it was sporadic— between pirates, smugglers, ethnic crime groups, and other groups, no one held much influence over the underbelly of the city. It was also during this time of crime that a very early form of what would come to be known as the Southern Union and Dixie Mob, respectively, would kidnap freed Black people and sell them to the highest bidder, usually the French or Spanish ruling classes on the ritzier ends of the city. It would be Reconstruction before either gained any significant power.

During Civil War

The Civil War was the largest turning point for NB, alongside New Orleans. Unlike NOLA, the residents were split between Confederate support and Union support, which led to the city more or less destroying itself (again) until a few families— the Harless family and Duvall family most notably— united the city under the Confederate flag. Even when NOLA fell to Union control, the Confederate force of NB attempted to fight back Union troops to no avail.

The Battle of New Bordeaux in August of 1862 (just a few months after New Orleans fell in April) lasted 3 days and ended when General Duvall was killed on field and most of the Confederate troops either fled or surrendered to the Union. The Union’s control of the city marked the second destruction and the end to the first era of New Bordeaux.

Reconstruction

Reconstruction was a turbulent time, especially for New Bordeaux, as the city had entered a new age of tense unification that no one seemed to have wanted. Sharecropping on old plantations in Frisco Fields area was not uncommon, though most free Black people were regulated to poverty with no conceivable way out, even with the aid of the US military. It didn’t take long for former Confederates to fight against every freedom given to the (already freed, for the large part) Black people of NB, to the point that Reconstruction was considered and early failure there. NOLA remained a powerful port, as NB’s older plantations started to fade away into the age of antiquity. However, their port remained mostly intact, and trade became a crutch as the city attempted to heal its internal wounds.

During Reconstruction, Confederate sympathizers and countless KKK-satellite organizations such as Dixie Mob and (more importantly) the Southern Union would seep into the city’s very fabric, alongside the numerous People of Color who already resided there. The United States government continually had a military presence stationed by the ports just in case the city attempted to destroy itself again despite the general failure of Reconstruction. (This would later contribute to the CIA presence in the city, but that would not be until the 40s with the OSS then later the CIA in the 50s.)

During this time, a few cults— most notably the Ensanglante— began to pop up as Confederate sympathizers looked for any and all excuses for their losses during the war. The notion of “the Filth” was in part inspired from Mormon doctrine, and much like Mormonism, focused on white American Imperialism and superiority over everything on Earth. The movements remained an upper-class cult, with the lower classes being “implemented” in the early part of the 20th century.

Early 20th Century

New Bordeaux, once again, began to rebuild its city. In the 1880s, Haitian and Italian immigrants appeared in droves, and by 1910, they were a part of the fabric of the city. Dominican and Cuban influences were already present but it began to show more in the city’s budding night life.

Compared to NOLA’s jazz, NB had more emphasis on dancing and blending together stringed instruments with the brass typical with jazz. Cello, violin, piano, trumpet, trombone, and drums were staples of New Bordeaux jazz, alongside Latin American-influenced dancing (mostly Dominican and Cuban). The Harlem Renaissance of New York influenced art and poetry from the Black community of NB and reinvigorated hope for freedom like what was seen during French-Spanish rule. Drinking also became a staple, and due to the pre-existing smuggling rings from pre-Reconstruction, 1920s’ Prohibition meant barely anything to the citizens. Numerous gangs also rose to prominence in the 20s, including the Italian-American mafia.

The Rule of Sal Marcano

Starting in the late 1800s, smaller crime organizations in different regions of the city had begun to crop up, though it would be until the late-1930s before many (beyond the Italian-American mafia) were able to seize any sizeable power. In the 20s, bootlegging using the underground tunnels was mostly blended between gangs (before Burke showing up), and areas like Delray Hollow (eventually being taken over by Samuel Robinson) and Barclay Mills (Enzo Conti’s area) each had its own crime situation. That all ended after Sal Marcano and his brothers forcibly took over NB’s crime underbelly.

Following the brutal murder of Giuseppe Carrillo (which is known as All Saints’ Day Massacre) under the guise of revenge— Sal had set his father up to be killed over gambling debts then accuse Carrillo of being merciless— the Marcano Family was established and took over all of the city’s rackets. It would be the late 1930s when Sal gained power in Cuba through casinos and ports, which brought in enough money to take the partially-crumbling city into a potential tourist attraction.

Sal was both a blessing and a curse to the city, bringing in more revenue than ever seen before from ports, colleges (which would now be considered STEM-centered), alcohol, weapon smuggling, underground gambling, and more. But, it seemed only to make the rich man richer and the poor man poorer.

Beyond the rule of Marcano, bluegrass and very early rock began (or, began to surge in popularity) in areas such as Delray Hollow, which produced 3 blues legends of the 1930s*.

Mid-Century

The 40s saw a large surge in nationalism in the city, as well as campaigns like Double-V that contributed to a large population of Black people from NB enlisting. Records show that roughly 15% of Black men from the city (who weren’t drafted) enlisted in the war. However, despite their best efforts, the racism back home only got worse thanks to people like Remy Duvall and the Southern Union. It wasn’t all bad however— Delray Hollow began to have more business, and a few social programs were established to help returning veterans gain some amount of education following their time in World War II.

Crime wise, Sal controlled most of the crime scene in the late 40s or otherwise coerced (or intimidated) their leaders into joining him— which is how Enzo Conti rose through the ranks, and Samuel “Sammy” Robinson (who was already head of the Black Mob) gained more influence. It was in the 1950s that the Haitian gang began to form and cause troubles for the Black Mob, following a large influx of immigrants due to political strife and violence back home.

In the 1950s, the town flourished. The night life and local attractions brought in thousands of tourists every year, due in part to the marketing from Lou Marcano, and the Marcano Family had a successful grip on both the police force and crime scene. But no amount of tourism or revenue could save a city so divided.

Following Executive Order 9981 in 1948, then Brown V Board of Education in 1954, protests struck all across the city. The ones that advocated for the instating of these policies turned violent when the police force and firefighters would release tear gas or hose down protesters, leading to countless deaths and widespread fear. Sal Marcano was never officially proven to have ties to these, though it is highly speculated that he played some part in all of this. This would start a trend of protests, violence, then fearful silence that would persist for years. Yet, the people pressed on, painting murals and expressing grievances through art when possible. Music became one of the biggest escapes for People of Color in NB, and rock had a distinct sound in the city. Acoustic guitar mixed with electric, stringed instruments, piano, organ, drums— it would build upon the foundation from the jazz scene, with its own twist of melancholy and anger (which was and is justified).

In the 60s the city trucked on, plagued with even more violence and hatred than ever before, but the starry-eyed hope for change persisted. The Korean War slipped by without much of a mention in the late 50s and no one exactly wanted a fresh war with French-Indochina— the only issue was that this new fangled “Vietnam” was falling to the commies, and god forbid that occur. Compared to World War II, Vietnam saw very few non-draftees from New Bordeaux, and the city’s poorer population tended to side with anti-war sentiment. In a way, social movements from way back in the late 1880s (as mass-industrialization occurred) contributed to the surprisingly strong socialist presence in the city. Alongside this came a vocal Black Power/Black nationalism scene, primarily seen through radio shows like “The Hollow Speaks” and the Black Panther branch that was eventually burnt in 1969.

The Black Mob, led officially by Sammy Robinson, had an iron grip on Delray Hollow despite the tension between them and the Haitians. The area continued to see large art movements, thanks in part to Sammy’s wife Perla, who funded many of the community plays, band nights, and even occasional local school events. Following her passing, a charity theatre was built.

By 1966, Sal Marcano had begun plans on “going legit” by legalizing gambling and creating a casino— it wasn’t suspected or a concern to anyone outside of his payroll, and even then, the move seemed to be purely due to nepotism. He wanted his son, Giorgi, to take over a semi-legitimate business and live comfortably (unlike he did in his early life). This would all backfire in the end.

A City Ablaze

The summer and fall of 1968 were arguably the largest to-date catalyst for the city’s continued turmoil. Many of the details remain vague or under lock and key by the Federal Bureau of Investigation— that being said, many of the files were declassified in 2017 following the (in)famous documentary in 2016 (in-universe, of course).

Following the heist of a federal reserve during the height of New Bordeaux’s liveliest celebration, Mardi Gras, Sammy Robinson’s bar was set on fire with him, his son Ellis, and Daniel “Danny” Burke (son of the bootlegger and notorious drunkard Thomas Burke) being killed preemptively by either being stabbed or shot by Sal and Giorgi Marcano and another man. Sammy’s adoptive son, Lincoln Clay (an army vet and distinguished service cross receiver), had survived being shot in the head and left to burn after being dragged out by a local priest. After a few months of in-and-out consciousness, Lincoln Clay began his violent streak that would tear the city limb from limb.

Starting in early March, the Federal Bureau of Investigation came down to the city to investigate the strange burning of Sammy’s Bar as well as the Marcano Family. The investigation was headed by Jonathan Maguire and faced numerous setbacks from the start— the residents didn’t talk to outsiders (especially not “feds”, since CIA agents and military personnel were already prevalent in the city), evidence was hard to come by, and even most of their surveillance equipment and files were stolen. Despite this, Maguire and his team continued their investigations.

On the other side of ‘justice’, Lincoln Clay, alongside his former CIA handler John Donovan and a cohort of other crime leaders from different areas of the city, proceeded to brutally massacre the entire Marcano Family and any associates that didn’t immediately side with Clay. Interestingly enough, it was Lincoln who did most of the work himself which wasn’t— and isn’t— seen much in gang activity. What is also of note is the sheer publicity and violence of many of the kills (hanging from a ferris wheel in an abandoned amusement park, thrown from the penthouse of the Royal Hotel, hung on a cross and burned alive, gutted alive and hung on a statue, etc.), which became solidified in the city’s history long before the blood dried up.

By October of 1968, hundreds of people— including Sal Marcano and his son— were left dead in warehouses, streets, and pavements. The FBI struggled with keeping track with everything, so much so that Lincoln Clay was able to slip away to god knows where. The city, for the 3rd time in its history, was left in shambles.

The Song Continues

The New Bordeaux Gang War (1969-1973)* temporarily shut down the city’s ports as federal agents and state guard troops attempted to calm the city down, but to little avail. Whatever remnants of the pre-Clay crime scene continually fought for power, money, land, or anything they could get their hands on. By 1973, Thomas Burke of the Irish mob and “Cassandra” of the Haitian gang were both dead, and with Vito Scaletta having fled in 1972, the city was left to smaller regional gangs and the upper-class, plus outside forces. New Bordeaux went back to its Reconstruction state both economically and (partially) socially.

Enter the late-1970s oil crisis; unemployment rose to roughly 30%, crimes spiked by 120% (though most were robbery-related and not murder), and general welfare decreased further than ever before. Then-governor Edwin W. Edwards (1972-1980) signed numerous bills to help build up the economy and specifically aid Louisiana’s port cities with infrastructure, social programs, and economic stability. President Carter (1977-1981) also sent a permanent FBI presence to help with smoother elections and general peacekeeping (in hopes of avoiding too much underground influence in politics as seen with the Marcanos). With this, NB saw new development that aided in restoring the city to at least some extent. Note that some historians state that it was the city itself that mostly did the work, with occasional state and federal help, but there is not enough evidence to suggest that.

The 1980s and 90s continued to evolve the city’s night life, political reforms, and economic development through policies and culture shifts. For the first time since pre-Louisiana purchase, racial tensions also radically decreased, though lynching still remained a hot-button issue. Tourism also began to slowly come back as the city stabilized. It never reached the same peak as it did under Lou Marcano, but the revenue brought in was enough to aid in some social programs and better school supplies for the district. New Bordeaux’s higher education system continued to lean towards STEM schooling though the arts still flourished in Delray Hollow and its historically Black college*, and further national funding helped repair some of the older schools (higher education or otherwise).

Modern Day

New Bordeaux still retains its status as a vibrant night-life city, despite the consistent strife brewing in its residents. Hurricane Katrina flooded roughly 60% of the city— compared to NOLA’s 80% flooding— and killed over 700 residents in the city alone (the official death count was counted at around 2,000 nationally)^. The crime scene is still divided, with drug and human trafficking being the main crimes committed by various gangs. The moniker of “Bourbon City” never died, it simply revealed itself to have a double meaning: the city that will always go up in flames.

Other Notes

Note from wiki: “New Bordeaux is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States that serves as the setting for Mafia III. It is known for its round-the-clock nightlife, vibrant live-music scene, and spicy, singular cuisine. With ten districts featuring a mixture of ethnicities, the city is a true melting pot of French, Irish, Italian, Haitian, Cuban, African, and American cultures.” All I did was add Dominican as well because Lincoln’s actor, Alex Hernandez, is Dominican and I wanted to pay homage to that. Also because why the fuck not.

NB was a military city in some regards as the US government wanted to use it for ports to spy on other countries (mostly Latin American), hence the CIA presence in the 50s. This also meant that some criminals in NB jails were suckered into joining Project MK-ULTRA, though news about it never leaked outside of the city. The CIA didn’t (officially) stop operations there until the mid-2010s after countless protests from over the years finally caught up.

Deathgrass (rock and “metal” ish influenced bluegrass) has heavy roots in NB. NB is known for its use of the electric guitar and bass alongside drums, acoustic guitar, piano, a variety of stringed instruments like the violin, and poignant lyrics (if there are any) to create an unique city-sound. Music is one of the prides of the city!

*: I do not know much on music history, so if you have commentary, please add it! Or hell, even name ideas or something.

*: I’ll write up a whole other post on this, my thoughts are too scattered to share here yet. I’m open to questions though!

*: Still need to name this and come up with a small backstory. In short, it was established in the 1880s but really only became operational in the 1920s and 30s, and remains open to this day. The 1986 Centennial was definitely fascinating! (I’m just too lazy to elaborate on that.)

^: more people died in this version of Katrina. The real death count was roughly 1,500, based on what I could find.

#mafia 3 #long post #lincoln clay #john donovan #father james #james ballard #how else do I tag this #thomas burke #vito scaletta #meta #mafia iii #the personal logs

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Chateau Fonplégade Saint-Emilion Grande Cru Classe Bordeaux ~ Wine of the Day

There is something about pouring a glass of Bordeaux that makes my heart, head, and taste buds smile. Especially when that glass is from Saint-Emilion in the Right Bank of the prestigious French region. I find the wines of the Right Bank to be soft, elegant, regal, and rich, with a dominant blend of Cabernet Franc with Merlot. However, Cabernet Sauvignon is also becoming more prevalent as the…

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#everyglassisanadventure #wineoftheday #Bordeaux #Chateau Fonplegade #red wine #Saint-Emilion #wine