Product Review: Luchiano Visconti Dress Shirts

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Just like when Homer Simpson’s life immediately improved when he changed his name to “Max Power,” when you encase your torso in a shirt from Luchiano Visconti, you will instinctively begin using the hashtag #PowerShirt! Because that is exactly how you feel inside.

The picture says it all, doesn’t it? The voltage delivered by such a badass shirt could power the entire earth. Think about how much money we will save on gas!

Sure, you might be constrained by the office walls until roughly 5:00, but until then, you can let your freak flag fly with an incredibly loud shirt from Luchiano Visconti. But this isn’t just a loud shirt; this is a POWER SHIRT.

It’s a shirt that makes people take notice, to be sure. In an otherwise drab environment, no one within eye-shot can resist its allure. People have to look at you. It’s a shirt that, by itself, amplifies your mood and the situations around you.

But the shirt is so versatile that it isn’t about making people look at you, or you wouldn’t wear a shirt like this in the first place. The fact that the shirt makes the ladies take notice is an extension limited or enhanced by the man wearing it.

Then again, if the shirt was completely uncomfortable to wear, who cares how cool it looks? Thankfully, Luchiano Visconti has your back.

Visconti traversed the earth for his shirts. He uses only the finest materials imported from Italy, France, Portugal, Turkey and Hong Kong, and combines different prints together to produce contrast details on the collars, cuffs and a placket for a cohesive fashion statement.

“We use the best materials from around the world,” says founder Sheba Hourizadeh. “We are dedicated to bringing you the forgotten skills of the past and leading edge technology to create the perfect fit.”

The mission is simple: to create and deliver the best quality, the finest styling and most unique details in designer sportswear today.

What’s even more appealing is the price. As an owner of several dress shirts that cost in excess of $200, I assumed the Visconti line, based on the feel, texture and design would be around the same price. But I was amazed when I saw the $65 price tag. Frankly, I was floored. These are fantastic shirts with the look and feel of some of the most expensive designers on the market, at unbelievably reasonable prices.

But it isn’t just shirts. There is an entire collection of streamlined, refined and forward ready-to-wear collection of Italian inspired menswearfilled with jackets, pants, sweaters, scarves, vest, polos and shirts. Along with regular sizing, Luchiano Visconti also carries big and tall sizes. For example, in sport shirts, the line starts at size small and goes up to 6X.

The Luchiano Visconti line pens its designs as self-generated products of imagination blended with designers’ passion from experience and information. They aim to create meaningful luxury clothing, targeting both the fashion and social conscience of the customer.

For more information and images of the entire collection, visit the website here. Connect with the brand via Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

  

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Hall makes tasty Napa Valley wines

Hall Napa Valley currently produces about 120,000 cases of wine per year. They have been making wine in Napa since they opened their winery in 2005. Just this spring, the Halls launched a new facility in St. Helena. This new winery and tasting room was built on a site that has a 150-year history in Napa Valley wine making. The Halls still maintain their original, intimate location in Rutherford and continue to make some wines there, but the new facility allows them to host a variety of events as well as have more people visit and taste wine on a daily basis. On a recent trip to Napa Valley I stopped at Hall St. Helena, toured their new facility and grounds, and of course tasted through their current portfolio. Here are some wines from their Napa Valley collection that I enjoyed. These selections are widely available all over the country.

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Hall Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc – All of the fruit for this wine was sourced within Napa Valley. It’s composed of entirely Sauvignon Blanc. Fermentation and aging took place in stainless steel; there was no oak influence on this offering. It has a suggested retail price of $24. Bright, ripe gooseberry aromas practically explode from the nose of this Sauvignon Blanc. Citrus and stone fruit aromas abound as well. The palate is rich and refreshing with both tropical and citrus zest flavors playing big roles. Hints of crème fraiche, white and green peppercorn and a touch of grass mark the finish, which is clean and crisp with racy acidity. The Hall Sauvignon Blanc will work equally well paired with light summery foods or all by itself as an aperitif.

Hall Napa Valley 2011 Merlot – The fruit for this wine was sourced at two vineyard sites within Napa Valley. In addition to Merlot (95 percent), it contains some Petit Verdot (5 percent) as well. After fermentation, it was aged on French oak for 20 months; 45 percent of the barrels were new. This Merlot has a suggested retail price of $33. Bright red cherry aromas are supported by bits of spice on the highly engaging nose of this Merlot. The palate is stuffed with both red and black cherry, as well as chicory and black tea characteristics. Kirsch liqueur interspersed with hints of sweet chocolate are in play on the above average finish. This is a fine example of Merlot that is loaded with varietal character and has terrific structure. It’s delicious now and will drink well over the next five years.

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Hall Napa Valley 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon – This offering is composed of fruit sourced throughout Napa Valley. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon (91 percent), some Merlot (8 percent) and Petit Verdot (1 percent) were blended in. After fermentation it was barrel-aged over 18 months in exclusively French oak; 55 percent of the barrels were new. This Cabernet has a suggested retail price of $50. Roasted coffee and berry aromas are prominent on the nose here. Blackberry, cherry and wisps of mission fig make up the substantial palate. Earth and gingerbread spices, along with a bit of brown sugar, all emerge on the persistent finish. Napa Valley Cabernet comes in all shapes, sizes and price points. This is a substantial one for the $50 category. It’s delicious now and will evolve and drink well for six to eight years.

The most important thing to me about these wines it that they are each a fine and genuine reflection of Napa Valley. Each individual offering speaks not only of the grape variety in question, but also of the place the fruit was grown. To varying degrees these are varieties Napa Valley is well known for. Cabernet Sauvignon is king there, and this selection is made in a classic style. Sauvignon Blanc has been hugely popular in Napa for years, but still it’s on the rise. Where most every tasting room seemed to once have a multitude of Chardonnays (many still do of course), it’s increasingly common to see multiple expressions of Sauvignon Blanc at one winery. Merlot — when done right, like this example — can be as well structured and complex as good Cabernet. These wines from Hall are also fairly priced for the quality they represent. And their wide availability helps make them solid go-to choices. In addition to these wines, Hall produced a range of selections in what they call the Artisan Collection. This higher end tier features vineyard designate as well as proprietary wines. So if you’re looking for genuine Napa Valley Wine, Hall should be on your radar.

Check out Gabe’s View for more wine reviews, and follow Gabe on Twitter!

  

Picture of the Day: Sydney in thigh-high stockings

Here’s an incredibly sensual photo of Sydney as she lays back in her lacy panties and thigh-high stockings. Wow!

Sydney in thigh-high stockings

  

Picture of the Day: Jessica Barton in the shower

Here’s the lovely Jessica Barton is a super-sexy side boob pose showing off her soft and beautiful figure and killer smile in the shower.

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Coming Soon: “Sonic Highways” on HBO

Starting on October 17th, HBO is broadcasting a new mini-series called “Sonic Highways” featuring Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters as they travel around the country recording a new track in various cities. They’ll visit New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Nashville, Austin, Seattle, and Washington D.C. and feature artists like Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Dolly Parton, Buddy Guy, ZZ Top and Joan Jett as they dive into the music scenes of each city. Have just been in Nashville this sounds like a real treat for music buffs. I’m not a huge Foo Fighters fan but I suspect I will be by the end of this series. The trailer above even teases an interview with Grohl talking to President Obama. Put it on your calendar!