Lummi Island Wine Tasting Artists’ Studio Tour May 25-26 ’13
Featured Artist
Those of you who frequent the shop know that for several months we have been displaying compelling watercolors by Meredith Moench and colorful giclés by Brendan Dunn. Since we were gone during April, it was a big relief when Meredith volunteered to be our featured artist for the Studio Tour. She has added a number of new works to her display, continuing her themes of delicate birds and big, bright flowers. She also has cards with many of the same images. Come on by and see her new stuff– you will like it!
The Great Wood-Fired Bread Library Fund Benefit Sale!
On many occasions I have extolled the virtues of the weekly loaves of fresh bread that Janice Holmes brings over shortly after our opening at 4pm on Fridays. The bread is cut into chunks and put out on the bar for all to enjoy with their wine tasting. Every week I think this is the best so far! But then I think the same thing the week after that and the week after that…!
Now, Everyone can enjoy this transcendent experience, because Janice, together with our neighbor Lauren, will be baking and selling fresh, wood-fired bread Saturday morning only from 10-12 (or until the bread is gone…my guess would be before 11am…!)) at 2722 W. Shore Road. Look for the balloons, and park along the driveway; the oven is behind the house– and ALL PROCEEDS GO THE THE LIBRARY FUND!
Last Week’s Tasting
I know, I know, it is true, all of our tastings are great, but every once in a while we hit one where almost everyone really likes all the wines, and that’s how it was last weekend. A couple of weeks ago I went to a tasting of Spanish wines and ordered quite a few of them, two of which we poured last weekend. I think the hit was the Sierra Cantabria Tinto (tinto means ‘red’ in Spanish–and in Rioja, everyone knows that tinto could only mean the grape tempranillo…!) My personal favorite, however, was another Rioja, the Palacios Crianza la Montesa, which was aged for considerably longer in barrel before bottling and release. The extra time in barrel gives these wines a softer, smoother, richer palate that I find deeply alluring. Whichever your preference, we still have a few bottles of both of these wines in stock, and both are highly recommended.
This Week’s Tasting
Mt. Baker Mountain White ’10 Washington $7
A blend of muller thurgau, chassalas, and siegerrebe grown just up the road in Deming, this light, fragrant, slightly off-dry wine goes perfectly with a summer afternoon on the deck.
Chateau Donjon Rosé ‘12 France $12
From one of our favorite producers, a blend of syrah, cinsault, grenache; features crisp acidity behind ripe dark cherry and plum flavors, and a spicy finish with some mineral notes.…”Summer in a glass!”
Ventisquero Carmenere ’10 Chile $10
Glass-staining purple. Smoke-accented aromas of black and blue fruits and violet, with a peppery topnote. Juicy and light on its feet, with a seamless texture and good clarity to the fresh blackberry and blueberry flavors.
Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha ’10 Spain 92pts $15
Deep notes of roasted herbs, sweet black cherries and raspberries, peppers and spice soar from the glass of this dark ruby/purple-tinged wine. Full-bodied, rich, ripe, silky textured, pure and long
Mt. Baker Malbec ’08 Washington $19
Fresh, spicy and crisp, with pretty raspberry fruit and sharp acidity. A happy, deep magenta in the glass, with heady aromas of bodacious plum and hay, followed with flavors of plum, bark spices, chalk and purple flowers on a moderate 6-second finish.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting May 18 ’13
Thirty-three years today
It was a Sunday morning. I was lying in bed, thinking about getting up, when I heard it: a long, low, lingering BOOOOOOOOM, followed soon after by another ka-BOOOOOOOOM. Mt. St. Helens is some 200 miles from Bellingham, so the sound was muffled, but everyone knew what it was. The mountain had been in the news daily for months, causing increasingly frequent tremors in the vicinity, distortions in the shape of the mountain, and numerous releases of gas and dust. It was a Really Big Deal, worth some reflection. This short video puts it in perspective…and reminds me that somewhere in my way-too-long-idle pottery studio I still have a bunch of ash from the eruption, which some potters quickly determined to be an interesting high temperature glaze or glaze ingredient.
Wine Club Update
We are happy to report that the Win
e Club seems so far to be very successful, and we thank all of you who are participating. One of our next tasks is to provide our members with a summary of the wines they have bought, along with a current tally of their expenditures and related benefits. We are hoping we can find a way to incorporate that into the blog or the online store, but for the moment I have posted it on Google Docs, where you can see your purchases.
If you click on the link above, you will be taken to a spreadsheet with columns for wine name and varietal, date purchased, price, total purchases, and a strange-looking “code.” Your personal code is the one you received by email when you signed up for the wine club online by clicking the WINE CLUB! link at the top of the page. HOWEVER, it turns out that many of you signed up for the wine club in person at the shop, and don’t know anything about the online signup. So don’t worry, I signed up for you, and as a result some of you will have received an email tonight (Thursday) telling you you are a member of Artisan Wine Club! Anne just called me and said her email warned her the message might be some kind of phishing scam…yikes, what’s that about? Not to worry, I really did send it to you via our wine club software.
The important thing here is that IF you are interested, you can view and verify your purchase history online— but to do so you need (1) the link above, and (2) the five-digit code sent to you when you signed up for the wine club online (or in some cases just now when I signed you up for you!). If for some reason you lost your code send me an email and I will send you your code. Hopefully down the road a way we can figure out how to post this info to your own page on the blog…for now this is the best we can do…
Everyone’s gone to France…or is it Italy???
Took this photo last week at the shop when Steve and I were kidding around. I aimed the camera, zoomed in and clicked, and caught a nice portrait of Steve and Mary Beth, who by my calculation are right about now landing in Florence. Ah, si, si, Firenze, così bella, come ci manchi!
Then this coming week Ryan and some of you are taking off for France for the wine tour in the Languedoc-Minervois region around Carcassonne, which we visited in fall of 2011…sigh…! Fare well, all ye wine and food travelers!
We are looking forward to our next France trip in the fall, as members (and omg, designated driver!) of Ryan’s tour of the Loire wine region. Wine, food, friends, and travel…la dolce vita!
This Week’s Wines
Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes ’11 Argentina $14
Pale yellow. Sexy, slightly exotic aromas of wild herbs, flowers, licorice, mint and spices. Juicy, saline and dry, with flavors of lemon verbena, lavender and botanical herbs, dusty soil here and sweet citrus.
Il Filare Rosado ’08 Italy $8
A rosé of 80% Bombino Nero and 20% Montepulciano; aromas of strawberries and fresh-cut grass. Dry as bone with brilliant minerality, beautiful fruit and crisp acidity.
Sierra Cantabria Tinto ’09 Spain 90pts $11
100% tempranillo; aromas of ripe cherry, cassis, blackberry and dark chocolate, with a touch of cola. Lush, layered and focused, with a creamy texture and hefty dark fruit flavors. Finishes with smooth tannins, a hint of licorice and very good length.
Boomtown Syrah ’08 Washington $17
Second label from Dusted Valley; deep ruby-garnet color and complex aromas of black currants with smoky notes. On the palate rich and nicely concentrated with good structure, balance, and velvety tannins.
Palacios Rioja Crianza la Montesa ’08 Spain WA92pts $17
65% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo picked by hand; well-defined strawberry, Morello and shortcake-scented bouquet infused with fennel and licorice; medium-bodied with supple tannins, and an elegant, caressing finish that speaks of its place.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting May 11 Mothers’ Day Weekend ’13
Mothers’ Day
For a bunch of years now I have thought that on everyone’s birthday, instead of celebrating the birthday person, we should celebrate the person’s mother. As Constance pointed out in yoga this morning, everyone has a mother (and a father, of course), and the bond between mother and child is something that defines us as mammals in general and as human beings in particular. No other creature takes so long to become independent of its parents, so of course our relationships with our parents–especially our mothers– form the very foundation of who we are and how we view the world.
This photo was taken sometime in 1951, the year I turned six, and my mother turned 36. Our lives were complicated in many ways at that time, but my recollection is that I felt safe and loved, and so life was pretty good. That’s what mothers do for us, I think, maybe some better than others, and maybe all imperfectly, but it’s a long, long haul to bring a child from infancy to adulthood, and not a lot of vacations.
So thanks, Mum, and thanks to all of you other Mums out there for nurturing us to adulthood. We all know it ain’t easy!
(note: click on images for larger view!)
Last weekend
Both Friday and Saturday were busy here at the wine shop. As usual, Friday night was mostly “regulars,” including of course Janice (and designated driver David) delivering the weekly Loaf of Fresh Bread from the wood-fired oven behind their place on West Shore. The weekly Loaf is now a Friday night institution, arriving shortly after opening at 4pm, when it is sliced into chunks and distributed for all to sample. Fresh bread and good wine…yet another version of the ancient neighborhood communion ceremony! Like Motherhood, it is another manifestation of our human inclination to gather together in a warm place to share food, drink, and the company of our kin– the constellation of Good Things I have come to call “Hearth,” the most fundamental and ancient ingredient of human culture.
Saturday was also a good turnout, with lots of new faces along with familiar ones. Also, of course, it was another in a series of unexpected, unseasonably warm and sunny days, a great day to be outside and a great day to celebrate our collective good fortune!
Padilla Bay
Earlier this week we took our little trailer the short drive south to Bayview State Park on Padilla Bay. It was sometimes sunny and sometimes overcast, almost foggy, allowing us to gather some very interesting images from a unique landscape and lightscape of tidal mudflats, water, and sky.
See photo collection here.
(then click on “slideshow” link at upper left and lengthen viewing time for best viewing experience!)
This Week’s Wines
Bernier Chardonnay ’11 France $10
Light, bright yellow. Lemon, herbs and lees on the nose. Juicy but dry, focused, and refreshingly brisk.
Chateau du Rouet Rose ’11 France 88pts $14
Pale orange. Pear, melon and strawberry on the fragrant nose and in the mouth. Juicy and open-knit, with silky texture, good finishing breadth and a late touch of warmth.
Borsao Berola ’09 Spain 90pts $13
(70% garnacha, 20% syrah, 10% cabernet sauvignon; Pungent, smoky aromas of dark berry preserves, cherry pit and spicy licorice; broad and fleshy, offering a palate of velvety cherry, blackcurrant, and a touch of succulent herbs.
St. Francis Red Splash ’08 California $12
Lush with succulent ripe, red fruit flavors and spicy aromas. Full-bodied and versatile, RED pairs with a variety of foods for any occasion.
Sheridan “Mystique” ’07 Washington WS92pts $21
50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc; aged 2 yrs in oak; nose of balsam wood, mineral, lavender, spice box, intense black cherry, and black currant fruit; on the palate, it has loads of fruit and spice, outstanding concentration, impeccable balance, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting May 4 ’13
May 4th Movement
Back in the fifties when I was in school, China was rarely mentioned, and when it was, it was mentioned in a vague historical context which carefully excluded any references to Communism. Now I think about it, it was a little like how so-called adults talked about women who were pregnant, because for some reason the word “pregnant” could not be said out loud. Rather, they (women talking about women) would be speaking in a perfectly normal tone of voice which would suddenly drop to a whisper: “Haven’t you heard? She’s…pee-gee…!”
What does that have to do with China? The May 4th Movement originated around the end of WWI, when China fought on the side of the Allies against the Germans, for one thing because they hoped to win back lands colonized by Germany. However, in the Treaty of Versailles ending the war the political intrigues of the day allocated the German claims in China to Japan instead. The May 4th Movement was a social and cultural response to the global politics of the time, which led eventually to the Communist Revolution and the present balance of global political and economic power. So maybe we should have given their land back to the Chinese instead of the Japanese; maybe the last hundred years would have unfolded very differently…! read more
Last Week
I confess we were imagining a somewhat festive return to Lummi and the wine shop after having been gone for several weeks. No, we certainly weren’t expecting a crowd like, you know, Lindy landing in Paris, but, hey, we were open to a little touch of Festivity. As it turns out, however, it was a very quiet day, in which a small number of people spent a good portion of the afternoon together, which was entirely pleasant and low-key. We had run into Sean and Elizabeth and friends on our noontime dog walk, and they all came by the shop shortly after opening at 2pm. Conversation lingered on till well into the afternoon when Randi showed up, and that conversation went on way past closing when we just up and went to the Beach Store for dinner. Even after all these years, there is no predicting what any given Saturday will bring…it’s always a surprise.
Trailering in on people
One of the great things about our recent road trip was getting to visit with lots of friends and family for a couple of days. Sleeping and keeping our gear in the trailer seemed to give both us and our many hosts more breaks from one another than when being complete house guests (though no, I don’t know how any of our many hosts felt about it), yet at the same time allowed a deeper connection than just passing through for dinner, more of a sense of how they actually live. So we really had a nice sense of contact with old friends in new ways, very enjoyable for us, and hopefully minimally burdensome to our many gracious hosts. (Although, admittedly, I’m not sure anyone would welcome this kind of Attitude right in their own driveway…!)
This Week’s Wines
Arindo Verdejo ’11 Spain 88pts $10
Fresh pear and melon aromas sparked by lemon zest and minerals. A floral quality enhances the palate, which finishes juicy and clean, with good lift and stony persistence.
La Font du Vent Rosé “Les Promesses” ’11 France 88pts $10
Very pure and focused, with a range of plum, cherry and strawberry fruit. A lingering cherry pit edge provides contrast on the finish.
Real de Aragon Garnacha ’07 Spain 88pts $11
expressive nose of cherry and cassis. On the palate it has a touch of silky tannin, good grip, savory fruit, and a medium-long finish
Navarro Correas Malbec Gran Reserva ’10 Argentina $11
Enticing aromas and flavors of cassis, blackberry, licorice and mint. Densely packed, supple and concentrated, Finishes with substantial ripe, building tannins.
David Coffaro Barbera ’09 California $25
81% Barbera, 19% sangiovese; Big, jammy, New World aromas of cherries, roses, and plums lead seamlessly into intense, lingering flavors and mouthwatering acidity.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting April 27 ’13
Closed Friday!
Just a reminder: although we are back, for a number of reasons the wine shop will be closed on Friday, April 26. We will be open for our usual hours on Saturday, April 27 (2-6pm)…looking forward to seeing you all!
(remember: click on images for larger versions!)
May Day
As it turns out, May Day, or Beltane, is the halfway point ( i.e. cross-quarter day) between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Like the other solar events people have celebrated since time out of mind, May Day was the perfect time to celebrate the fecundity of Spring. Traditionally it was a time for dance and song to hail the budding of new life across the countryside. Young couples paired off as a sort of engagement; if all went well, they would marry at the summer solstice in late June, and that is likely the origin of the June wedding tradition. Once again, rituals we take for granted turn out to have evolved long ago in concert with the solar calendar and the cycle of planting and harvest. Now, of course, these traditions have been reduced to their most basic commercial elements. Like the mythical Farengi, we are a pragmatic species!
When I was first in school (age 4 and 5), I remember making May baskets in class. And while the idea is Dangerous out of all proportion nowadays, the tradition we were taught was to put little goodies (jelly beans and such may have been provided at school–my teacher for both subprimary and first grade was a charming and attractive young nun named Sister Cecilia), and then to hang the May Basket on someone’s doorknob. I remember thinking about handing that basket on that cute red-haired girl’s door (oh, wait a minute, I was confusing myself with Charlie Brown…!), but so soon after Easter (at least in some years) the idea of goodie baskets seemed a bit redundant. Which of course makes you wonder whether the idea of Easter Baskets evolved from some overlap between the fecundity of Rabbits and the broader fecundity of Spring. What do YOU think??
We’re Back!
We arrived home from nearly a month on the road this afternoon. Last night we stayed in a Washington State Park south of Olympia. Quite dramatically, after the parade of brownish-gray, arid landscapes that have dominated our landscapes during our trip, the familiar setting of tall firs and dense undergrowth (and yes, a bit of Mud here and there) was a welcoming beacon. (Although, really, if we are honest with ourselves, does anybody really like Mud…?
Cigar Box Guitars
Last night we camped at a Washington State Park south of Olympia. Our site was a short distance from a very distinctive old school bus, you know, the really big ones with the rounded sterns…? We noticed a smoke-belching chimney from a fire in the indoor stove, a fire in the outdoor fireplace, and the sound of old-time music as we walked by. This morning we had a chance to meet and converse with our neighbor and bus-owner, Terry Strasheim. from nearby Centralia.
It turns out he made the instrument he had played the night before: a “cigar-box guitar.”…! Apparently this is an old tradition undergoing a bit of a revival. Now maybe one needs to be from an earlier generation to understand what a “cigar box” is, and even earlier to know what a “cigar-box guitar:” is. The basic idea is that it is a stringed instrument with a fretted neck is attached to an old-fashioned cigar box as the resonating body. It has three strings, and is tuned like a dulcimer.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get a sound recording of Terry playing his prototype instrument. All you need to know is that they are very funky, very compelling, and most often have only three strings. Terry can play a wide range of tunes on it. He does not yet have a website, but would love to tell you more about his work and his instruments. You can email him at muzeckman@gmail.com for more information. They are awesome instruments; every music buff should have one!
Wines
Unfortunately we have arrived home too late to pick wines for this weekend. Trust us when we say that whatever we pour will taste great! Looking forward to seeing you all!
Lummi Island Wine Tasting April 20 ’13
Special note on next week’s hours
Ryan will open the shop as usual tonight (Friday, April 19) from 4-7 and on Saturday from 2-6. Next week, however, THE SHOP WILL NOT BE OPEN ON FRIDAY, APRIL 26 , but we will be back in time to open for regular hours next Saturday, April 27. We will post another reminder about this next week, and look forward to seeing you then!
Boondocking with Leigh and Brian
Boondocking is what RV people call dropping anchor for the night someplace where you don’t have to pay. Apparently there are tons of public lands out there, particularly in the West, where this is allowed. So we met up with them just outside the northern boundary of Joshua Tree National Park in south-central California, and set up a little compound. Lots and lots of space…the dogs loved it, and it does have a certain charm, a little like being out on the ocean…
as usual, click on photos for larger image
our little compound in the middle of Nowhere
Brian and Curtis on a morning stroll
Leigh at the back door of the Airstream
We drove through Joshua Tree from south to north. Although we had been here before many years ago, I had not realized how huge the park is. There aren’t so many Joshua trees in the southern part, but there are other cactus, and many were just starting to bloom. There are areas with expanses of cholla and others with expanses of ocotillo. A wild and beautiful place…
Lummi Island Wine Tasting April 13 ’13
On the Road
We picked up our new trailer in Denver last Friday, and spent our first night at Lake Pueblo State Park in southeast Colorado. We discovered that yes, the car is underpowered for the job, in the sense that we go very slowly up hills and the mileage dropped from about 22 mpg on the trip to Denver, and more like 15-16 with the trailer. It does seem to do better with a little more octane in the fuel. Here in the mountain states they call 85 octane “regular,” and 87 “plus,” or as we know it, “regular.” Sometimes this “plus” has 88 octane, and the car seems to like that pretty well.
Santa Fe
We stopped in Santa Fe for a few days visiting Toby and Barbara, who also have a place here on Lummi. They have a spread southwest of town which they have turned into a private jewel. We visited a couple of museums in Santa Fe, and this little creation caught my eye– a bejeweled model of an old VW bus towing an old trailer…Cute, huh??? Remind you of anything…???
The Road to Phoenix
Somewhere around Gallup, NM we found this viewpoint, which is quite spectacular in person. Looking at the photo here the landscape is just too big to capture. This view is looking east back toward Albuquerque. Click on any of the photos to see a larger version! Big Sky, huh??
Currently we are in Phoenix visiting family, heading west tomorrow to rendezvous with Leigh and Brian this weekend in California.
This week’s tasting
Although we are on the road, Ryan will open the wine shop as usual on Friday (4-7) and Saturday (2-6). I have no idea what he will be pouring, but as always it will be good! So stop by and keep him from getting lonely!
Lummi Island Wine Tasting April 6 ’13
On the Road
The picture at left is of a sister (brother?) trailer to the one we are picking up (taking in tow, actually) in Denver tomorrow. From there we will meander our way back to scenic Lummi Island over the next few weeks, visiting with old friends and family along the way, several of whom we (and possibly many of you) first met at our wine shop (e.g., Leere, Leigh and Brian, Kier and David…).
The Dark Lords of Coors
As I write this, we are visiting an old high school friend of mine in Golden, CO, a lovely upscale town a bit West of Denver. This summer marks 50 years since our high school graduation, a fairly iconic milestone, and it has been a great visit.
I have to say that while I have no strong opinions one way or the other about Coors beer, which is made here, I do feel compelled to say that the structure that houses the brewery has an unmistakable Darkness about it, its vast gray concrete ramparts strongly resembling Mordor itself, so Creepy I doubt that anyone who has seen it could ever again drink the beer it produces. I mean, I thought it was some kind of Power Plant, built to last maybe, but without a shred of aesthetic sensibility.
However, the town of Golden and surrounding countryside are quite lovely, and we have enjoyed our stay.
Tomorrow we hit the road in the new trailer, and so will not be present for the usual festivities at the wine shop. Ryan will open the shop for regular hours on Friday (4-7) and Saturday (2-6). Only he knows what wines he will pour, so stop by and find out. We will be thinking of you, and will update our travel notes periodically over the next couple of weeks.
The Dark Lords of Coors
Lummi Island Wine Tasting March 30 ’13 Easter Weekend
Easter thoughts
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Here it is Easter again, and you still have no reasonable explanation for why a Christian celebration of the resurrection of the historical Jesus should be confounded with the, let’s face it, rather bizarre symbol of the “Easter Bunny.” How exactly do these things fit together? I mean, how did this happen? I can’t tell you how many Easter Sundays of our childhood (my older sister and I) involved waking up, going downstairs with some excitement (like Christmas) to find these beautiful baskets my mother had put together, with lovely fake grass, chocolate eggs, chocolate rabbits, jelly beans, and of course marshmallow chickens, bless her heart. Also part of the ritual was hunting for little candy-coated “eggs” that she would have “hidden” on bookshelves, picture frames, lamps, and windowsills. But of course you couldn’t eat any of these things until after Mass…!
Oh, and before walking the mile or so to church, we would stand out in the street in front of the house and be photographed in our new spring dress clothes, the annual just-in-case we need to get dressed up this year outfits my mother really could not afford, but were some kind of annual cultural obligation that she took very seriously. I mean, that is So Irish! But as usual, I digress. Where was I? Oh yeah, how to reconcile the Christian thing with the Bunny thing…
Historically speaking, “Easter” was probably named after Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre), the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: “eastre.” For the last two thousand years or so Christians have celebrated Easter as the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion. But for thousands of years before that, people celebrated the arrival of spring with the symbol of the oh-so-fecund symbol of fertility, the Rabbit. All of this business of Easter and Jesus and rabbits and pagan history came to a head in 325 AD when (Christian) Roman Emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea which decided once and for all that (I mean, this is So Obvious, why didn’t they think of it sooner?) Easter would be celebrated on the First Sunday after the First Full Moon after the Spring Equinox. You have to admit it was Brilliant! What pagan could resist converting with a deal like that?? read more
Plonk! It’s here!
Okay, folks, this is It! Many of you have told us that sure, good wine is a delight, but when are we going to have something CHEAP? You know, as if price were the only issue! I mean, I understand that. I spent several years back in the late nineties looking for the Perfect $7 bottle of wine. Somewhere in that process our young-man-of-the-world Donald took pity on me and showed me the Way, bringing home several seriously above average wines and some nice glasses. And Lo, there was a Difference, and Taste and Aroma appeared from the Deep, and we saw that it was Good, and have never looked back. (Except, you know…editorially!)
I mention this because I got an email yesterday from our friend Kevin the Distributor that for the next few hours (this is SO used car sales!) we could get this little Spanish tempranillo for a very nice price. Unfortunately, HE had not tasted it, WE have not tasted it, and we have nothing to go on except it is said to be drinkable, it is from Spain, and it is Very Inexpensive! So come by and check it out! Maybe it’s wonderful! Maybe horrible! But we bought a bunch for thou bargain-driven, so we expect you to show up, belly up, drink up, and buy up!
When white wine is Very, Very Good!
Per The Spanish Table, “Blanco Nieva” is a classic Rueda white wine made from the indigenous Verdejo grape. Crisp, bright and refreshing, it will pair well with salads, egg dishes and all manner of seafood. Some of the vines for this wine are planted on original root stock that has thrived in this region for over a hundred years. This verdejo has the crisp acidity and citric blasts of its compadres, but adds dimensions of complexity and texture that you don’t often find in this varietal. Definitely something special!
Footnote on Betz
Being as we are a tiny wine shop far off the Beaten Path, we sometimes gaze jealously at our better located and marketed cousins around the region. One of those sends a daily email with the wines we should all be buying from them today. Today’s email extolled the virtues of the new Betz releases which we poured for you last weekend, including the 2010 Clos de Betz, which we listed at $50. All you need to know is that in today’s email, the (arguably) most popular wine shop in the region lists this wine for $61…$11 over our price, while expressing concern that they had such a small allocation they would sell out online in a few hours. I’m just saying that even though we are on some kind of Frontier, we have some extraordinary deals on some extraordinary wines. Pass it on!
This Week’s Wines
Vilarnau Cava Brut Spain $14
Well-balanced and light-bodied, this cava features lively acidity and an appealing mix of pear, star fruit, Meyer lemon and smoke flavors, ending with a creamy finish.
Blanco Nieva verdejo ’11 Spain $15
From 100 year-old vines, this beautiful white shows mineral-driven lime, quince and floral scents with notes of anise and mint. Graceful, focused and pure, with zesty lemon/lime and pear flavors.
Volteo Tempranillo ’10 Spain $6
This plump red offers flavors of black cherry, herb, anise and smoke, all with good focus. The moderate tannins and fresh acidity are well-balanced, with a clean finish. And at this price, who even cares??!!
Andeluna cabernet sauvignon ’10 Argentina $11
Red-ruby. Currant, pepper and coffee on the nose, complicated by licorice and menthol notes. Juicy, brisk and intense, with a savory quality leavening the wine’s sweetness. Finishes with serious, toothcoating tannins.
Perazzeta Erio Supertuscan ’10 Italy $15
Sangiovese, cab, syrah blend from Tuscany just south of Montalcino (we also carry their olive oil–delicious!) – this vintage is richer and more balanced, with even bigger flavor than last year– totally yummy!
Lummi Island Wine Tasting March 23 ’13 Toast to Spring!
Signs of Spring
It is comforting to see the days growing longer, and to feel the sun growing warmer. On our daily walk to Legoe Bay with the dogs today the perceptible warmth of the sun was the perfect offset to the chlll in the air and the cool breeze off the water. Global warming or no, spring seems slow in coming this year. Yes, daffodils are out, and Indian plum is feathering into early leaf. But at mid-day when I check the temperature, it is still often curiously close to 40. And though I think we may have had some moments over fifty, the spring so far seems a but reserved, a bit stingy almost, as if to say, “well, you had a mild winter after all, so stop complaining.” Meanwhile, all around us, Spring builds up like an inevitable pressure that will not be denied.
As for this picture–for about ten years from ’85-’95, when I was mostly a full-time potter, I was a member of a little cooperative gallery in Laconner. We would take turns opening the shop on weekends, and though none of us made much of a living at it, it was a good thing to do and a good place to be, and I have lots of fond memories of it, from the pile of notes from third graders who watched/helped me do a raku firing, to conversations with iconic local artists like Guy Anderson and Robert Sund, and rambling conversations with visitors who occasionally write years later saying Laconner was a life-changing moment. My working theory was that the good vibes came from all the negative ions (the good kind!) that got stirred up by all that water churning through the slough each time the tide changed. And in case you are not from around here, or for some other reason have not ventured to Skagit Valley this time of year to see the tulips, then I highly encourage you to do so! more info
Baer Winery
About the time we were getting into the wine business in the mid ‘ots’ we visited Woodinville with friends who took us along to the first or second release party (’02 vintage I think) for Baer Winery in Woodinville. As I recall, it was a wintry day in February, with cold rain and some snow on the ground, and the release event was in a couple of big tents put up for the occasion. We had a lovely chat with the young winemaker, Lance Baer, about his vision and passion for wine, and admired some of the few hand-etched magnums he had commissioned. Sadly, Lance passed away quite suddenly in 2007, and the family took over the task of making the vision a reality.
In the last few years Baer has achieved global recognition as one of Washington State’s rising stars of the wine world. Their 2008 Ursa earned an extraordinary 95 point score from Wine Spectator, which also rated it #6 in its “Top 100 Wines of 2011.”
As it turns out, we drank a bottle of the 2009 Ursa (there are a very few left) last night, and it was absolutely delicious! I haven’t tasted the 2010, and there are no reviews out yet, but our annual case of it arrived today, so we will offer a little taste of it for you with our tasting this weekend. Judging from the trend of the past several years, it should be pretty tasty, despite its youth. This wine is becoming something of a Washington “cult” wine, so if you like it, don’t expect it to wait for you to make your move!
Graciano
So, it’s important for you youngsters not to confuse this grape (graciano) with the charismatic middleweight boxer of the 1940′s, Rocky Graziano, himself not to be confused with the somewhat more famous heavyweight champ of the era, Rocky Marciano, later even further immortalized by his national chain of Red Lobster restaurants! But those are several other stories, which you can explore on your own. What I can tell you is that back in the fifties, Rocky G followed up on his noteworthy boxing career with a modest acting career, with regular appearance on many variety shows of the era (WAY before talk shows!). All in all, a pretty likable guy (but watch out for that right hand!)
More to the point, graciano is one of the lesser known grapes of Rioja (no, it’s not all tempranillo!) Graciano is thought to be native to Rioja, where it has long been used to provide color, density, and aroma to blended Rioja red wines (much as Petit Verdot is used to deepen the color of cab blends in California). Typically, it makes up less than 15% of Rioja blends when it is used at all. Graciano is both low-yielding and susceptible to mildew, making it a risky investment, so acres in production have been declining. Fortunately, it is considered by some to be the most interesting and complex of Rioja grapes, showing lots of dark fruit, deep inky-red/black color, and rustic, sturdy tannins. In short, it can be quite intense! This week we will be tasting a very inexpensive version that serves as a nice introduction to the varietal.
Mt. Baker Vineyards Mountain White
From time to time we taste through the current releases from Mt. Baker Vineyards, our only really well-established neighborhood winery. Located in Deming, a short drive east of Bellingham on (hello, where else?) Mt. Baker Highway, MBV owner/winemaker Randy Finlay has been making wine for over 30 years. There’s hardly a varietal he hasn’t explored. And although most of the fruit for Mt. Baker wines comes from Eastern Washington, estate vines right here in Whatcom County produce small quantities of several light-bodied, aromatic, and flavorful grape varietals like muller thurgau, siegerrebe, chasselas, and madeleine angevine.
With a bit of chardonnay from Eastern Washington vineyards, Mountain White is the perfect wine for Early Spring. Slightly sweet, fragrant, and crisp, and only $7 a bottle it is an incredible bargain…come by and taste it this weekend!
Wine club special: Get six or more for only $6 each!!!
This week’s wines:
Mt. Baker Mountain White ’10 Washington $7
A blend of several varietals grown just up the road in Deming, this fragrant, off-dry, light wine is easy to swallow…and a perfect toast for Spring!
Ventisquero Carmenere ’10 Chile $10
Glass-staining purple. Smoke-accented aromas of black and blue fruits and violet, with a peppery topnote. Juicy and light on its feet, with a seamless texture and good clarity to the fresh blackberry and blueberry flavors.
Casarena ’505′ Malbec ’10 Chile $12
Bright medium ruby-red. Subtly complex aromas of dark berries, plum, lavender, pepper and flinty minerality. Seductively smooth in texture, with a restrained sweetness and good vinosity to the middle palate. Nicely rich, firmly structured malbec with broad, dusty tannins and very good length.
Rio Madre Rioja ’11 Spain 90pts $10
Inky ruby. Spice-accented aromas and flavors of black and blue fruits and cola, with notes of dark chocolate and licorice. Concentrated and powerful on the palate, with a spicy note building with air. Intense licorice, blackcurrant and bitter cherry notes linger on the spicy, youthfully tannic finish. Outstanding value here; there are very few all-graciano Riojas made, and they all cost a lot more than this one.
Baer Ursa ’10 Washington $35
42% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon
Once again delivers with generous ripe fruit flavors – notes of fresh plum, red cherry, and blackberry, with hints of vanilla and savory roasted thyme. Well-integrated and balanced, with a polished, lifted finish.
2072 Granger Way