lummi island wine tasting dec 10 ’20
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Friday Bread Crumbs
Bread pickup continues for the next two Fridays from 4-5:30 in our open garage (see photo at left). And as long as the national surge in Covid cases continues, we are not allowing visitors inside to shop. It’s chilly, but still festive. Wear your mask and hang out for a few minutes of socially distant schmoozing!
Similarly, for wine sales we are going back to email/phone ordering only until Covid is under better control, whether it be sooner from a return to more responsible social behavior, or later from the hoped-for but slow to realize effects of budding vaccination programs.
Click on the Order Wine link in the header above to browse a list of currently available wines with tasting notes and prices. When you have made your selections you can phone us with your order or email us using the Contact Us link above. We will confirm your order and make arrangements for pickup/delivery at your convenience.
Wine of the Week: The Wolftrap Syrah Mourvèdre Viognier ’18 South Africa $11
Boekenhoutskloof farm was established in 1776. Located in the furthest corner of the beautiful Franschhoek Wine Valley of South Africa, about 50 km east of the Cape of Good Hope, the farm’s name means “ravine of the Boekenhout” (pronounced Book-n-Howed), which is an indigenous Cape Beech tree greatly prized for furniture making. In 1993 the farm and homestead were bought and restored and a new vineyard planting programme was established that now includes Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Semillon and Viognier.
When the farm was founded, the Franschhoek valley was far wilder than it is today. Though the mountains are still alive with indigenous animals, including the majestic leopard, the only evidence that wolves once roamed here is an ancient wolf trap found long ago. This wine was named in homage to the mysteries and legends of days gone by.
Most of the Syrah in The Wolftrap comes from the Swartland region (photo, left), where it develops its robust character and elegant aromas of violets and ripe plums, accentuating its spicy, peppery profile while retaining the juicy, fruity character which is its hallmark. The Mourvèdre, also from the Swartland, lends a red fruit character and smoky body while the dash of Viognier brings perfume and vibrancy to the blend and makes for a rustic Rhône-style blend that seriously over-delivers for its $11 price point.
The Wolftrap Syrah Mourvèdre Viognier ’18 South Africa $11
Ripe plums, red currants, violets, Italian herbs and exotic spice dominate the nose. The perfume of the nose follows through with a certain smokiness and flavours of darker berries, liquorice, cardamom, star anise and cinnamon. The wine is fresh, plummy and vibrant with hints of fennel seed, orange peel, cloves and black pepper lingering on a juicy finish.
Mar a Lago Update: Uphill In Every Direction
Back in the 80’s when I was a potter, I had a little gallery in Laconner, WA, a charming little town on the Swinomish Channel. I became friends with poet, artist, and calligrapher Robert Sund, who had lived there for a long time among the likes of painter Guy Anderson (who also came by the shop occasionally). Robert came by the shop from time to time, and we had many enjoyable conversations over several years. We also displayed some of his work, including what he called “Wind Letters.” These were pieces of heavy paper on which he would pen haiku-like quotations in lovely calligraphy. One that I have always treasured is a quote from DT Suzuki: “To judge the direction of the wind it is enough to look at a single blade of grass.” (photo below; click to expand). So let’s look at a few blades and guess which way the wind might blow.
If we have learned anything in the month since the 2020 election, it is that Trump Nation is not a political party in the usual sense. Rather, it is a Cult, reminiscent of the “Unification Church” followers of South Korean guru Sun Myung Moon (hence the term “Moonies”) who were for many years the young, spaced-out, shiny-eyed fixtures accosting travelers for donations at airports around the world.
Like the Moonies, Trump supporters are immune to facts. They are completely committed to Trumpism, whatever that means to them. As reported during the 2016 election campaign, supporters often became attached to a single sound byte Trump might have uttered in passing. For some it was about immigrants, for some about racism, for some about taxes, for others about feeling oppressed by “liberal elites.” Like Reverend Moon, Trump has built his entire career on his Gift for Grift, and for the last four years Congressional Republicans have been willing accomplices in supporting his lies. As with Woody Allen’s fictional brother, they know he’s a phony, but they “need the eggs too much.” Which is why most Republicans are afraid to cross him.
The crisis of this particular moment is typical of what we can expect for the next four years if Darth McConnell maintains control of the Senate. For the past several days we have seen glimmers of hope that members of Congress might pull together to help American families keep roofs overhead and food on the table until the risk of contagion is brought under control by newly developed vaccines. But today the process has again gotten stuck over the details.
It is wonderful that in six weeks a new Biden administration will control the Executive branch of government and Democrats the House. It would be even more wonderful if Democrats could win control of the Senate in the Special Election in Georgia on January 5, so our country could finally begin to move forward against the ticking clock of climate change. Sadly, it is likely the Evil Mr. McConnell will remain in control and extract a heavy tab for even the slightest cooperation toward that goal. So we must make him offers he can’t refuse. All we have to do is find ways to make carbon reduction more profitable than carbon production.
And we can do that. Yes, we can…!
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