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.
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2072 Granger Way