lummi island wine tasting dec 6 ’19
click on photos for larger images
Friday Breads This Week
Levain w/ Dried Cherries and Pecans – A levain is made the night before final mixing using a sourdough starter, starting the fermentation process . The final dough is made with the levain, bread flour and fresh milled whole wheat and then loaded up with dried cherries and toasted pecans. A nice rustic loaf that goes well with meats and cheese – $5/loaf
Pan de Cioccolate – A delicious chocolate artisan bread made with lots of eggs, butter and sugar. Also made with a levain it is a rich chocolate bread made with bread flour and fresh milled rye flour, honey for sweetness, vanilla and plenty of dark chocolate. Makes fabulous toast, even better french toast – $5/loaf.
Rum Raisin Brioche – A delicious brioche dough full of eggs, butter and sugar. Filled with golden raisins and chunks of almond paste and topped with a chocolate glaze before baking…ooh la la! – 2/$5
(breads must be pre-ordered by Wednesday for pickup here at the wine shop at our Friday wine tasting, 4-6pm. Planning a visit to the Island? Email us to get on the mailing list!)
Lady Hill
Lady Hill Winery is located in the Champoeg State Heritage Area in the northern Willamette Valley in Oregon. As it turns out, the winery is across the road from Champoeg State Park, where we have stayed many times with our trailer. Situated as it is in the middle of Willamette Valley wine country, the Park is a perfect base for visiting lots of Oregon wineries.
Lady Hill is owned by Jerry Owen, whose family has been in the area since the 1850’s, shortly after Oregon’s first provisional government was formed there in 1843. His home and this winery (he has been involved with several) are located on property that has been in the family since 1862, a stone’s throw from some of the earliest plantings of wine grapes in the region by retired French Canadian fur trappers who had worked for Hudson’s Bay Company.
They were among the first non-native pioneers in the area. Hudson’s Bay Company operated all along the West Coast, trading goods ’round the Horn for the early settlers in exchange for furs, as detailed in Richard Dana’s classic book Two Years Before the Mast, about his journey as a seaman in the early 19th Century. There were no cities, only a few scattered settlements and trading stations.
On our way home from Corvallis last weekend we visited Lady Hill again and tasted through the current lineup of wines with old friends who happened to be visiting from Back East. As usual, we liked all the wines, and brought back several for the wine shop. This weekend we will pour two of those, the Lady Hill Cab Franc and the Three Feathers Pinot Noir Rose, which is made by Lady Hill for a small family winery in the area.
Mar a Lago Update: Impeachment Cries and Whispers
Yesterday kicked off Official Impeachment hearings against the Tweetster by the House Judiciary Committee. Paradoxically, though everyone in both parties Knows that he Did what he is being charged with doing, the R’s dismiss it completely– and John McCain must be rolling over in his grave.
In the testimony yesterday four distinguished legal scholars expounded at length about the Meaning of “High Crimes and Misdemeanors” and whether the current charges were sufficiently Over the Line to justify Impeachment. Three of the four quoted in detail from the Constitution and the writings of many of its Signers why yes, indeed, Extortion, Obstruction of Justice, and Withholding of essential military aid to an important American ally currently in a shooting war with Russia were of a Certainty Impeachable Offenses.
The fourth expert, who was there to represent the R point of view, suggested that if Conviction in the Senate, or even in the Court of Public Opinion were the goal, the Committee should take the time to run through the Whole Legal Process that would be necessary to get key witnesses (withheld by order of the T) in front of the Committee and nail down the case. We found this a somewhat persuasive argument, since as we mentioned last week, in the Watergate case it was only after a lengthy court battle forced Nixon to release the tape of the “smoking gun” conversation that public opinion turned massively against him, forcing him to resign.
The rub is that despite the Denial of the R’s, the facts of the case Are Already pretty much nailed down with documentation of the actual conversation laying out the Quids and Quos and the actual delay of military aid. All indications are that the R’s have Closed Ranks with their Prez, the one who pulled them away from their traditional values of a Strong Stance on Defense, Christian Values, and of course Free Trade, all of which have gone Belly Up under the T. They’ve all drunk the Kool-Aid, folks, no Integrity here, just move along.
Since we respect Speaker Pelosi’s political acumen, her formal statement today to commence official Impeachment Proceedings suggests that maybe she sees no advantage in slowing the process (Damn the Trumpedos, Full Speed Ahead?). Or maybe there she still hopes for an Ides of March Surprise for the T in the Senate (Et tu, Mitch?). Then again, maybe she thinks forcing the R’s in the Senate to go on record supporting the T-ster’s pro-Russian goals could break loose enough seats in 2020 for Dems to regain Senate control (It’s my Party and I’ll Try if I want to…?).
We shall see…and in the difficult mean-time, we remind you that you can always find support and comfort in the warm community and great wines here at the wine shop!
Washington Post Tweetster Lie Count to date 13,445 as of 10/10/19
This week’s tasting
Mon Frère Chardonnay ’18 California $13
Aromas of citrus, pear and stone fruit line with floral notes and a hint of nutmeg and vanilla on the finish. Well balanced acidity and minerality followed by a refreshing finish.
Three Feathers Pinot Noir Rose ’18
Pale pink, with nose of fresh flowers and palate of strawberry, green apple, and melon with hints of brioche. Crisp and refreshing.
Terra d’Oro Zinfandel ’17 California $15
Aromas and flavors of dried cherries, cured beef and a whiff of dried herbs create good complexity and solid structure with good acidity and firm tannins that pair well with rich dishes.
Cervoles Garnatxa “Les Garrigues” ’17 Spain $14
From 700 meters of altitude on gravelly soils with a loamy-clayey texture that yields a juicy, fruity and fresh wine. Mixed ageing in stainless steel and oak enhances notes of ripe red fruits bathed in liqueur.
Lady Hill Cabernet Franc ’16 Oregon $32
Aromas of raisined berry fruit, sugared dates, chocolate, caramel and orange peel lead to a rich, lush, palate with flavors of raisin, cocoa, coffee and toffee. Great on its own or with any kind of chocolate, Stilton cheese. or toasted walnuts.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
2072 Granger Way