Lummi Island Wine Tasting December 10 ’11

Posted at December 8, 2011

SECOND REMINDER    TRUFFLES    TRUFFLES     TRUFFLES     TRUFFLES TRUFFLES  
For Christmas there will be four flavors of Pat and Janice’s famous truffles, packaged in boxes of four for $5. Flavors will include four old favorites, all made by hand from exquisite French chocolate. Will be available for pickup December 22-23 by appointment, or during regular hours Dec 24.

ITALY     ITALY     ITALY    ITALY     ITALY     ITALY      ITALY  
Twice a year we get shipments from our Italian importer, Small Vineyards. We received some of the wines last week, and the rest this week. We will be pouring two of this week’s arrivals on Saturday, the La Quercia aglianico (a personal favorite) and a new wine for us, the Giacato merlot, from the Tuscan coast. I confess this is my first Italian merlot, and I think you will really like it. Finally, a year or two ago I bought several bottles of an interesting Italian wine on the basis of its absolutely stunning review (see below), the Rocca di Montegrossi Geremaia ’04. I just have four bottles left, so come check it out!

HOLIDAYS    HOLIDAYS     HOLIDAYS     HOLIDAYS    HOLIDAYS     HOLIDAYS
During December we will be open our usual hours on Fridays from 4-7pm and Saturdays from 2-6, including Christmas Eve. However, we will NOT be open usual Saturday hours on New Year’s Eve. Rather, we will be open from 7-9pm for our gala, fun-filled, Seventh Annual East Coast New Year’s Eve party! We provide the wine, and you bring the most delicious finger food you can to share the other revelers. And when the Big Ball drops in Times Square (9pm our time!) we cheer, toast the New Year, and sing! (and you young folks can go on to your next party while those so inclined can go home and call it a day, month, year…!)

BLOG WINE    BLOG WINE    BLOG WINE    BLOG WINE    BLOG WINE    BLOG WINE
I have developed a sort of ritual about writing this blog each Thursday night. First, I rummage around the wine shop to pick the wines for the Saturday tasting. As you regulars know, that usually means one white and three reds, representing different varietals, regions, and price points, and which we haven’t poured in the last few months. Second, I download pictures from our trusty camera, edit as appropriate, and select which ones to post here. As you know, the main criterion is that people have to look like they are having a good time! Of course, almost always everyone is having a good time, but cameras being what they are, and people being what they are, it may not show. So we have to be selective. (Last week I forgot the camera, so the photos below were taken on Steve’s phone…thanks, mate!)

And through this whole process, of course, I sip some vino (duh, it’s a wine blog!). Sometimes, computers being what they are, for no reason whatsoever several paragraphs will suddenly disappear, and I am forced to rewrite them, as happened last week. And, objectively speaking,  depending on the hour, that could be a blessing or…perhaps…a curse. Whichever the case, I did update the version that was emailed to you last week. Which brings me to the basic point, that those of you who receive this missive by email should know that the title above is a link that you can click on to visit the online version, complete with photos and links which may or may not appear in the email version (I have NO idea!). Once in a while you might want to try that…and please let me know if it doesn’t work!

Anyway. Tonight while posting I finished the Quilceda Creek Red Wine 2004 ($40) that we opened last night, which was showing really well (heartbreakingly good for its mere 92 points from Parker!), and continued with what is still my favorite malbec, the Familia Marguery 2004 ($22). Like most malbecs, it is sharply focused on black cherry notes, but with ample elements of leather, anise/fennel, and food-friendly acidity. Such a simple thing is wine, and how good it makes everyday Life!. Who could ask for anything more? (Both wines are available, even if they are not on the shelf…)

 

  As you regulars know, I am so laid back I occasionally fall asleep while pouring wine…here’s Judy (dutiful Wine Professional that she is) about to wake me up with a smart backhand…!

Our special guests last week, David’s parents Bob and Sandy, spent most of the afternoon, apparently in disbelief that we all waste perfectly good Saturday afternoons in this decadent fashion…!

This week’s wines:

Selbach Riesling Pierporter Mikelsberg  ’10   Germany    $10
Light, clean, crisp, and refreshing, a great match for the holiday turkey!

La Quercia Aglianico  ‘10    Italy   $11
The new vintage of one of our favorite italian reds last year; full bodied with notes of ripe plum and white pepper on smooth, fine-grained tannins. A lovely match with a wide range of savory dishes.

Giacato Merlot  ’10    Italy       $10
Merlot from Italy? Huh? Rich, earthy, and smooth, this Tuscan merlot is bright, expressive, and piercingly fresh, with generous fruit, inticing spiciness, and food-friendly acidity.

 Rocca di Montegrossi Geremaia ’04     Italy    WA93pts   $33
60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18 months in Allier oak barrels. Awesome richness and depth with a remarkable level of juiciness and mid-palate generosity. The wine remains extremely fresh and primary in its expression of dark macerated cherries, minerals, spices and sweet toasted oak. Despite its lushness, the wine also possesses considerable structure that begs for extended bottle aging– a thrill to taste, offering phenomenal quality for the price.

Wine Tasting

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