lummi island wine tasting jan 24 ’20
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Friday Breads This Week
Multi Grain- Uses a preferment where a portion of the flour, water, salt & yeast is mixed and fermented overnight before mixing the final dough to begin the enzymatic activity and gluten development overnight in a cool environment. The next day it is mixed with bread flour and fresh milled whole wheat and rye, then flax, sunflower and sesame seeds are added for a nice bit of crunch and some extra flavor. – $5/loaf
Rosemary Olive Oil – also made with prefermented dough like the multi grain and then mixed with bread flour and a bit of freshly milled white whole wheat for a little more flavor and texture. Fresh rosemary from the garden and olive oil to make for a nice tender crumb and a nice crisp crust. A great all around bread – $5/loaf
and pastry this week…
Pain aux Raisin – Made with the same laminated dough as croissants, rolled out, spread with pastry cream and sprinkled with a mix of golden raisins and dried cranberries soaked in sugar syrup. Rolled up and sliced before baking. – 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!)
Wine Club Membership Renewal Time!
Thanks to all of you have already re-upped for Aught-Twenty; it is gratifying to have your continuing support! Our membership renewal campaign will continue for another couple of weeks.
Annual membership is $50 per person, for which you get $5 weekly tastings (save $5/week!) AND we pay the sales tax on all purchases, a hefty 8.7% discount!
Yes, yes, we must be Crazy to offer this incredible Bargain, but there it is, time to sign up for another year to enjoy this great community AND great savings!
Alexander Valley Vineyards
Judy (LI’s roving wine minstrel) dropped by yesterday with her wine bag and poured a number of wines from Alexander Valley Vineyards, a pastorally beautiful piece of wine country north of Napa Valley. It is well known for soft, understated, and often elegant wines that its soil and exposure produce. AVV was one of the first wineries in the valley, beginning in the early 60’s. Over all these years it has remained a family winery, no small feat these days.
Their wines tend to be quite moderately priced compared to some of their neighbors and usually offer good value. We expect some of the wines we have ordered to be here in time for this weekend’s tasting, with a few more next week.
Something Magical…
Stumbled onto this stunning video yesterday on Youtube, was mesmerized, and feel compelled to share it. Yes, she goes some six minutes without breathing, yet maintains a profound and captivating grace.
Mar a Lago Update:
It’s been a strange and difficult week in America. On the one hand, we are impressed and grateful to the House Democrats for assembling and presenting an intelligent, carefully crafted, and completely convincing indictment of the Tweetster’s actions regarding the extortion of Ukraine, the famous quid pro quo (this for that) that brought us all to this moment.
On the other hand, it is clear that Senate Republicans are in lock-step, sticking to their mandated talking points despite the undeniable Facts before them. We confess a complete inability to get our heads around this behavior. To borrow a question from an old John Prine song, How the Hell can a person listen to this testimony– and we are talking about Republican Senators– and argue with a straight face that the documented behaviors are not Solid Grounds for impeachment?
Over the past three years we have seen the Republikans abandon every one of the Principles their Party has nominally claimed as their own: balanced budgets, a respected international presence, free trade, a strong defense. So we can logically expect that their “case” against Impeachment will involve wholly undocumented accusations and assertions, few if any facts, mock displays of moral outrage and other sleight-of-hand theatrics.
It all smacks of a smug and virulent Hypocrisy, one that has been epidemic in the Republikan Party for decades: a sense of Entitlement to Power; a facile willingness to abandon any once-dear ethic in the quest to gain and hold that Power; and a shameless disregard for the Constitutional Principles that have held this country together for two and a half centuries. And all of this is being conducted as our Planet, our Civilization, and our very Existence are threatened by a Climate Crisis these Buffoons deny even exists.
Hopefully the Impeachment will be the Catharsis that starts turning the tables toward Sanity.
Washington Post Tweetster Lie Count to date : 16,241 as of 01/24/20
This week’s tasting
Pascual Toso Chardonnay ’18 Argentina $14
Aromas of ripe green apple, pineapple and mango. The palate is fresh, with great acidity, ending with a slight toasty hint on a lingering finish.
Oregon Solidarity Pinot Noir ’18 Oregon $25
Rich and intense fruit flavors that reflect the warm and dry growing season. Aromas and flavors of cherry, blackberry and spice. Excellent balance, with solid structure, concentration and firm tannins.
Alexander Valley Vineyards Sin Zin Zinfandel ’15 California $16
Earthy aromas of plum, strawberry jam, fruit leather, black cherry and apricot lead to ripe flavors of red cherry, black pepper, blackberry, wild strawberry and a slight dusting of cocoa powder; a crowd pleaser with a structured, juicy fruit finish.
Seven Hills Walla Walla Red ’14 Washington $20
85% Cab, 10% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot; green herb, black fruit, coffee and anise aromas give way to beautifully balanced red- and black-fruit flavors. The acidity brings a sense of vibrancy, while the tannins provide plenty of structure.
Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth Italy $20
Offers a complex nose of garrigue. spices, plums, figs, licorice, root beer, and citrus peel. Initially sweet,finishing with a bracing bitter edge. Syrupy and compelling by itself or in a cocktail!
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2072 Granger Way