Lummi Island Wine Tasting July 13 ’13
Milestones
We are currently in Maine for the occasion of my 50th High School reunion in Bangor. This is a curiously sobering experience. More than retiring, more than starting to collect Social Security, and more than turning any particular age, the 50th HS reunion is a curiously poignant icon of aging. I mean, you see and feel it and acknowledge its coming in lots of small ways, but there isn’t actually a designated cultural ritual after which one can say—- or has to admit it to having become an Elder Citizen. So maybe the closest thing our culture ( I use the word loosely, of course!) has to such a ritual is the Big Five-Oh HS Reunion. We’ll see. Most likely it will be just a nice visit with folks I once knew very well…and even though a lot of time has passed, they are a valued part of my roots, even if it means we are now officially a bunch of geezers…
Lucerne Inn
We are staying at the old Lucerne Inn about 10 miles south of Bangor, on the Bar Harbor road. It overlooks Philips Lake, which most locals have always referred to as “Lucerne,” after the tiny spot nearby which is actually named “Lucerne-in-Maine.” We spent a lot of time at the lake when I was a kid in the late fifties, and the Inn became a familiar sight, with the lake lying behind it. My sister got married here in 1961, and we celebrated my mother’s 85th birthday here in 2000. So, like us, it’s getting on in years; the floors are pretty uneven, and everything is dated, bordering on “rustic.” Still, it is a good place to be for this milestone visit.
Family, Food, and Wine
One of the central meanings of returning to childhood homes is the connection of family and place, in this case a chance to visit with my niece Jennifer over delicious food and wine. Wherever we go, we strive to carry this sense of home and hearth with us, and it is perhaps the most basic ground of our human experience.
A Small Tip for social change
Sometime in the last few months Pat read an interesting idea on small ways to encourage social change. One very simple one was to play a small but active role in redistributing income by the simple act of leaving a tip for the person who cleans your hotel room. People who do these jobs do not get paid a lot of money; they work long hours; and they do jobs many of us would rather not do. Since we read that, we try to be more conscious of the possibility; if every room had a few bucks on the dresser, it could add up to a real difference. Pass it on!
This week’s tasting
Though we are away, Ryan will open the shop and pour this week’s wines for you on schedule Friday 4-7 and Saturday 2-6. Please note < /strong>: shop will close at 5:45 on Saturday!
Perazzeta Rosado di Montalcino ’12 Italy $14
It’s back! From the same grape as Brunello (sangiovese grosso), this beautiful rosado has it all: rich, bold, flinty, and summery.
Loredona Viognier ’11 California $9
Heady aromas of sweet orange, ripe apricot and honeysuckle lead to mouth-watering nectarine, tangerine and citrus notes on the palate. Surprisingly rich with nicely balanced acidity and minerality. Great value!
Rigal Malbec ’10 France $11
From Cahors, the birthplace of malbec in France (not Argentina!); lots of plum and a bit of oak on the nose and palate, with lively notes of raspberry and licorice and a touch of earthiness.
Lost River Western Red ’10 Washington $17
Lovely blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc; dark fruits on the nose, smooth and rich in the mouth, enjoy with rich sauces or all by itself.
Marchetti Rosso Conero Riserva ’08 Italy :$22
Made only from “free run juice,” and crammed with black berry, plum, and currant flavors, showing elegant traces of graphite, leather, stone, and smoke, with a streak of bitter chocolate; caresses the palate like silk scarf…!
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2072 Granger Way
That was a really good tasting! We loved all the wines this week, and the Viognier was such a great price for how delicious it was. Yum! We missed you guys, though! I hope you are having a fun trip!