Lummi Island Wine Tasting July 27 ’13
Last Friday
There is no particular reason why last Friday night should have drawn such a blowout crowd, but it did; from opening at 4 o’clock, people just kept arriving! Ryan held down the fort alone in his usual stylish manner, and by the time we came over sometime after 5 the joint was Really jumpin’! It was like walking into one of those really cool parties in Movies where vast numbers of people are crammed together and everyone is engaged and alive and happy and…OMD!…like a…Singles Bar! But wait, hold on, no need to panic, many were just the Usual Suspects out for Friday night Happy Hour, and they found it here at the wine shop!
Chili Cookoff Complications
As everyone knows by now, many Islanders were infected with norovirus last weekend, probably through contact with an unknown source at the Chili Cookoff. We got a call from Whatcom County Health Department on Monday warning us to take extra precautions serving food or wine, because the outbreak on Lummi Island that was somehow associated with the Chili Cookoff last weekend was part of a larger outbreak across the County. Although the wine shop is minimally involved with food, we do take our responsibilities seriously about washing hands, not touching food, using bleach, etc. Our compassion is with all who contracted the virus last weekend, and we hope all are fully recovered by now. It is a sobering reminder that all of us must maintain due diligence to safeguard community health.
Vendovi Island
In December 2010 the San Juan Preservation Trust purchased and protects Vendovi Island, a 217-acre, virtually untouched island with nearly three miles of shoreline, abundant wildflower fields, and lush fern forests. Vendovi sits about a mile southwest of Lummi Island, and was previously privately owned and off limits to the public. Now, however, the San Juan Preservation Trust has opened the island to limited public access by boat. There is a small dock that accommodates several small boats, and visitors are allowed between 10am and 6pm daily, May through September. This afternoon we sailed to Vendovi for a picnic and walk along the several beautiful trails that criss-cross the island. It is truly a treasure, from lovely beaches deep in shells from ancient Salish middens to quiet forest trails with views of water, islands, eagles, and mountains. This view is back toward Lummi Mountain just a few miles away. Our boat is on the right; the one on left belongs to the caretakers, who have spent a good portion of the last six years on this boat in the Sea of Cortez in Baja.
This Week’s Tasting
Mt. Baker Siegierrebe ’11 Washington $14
Siegerrebe is an early ripening cross of Gewürztraminer and Madeleine Angevine which can ripen here in Western Washington. The wine is light, bright, crisp, and refreshing, perfect with a fresh summer salad.
Pierre Usseglio Cotes du Rhône Rosé ’11 France $18
Grenache 80%, Cinsault 20%. Only 3,000 bottles made. Elegant velvet texture; refreshing and stylish rosé with pretty strawberry and almond aromas, some notes of garden herbs and a clean, smooth finish. A very classy rosé.
Morel Esprit d’Automne ’11 France $14
Syrah (40%), carignan (30%), and grenache (30%); perfumes of black olives, tobacco, and spices lead to full flavors of morello cherries, red fruits, and a finalé of mint and licorice.
Les Pious Cotes de Rhone Grenache ’11 France $14
Smooth and rich, with notes of plum and caraway; grown biodynamically and aged in cement tanks…nice!
Lost River Nebbiolo ’10 Washington $22
Lighter than its famous Italian counterparts barolo and barbaresco, yet showing classic nebbiolo notes of violets and tar on a smooth frame of cherry and strawberry…absolutely delightful!
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2072 Granger Way