Lummi Island Wine Tasting May 4 ’13
May 4th Movement
Back in the fifties when I was in school, China was rarely mentioned, and when it was, it was mentioned in a vague historical context which carefully excluded any references to Communism. Now I think about it, it was a little like how so-called adults talked about women who were pregnant, because for some reason the word “pregnant” could not be said out loud. Rather, they (women talking about women) would be speaking in a perfectly normal tone of voice which would suddenly drop to a whisper: “Haven’t you heard? She’s…pee-gee…!”
What does that have to do with China? The May 4th Movement originated around the end of WWI, when China fought on the side of the Allies against the Germans, for one thing because they hoped to win back lands colonized by Germany. However, in the Treaty of Versailles ending the war the political intrigues of the day allocated the German claims in China to Japan instead. The May 4th Movement was a social and cultural response to the global politics of the time, which led eventually to the Communist Revolution and the present balance of global political and economic power. So maybe we should have given their land back to the Chinese instead of the Japanese; maybe the last hundred years would have unfolded very differently…! read more
Last Week
I confess we were imagining a somewhat festive return to Lummi and the wine shop after having been gone for several weeks. No, we certainly weren’t expecting a crowd like, you know, Lindy landing in Paris, but, hey, we were open to a little touch of Festivity. As it turns out, however, it was a very quiet day, in which a small number of people spent a good portion of the afternoon together, which was entirely pleasant and low-key. We had run into Sean and Elizabeth and friends on our noontime dog walk, and they all came by the shop shortly after opening at 2pm. Conversation lingered on till well into the afternoon when Randi showed up, and that conversation went on way past closing when we just up and went to the Beach Store for dinner. Even after all these years, there is no predicting what any given Saturday will bring…it’s always a surprise.
Trailering in on people
One of the great things about our recent road trip was getting to visit with lots of friends and family for a couple of days. Sleeping and keeping our gear in the trailer seemed to give both us and our many hosts more breaks from one another than when being complete house guests (though no, I don’t know how any of our many hosts felt about it), yet at the same time allowed a deeper connection than just passing through for dinner, more of a sense of how they actually live. So we really had a nice sense of contact with old friends in new ways, very enjoyable for us, and hopefully minimally burdensome to our many gracious hosts. (Although, admittedly, I’m not sure anyone would welcome this kind of Attitude right in their own driveway…!)
This Week’s Wines
Arindo Verdejo ’11 Spain 88pts $10
Fresh pear and melon aromas sparked by lemon zest and minerals. A floral quality enhances the palate, which finishes juicy and clean, with good lift and stony persistence.
La Font du Vent Rosé “Les Promesses” ’11 France 88pts $10
Very pure and focused, with a range of plum, cherry and strawberry fruit. A lingering cherry pit edge provides contrast on the finish.
Real de Aragon Garnacha ’07 Spain 88pts $11
expressive nose of cherry and cassis. On the palate it has a touch of silky tannin, good grip, savory fruit, and a medium-long finish
Navarro Correas Malbec Gran Reserva ’10 Argentina $11
Enticing aromas and flavors of cassis, blackberry, licorice and mint. Densely packed, supple and concentrated, Finishes with substantial ripe, building tannins.
David Coffaro Barbera ’09 California $25
81% Barbera, 19% sangiovese; Big, jammy, New World aromas of cherries, roses, and plums lead seamlessly into intense, lingering flavors and mouthwatering acidity.
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2072 Granger Way