Lummi Island Wine Tasting October 17 ’13

Paris can wait

autumn-in-parisAs it turns out, at the last minute we had to cancel our planned three-week trip to France this past Monday morning. It had been a hectic week following up on the previous week’s “near miss,” and though the docs were okay with our going, and we were fully packed for departure, unpleasant drug side effects made it just too stressful. As a result we are staying home and taking it easy instead. Everything is okay, and though we are disappointed to miss this trip after so much planning, we are relieved to have some uncommitted time at home, surrounded by the “warm web of familiar faces” that you are all a part of and that nourishes and sustains us. So to all of you a hearty thanks for being in our web!     (note: click on images for larger versions)

 

October hours still limited

relaxUnder the auspices of taking it easy and being good to ourselves the next few weeks, we will not be  opening the wine shop on the next two Fridays. We WILL, however, be open as usual the next two Saturdays, and hope you all can drop by. This also means that, contrary to last week’s announcement, Pat and I will be hosting on Saturday as usual, not, as we announced last week, our volunteer guest hosts, known to all of you as simply “The Judys.” Instead we have invited them to see if there is another time this fall when they would be willing to add their luster and energy to a wine shop afternoon. We are hoping there will be, and will keep you in the loop as plans develop.

 

la Rocaliere Re-Re-discovered!

We did make it to France two years ago about this time of year, and very much enjoyed our visit. One of the highlights, which I have mentioned numerous times, was our visit to la Rocaliere, a small family winery run by two sisters in Lirac, just northwest of Avignon. I really liked the wines and was especially impressed with the fact that none of the wines were aged in oak. Rather, the whites were done in stainless steel and the reds were aged in large, coated cement tanks. So when we got back from that trip, I was keen to get these wines into the shop for all of us to enjoy.

As it turned out, there was at that time a small distributor carrying the wines in Washington and we brought some in; but soon after that distributor went out of business. Then a second distributor carried them briefly, but they were unable to reach a sustainable agreement with the winery. Then a third distributor carried them briefly and we were able to get an order delivered last spring while they carried the wines. And now just in the last month or so I happened upon the wines again, now handled by a yet a fourth distributor in a mere two years! For those of you who know the wines, we now have in stock the rouge, the blanc, and the Tavel rose (Tavel and Lirac are adjacent villages). This weekend we will be pouring the rose; next weekend we will pour the blanc and the rouge…so mark your calendars!

 

Resveratrol, wine, chocolate, and health

Resveratrol is a particularly potent polyphenol antioxidant found in certain fruits and vegetables including especially grapes, which produce resveratrol as a defense against fungi. It may be why many French people with poor diets who drink wine have better cardiovascular health than their diets might suggest. Resveratrol may increase the lifespan in human cells, reduces oxidative stress damage to your cardiovascular system by neutralizing free radicals, and helps support your body’s natural defenses. This good news for wine lovers has now been expanded into good news for chocolate eaters as well. A recent study sponsored by Hershey’s (hmmm…) shows that dark chocolate also is a good source of resveratrol, which works  tirelessly to round up those free radicals and keep them off the street. All of this is very encouraging for those of us of a certain age  who keep learning that we’re supposed to avoid more and more of the things we like  to stay healthy. A little good chocolate and good wine can not only help preserve your health; it can also make you happier! Read more.

 

This week’s wines

Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes ’12 Argentina $14
Highly perfumed aromas of lemon drop, white flowers, peppermint and white pepper. Supple, pliant and easygoing, with citrus, herbal and floral flavors joined by a hint of licorice.

la Rocaliere Tavel Rose ’12 France $13
Scents of dark berries, cherry and licorice, with a floral accent. Firm and structured, displaying bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors and a hint of bitter herbs, finishing with good power and length.

Villa Luisa Chianti ’11        Italy           $9
Satisfying well beyond its humble price point, showing red fruits and violets on the nose, with a smooth, soft palate.

Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon ’10 Chile 90pts $10
This rich red leads with distinct earthiness to dark cassis, plum reduction and kirsch notes, gaining traction with layers of woodsy spices, maduro tobacco and licorice on the long finish.

Palacios Rioja Crianza la Montesa ’09  Spain           $17
65% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo picked by hand; well-defined strawberry, Morello and shortcake-scented bouquet infused with fennel and licorice; medium-bodied with supple tannins, and an elegant, caressing finish that speaks of its place.

Wine Tasting

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