Lummi Island Wine Tasting Spring Equinox ’14

Spring Raccoon

dscn0499 (Modified)Well, I know some people aren’t crazy about them, and they can be messy. And sighting one isn’t up there with seeing a unicorn or an orca, perhaps; but I confess I have a fondness for their outlaw masks, their Cheshire Cat tails, and their deliberate ways. A small local group patrols our neighborhood at night, and some mornings we see 2, 3, or 4 animals climbing one of the firs behind the house. They climb methodically, maybe still looking for things edible, but the stronger impression conveyed is a patient search for just the right place to take a nap. They go up, down, out on this limb, back on that one, never in a hurry, sometimes trying out a spot for a bit before deciding that somehow, no, this bed is too something, and look further. Within twenty minutes or so, however, they settle down for a snooze, and it becomes very difficult to see them even if you know right where they are.

more on raccoons

Spring Arrives: Minimal Fanfare…but Relentless Promise

There is an old story about a gifted pianist who gives an inspired performance of a difficult piece. After the concert, an awestruck fellow from the audience comes to the stage and says, “That was wonderful! But what does it Mean?” The pianist lifts his finger to acknowledge the question, then sits down and plays the entire piece all over again. Then he stands up and faces the questioner: “That’s what it means!” he exclaims.

So it seems to be with weather around the world this winter, including here in the Pacific Northwest. I was curious what the next few months might have in store for us, since the last several months have seemed to bring in, you know, somebody else’s weather. Noted meteorologist Cliff Mass (see his latest blog entry) probably knows as much about our regional weather patterns as anyone, so, wondering what he was thinking about that, I checked out his website. At left is a chart (click image to enlarge) from his blog for today, in which he discusses how right now, mid-March, is when the air about a mile above ground is typically the Coldest of the Year (red line).  That little insight goes a long way toward explaining all those weird March days we have all experienced around here (though not this year yet!), when in the space of a few hours you can experience bright, warm sunshine; sudden hailstorms; blustery winds; and perhaps a bit of hard rain. My lingering question is: “yeah, yeah, very interesting, but is there gonna be a Real Summer this particular year (last year was a little Too Real if you ask me) around here??? Or is there, you know, another Ice Age headed our way soon??”

 

More wines than you can shake a stick at!

Though no one seems to know the precise origin of the phrase “more than you can shake a stick at,” and of course ignoring for the moment the disturbing use of a preposition at the end of a sentence, one interesting conjecture can be found here. The suggestion is that anything of real value is “worth shaking a stick at.” In other words, it has some kind of Real Value, some kind of Worthiness.

In that spirit I am happy to tell you that in the last week we have brought in a LOT of new wines, “more than you can shake a stick at,” and we will be pouring them for you, along with some established favorites, over the next few weeks. Spring is here, and weekend afternoons linger. What better time to blip on by the Wine Shop??

 

This week’s tasting

Domaine Girard Chardonnay ’12 France $13
Medium to full bodied with fleshy notes of fresh-picked apples and pears without the influence of oak. It spends time on the lees to give it richness but being grown in clay soils at a higher elevation retains a delightful freshness.

Venta Morales Tempranillo ’12    Spain   $9
Bright purple; pungent aromas of cherry, blackcurrant and dark chocolate. Supple and juicy in the mouth, with spice-accented cherry and fresh herb flavors, finishing on a tangy note.

Pech Celeyran Ombline Rouge ’12    France     $10
Un cuvée surprenante: un nez de fruits noirs, une bouche gourmande et fraîche. C’est ce type de vin dont le plaisir appelle un second verre…Barbecue de saucisses et viandes épicés.

Mt. Baker Zinfandel ’09 Washington $17
No review available, and I haven’t tasted it yet. But their wines are very consistently well-made, and someone recommended it. Don’t expect a big, extracted California-style zin– but should be soft and balanced.

Bodegas Convento Las Claras ’11 Spain 93 pts $18
100% tempranillo from vineyards dating back to 1900; layered nose of black raspberries, blackberries, licorice, graphite and spice box. Rich and full-bodied with sweet, velvety tannins and a heady, layered finish.

Wine Tasting

If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Comments are closed.