Lummi Island Wine Tasting Winter Solstice ’12

Posted at December 20, 2012

Rumor Spreads: Days to Get Longer…?

img_2104Unconfirmed reports suggest that the Gloom that has washed the color out of our landscape for the past several weeks may be peaking (nadiring?) in the next few days. Predictions are highly suspect, but some people say this is a regular cycle and that it has happened before. Others insist that the shorter, gloomier days we have been experiencing are payback from the gods for various unspecified sins committed by unspecified voters, and will continue to get worse until Tax Cuts for the Rich are made Permanent. Those of us with nerdy scientific minds are withholding judgment until either the sinning stops or the rich get richer, and then we have only to look at the weather to see which way the wind was really blowing. Of course, if the days get longer and the rich don’t get their tax cuts made permanent, well, I guess we will have to conclude that either the sinning stopped, or more likely, that these things do happen on some kind of recurring cycle. Either way, it’s a fascinating subject to ponder with friends over a nice glass of wine. Stay tuned!

Holiday Truffles Ready for Pickup!

Preordered truffles have been made, boxed, and tied with holiday ribbon, ready for giving or personal indulgence. There are four flavors this year: Classic Dark, Coconut, Fleur de Sel Caramel, and Chai Spice. There are still a few unboxed available at $1 each, but calling to reserve is still highly recommended. (758-2959)

Please pick up Friday, December 21 (4:00 – 7:00) or Saturday, December 22, (2:00 – 6:00), or call to make other arrangements, thanks!

 

Online Store Coming Soon
winebasketBeginning in the next month or so, Artisan Wine Gallery will launch an online store, allowing those of you who purchase wine regularly to shop online and enjoy free delivery on the island. If you haven’t shopped with us before and you normally purchase your wines on the mainland, we would like to do whatever it takes to make us your go-to wine shop! Send us an email, call, or come in for a free introductory tasting. Won’t it be great to have the wines you like in stock right here on the Island? Over the last few years we have explored several online store software packages, but so far none has met our criteria of being simple, attractive, and of course free! We have settled on the software, but it is still going to take a lot of personal attention to give you the personalized service we have in mind. For the moment you may see strange headings coming and going on this blog, but please ignore them until we have worked out the bugs!

 

Finally, the “Artisan Wine Club!”
toastThe online store will be an essential part of our new Artisan Wine Club as a way to solidify our “artisan wine” vision, make the business end of our shop a little more viable,  reward consistent supporters with special offers, discounts, and special wine tasting experiences, and most important, give us even more ways to enjoy wine and each other. Working directly with some of our favorite winemakers, both locally and abroad, we intend to provide exceptional wines at great prices. Many of the wines offered will be exclusive to Artisan Wine Gallery members. We will ask members to pay a small annual fee ($35/individual, $50/couple) and commit to buying four bottles a month (one case per quarter) to maintain their membership, which will give them these benefits:

We will look forward to hearing your thoughts on these ideas!

 

Last week’s tasting
Okay, I admit it: we didn’t pour last week’s scheduled wines last week. Since, as I mentioned, we were reinstating our $99 case sale last weekend through the end of 2012, featuring in particular several amazing bargains on Spanish wines, we did not pour the wines scheduled for last weekend, but instead poured four or five of the sale wines…which were a big hit, by the way!

Among these is the latest tinto from Borsao, where we visited last spring for a tour of winery and vineyards. This wine is a rich garnacha, which critic Robert Parker describes as “possibly the single greatest dry red wine value in the world”…! Also included in the sale are another several cases of the Garnacha de Fuego that we poured a couple of weeks ago, which Parker described as “full-bodied and voluptuous, with a sweet kiss of jammy black cherries intertwined with an undeniable minerality.”

Till the end of 2012 we will continue to offer any mixed case of wines priced at $10 or less for $99. In addition, until the end of 2012 you can put together ANY 12 BOTTLES in a mixed case and get a 15% discount! These are both great deals, and will help to tide you over during January, when we may or may not be open.

 

This week’s tasting

includes four more of the “delicious wines under $10” that are included in the $99 case sale extravaganza!

Yamhill pinot gris ’08 Oregon
Nicely captures typical varietal aromas and flavors of apple and pears, with crisp acid and a gentle butteriness on the palette

Wrongo Dongo ’10 Spain 88pts:
Highly perfumed bouquet offers fresh blackberry, blueberry, potpourri and peppery spices. Pliant, medium-bodied dark berry flavors pick up silky tannins with air. pretty sexy stuff, especially for the price.

Venta Morales ’11 Spain 88pts
Pungent aromas of cherry, blackcurrant and dark chocolate. Supple and juicy in the mouth, with spice-accented cherry and fresh herb flavors. Finishes on a tangy note, with good cut and length.

Garnacha de Fuego ’11 Spain 92pts
Dark ruby/purple color, jammy black cherries intertwined with crushed rock minerality. On the palate, a full-bodied, voluptuous texture develops towards ripe raspberries and black currants intermixed with camphor and forest floor.

Baguala Malbec ’08 Argentina
Rich, elegant, and full-bodied, with ripasso-like notes of raisins, cassis, and a dash of bitters.

 

Wine Tasting

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