lummi island wine tasting may 12 ’17
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Bread this week
Seeded Country Hearth – A nice artisan bread made with bread flour and about a third fresh milled whole wheat. Loaded up with pumpkin, sunflower and poppy seeds for lots of crunch and flavor. A great all around bread -$5/loaf
Buttermilk Currant – A really flavorful loaf made with bread flour and almost half fresh milled whole wheat. A little honey for sweetness balances the flavors of the whole grain, buttermilk makes for a soft and tender crumb. Then lots of currants and just a little rosemary round out the flavors. This bread makes great toast and even better french toast- $5/loaf
And this week’s pastry…
Gibassiers – A traditional french pastry made with a delicious sweet dough full of milk, butter, eggs and olive oil. Orange flower water, candied orange peel, and anise seed bring great flavor to these pastries. After baking they are brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with more sugar. Ooh La La! – 2/$5
Didy’s Gift
Didy Lutz was the artist for our first real Art Show about ten years ago. The poster shown here is one we made for Didy’s show, using one of her paintings that we have hanging in our living room. Didy and her husband Martin grew up in Switzerland in the thirties, met young, and eventually married. They lived all over the world as part of Martin’s career as a civil engineer. Their native language was High German, and they carried themselves with a warm and inviting Dignity.
Martin passed away several years ago, and Didy followed him just last year. So it was something of a surprise to hear from their son Chris, whom we had met in the wine shop back in 2010, that he was engaged in a process of distributing many of Didy’s unsold paintings to her old friends and family. He posted photos of the collection and invited each of us to select our favorites, in order, (which was not easy, because we liked all of them!), and he would hopefully be able to send us one we liked. Well, two days ago a package arrived with four paintings from our list of ten “favorites!”All in all it has been an unexpected, undeserved, and touching gift.
We encourage our readers to visit the site and browse through these images to get a taste of Didy’s style: abstract and colorful and evoking with each work a timeless and captivating “right nowness” that was one of her particular gifts.
May wine
The occasion was our friend Thurid’s 80th birthday last Sunday. The first thing you have to know is that 80 is to Thurid as 60 is to most of us. The second thing is that she and her late husband Bob introduced us to Didi and Martin (see above), eventually leading to our show of Didi’s paintings and the recent arrival of the new ones mentioned above. And the third thing is that just about everyone on the Island knows and loves her.
So it was no surprise that when Thurid thought she might have a little birthday celebration, LOTS of people got involved. The setting was the Community Garden at the Curry Preserve, on an astoundingly beautiful Spring Sunday. There were rows of tables laden with delicious dishes and more tables laden with delicious desserts! The entire scene deserved to be rendered in oil by one of the Impressionist Masters who could have captured the Magical Light and Shadow of the day.
There was one Other Table next to the food with a Large Bowl of May Wine, the traditional celebratory beverage of May Day celebrations. May wine is made by infusing riesling (in this case a Washington riesling) with fresh flowers of Sweet Woodruff, found in abundance in most northern climes in early May. The infused riesling is then combined half and half with sparkling white wine (in this case Italian prosecco), and garnished with a few blossoms of Sweet Woodruff.
All you need to know is that it was absolutely Delicious, and we hope to mix some up at the wine shop very soon!
Signs of Madness Escalate
Well, it’s been another Busy Week in the Nation’s Capital. Any casual observer would have to concede that the Efficiency with which the new so-called Administration can create Chaos is constantly improving, perhaps even accelerating. Though at first glance that seems more of a Shortcoming than an Asset, the strategy so far has been working Flawlessly. Such is the Magic of Complete Control of Government.
The current Chaos surrounding the Firing of the FBI Director is a case in point. While the Well-Fed Media Pundits and Congressional Politicians Pose and Postulate about What It Could Mean, the Family Fascists are sitting around the pool planning their next Outrage. And all along the Republikan Faithful are unwilling to act because it might hurt their Polls at Home. Somehow, through some kind of Time-Space Warp, we have all been caught up in some Dark Mitch McConnell Wet Dream where the Spoils all Flow toward the most Blatant Hypocrisy.
Our Challenge is highlighted by the recent firing of FBI Director Comey. As the legal and Constitutional Violations of the Administration mount and Accumulate, more and more depends on the resiliency of our layers of Bureaucracy to continue Doing their Jobs and adhering to their oaths to Defend the Constitution against All Enemies, foreign and Domestic. Make no mistake, this is a True Crisis, and any reasonably Divided Government would Circle the Wagons and run these Clowns out of town in Tar and Feathers on a Rail. They still haven’t Gotten It that Jabba only wants them for the Fat they can Render…(take note, Mssrs Ryan and McConnell…(slurp!)
This week’s wine tasting
Cloudlift Chardonnay ’14 Washington $18
Delicate aromas of dusty strawberry and dried Rainier cherry. The structure brings crushed cherries and white strawberry flavors, leading to a finish of black currant.
Chateau Lancyre Rosé ’15 France $12
Brilliant pink. Nose of ripe red berries and tangerine; Fleshy, seamless and broad palate of plush raspberry and candied orange and a touch of bitter herbs.
La Mijane Arpege ’13 France $14
Oceanic influences create an alternation of warm sun and cool breezes, which develop complex, original and balanced wines.
Castillo la Mendoza Crianza ’13 Spain $13
Ruby red with nose of red ripe fruit and morello cherry with vanilla and coconut notes; warm and round, with fruity flavors with notes of figs, toast and licorice; very easy to drink.
Rubino Punta Aquila Rosso Italy $15
Fragrant and rich, with fascinating mineral aromas, with notes of brandied cherries, mulberry jam, blueberry and blackcurrant, and spices; warm, complex, generous and vibrant.
lummi island wine tasting may 5 ’17
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Sorry, no bread this week
Janice, our Stalwart Baker, is away this week, so there is no bread pickup this week. Those of you on the bread order email list should hear from her next Sunday or Monday with the details of next week’s offerings.
Our Next Sunday Concert May 21!
Singer/songwriter/therapist (and Lummi Island familiar) Rob Hutchings has played his music in the wine shop numerous times over the past year, where many of us have enjoyed his expressive and emotive style: “With these songs of awareness, we celebrate our creative connection with an intention of healing.” For this concert Rob is teaming up with bluegrass mandolin/guitarist Perry Welsh, who brings his dynamic picking/strumming patterns to this musical collaboration in which unique rhythms frame the narrative elements of Rob’s songs. It’s gonna be fun!
Btw, for those of you who are musicians, Artisan Wine Gallery offers free wine tastings to anyone who volunteers for a fifteen-minute gig in the shop during our regular open hours! Acoustic music sounds great in our space, no amps necessary…all you have to do is show up!
Music from 4-6pm. Suggested donation is $15. Wine by the glass.
Space is limited, so please email us to reserve space.
Back Porch Robins Week 2
Until a week ago we had not had a close-up experience with wild bird nesting and nurturing hatchlings. So it has been fascinating to watch this archetypal scene unfold right outside our bathroom window. Last week we reported that two chicks had just hatched. Turns out we were wrong about that– there are now three chicks clearly visible in the nest, and they are growing FAST! Assuming these babies are just over a week old, within a week or so they will each take their first “flight,” which will essentially mean a one-way trip from the makeshift nest constructed for their birth to the Ground, where for another week or so they will be easy pickings for all kinds of Predators. Which seems, you know, like a pretty poor design. Then again, maybe that’s the reason for three chicks…a better chance that at least one will survive.
All of this reminds me of a time several years ago when I noticed our dog Cooper on the back deck making a strange sound. Closer examination revealed that he had a tiny bird that fit almost entirely into his mouth, and it was cheeping. He was a very gentle dog, and easily gave up his find. We took the bird to our neighbor Tammy, who for a long time had her own aviary, for rehab.
All of which is to say, OMG, in the next week these little birds are going to launch themselves out of their safe (but increasingly crowded each day), elevated, and predator-hidden nest to the Ground, where Life is Really Scary for that Long Week until you are strong enough to fly away from Danger. Wow…it IS a Jungle Out There!
The Dark Horse of the Apocolypse: 100 Days In
It’s Weird, you have to admit. Am I Right? Of course I’m Right. Even Fake News knows I’m Right. Believe me. I Know What I’m Talking about. Don’t I? Of course I do, Everybody Knows That.
The Really Weird Thing that is happening that No One is talking about is here we are at Day One Hundred, and, pretty much, Life has Gone On as Before. The Craziest Stuff so far hasn’t been Crazy Enough for some Republicans, and Too Crazy for many others, while both groups claim the Mantle of “Real Conservativism.”
By most definitions, controlling the White House, the Senate, the House, and more or less the Supreme Court would give any hypothetical Party some kind of Complete Control over Life, the Universe, and Everything. But the evidence so far suggests that the Obliviousness and/or Incompetence of the “Administration,” the philosophical conflicts between the Ultra-Right and the Extreme Right, and/or the ongoing Meltdown at Fox “News” are all signs that The Right has become too diverse a constituency to be able to Govern. Or, as Charles De Gaulle observed in 1962: “Comment voulez-vous gouverner un pays qui a deux cent quarante-six variétés de fromage?”
You can click the link for the translation, but the basic, and somewhat comforting message of the moment is that though we are in a Dark Period ruled by Orcs and Goblins, they know Precious Little about managing the System they now “Control.”
This week’s wine tasting
Jardin Unoaked Chardonnay ’13 South Africa $15
Alluring aromas of ripe pears and honey lead to a bright, crisp palate of fresh lemon, honey, and a touch of quinine. Delicious!
Chapoutier Belleruche Rosé ’16 France $13
The Grenache in this food-friendly Provencal-style rosé adds bright red stone fruit flavors; the Cinsault brings its delicate strawberry aroma; and the Syrah adds body, making for a great pairing even with the intense flavors of seafood.
Chevaliere du Clos Cote de Roussillon ’08
Dark and rich, with notes of cherry, plum, and fig with a hint of spice; complex and round, and full bodied on the palate with fully developed tannins; a great value red.
Finca el Tesso Tempranillo Spain $11
100% tempranillo from clay and limestone soil in western Spain at 600 meters above sea level, providing cool nights and long growing season where the wines develop a rich, alluring complexity.
Finca el Tesso Crianza’13 Spain $15
87% Tempranillo, 8% Graciano, 5% Cab Sauv from 50 year-old vines; Bright and polished with enticing aromas of chocolate, baking spices, licorice, and sweet flowers, with lush notes of black raspberry.
lummi island wine tasting april 28 ’17
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Bread this week
Cinnamon Raisin – Not the soft type of cinnamon raisin with a swirl of cinnamon sugar. This is a rustic version that is made with bread flour, fresh milled whole wheat and rolled oats. Some milk to tenderize the crumb, honey for sweetness and cinnamon mixed throughout before being loaded up with raisins. Makes delicious toast -$5/loaf
Braided Challah – a delightful soft loaf made with bread flour, lots of eggs, some sugar and vegetable oil. No butter or milk. Also makes great toast and even better french toast- $5/loaf
And for pastry…
Chocolate Babka Rolls – a rich sweet dough made with plenty of eggs, butter and sugar, rolled out and filled with dark chocolate and even more butter and sugar. Sliced into individual rolls before baking. Elizabeth K. has
been waiting for over 2 months for these so get your orders in before she does! – 2/$5
Cloudlift Returns
Our regulars know we have a particular fondness for the lovely wines from Cloudlift Cellars in Seattle. I dropped in on our friend and Cloudlift winemaker Tom Stangeland a couple of weeks ago and brought home a number of new releases that we will be pouring one by one over the next several weeks. Last time we did this the Hit of the Show was Tom’s “Ascent,” mostly cab franc from Horse Heaven Hills.
A 2013 vintage has been released, but since there is still some of the ’12, I thought we all deserved another taste of an old favorite, even better after another couple of years in bottle!
Cab Franc is the fourth most-produced red wine grape in Washington, behind Cab, Merlot and Syrah. Most often, as elsewhere in the world, it is primarily used as a blending grape in wines where cab sauv and/or merlot dominate. In our Fair State, cab franc often has softer tannins than cab sauv or merlot, and brings notes of garrigue and black pepper along with hints of chocolate and coffee…yes, indeed, very easy to like!
PUpdate
Ulee is now 4 months old, and weighs in at 21 lbs. The Puppy Growth Chart projects he will therefore level off between 30 and 35 lbs, about the same weight as Tator. However, like other “mini” Aussies (including our dear boy Cooper) Ulee conforms proportionally to the AKC standards for the breed, which are heavier than the ASCA dogs, which are bred longer, lighter, and more maneuverable for the agility that herding dogs require.
After a month of studiously avoiding Ulee, in the last week Tator has been spending a lot of time with him, trying to teach him the Rules Around Here. She is very patient, and seems to have no trouble with issuing the same correction over and over, maybe amping it up a little each time, but always very measured. It’s an interesting model to observe; any time he crosses some “line” she issues a corrective bark, growl, nip, or takedown, and then backs off and waits to see what he has learned. She seems infinitely patient with the process, and they seem to be developing quite a Bond. Absolutely fascinating to watch!
Back Porch Robins
A few weeks ago we noticed a bird’s nest just outside our back door, on a beam up under the roof that covers the back deck. A few days later through the bathroom window we saw a robin sitting in the nest, as if incubating eggs. We also noticed that if we or one of the dogs went onto the back deck, the robin would quickly, smoothly, and silently drop off the back of the beam and fly away with distracting calls. Then, over the next ten to twenty minutes she would follow a circuitous path around the back yard, pausing to watch at a number of different spots before very indirectly going back to the nest.
Two days ago we looked up and saw Momma Robin dropping food into two gaping beaks, and yesterday I got this photo of Momma and one chick. A Definite Sweet Sign of Spring, now showing at a Nest near you!
Relaxing at Mar a Lago
There is a contemporary Myth that for many decades the Outgoing President leaves Three Envelopes for the Incoming President, with the following Instructions:
“During your time in office you will face Three Crises. When the first crisis happens, open the First Envelope. When the Second Crisis happens, open the Second Envelope, and when the Third Crisis happens, open the Third Envelope. These guidelines represent the cumulative Wisdom of all who have held this office.”
Eventually each President feels compelled to turn to the envelopes. The first one says, “Blame Me.” The second one says, “Blame Congress.” The third one says, “Prepare Three Envelopes.”
Judging from recent news blaming Obama and the Democrats for Everything the Republicans can’t seem to get done despite their control of every single branch of the Government, it would seem that on Day 100 the First Envelope has been Opened. Make a note of it, and Stay Tuned…
This week’s wine tasting
Aravo albarino ’13 Spain $14
A one-of-a-kind, lush, medium-bodied Albariño that fills the mouth with apples, lime, peaches, flowers and grass, with bracing acidity and cleansing minerality.
Saint Nabor Gris de Gris Rose ’12 France $10
Bouquet of red fruit and honeysuckle with linden-tree nuances; light, crisp and easy drinking, with palate of wild strawberries and blueberries with mineral nuances.
Flaugerges Les Comptes Rouge ’12 France $13
Grenache blend; Garnet red, with slightly spicy aromas and flavors of olives, herbs, blackcurrant, cherries, and raspberries.
Esplugen Priorat ’14 Spain $17
Garnacha, carinyena, cab sauv; Priorat’s famous slate soil and arid climate give this wine great intensity and structure, with deep and complex aromas of rich ripe fruit and toast notes, and a long pleasing finish .
Cloudlift Ascent ’12 Washington $27
80% cab franc, 18% merlot, 2% petit verdot; aromas of black cherry, dark strawberry, sweet herbs and notes of minerality; light and silky mouthfeel with flavors of black cherry, cocoa powder and crushed herbs with bright acidity and hints of toasted almond on the finish.
lummi island wine tasting april 21 ’17
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Bread this week
Pain au Levain – made with bread flour and free milled whole wheat and rye also a little wheat germ and some malt for sweetness. A long, overnight cool ferment really brings out the flavor. A great crusty artisan bread -$5/loaf
Semolina with Fennel & Golden Raisins – about 50/50 bread and semolina flours and plenty of fennel seeds and golden raisins. A little butter keeps the crumb tender. It is a beautiful golden color due to the semolina and goes well with meats or cheeses. Judy A. says this is her favorite! So be sure to give it a try- $5/loaf
And for pastry…
Chocolate Croissants – a traditional laminated french pastry made with a bit of sourdough flavor and another pre-ferment to help strengthen the dough to create the traditional honeycomb interior. Rolled out and shaped with delicious dark chocolate in the center. Quantities are limited so get your order in early so you don’t miss out – 2/$5
Earth Day, Science Day
“The March for Science champions science as a pillar of human freedom and prosperity that upholds the common good, (calls for) political leaders and policy makers to enact evidence-based policies in the public interest.” — https://www.marchforscience.com/
As we mentioned last week, the first Earth Day in 1971 was a significant turning point in American understanding of the limits of our planet to transform our waste back into some kind of “Renewability.” And now here we are in 2017, almost fifty years later, in a Surreal World where something like Half our Population actually cannot tell the difference between Alternative Truth and Fact-based Truth. Of course this was all predicted by Grace Slick back in 1967: When the Truth is Found…To beeee…LIES….
Well, mis amigos, those Days have now Arrived. Nearly half the people in our country are either Unwilling or Unable to Distinguish Fact from Fiction. Indeed, their Main Issue seems to be that Scientific Consensus should not be allowed to Interfere with that same Traditional Common Sense that gave us the Salem Witch Trials, Nazi Death Camps, and of course “Fair and Balanced” Fox News and its Extravagantly Paid, Gender-Exploitive Pundits.
The March for Science is an important step toward reclaiming some degree of Rationality into political decision-making. Unfortunately, we have a long way to go, so we should all take part in Solidarity with our nearest Earth Day movement.
Small Vineyards
Four of this week’s wines are from importer Small Vineyards, part of their French and Spanish portfolio: These wines were introduced to us over the last several years by our friend Tristan, who has since gone on to form his own import company. For the moment there is no Washington importer for these wines.
However for the moment current stocks are low; prices are limited and there is no new importer stepping up to take over the responsibility of supplying us on a regular basis. For now, just know that we will carry a nice selection of of several old SV favorites from Spain and France.
Signs of Spring
This week’s wine tasting
Domaine Girard Chardonnay ’14 France $13
Medium- bodied with fleshy notes of fresh-picked apples and pears; no oak, but spends time on the lees to give it richness; clay soils at a higher elevation impart a delightful freshness.
Chateau Lancyre Rosé ’15 France $12
Brilliant pink. Nose of ripe red berries and tangerine; Fleshy, seamless and broad palate of plush raspberry and candied orange and a touch of bitter herbs.
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!
Bocelli Sangiovese ’14 Italy $14
Bright,, lush, and appealing; deliciously ripe and smoky, with notes of marasca cherry, granite, and rhubarb compote. Finish is long and dry, with admirable acidity that makes the palate taut and pleasing
Lopez Cristobal Crianza ’11 Spain $21
Tempranillo/merlot blend from high, calcareous vineyards in Ribero del Duero; long, balanced, and full-bodied, with soft, ripe tannins and a luscious, elegant finish.
2072 Granger Way
