lummi island wine tasting sept 23 ’16
(note: some photos will enlarge when clicked)
Friday Breads Reminder: NO Bread This Week!
Madame our baker is off on a cruise to Alaska, so no bread this week. 🙁
However, be of good cheer…she will be back in time to process your orders for next Friday!
Il Casolare Rosso
The Italian wine region of Le Marche stretches east from the spine of Italy to the Adriatic. It is one of about twenty Italian denominations in which Montepulciano (the grape) is permitted in blends, usually with sangiovese in various proportions. It is not to be confused with Montepulciano D’Abruzzo, which is from a particular region. After sangiovese, it is Italy’s most widely grown indigenous varietal.
We were away when this wine was poured on Labor Day weekend, and while we usually try not to pour any particular wine more than once in a few months, the fact is that we had not tasted any of the wines our visiting wine representative Elaine chose for Studio Tour weekend while we were away. Fact is, we are trying it right now as we write, and finding it pretty tasty!
We’re Back!
Been home about 24 hrs, nice place you all have here. Nice to be home and looking forward to seeing you all this weekend. Hope you can make it by for a little schmooze in the Quiet of the Last Weekend of Drydock!
For the Birds
There is not a lot going on besides the scenery when motoring slowly along a canal in the Camargue. It seems as much a land of water as of land. On several occasions, birds (herons and egrets mostly) would be wading near the shore or standing on it as we went by, but would take to the air as we came abeam and fly a way on ahead of us. A minute later we would approach their new spot, and they would fly off again.
This is a sequence trying to catch three egrets that “followed” just ahead of us one day. Not great photos– too bright to use view screen– but they do give a sense of the scenery along a canal in the Camargue.
This week’s wine tasting
Maryhill Winemaker’s White ’14 Washington $12
Flavorful blend of pinot gris, chardonnay, semillon and sauvignon blanc; opens with clean, bright aromas of pear and apple with touches of tangerine, butter and lemon oil.
Palama Arcangelo Rosato ’14 Italy $11
100% Negroamaro from Puglia at the hot dry heel of the Italian Boot; big for a rosato– bright, lush, and succulent, with aromas of wild strawberries, crisp acidity, and loads of flavor.
San Lorenzo Marche Rosso Il Casolare ’15 Italy $11
Half Montepulciano, half Sangiovese; from sandy soils in aged on the lees in concrete tanks; fruity, juicy, balanced and food-friendly with notes of herbs and spice.
Sanguineti Cannonau de Sardegna ’14 Italy $11
This cannonau– a Sardinian varietal known elsewhere as grenache– offers dry and dusty aromas and flavors of cherry, pomegranate and plum that leave lingering, crisp, earthy and briny flavors that beg for food.
Terra d’Oro Zinfandel ’13 California $14
Vibrant aromas of clove and big, generous fruit lead to concentrated flavors of juicy plums and blackberries,all with a good dose of toasted oak.
Lummi Island wine tasting Sept 16 ’16
(note: some photos will enlarge when clicked)
Friday Breads (email us to get on the preorder mailing list! )
Prairie Bread – bread that was developed to honor all the elements of the prairie. Made with bread flour and fresh milled whole wheat, as well as rolled oats and cornmeal. Then loaded with poppy, flax, sesame, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Makes for a flavorful loaf that goes well with everything- $5/loaf.
Buckwheat, Cranberry & Walnut – made with a nice mix of bread, buckwheat and fresh milled whole wheat flours. For something different, the liquid used is orange juice and a bit of olive oil then loaded up with dried cranberries and toasted walnuts. This bread would go well with meat and cheese – $5/loaf.
Pastry this week – Bear Claws! Made with a rich danish pastry dough full of cream, eggs, sugar and butter. Rolled out and spread with a cinnamon almond filling and topped with, what else – a honey glaze, because bears love honey! These are delicious and popular. Quantity is limited – 2/$5
Schedule this weekend Sep 16-17
We will still be away. Janice will be at the shop as usual for Bread Friday, but the shop will be closed Saturday Sept 17. We will be back for the Sept 23-24 weekend as usual
Travel Plan
Sunday and Monday we were in Gaillac and found some great wines made from a number of unfamiliar local varietals that date back to Roman times or even before. At present we are Sarlat where we have tasted some interesting wines from Bergerac, both white and red. Tomorrow we travel to Cahors, where malbec, known locally as Cot, is the predominant red grape.
Since this area also is home to some of the oldest examples of prehistoric art, yesterday we visited the painted caves at Les Eyzies-de-Tayac and today the meticulous reproduction of the caves and art at Lascaux II. These sites touch us all deeply with the depth of their antiquity, some 17,000 years. These “Cro-Magnon” ancestors were essentially identical to us in both form and intellect.
This week’s wine tasting (same as last Saturday)
Sella-Mosca la Caia Vermentino ’15 Italy $11
Pale yellow, elegant and supple, couples fullness of flavor with underlying acidity for a delicious and refreshing white wine.
Gassier Esprit Rose ’15 France $15
Very clear with shades of peach; floral nose with notes of pear, peach, and apricot; round and delicate on the palate with notes of peach, mandarin, and grapefruit.
Septima Malbec ’14 Argentina $11
Musky ripe aromas of currants, leather, chocolate and espresso; supple texture, soft tannins, and lingering finish.
Federalist Red ’14 Washington $16
Lavish use of oak brings out notes of smoke, black pepper, and spicy cardamom with lots of red fruit and a velvety texture.
Conundrum Red ’15 California $20
Essence of California, with lots of bright bold cherries, raspberries, and plum nicely integrated into a smooth, round, hedonistic palate. Easy to like!
Photos
the imposing Cathedral of St. Cecile in Albi
poster for the Toulouse Lautrec Museum in Albi…great exhibit!
folks you know…yes, drinking beer au pression in cafe settings…it’s been hot!
lummi island wine tasting sept 9 ’16
(note: some photos will enlarge when clicked)
Friday Breads
Ciabatta – a nice crusty artisan ciabatta made with bread flour and fresh milled whole wheat and two different pre-ferments a poolish and biga and a nice long overnight ferment of the final dough before baking. Makes for a flavorful loaf that goes well with everything- $5/loaf.
Egg Bread w/ apples & honey – Some might call this challah, others shiksa challah, either way it is a delicious enriched bread full of eggs, honey, milk and butter, then both fresh and dried apples for a whole other flavor component. Braided in the traditional manner ready for breakfast toast. – $5/loaf.
Pastry this week – Croissants! Made with a bit of sourdough laminated and with european butter until delicious flaky layers are created. Some say as good as any they had in Paris! – 2/$5
Schedule this weekend Sep 9-10
We are are still Away. Janice and Sue will again host for Bread Friday. Wines will be some combination of last Saturday’s wines and possibly some planned for this Saturday, when Judy A. will be in the shop pouring some great wines that she represents in our area.
Even though it will be the First Weekend of Drydock, and therefore Quiet on the island, you all know that Judy brings a Banner of Festivity with her, brightening all Nearby Spirits! Don’t miss it!
Next weekend, Sep 16-17
We will still be away. Latest word is that Janice will be at the shop as usual for Bread Friday, but probably not for Saturday Sept 17. We will update you on details for that weekend next week, and we be back for the Sept 23-24 weekend as usual.
Travel Plan
We just finished our canal trip in the Camargues this morning and are back in Montpellier in Montpellier till Sunday. A few photos of the trip below.
After that we will explore a couple of the lesser-known wine regions of Gaillac and Cahors in the larger catch-all French Wine Region generally just called the “Sud-Ouest”, or Southwest, which includes a wide area with Bordeaux to the northwest, Languedoc to the south and east, and Spain and the Pyrenees to the southwest.
Besides being the home of many lesser-known French wine regions, the area also is home to some of the oldest examples of prehistoric human culture, particularly the painted caves at Les Eyzies-de-Tayac and Lascaux. With some luck we will be able to visit them, the former being the Real Thing that still allows a few visitors each day, and the latter being the Authentic Copy to give a Realistic Taste of the Original without damaging it with our breath and our bacteria.
This week’s wine tasting
Sella-Mosca la Caia Vermentino ’15 Italy $11
Pale yellow, elegant and supple, couples fullness of flavor with underlying acidity for a delicious and refreshing white wine.
Gassier Esprit Rose ’15 France $15
Very clear with shades of peach; floral nose with notes of pear, peach, and apricot; round and delicate on the palate with notes of peach, mandarin, and grapefruit.
Septima Malbec ’14 Argentina $11
Musky ripe aromas of currants, leather, chocolate and espresso; supple texture, soft tannins, and lingering finish.
Federalist Red ’14 Washington $16
Lavish use of oak brings out notes of smoke, black pepper, and spicy cardamom with lots of red fruit and a velvety texture.
Conundrum Red ’15 California $20
Essence of California, with lots of bright bold cherries, raspberries, and plum nicely integrated into a smooth, round, hedonistic palate. Easy to like!
Photos
Morning on the canal
Flamingos
Eeler tending his traps
Roman arena at Arles
Good advice in any language…
lummi island wine tasting labor day weekend sept 2-3 ’16
(note: some photos will enlarge when clicked)
Friday Breads (email us to get on the preorder mailing list! )
Buttermilk Currant – made with about half bread flour and half fresh milled whole wheat, buttermilk to tenderize the crumb and a little honey to balance the whole grain flavors, loaded up with currants and just a bit of fresh rosemary from the garden. Makes great toast and even better french toast!- $5/loaf.
Buckwheat Walnut & Honey – A flavorful mix of buckwheat and bread flour with toasted walnuts and honey. Buckwheat has a great earthy flavor that is really delicious. This bread goes well with meats and cheeses or fresh sliced tomatoes (if you have some ripe ones!) – $5/loaf.
Artisan Hamburger Buns – so you canstyle=”float: left; margin-right: 10px;” Go All Out for that last barbecue of the summer! Made with bread flour and fresh milled white whole wheat, some sugar, butter and milk to keep the crumb tender, and finished with an onion topping – 4/$5
September Schedule Update
#1: This weekend (Sept 2-3) is Labor Day Weekend Artists’ Studio Tour, and although we will be away, the wine shop will be open as usual Friday and Saturday. On Friday Janice and Sue are your hosts, as they were a couple of weeks ago…you know, the regular Friday Night DIY Impromptu Bread & Wine Sharing.
Then Saturday our very knowledgeable friend and wine rep Elaine has volunteered to spend the day pouring selections from her companies’ portfolios (we will post her tasting list next week!). We encourage Our Faithful to make a Special Effort to come by, say Hi, and see what she has brought. Btw, chances are that some Friday wines may carry over from this weekend’s wines (just sayin’), while Saturday’s wines will be Elaine’s hand-picked selections! We strongly recommend you come Both Days!
#3. First Drydock weekend (Sept 9-10) we are still Away. Janice and Sue will again host for Bread Friday. Then, on Saturday, by Popular Demand (!) Judy A. has volunteered to pour some great selections from her company’s portfolio. Even though it will be the First Weekend of Drydock, and therefore Quiet on the island, you all know that Judy always carries a Banner of Festivity with her, brightening all Nearby Spirits! Don’t miss it!
#4. NB: Second Drydock Weekend (Sept 16-17) : So sorry, we are away, Janice is away, and wine shop (sob!) Closed All Weekend. (So be sure to stock up!) We will be back for Sept 23-24 weekend as usual.
Travel Plan
We arrived in Montpellier yesterday and will set off today on our canal trip in the Camargues for a week, after shopping ffor provisions in the nearby public market, with its carefully and beautifully presented displays.
After that we will explore a couple of the lesser-known wine regions of Gaillac and Cahors in the larger catch-all French Wine Region generally just called the “Sud-Ouest”, or Southwest, which includes a wide area with Bordeaux to the northwest, Languedoc to the south and east, and Spain and the Pyrenees to the southwest.
Besides being the home of many lesser-known French wine regions, the area also is home to some of the oldest examples of prehistoric human culture, particularly the painted caves at Les Eyzies-de-Tayac and Lascaux. With some luck we will be able to visit them, the former being the Real Thing that still allows a few visitors each day, and the latter being the Authentic Copy to give a Realistic Taste of the Original without damaging it with our breath and our bacteria.
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This week’s wine tasting
San Rocco Soave ’15 Italy $10
Beautiful aromas lemon, green apple and fresh apricots. The palate is fresh and clean with beautiful citrus and apple flavors with hints of almond. A great summer wine! Summer wine.
Villa des Anges Rosé ’14 France $10
Spicy and focused on the nose, showing fresh citrus and red berry and a hint of white pepper. Dry and nervy on the palate, with refreshing bitter cherry and berry skin flavors.
Lovo Cabernet Veneto ’15 Italy $11
A new Italian face on a familiar varietal, this surprisingly tasty cabernet is unoaked, bright, clean, and zesty.
Domaine La Croix Belle Caringole ’14 France $10
Syrah, Carignan and Merlot blend from Languedoc’s Cotes de Thongue region; fresh and supple with flavors of cherry, and black olive, and herbs.
Airfield Estate Merlot ’13 Washington $14
Slightly muted nose with dill, red cherry and raspberry, and flavors of red cherry, pomegranate, dill and milk chocolate. Easy, silky texture with good balance.
2072 Granger Way