lummi island wine tasting september 18 ’15
Friday Breads (sign up for preorder list! )
Buttermilk Currant- Half bread flour and half freshly milled whole wheat. Buttermilk tenderizes the crumb to be loaded with currants, a bit of honey for sweetness and hint of rosemary.– $5/loaf.
Pain Meunier – aka “Miller’s Bread,” an old favorite honoring the miller by including all parts of the wheat berry: bread flour, whole wheat, cracked wheat, wheat bran and wheat germ. – $5/loaf.
Bagels. Traditional bagels topped with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, mixed seeds or plain. Boiled and baked. David S. says these are the best shiksa bagels he’s ever had! Don’t miss out, limited quantities are available – it’s a tough dough to mix by hand! – 4/$5 (oops, sold out on pre-order!)
Alsace
Alsace is one of those wine regions with a Dedicated Cult Following. It is also one of those regions that I know almost nothing about, and need to learn more. Politically, of course, the region is precariously located north of Switzerland along the border between France and Germany, and over the centuries it has been a bone of contention between the two countries, eventually developing its own unique character by blending the two influences.
The predominant grapes are white: gewurztraminer, riesling, pinot blanc. Because these grapes have been grown here for centuries, regardless of what country happened to be claiming the region at the time, it has long been sorted out which grapes do best in which locations. And, like many European wine regions, each vintage faces its own challenges getting the enough (but not too much at once) amounts of water and heat each year. As it turns out, both 2012 and 2013 were a bit challenging– 2012 for its see-saw between warm and cold conditions, and 2013 for a long and cold spring, a dry summer, and a wet fall.
Our selection this weekend may not come from one of the many Established Houses of the region, but it does demonstrate a certain “typicité” of Alsation riesling. Come on by and try it as we begin our exploration of this highly admired wine-growing region.
Domaine Moulinier
It’s hard to believe it’s been almost five years since we visited Domaine Moulinier in St. Chinian. The winery is in its fifth and sixth generations with retiring winemaker Guy Moulinier (we had a great time trying to understand each other while he gave us a tour of the winery) and his son Stephane who now makes most of the wines. In the winery are astonishing displays of fossils and artifacts dug up in the past hundred years in their vineyards, including dinosaur eggs and bones and stone tools of Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon hominids. Their collection rivals anything you would see in a museum, really amazing.
Since we visited in 2011, many of you have also visited the winery on one of Ryan’s wine tours. By now, of course, Ryan is an import agent for Moulinier and a number of other French wineries, and we regularly carry Moulinier wines.
Circus Maximus
Let’s face it, there are a lot of things that are Bizarre about the current Presidential Campaign, too many to list. But sometimes, when things we view seem too complicated, it is useful to Squint a bit, or Step Back a bit, enough to let the distortive forces register their own little insights…you know, if any are to be had.
At this particular moment, the Squint Exercise reveals a couple of interesting facts.
1. Everyone Hates the Mainstream. This is really pretty interesting. On the Right, Donald Trump is surging in popularity with his unapologetic Bluster, firing at will on the rest of the Clown Show of Republican aspirants. On the Left, Bernie Sanders is surging in popularity with his Everyman appeal to Reason and Social Justice. Between them, it seems that Mainstream Voters of all persuasions have Had It with Corporate-Controlled, Bought & Paid For Politicians.
2. Bernie talks to the People, while Donald talks to the Media. This is even more interesting. Sanders has been drawing huge crowds of supporters wherever he goes, meeting people face-to-face, growing popular despite the fact that he is largely panned by the mainstream media. On the other hand, Trump has unprecedented access to Big Media, so that everything he does is News, to the point that one rarely sees him in a crowd, only on a podium addressing Media.
In some bizarre way they both appeal to the disappointed and disillusioned across the political spectrum. Ordinarily in such circumstances the Mainstream regroups and Absorbs these pesky populist rebels by promising them a few crumbs while reasserting the Stability of the Status Quo.This time it is hard to see how that is going to happen. Nevertheless, our bet is that Mainstream Forces will Crush both forms of Populism like Bugs on a Limousine Windshield.
In other words, it’s a good time to stock up your wine cellar!
This week’s wine tasting
Schoenheitz Vin D’Alsace Riesling ’13 France-Alsace $15
Bright straw yellow with green reflections. Expressive nose bloomed nicely with lemon and a hint of minerality. A pretty generous fruit supported by fine acidity and elegant with a fresh and invigorating lemony finish.
Caymus Conundrum White ’13 California $16
Blend of Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, Viognier, and Muscat Canelli. Nose of citrus orchard in bloom. Tastes sweet without being cloying, showing fig, apricot, exotic spice and melon flavors. Ends clean and pure.
Domaine Moulinier Rouge ’10 France $13
70% Syrah, 25% Grenache, and 5% Mourvèdre; Nice spice and garrigue on the nose, with a broad palate of ripe red fruit, with a bit of orange note on the finish. Smooth and soothing.
Steele Outkaste Red ’11 Mendocino $16
53% zinfandel, with syrah, tempranillo, petite sirah, and petit verdot; aromas of black pepper, raspberry, and cobbler, with palate of brambly blackberry, cassis, and spices.
Bocelli Sangiovese 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.
lummi island wine tasting september 11 ’15
Taking a break
Well, friends, it has been a demanding couple of weeks, as discussed in last week’s blog. A lot going on! Even in the best of times (at our age, every moment is the best of times regardless of its content, n’est-ce pas?) we have closed the wine shop the weekend after Labor Day.
So this little break is part of a long tradition. We are at present off the island in our little trailer, dogs and all, and quite enjoying A Change of Pace.
The important takeaway here is that the wine shop will be closed this weekend: no Bread, no Wine.
We look forward to seeing you next weekend, September 18-19 when Janice will return with Fresh Bread and we will be back with Ripe Wine!
Lummi island wine tasting fall studio tour September 6-7 ’15
(note: some photos will enlarge when clicked)
Friday Breads (sign up for preorder list! )
Buckwheat with dried apples and cider– Bread flour + thirty percent buckwheat flour and whole buckwheat for added texture. Buckwheat pairs well with apples and using apple cider in place of water adds to the flavor $5/loaf.
Sonnenblumenbrot – also known as Sunflower seed bread. This bread is made with a mix of rye and bread flours and loaded with sunflower seeds $5/loaf.
Hamburger buns- These soft buns are made with a mix of bread and whole wheat flours and have an onion topping. 4/$5
Featured Artist
Our featured artist for Studio Tour is Meredith Moench, with a series of new watercolors. We have enjoyed watching Meredith’s watercolors evolve over the past several years, skillfully using light to evoke the emotional qualities we all experience in our Pacific Northwest landscape. Meredith will be in the shop Saturday and Sunday mornings from 10- 1 to meet you and talk about her new works.
Uh-oh…!
A few weeks ago we talked about our excitement at having fallen for a sweet little sailboat which we had just bought. Well, merely a month later Lummi Island and the rest of the PNW were visited by a Freak windstorm of the sort that sometimes occurs in late fall or winter, but which has not occurred in recent recorded history earlier than mid-October. This past Saturday we were hit by S and SE winds of 45-50 kts with sustained gusts up to 60. Our dear little Dreamtime was caught on her mooring with inadequate lines to meet the challenge (we hadn’t gotten around to it yet…dumb mistake), and snapped free around noon. Within about 15 minutes she was swept a quarter mile north onto the rocky beach just south of the ferry dock.
This photo must have been taken next morning, after an intense community effort pulled her high up on the beach on the late night high tide. Obviously much work remained if she were to be saved.
The Power of Community
Within minutes of the beaching, a large group of islanders appeared on the scene to help. The boat was mostly on coarse gravel, leaned steeply to starboard with low rocks to either side. Two-foot waves kept coming in from astern. Initial attempts to refloat the boat were dashed when it became obvious she was full of water. Effort then shifted to dragging her higher on the beach as the tide continued to rise (a period of very high tides). At low tide near midnight, she was bailed out to reveal serious hull damage.
Low tide next day (Sunday) brought more volunteers, who focused on jacking up the damaged side to get a better look at the damage and attempt makeshift repairs. Those were sufficient to slow but not stop the leak on the midnight high tide, but did provide enough flotation that she could be tipped enough to settle on her port side as the tide receded. On Monday the extent of hull damage was evident. By mid-morning the pros had arrived, and by the next high tide a serious patch had been applied to the damaged area. By early evening she was floating prettily on a mooring just north of the ferry, and by mid-morning on Tuesday she had been hauled out at Gooseberry Point. She now sits in Bellingham being cleaned and prepped for repair.
We would like to express our Warm Gratitude to all of you who played a part in this Saga for the breadth and depth of your support during this crisis. We press our palms together and bow to you in thanks: no gift is more precious than being part of this wonderful community. Over the next few weeks we hope to thank each of you personally. Despite the chaos of the unfolding events, each of you was an essential part of the resultant positive outcome. Like dozens of hands on some Cosmic Ouija Board, the Group Effort proved effective in finding a Solution.
This week’s wine tasting
Naia Naia ’13 Spain $14
100% Verdejo with 12% fermented in French oak. This fragrant, medium-bodied offering displays enticing aromatics of grapefruit, lime, and kiwi, a round, smooth-textured mouth-feel, and a crisp, refreshing acidity.
Cloudlift Rosé ’14 Washington $14
100% Cabernet Sauvignon; nose of fresh ripe strawberries with a touch of citrus that continues on the slightly off-dry palate, followed by a long, crisp finish.
Septima Malbec ’13 Argentina $9
Musky, ripe aromas of currants, leather, chocolate and espresso. Supple and generous flavors of sweet currant and tobacco flavors with a note of pepper, soft tannins and good length.
Tarima Hill Monastrell ’11 Spain 91pts $13
Complex, perfumed scents of dark berry liqueur, cola, incense and smoky oak spices. Plush and expansive, with sweet cherry compote and blueberry flavors with notes of floral pastille and bitter chocolate. Rich and lively, finishing with excellent power, smooth tannins and a late jolt of allspice.
La Quercia Montepulciano riserva ’11 Italy $18
100% organic montepulciano from low-yield vines; rich, port-like nose of candied cherries that carry through on the expressive, rich, earthy palate; nice balance of fruit and acidity.
lummi island wine tasting august 28 ’15
(note: some photos will enlarge when clicked)
Friday Breads (sign up for preorder list! )
Toasted Pecan Flax Seed – Made with a rye sourdough culture and about 1/3 fresh milled whole wheat, toasted pecans and honey – $5/loaf.
Heidebrot. Made with a 50% rye sourdough culture with coarse ground fresh milled rye. Try with cheese or smoked salmon. – $5/loaf
Pan de Cioccolate- “Chocolate bread”– sourdough with a bit of whole rye plus plenty of chocolate, honey, vanilla, chocolate chips and a touch of espresso. Not a “pastry,” but rather a whole chocolate loaf! –$5
Trebbiano di Lugano by any other name
By a slight margin, Italy produces more wine than any other country– yes, including a slight edge on France. In addition Italy has more distinct grape varietals than any other country, with about 350 officially authorized in at least one region, and another 500 that exist but remain pretty obscure. Much of this cornucopia of varietals is due to Roman laws which prohibited growing wine grapes outside Italy beginning around the First Century AD.
Trebbiano is a widely planted white wine grape, and accounts for about a third of all white wine made in Italy. However, this trebbiano has many faces, names, and characteristics. A recent DNA study concluded that at least seven grapes known as “trebbiano” are actually genetically distinct from one another, and do not have a common ancestor. It also found a strong genetic match between Trebbiano di Soave and Trebbiano di Lugana, but neither was strongly related to other “trebbianos.” Further, Trebbiano di Soave is genetically identical to Verdicchio, another common Italian grape, but Trebbiano di Lugana had only 97% DNA matchup to verdicchio.
Whew! The bottom line is that you can expect the Trebbiano di Lugana we are pouring this weekend to taste a lot like Verdicchio: clean, crisp, and minerally with notes of citrus and white peach. Read more
And now for something more familiar
Yes, we all understand that by all the standards of Elsewhere, our summer has been just lovely. But we also all know that this summer has been drier, hotter, and longer than anyone around here can remember. Heck, it was only about three summers ago that it got warm enough to venture outside wearing shorts on occasion. This summer they have been the default uniform since sometime in May.
Today, however, the forecast started looking more familiar, with Rain forecast for the next three days, followed by Showers for the rest of the week. I have been living in these parts for forty years, and I still can’t give you any sort of precise distinction between Rain and Showers. By common practice, however, it seems to be both a matter of degree and intensity (yes, I am making this up). A forecast of Rain implies that it will be sort of continuous, while Showers suggests some kind of intermittency, with some dry periods and some brief rain events, i.e., “showers.”
For the sake of our trees, plants, and animals, we are all looking forward to a good rain. In addition, of course, a good saturating rain will be a welcome ally in the battle against the record numbers of forest fires currently blazing throughout the region…!
Pic St. Loup
I confess a certain infatuation with the little wine region of Pic St. Loup. The “Pic” is a 640-meter “tooth” of rock that dominates the French landscape for miles in every direction. At some mythic level, there is a powerful grounding energy here, as if there is something in the soil composition that makes gravity a little stronger, or as if the ancient gods of the place still have a Hand in the Game. It’s definitely about Power and Grounding.
The wines from this place, which must be predominantly syrah, grenache, and mourvedre (as in nearby Southern Rhone) have a certain gravitas. The vines must be at least six years old (not three) before being used for red wine (but are just fine for rosé!). The climate tends to be cooler and wetter than much of the Languedoc, which stretches in a band along the Mediterranean, while Pic St. Loup is open to more of the Atlantic climate from the north and west. This combination of soils and weather, along with whatever Magic is sown by the energy of the Pic itself, makes for wines that have an esoteric appeal that goes beyond the usual discussions of terroir, in the direction of something more Profound, archetypal, or, for lack of a better term, “spiritual.”
And yes, this is all a big Metaphor to describe my own personal affection for wines from this appellation. As always, of course, it is up to you to make up your own mind!
This week’s wine tasting
Ottella Lugana Bianco ’13 Italy $16
Trebbiano di Lugano (Turbiana). Intense straw yellow color with green tinges. Exotic notes of candied fruit and citrus, warm and very deep on the nose. Widespread expressive finesse, with rich and persistent texture.
Henri Favre Rose ’14 France $12
Pale orange. Aromas and flavors of peach, stone fruits, orange blossom on a crisp, minerally frame.
Writers Block Cab Franc ’12 California $14
Complex aromas of fresh dark berries, black cherry, plum, and a subtle brambly profile. Tobacco, chocolate, and herbal flavors blend with a floral component and notes of toasted oak.
Chateau la Roque Pic-St. Loup Rouge ’12 France $16
A lithe and expressive red, with fine balance and well-structured flavors of dried cherry, plum and boysenberry, featuring hints of tarragon and cream on the finish. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
Setteporte Etna Rosso ’12 Sicily
95% Nerello Mascalese, 5% Nerello Cappuccio. Intense ruby red colour with a pleasantly fruity bouquet layered with red fruit and wild berries. The taste is dry, harmonious, elegant and persistent.
2072 Granger Way