lummi island wine tasting february 21 ’15
(note: some photos may click open to larger versions)
Friday breads!
Note: breads are now largely by pre-order; email Janice to get on her list!
Heidebrot. Made with a 50% rye sourdough culture with coarse ground fresh milled rye. Try with cheese or smoked salmon – $5/loaf.
Dried Apple & Honey Egg bread. Four-braid loaf packed with dried apples and a bit of honey, great for toast (or even better, french toast) – $5/loaf.
Kouign Aman. Made with croissant dough laminated with butter and sugar, cut into squares, folded and baked till the sugar caramelizes in to a yummy crunchy pastry. Oh my! O\Limited, order early! – 2 for $5.
2015 Wine Club– Better than Ever!
This will be the third (or is it fourth?) year of the Wine Club. We have reviewed the pros and cons of various features (and how much work they make for us), and have decided to simplify the rules even more in a couple of ways.
First, all memberships will now be for the calendar year. Whenever you join the club, you get full benefits for the remainder of 2015. That shouldn’t be a problem for most of you, who last signed up in the first half of 2014. For those of you who joined after August 1, we will automatically extend your membership through 2015.
This year’s dues are again $35 per person. Membership benefits include:
— 50% off on all wine tastings (value up to $420!! –you know, if you came every Friday and Saturday!
— No sales tax on ALL wine purchases! (yes, yes, we must be Crazy!)
OS Revisited
Their original name was Owen-Sullivan Winery, named for the two founders, Bill Owen (winemaker), and Rob Sullivan (the business guy). As it turned out, some winery in California had the name “Sullivan” in it, and after years of legal sparring, they had to change the name, and it became just OS Winery seven or eight years ago. The winery was located in the Georgetown district of Seattle. In those days they self-distributed, so periodically I would drop in and hang out with Bill while he poured me the current releases, which would inevitably lead to some barrel tasting. I would then load up several cases and bring them back to the wine shop for all of you.
A few years ago they got a distributor, and though we have usually carried their basic OS Red and their Riesling, and I didn’t get to visit the winery anymore. Well, now Bill has his own winery, and there is now a new winemaker at OS. I ran into Rob at a wine event last summer and tasted through the current releases. I am happy to say the original vision is still intact: “Our focus since the beginning has been on select sites (i.e., the best vineyards in Washington) and low yields combined with a winemaking ethic centered on simplicity (i.e. no fining, no filtering, gravity fed production) all with one aim: Opulent, Voluptuous, Concentrated Red Wines.” This week we will be pouring their new “16th St. Bridge” Red, which I believe is the new incarnation of their always-popular “OS Red” of recent years.
Newtonian Physics
I took a fair number of physics classes as an undergraduate. When it came time for an exam, the joke was, well, if you just remember F=ma (i.e., Force equals mass times acceleration), you can easily derive from it all the equations you would need to solve most of the problems you were likely to encounter on your physics exam using a little basic calculus. (which, believe it or not, we actually learned to do).
So it is with some puzzlement approaching consternation that all these years later I hear it claimed that a ferry boat weighing several times as much as another can operate on half the fuel. Yes, folks, I am talking about the Hiyu, the giant “free” boat that may be available on the cheap very soon, and which some people think should replace our trusty Whatcom Chief.
The “m” in Newton’s First Law is for “mass,” which we can consider a measure of inertia, which is to say, “how much it wants to stay in one place and not get moved around.” If we consider two boats, one of mass “m” and one of mass “3 x m ,” then for a given acceleration (like, leaving the dock at zero knots and increasing to 11 knots, and then doing the opposite a few minutes later on the other side), other things being equal, we would expect the amount of energy required to be about three times as much for the more massive boat.
Why is that interesting? Well, our back of the envelope calculations suggest that this larger vessel would most likely use about three times more fuel doing the same job. Which is to say, “hey, let’s take another look at those numbers…!!
This week’s wine tasting
Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes ’12 Argentina $14
Highly perfumed aromas of lemon drop, white flowers, peppermint and white pepper. Supple, pliant and easygoing, with citrus, herbal and floral flavors joined by a hint of licorice.
OS 16th Street Bridge Red ’11 Washington $12
Polished, open-textured and appealing, with green olive-accented cherry flavors and a graceful bearing. Finishes with delicacy; Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.
Domaine Donjon Minervois Tradition ’11 France $16
60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Carignan; aged 12 months in stainless steel. Meaty and complex, with sweet red and black fruits, loads of white and black pepper, bay leaf and dried herbs, it stays fresh and lively on the palate, with medium-bodied richness and length.
Eguren Codice ’09 Spain 90pts $11
Aromas of cassis, cherry, licorice and mocha. Dense, alluringly sweet and juicy, with excellent concentration, silky fine-grained tannins and lingering spiciness.
Alto Moncayo Veraton ’06 Spain 93pts $25
Offers a sensational aromatic array of pain grille, pencil lead, earth notes, wild black cherry, and black raspberry. Dense, layered, and full-flavored on the palate, this hedonistic effort is balanced enough to evolve for several years…an awesome value!
lummi island wine tasting valentine weekend ’15
(as always, some photos will click open to larger versions)
It’s back: Bread Friday!
Honey Rye— rye sourdough culture, 1/3 fresh milled rye flour, coarse ground rye and a bit of honey for sweetness. Try with cheese or smoked salmon – $5/loaf.
Buttermilk Currant— 50% fresh milled whole wheat flour with a buttermilk tang, dried currants, and a little fresh rosemary. Makes great toast! – $5/loaf.
Rum Raisin Brioche: Delightful and buttery with almond paste, rum raisins, chocolate, and sliced almonds. Won’t last, so get here early! 2 for $5
The Never-ending Story
As you know, we were away for a month, having “adventures,” mentioned in recent posts. So of course one point of interest on our daily dog walk has been to check in on Ning Ning, aka the Green Ketch, whose exploits we have followed since her grounding last fall. When last we posted, she had been brought back from yet another watery grave, once again afloat on her mooring. I have lost count, not sure if that was the third sinking and refloating or the fourth.
So it was with some considerable dismay and consternation to find, on our first walk after our return that alas, she is sunk again. In the interest of Full Disclosure I will say that this photo is actually from sinking two or three around late November…but it is a pretty good representation of what she looks like right now. On behalf of this poor old boat I just have to wonder, (picture Lewis Black saying this and waving his arms for emphasis), “WTF ARE THESE GUYS THINKING??!!” This is not Rocket Science, folks. To paraphrase the old saying…”sink me once, shame on you…sink me twice, thrice, and more, shame on…who…why are you looking at me like that…??”
Signs of Spring
In Napa Valley a few weeks ago we noticed that the mustard that is planted between the rows in many vineyards is in full bloom in many places– about six weeks early. And on one day in late January the temp got up to eighty, very unusual.
It seems pretty warm around here, too, for Valentine’s Day. We’ve noticed lots of spring birdsong in the early morning air; Indian plum and snowdrops are blossoming, and iris and daffodils are reaching up for the sun. That was the case last year at this time, too…just before we got a foot of wet, heavy snow. So this is just a reminder not to get too confident or take the weather for granted. It’s really the same lesson as in the previous paragraph– “Arrr, always keep an eye to weather, lads!”
This week’s wines:
St. Innocent Pinot Blanc Freedom Hill ’12 Oregon $18
Bright, green-tinged yellow, with minerally scents of honey, tangerine, and herbs. Light and easygoing, with delicately earthy notes mixing with the pear and citrus flavors.
Bibbiani Treggiaia Italy $11
A smooth and satisfying blend of sangiovese, canniolo & cab, serious but friendly, delightful with anything from pizza to lamb chops.
Casarena ’505′ Malbec ’10 Chile $12
Nuanced aromas of currant, dusty herbs, licorice, spices, coffee and smoky oak. Serious and lively, with saline complexity to flavors of blackcurrant and cranberry.
Montfaucon Cotes du Rhone ’11 France $13
50% Grenache co-fermented on skins with syrah, cinsault, carignan from 40 yr old vines; matured in concrete tanks. Good ripeness and lots of minerality along with fleshy plum, blackberry and licorice notes. A floral hint adds charm on the finish. (read more)
Lost River Western Red ’12 Washington $17
Lovely blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc; dark fruits on the nose, smooth and rich in the mouth, enjoy with rich sauces or all by itself.
lummi island wine tasting february 7 ’15
We’re back– Grand 2015 reopening Saturday, February 7!
A week ago we were parked in the sun at Bodega Bay, relaxing and enjoying the warmth of the weather and the pleasure of nothing in particular we had to do. Ahhhhhhh, very pleasant! This is the same place we spent time and wrote about last year at this time. Lovely weather, great dog walking trails, and even a yoga class right next door! The original plan was to spend at least a week there, but given the unexpected change of plans mentioned last week, the three days we did get to spend there were especially enjoyable.
It has been helpful to have had that week and a half of sunny days in our back pockets on the drenchingly rainy drive back north the last few days. It is Amazing how much more room wet dogs take up in a small trailer than dry ones…!
Terrapin Creek Revisited
As mentioned last year, there is a delightful little restaurant in Bodega Bay called Terrapin Creek (read more). Low-key, understated, and affordable, this little one-star Michelin restaurant operated by chef/owner Andrew Truong is an unexpected gem in this little coastal town. Last year we enjoyed a wonderful lunch there; this year we went for dinner, beginning with the very tasty Wedding Cuvee bubbly (yes, a rosé) from nearby Iron Horse Vineyards (which we of course had to visit!). Absolutely lovely meal, highly recommended!
This week’s tasting
Scherrer Dry Rose ’13 California $21
69% syrah and 31% grenache): Light, bright pink. Vibrant, precise aromas of strawberry, orange zest and white pepper. Taut and linear on entry, then fleshier in the middle, offering an array of red fruit flavors and a hint of honeysuckle. Finishes on a juicy tangerine note, with excellent clarity and spicy persistence.
Aravo albarino ’13 Spain $18
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.
Venta Morales Tempranillo ’13 Spain $9
Deep ruby/purple color in addition to lots of berry fruit and a touch of licorice presented in a lush, Spanish fruit-bomb style.
Vinosia Aglianico ’11 Italy $12
Deep garnet-purple color. Raisin, blueberry and underbrush aromas. Some dried rose petals and spice. Crisp acidity and a medium+ body. Medium+ level of velvety tannins. Long finish.
Scherrer Old Vines Zinfandel ’12 California $34
Superb depth and richness, along with layers of flavor, all while maintaining the essentially mid-weight personality of the site. Sweet rose petals, mint and licorice meld together on a silky finish supported by excellent structure.
2015 reopening february 7…well, maybe…
Losing our Cool
As many of you know, the wine shop is closed each January and we take a little vacation. This year, like last year, the plan was to load the dogs in the car and take the trailer to Napa/Bodega Bay for a few weeks.
Besides enjoying a little getaway, a little winter sun, and perhaps a bit of wine tasting here and there (!), since we got our little trailer a couple of year ago, we have also gotten a kick out of the many positive comments and “thumbs up’s” from people who pass us on the highway. Always made us smile. We figured it was the combination of the cute trailer (called a “Tada”) and our color-coordinated old Eurovan.
Engine Fires <–> Fire Engines
Those days, we are sad to say, are Gone the way of the Dodo…sigh…alas, poor Dodo!
On Day Two of our trip, nearing Portland on I-5, we smelled something hot and plastic (The previous evening we had noticed the same smell, thought it was a stuck brake caliper, but checked out okay). Within minutes we exited the freeway and pulled in at a gas station just as great volumes of very smelly smoke started pouring from under the hood. The young attendant seemed a bit overwhelmed but soon called the Fire Dept while I emptied his fire extinguisher onto the flames emanating from under the cooling fan. Competent and friendly firefighters showed up soon and neutralized the fire. Thus began an unplanned adventure.
It would take almost two weeks for insurance to Total the car, releasing us to move on to shopping for a new tow vehicle. Suffice it to say there were lots of details that had to be worked out, and my ordinarily extraordinary insurance company took over a week and a half of constant prodding to select a course of action. Corporate service attenuation is especially a blow when a company you have respected for many decades rejects its service philosophy and succumbs to Business School protocols. That’s not to say they are not still better than most; but this direction is entirely consistent with the Robotic Corporate Personhood which is determining the world’s future.
New image
Suffice it to say that the car that emerged from our search in the Portland area for a new tow vehicle was a complicated compromise. Now the dust has settled, and we have been on the road for a week with the “new” car, (Volvo SUV, see photo) which, unfortunately, is not in the appropriate color spectrum for the trailer (shown here sporting its perky ball cap/duckbill visor). So, although the car works pretty well for towing, the colors are All Wrong, and we have no idea what (if anything) should be done about that.
Reopening
Maybe next Friday or Saturday…stay tuned!
2072 Granger Way