Lummi Island Wine Tasting March 29 ’14
Logo bags
For some time now we have been re-using the nice “non-woven” wine bags that many of you bring to us for recycling. We have lots of paper bags, but these bags, in use at many wine merchants, are definitely nicer to use…and use again…and again. Thanks to all of you who have brought in your bags for us to recycle– they have worked very well.
I should mention here that I Really Like our logo, which Pat designed about ten years ago. Curiously, I don’t recall that anyone has ever commented on it one way or the other. But to me it really captures the feeling of what we are trying to do here with wine and community. Maybe it’s the vaguely art-deco motif, or my fantasy that we did all this before in Atlantis with a similar logo, or whatever, but I do get curious about whether any of you have ever, you know, seen it or thought about it…
But we have long had in mind how nice it would be to have our own Logo Bags. We recently found a deal that works for us, and have brought in a big box of bags for use by our Wine Club members. Hopefully you will keep your bag in your car, always on hand for your next visit. “Wear it with Pride!” Admit it, aren’t they just the Height of Fashion…?
Wine Club update
As mentioned two weeks ago, we are pleased with the first year of our Wine Club, especially the member perk of enjoying half-price tastings through the whole year of membership. We could call that the “Subscription Perk.” In addition, we also piloted a”Loyalty Perk,” which involved a complex hierarchy of rewards based on cumulative purchases and advancement through a cumulative series of membership levels. It was complicated and very difficult to implement. So, on the spur of this very moment, we are doing away with all of that for your Wine Club renewals, in favor of something simpler.
We will continue the annual fee of $35, and the $5 tasting fee for members. However, we are doing away with the various membership levels (white card, pink card, red card, second red card, etc.). Instead, we are going directly for your volume-purchase jugular with anytime volume discounts for members only:
– 8.6% discount on any mixed-case purchase (we pay sales tax!)
– 5% discount on any 6-bottle purchase
– 15% discount on any special-order case
Spring Art Advisory
For the last few months we have enjoyed our backdrop of original paintings (mostly water colors by Meredith Moench, along with some intriguing framed mirrors by Jyl Peterson. The image at left is of one of our own “Moenches” hanging in our living room. This weekend is your last chance to get one of your own before we change artists for our Spring Show (more on that next week!). Since most of us don’t actually “see” the art on the walls around us, except as a hazy, unconscious awareness, we invite you to take a serious look when you visit this weekend.
I happen to be particularly fond of watercolors, and have really enjoyed how Meredith’s work has been evolving, with lots of lively color balanced with soothing expanses of white space. I also invite you to look more closely at Jyl’s interesting art-deco mirrors and old-time Lummi Island cannery labels.
Gorman
From time to time a visitor to the wine shop asks, “What is your favorite wine?” At first glance this is a perfectly reasonable question. But I am always surprised by the question, and never know how to answer. At some level, I don’t have a “favorite,” because for me, at least, it doesn’t work like that. I have lots and lots of “favorites,” little pleasures sitting patiently, (or indifferently), on a shelf, or in the shop, or in the “cellar,”or in an unopened box somewhere I haven’t even opened yet. The problem is with the question, of course, the assumption that there is, or could be, or needs to be, one single favorite. But I kinda think hedonism just doesn’t work that way. It’s not so much a matter of good-better-best, but more a matter of these kinds of pleasures, or those kinds of pleasures. I mean…there are So Many, and they are So Good!
The Logo at left is a really nicely done logo for Gorman Winery in Woodinville. We stopped by their tasting room a few weeks ago and were duly impressed; the wines are carefully made, definitely New World (big and extracted), and well worth savoring. I have been going through a periodic “chardonnay” phase, and I have to admit the Gorman chardonnay really caught my attention. A few years ago, when I didn’t like chardonnay, for all the reasons YOU probably don’t like chardonnay, we went to a high-end wine event, with scores of very expensive and highly regarded wines. I was amazed to find that my two favorites were both chardonnays. All you need to know is that the Gorman “BIg Sissy” chardonnay made a big impression, and we will let you taste it and make up your own mind this weekend…!
This week’s tasting
Château Coujan Rouge ’11 France $11
Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault. Imagine a bowl of fresh cherries and raspberries disguised as wine.
Simple on first sip, evolves in the glass and works well with food.
Bibbiani Treggiaia Rosso Toscana ’09 Italy $11
A smooth and satisfying blend of sangiovese, canniolo & cab; serious but friendly, delightful with anything from pizza to lamb chops.
Borie de Maurel Espirit d’Automne ’11 France $13
Syrah, grenache, carignan; perfumes of black olives, tobacco, and spices; minerally flavors of graphite, limestone and clay with notes of morello cherries, red fruits, mint and liquorice.
Bodegas Breca Breca ’10 Spain 94 pts $16
100% Garnacha from 80 year old vines yielding less than one ton per acre in an amazing terroir of steep hillsides and ancient head-pruned vines. Black raspberry, truffle, kirsch, lavender and liquid rock-like characteristics emerge from this astonishing wine. An absolutely incredible value in today’s market.
Gorman “Big Sissy” Chardonnay ’12 Washington 93pts $30
Bright straw-tinged yellow-gold. Wild aromas of orange, apple, spices, vanilla and nutmeg; pliant, very ripe and nicely concentrated, with floral and leesy notes, finishing fat and long.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting Spring Equinox ’14
Spring Raccoon
Well, I know some people aren’t crazy about them, and they can be messy. And sighting one isn’t up there with seeing a unicorn or an orca, perhaps; but I confess I have a fondness for their outlaw masks, their Cheshire Cat tails, and their deliberate ways. A small local group patrols our neighborhood at night, and some mornings we see 2, 3, or 4 animals climbing one of the firs behind the house. They climb methodically, maybe still looking for things edible, but the stronger impression conveyed is a patient search for just the right place to take a nap. They go up, down, out on this limb, back on that one, never in a hurry, sometimes trying out a spot for a bit before deciding that somehow, no, this bed is too something, and look further. Within twenty minutes or so, however, they settle down for a snooze, and it becomes very difficult to see them even if you know right where they are.
Spring Arrives: Minimal Fanfare…but Relentless Promise
There is an old story about a gifted pianist who gives an inspired performance of a difficult piece. After the concert, an awestruck fellow from the audience comes to the stage and says, “That was wonderful! But what does it Mean?” The pianist lifts his finger to acknowledge the question, then sits down and plays the entire piece all over again. Then he stands up and faces the questioner: “That’s what it means!” he exclaims.
So it seems to be with weather around the world this winter, including here in the Pacific Northwest. I was curious what the next few months might have in store for us, since the last several months have seemed to bring in, you know, somebody else’s weather. Noted meteorologist Cliff Mass (see his latest blog entry) probably knows as much about our regional weather patterns as anyone, so, wondering what he was thinking about that, I checked out his website. At left is a chart (click image to enlarge) from his blog for today, in which he discusses how right now, mid-March, is when the air about a mile above ground is typically the Coldest of the Year (red line). That little insight goes a long way toward explaining all those weird March days we have all experienced around here (though not this year yet!), when in the space of a few hours you can experience bright, warm sunshine; sudden hailstorms; blustery winds; and perhaps a bit of hard rain. My lingering question is: “yeah, yeah, very interesting, but is there gonna be a Real Summer this particular year (last year was a little Too Real if you ask me) around here??? Or is there, you know, another Ice Age headed our way soon??”
More wines than you can shake a stick at!
Though no one seems to know the precise origin of the phrase “more than you can shake a stick at,” and of course ignoring for the moment the disturbing use of a preposition at the end of a sentence, one interesting conjecture can be found here. The suggestion is that anything of real value is “worth shaking a stick at.” In other words, it has some kind of Real Value, some kind of Worthiness.
In that spirit I am happy to tell you that in the last week we have brought in a LOT of new wines, “more than you can shake a stick at,” and we will be pouring them for you, along with some established favorites, over the next few weeks. Spring is here, and weekend afternoons linger. What better time to blip on by the Wine Shop??
This week’s tasting
Domaine Girard Chardonnay ’12 France $13
Medium to full bodied with fleshy notes of fresh-picked apples and pears without the influence of oak. It spends time on the lees to give it richness but being grown in clay soils at a higher elevation retains a delightful freshness.
Venta Morales Tempranillo ’12 Spain $9
Bright purple; pungent aromas of cherry, blackcurrant and dark chocolate. Supple and juicy in the mouth, with spice-accented cherry and fresh herb flavors, finishing on a tangy note.
Pech Celeyran Ombline Rouge ’12 France $10
Un cuvée surprenante: un nez de fruits noirs, une bouche gourmande et fraîche. C’est ce type de vin dont le plaisir appelle un second verre…Barbecue de saucisses et viandes épicés.
Mt. Baker Zinfandel ’09 Washington $17
No review available, and I haven’t tasted it yet. But their wines are very consistently well-made, and someone recommended it. Don’t expect a big, extracted California-style zin– but should be soft and balanced.
Bodegas Convento Las Claras ’11 Spain 93 pts $18
100% tempranillo from vineyards dating back to 1900; layered nose of black raspberries, blackberries, licorice, graphite and spice box. Rich and full-bodied with sweet, velvety tannins and a heady, layered finish.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting Ides of March ’14
Sunsets are Back!
In the Beginning (of March!), the Island was Without Form, and Grayness (snow!) covered the face of the Deep. And the Spirit of Spring saw the Darkness and took Pity and moved the clocks Ahead, and the days grew longer, and it was Good. And the Spirit said, “Let there be warmer days and glorious sunsets again in this dark and dismal place!” And the Light returned, and Color again filled the World, and it was Good. Very, very, Good!
See slideshow of the sunset
Wine Club: Two Thumbs Up!
It has been a year since we launched our Artisan Wine Club, and from our perspective it has been a resounding (…ounding …ounding …ounding_) success! We are deeply grateful to all of you who joined the Club and helped make it a success. For those of you who don’t know, the Club offers two kinds of rewards for membership. First, annual Wine Club dues of $35 entitle each member to save $5 on all of our wine tastings ($10 for non-members), a saving worth up to $200 a year, depending on how often you take advantage of it. Second, the more wine club members buy from us, the deeper their discounts. After $150 in purchases, save 5% on the next $150. After $300 in purchases, we pay your sales tax– 8.7% discount on all purchases.
The Wine Club has increased our weekly attendance (and social energy!) by charging members a little less for tastings, and increased our revenues by allowing us to charge infrequent visitors a little more. We are also very grateful that some members have shifted much of their wine purchasing to our shop, to both their advantage and ours. We hope that being a member of the Artisan Wine Club has been a good thing for you in the past year as well, and we hope you will renew your membership for another year. We will be contacting you individually when your membership is ready for renewal.
The Ides of March
March 15, the Ides of March, is just another day– except for that one day in 44 BC when Julius Caesar was assassinated by, of all things, a conspiring group of Roman Senators, right in the Senate Chamber. Can you imagine that today? Hmmm…well, yes, now that I think about it I suppose we can, but more so in the House than the Senate, don’t you think? Anyway, as we all know, led by Caesar’s friend Brutus (et tu, Brute…!) and moved by a concern that the Republic would be lost to a dictatorship (why is it always the Other Guys who are the Dictators?? ), they turned on Caesar and sliced him to pieces like a bunch of nasty, yapping, razor-toothed little Chihauhua-doodles. For the record, it didn’t do much to restore Democracy. Make a note of it.
It was a nasty and infamous piece of work, further immortalized by Shakespeare, so that two thousand years later the deed– and especially the business about the soothsayer’s warning to Beware– is still an Icon for Treachery. It just makes me wonder: is that because it was so OUTSIDE the realm of Human Behavior, or so TYPICAL of it…? All you need to know is, “Dude, not much has changed in two thousand years.”
This Week’s Tasting
Mt. Baker Roussanne ’10 Washington $12
Notes of apricot, honeyed white peach, grassy aromas and lengthy dried apricot flavors with a plump mouthfeel and a cleansing minerality and acidity.
Hahn Pinot Noir ’11 California $12
Lovely aroma of ripe dark berries, lavender, baking spice and a little smoke. Smooth on the palate of black cherry and dark berries over a layer of spice and a little black pepper.
Stephen Vincent “Crimson” 10 California $11
Firm and spicy, with appetizing blackberry, wild berry, pepper, spice and chicory notes that firm up on the finish. Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha ’10 Spain 92pts $15
Deep notes of roasted herbs, sweet black cherries and raspberries, peppers and spice soar from the glass of this dark ruby/purple-tinged wine. Full-bodied, rich, ripe, silky textured, pure and long
Perazzeta Syrah ’08 Italy $38
From one of our favorite Italian wineries, this beautiful artisan syrah (only 80 cases produced) was made from meticulously selected grapes beginning with open-barrel fermentation. Very special!
Lummi Island Wine Tasting March 8 ’14
“Snideology”
One of the more entertaining aspects of aging is the “creative hearing” that develops as bits of frequencies trickle away; a consonant here, a vowel there, so that words are sometimes heard in new, creative, and entertaining ways. In our latest example a phrase about “ideology” was recently heard as “Snideology.” Hmmm, interesting word…what might it mean?? It has a ring to it that effectively captures our most fundamental human instinct: the impulse to jump up and down in primate outrage– or, what has come to be called in our human culture: “politics.” We all do it, right and left, liberal and conservative– use an extensive arsenal of emotionally-laden expressions to challenge other individuals and groups who might otherwise exert power over us. Remember, you heard it here first, folks: ” Snideology:” the art of substituting conniving innuendo for substantive debate, hyperbolic ridicule for valid differences in values, and relentless, finger-pointing Blame for honest political differences. What better name for this trend of our time than “Snideology”….
Seattle camping
The blog is late this week because we were camping near Woodinville for a few days, and our usual modes of online access didn’t work. But we did have some great meals and tasted several very interesting wines we hope to offer you in coming months. And in between, despite the sometimes heavy rain, we enjoyed the ducks and cormorants that seemed to know they were protected and nonchalantly wandered about the campground when not paddling in this sweet little lake built from an old peat bog. Periodically they have to gird the lake bottom with a matrix of logs to keep it all from sinking into the bog. The area has evolved over some decades from an old family farm in Bothell. It’s is aptly named Lake Pleasant — and so it is!
The Art of Food
The main reason for our sojourn near Seattle was to attend our friend (and Island resident) Jen’s capstone dinner in completing the Culinary Arts Program at Seattle Central CC, part of a major life transition after a couple of successful decades in finance. At left course #4: slow-roasted pork tenderloin with root vegetables, fingerling potatoes, and roasted sage. Five courses in all: absolutely delicious!
This Week’s Tasting
Lost River Pinot Gris ’12 Washington $15
Aromas of citrus, pear and tropical fruits. Their most popular wine, the crisp acidity is balanced with a small amount of residual sugar.
Portteus Bistro Red 12 Washington $10
54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Franc. A food friendly wine with delicate yet elegant mouthfeel. Blackberry, pomegranate, cocoa, honey and licorice like flavors with a creamy finish.
Palama Negroamaro ’12 Italy $10
Elegantly expansive, rich and robust, with silky mouthfeel, layered aromas of steeped spices, and palate of blackberry jam with accents of cinnamon, leather, tobacco and smoke.
Altarocca Librato Rosso ’11 Italy $16
Unoaked, from volcanic soil; zesty, spicy, dark, and smooth, with a hint of eucalyptus on the finish. Terrific!
Altavins Tinto Joven ’11 Spain $11
Mouth and sense-filling blend of garnacha, syrah, and carinena, full of ripe dark fruit and berry flavors from Terra Alta’s hot days and cool nights close to Tarragona and the Mediterranean.
2072 Granger Way