Lummi Island Wine Tasting June 8 ’13
Software Can Drive You Crazy
For the last three weeks (I SO hope you have noticed!) each Thursday night (as usual) I have posted the latest installment of this blog. What is supposed to happen after that is that around 5am on Friday, each of our dear subscribers should receive that latest blog post via email. But for each of those weeks, although I have done everything the same, the expected notification emails have not been sent, which means that, OMD (ohmidog!), no one received that blog post I just slaved over for hours!
I have spent an embarrassing number of hours trying to fix this little problem, including asking my various WordPress gurus for help, all to no avail. Of course, you may not get this post, either, for all I know, though I had some promising results an hour or two ago. Also, of course, I have no idea at all if anyone actually views these posts online, where they exist, or meta-exist, or whatever kind of existence happens in cyberspace, in some kind of insubstantial perpetuity. All of this adds up to a sort of metaphysical, blog-angst-driven sense of futility and irrelevance. So……….if you write a blog in the forest, and no one ever reads it, was there ever really a blog???
La Rocaliere Revisited
One of the highlights of our October 2011 France trip was our visit to La Rocaliere, a small winery in Lirac, the somewhat overlooked wine region just across the Rhone River from the very famous (and expensive) appellation of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Just to put things in context, let’s say Lirac is to Chateauneuf-du-Pape as Lummi Island is to, say, Napa; the forces of commerce have rarified one and ignored the other. The blends are similar, the regions are just across the river from one another, the climate is the same. Yet you drive through Lirac and you feel you are in the country; you drive through CdP and you feel you are somehow Not Worthy.
(from Nov 2011) We tasted a lot of delicious wines on our trip to France, and these (from La Rocaliere) were our favorites. Sisters Melanie and Severine took over the winery from their father and are putting their own fingerprints on the wines. Melanie (left) runs the business, and Severine (right) is the winemaker; her style is to interfere as little as possible with the natural development of the wines. She uses no oak at all; the red wines are fermented and aged in cement tanks, which, as we learned in Italy, iosolate the wines from noise, vibration, and temperature variation, and this gives the wines a noticeable stability and integration. Each of these wines, while unique to itself, clearly is made by the same hand; this sense of a particular winemaker’s style is one of the most fascinating characteristics of wine, and this Domaine has a definite and very appealing style. All of Rocaliere’s wines share the common characteristics of balance, naturalness, integration, and elegance. These wines really strike a chord for me, and I am delighted to find that they are available again! You gotta come by and try them!
Little James Basket Press
I first came upon this wine about seven years ago. I bought a case for the shop, and it took a year or two to sell it all. During that time, the wine became an icon for the difference between Old World and New World wines. This wine was truly unruly, with strange notes of earthy mushrooms, truffle, and dark red fruits. “Gamy” would have been an appropriate expression…interesting, and not to everyone’s taste. It took well over a year to sell just the one case, and usually the buyer was a young man intrigued by the challenge of a “wild wine”…Arrrrrr!
LJBP is made by a top French producer in the Southern Rhone (St. Cosme) which makes wines from several top regions, including CdP and Gigondas (we visited them in October 2011). As another blogger reports, “two minutes after cracking the screw cap, this 2011 bottling of St. Cosme Little James’ Basket Press is already the most interesting red wine under $10 I’ve tasted in all searchable memory.” LJBP is made from the solera method, like sherry or sourdough. Each year the juice from the latest harvest is added in a small proportion to a solera “mother” that has been “cooking” since “1999.
As I write this I have not yet tasted this wine, but I am seriously looking forward to it! It represents an important and elusive measure of regional terroir, traditional style, and organic process. Don’t miss it!
This Week’s Tasting
Chateau L’Ermitage Blanc ’12 France $10
An old favorite here, this vintage is even better– Light gold in color with aromas of peach, flowers, and honey; the Grenache Blanc, Viognier, and Roussanne, a heavenly blend!
La Rocaliere Lirac Blanc ’11 France $16
The nose is subtle and elegant with beautiful floral aromas of jasmine, honeysuckle, and verbena. On the palate, the wine is rich and round with wonderful notes of fresh citrus.
La Rocaliere Lirac Rose ’10 France $14
From sandy and clayish slopes with round pebbles; Grenache brings its fruitiness and richness; cinsault, its finesse and length; mourvèdre and syrah, red fruit aromas and aging potential.
St. Cosme Little James Basket Press ’12 France $11
Precise, aromatic nose of cassis, cherry and lavender. Tightly wound on the palate, with a firm mineral spine giving clarity and lift to the dark berry and bitter cherry flavors. Finishes with gentle tannins and good focus.
La Rocaliere Lirac Rouge ’10 France $16
Equal parts grenache, mourvedre, and syrah. Clay hillsides with round pebbles yield this
inky purple, with deeply pitched aromas and flavors of cherry-cola, licorice and violets. Youthful and firm, with a powerful finishing punch and lingering tannins.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting June 1 ’13
Pearrygin State Park
We just got home from a couple of days in the trailer at Pearrygin State Park in Winthrop. Our visit found a mix of rain, thunderstorms, gray skies, and intermittent sunshine. And at this time of year the entire landscape stretches out in shades of green, the straw and brown tones of the hot summer as yet nowhere in sight.
click images for larger views!
We don’t get to the Methow Valley very often, but when we do we are always struck by the beauty of the area. The near views present plants and trees in a lighter color range and density than we are used to here on the Wet Side, and the panoramas of steep hills add a definite drama to the landscape. Because the contrast between here and there increases as the Eastern slope gets hotter and dryer, a short trip over the mountains can fill your wet tank and your dry tank very nicely in a single day…one of the wonders of Northwest living…something about that contrast nourishes the soul somehow, don’t you think?
Duck Brand Hotel and Cantina
For us, no visit to Winthrop would be complete without a stop at the Duck Brand, a singular establishment near the center of Winthrop that dates back some 120 years; the original building still stands nearby. On this occasion we met up for lunch with fellow Lummi Islanders Jo Ann and Tom P. and Jim and Ellen R., coincidentally camping at the same park (no, I am not making this up!). I recommend the duck breast quesadilla shown at left… (very tasty!).
And we shared a little dish of the last four pan-fired jalapenos in the place (so, no, these are not grasshoppers!). This was our first exposure to this flavorful method of pan-frying peppers in olive oil and rolling in salt, very simple, and which brings out the flavor of the pepper as well as the heat. CAUTION: individual peppers vary WILDLY in their comparative fire…taste first, pop later!
Lost River
Despite the many charms of the Methow Valley, no trip would be complete without a stop at Lost River Winery, of which we have written on numerous occasions. Yesterday, although the tasting room was closed and we had not heard back on our emails and phone calls, by serendipity we happened by just at the time that winemaker (and former Whatcom County Engineer) John Morgan was driving in to meet with another account. That turned out to be Mike Cooney, owner of The Vogue….A Liquid Lounge in Lake Chelan, a sort of wine & espresso bar. He is also owner of a vintage 1979 VW camper van, still looking good and going strong (all you need to know is that I have owned one VW van or another for most of the last 30 years!). We had a great time tasting through the current Lost River lineup with Mike and his daughter. The Vogue sounds like a great place to visit, and the next time we are anywhere near Chelan we will certainly make it a point to visit, and so should you!
Not surprisingly, we liked a lot of the wines we tasted, and we have brought back a bunch. Therefore this weekend’s tasting will be entirely Lost River wines. See the list below for details. I think their wines just keep getting better and better, and I know you will like them!
This Week’s Tasting: Lost River Latest Releases
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.
Lost River Rose’12 Washington $15
Merlot and cabernet franc, harvested early to preserve crisp acidity and bright notes of strawberry and cherry. Maybe even better than last year!
Lost River Rainshadow ’12 Washington $15
60% Semillon and 40% Sauvignon Blanc Crisp, fruity, and bright, a classic Bordeaux blend.
Lost River Cote-Wall ’09 Washington $25
Co-fermented from syrah and viognier harvested on the same day, this lovely syrah shows deep layers of stone fruits and black pepper that grab your attention from the first sniff.
Lost River Merlot ’09 Washington $21
A near perfect vintage for Washington Merlot; notes of black currant, cassis, cherry, and licorice.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting Artists’ Studio Tour May 25-26 ’13
Featured Artist
Those of you who frequent the shop know that for several months we have been displaying compelling watercolors by Meredith Moench and colorful giclés by Brendan Dunn. Since we were gone during April, it was a big relief when Meredith volunteered to be our featured artist for the Studio Tour. She has added a number of new works to her display, continuing her themes of delicate birds and big, bright flowers. She also has cards with many of the same images. Come on by and see her new stuff– you will like it!
The Great Wood-Fired Bread Library Fund Benefit Sale!
On many occasions I have extolled the virtues of the weekly loaves of fresh bread that Janice Holmes brings over shortly after our opening at 4pm on Fridays. The bread is cut into chunks and put out on the bar for all to enjoy with their wine tasting. Every week I think this is the best so far! But then I think the same thing the week after that and the week after that…!
Now, Everyone can enjoy this transcendent experience, because Janice, together with our neighbor Lauren, will be baking and selling fresh, wood-fired bread Saturday morning only from 10-12 (or until the bread is gone…my guess would be before 11am…!)) at 2722 W. Shore Road. Look for the balloons, and park along the driveway; the oven is behind the house– and ALL PROCEEDS GO THE THE LIBRARY FUND!
Last Week’s Tasting
I know, I know, it is true, all of our tastings are great, but every once in a while we hit one where almost everyone really likes all the wines, and that’s how it was last weekend. A couple of weeks ago I went to a tasting of Spanish wines and ordered quite a few of them, two of which we poured last weekend. I think the hit was the Sierra Cantabria Tinto (tinto means ‘red’ in Spanish–and in Rioja, everyone knows that tinto could only mean the grape tempranillo…!) My personal favorite, however, was another Rioja, the Palacios Crianza la Montesa, which was aged for considerably longer in barrel before bottling and release. The extra time in barrel gives these wines a softer, smoother, richer palate that I find deeply alluring. Whichever your preference, we still have a few bottles of both of these wines in stock, and both are highly recommended.
This Week’s Tasting
Mt. Baker Mountain White ’10 Washington $7
A blend of muller thurgau, chassalas, and siegerrebe grown just up the road in Deming, this light, fragrant, slightly off-dry wine goes perfectly with a summer afternoon on the deck.
Chateau Donjon Rosé ‘12 France $12
From one of our favorite producers, a blend of syrah, cinsault, grenache; features crisp acidity behind ripe dark cherry and plum flavors, and a spicy finish with some mineral notes.…”Summer in a glass!”
Ventisquero Carmenere ’10 Chile $10
Glass-staining purple. Smoke-accented aromas of black and blue fruits and violet, with a peppery topnote. Juicy and light on its feet, with a seamless texture and good clarity to the fresh blackberry and blueberry flavors.
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
Mt. Baker Malbec ’08 Washington $19
Fresh, spicy and crisp, with pretty raspberry fruit and sharp acidity. A happy, deep magenta in the glass, with heady aromas of bodacious plum and hay, followed with flavors of plum, bark spices, chalk and purple flowers on a moderate 6-second finish.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting May 18 ’13
Thirty-three years today
It was a Sunday morning. I was lying in bed, thinking about getting up, when I heard it: a long, low, lingering BOOOOOOOOM, followed soon after by another ka-BOOOOOOOOM. Mt. St. Helens is some 200 miles from Bellingham, so the sound was muffled, but everyone knew what it was. The mountain had been in the news daily for months, causing increasingly frequent tremors in the vicinity, distortions in the shape of the mountain, and numerous releases of gas and dust. It was a Really Big Deal, worth some reflection. This short video puts it in perspective…and reminds me that somewhere in my way-too-long-idle pottery studio I still have a bunch of ash from the eruption, which some potters quickly determined to be an interesting high temperature glaze or glaze ingredient.
Wine Club Update
We are happy to report that the Win
e Club seems so far to be very successful, and we thank all of you who are participating. One of our next tasks is to provide our members with a summary of the wines they have bought, along with a current tally of their expenditures and related benefits. We are hoping we can find a way to incorporate that into the blog or the online store, but for the moment I have posted it on Google Docs, where you can see your purchases.
If you click on the link above, you will be taken to a spreadsheet with columns for wine name and varietal, date purchased, price, total purchases, and a strange-looking “code.” Your personal code is the one you received by email when you signed up for the wine club online by clicking the WINE CLUB! link at the top of the page. HOWEVER, it turns out that many of you signed up for the wine club in person at the shop, and don’t know anything about the online signup. So don’t worry, I signed up for you, and as a result some of you will have received an email tonight (Thursday) telling you you are a member of Artisan Wine Club! Anne just called me and said her email warned her the message might be some kind of phishing scam…yikes, what’s that about? Not to worry, I really did send it to you via our wine club software.
The important thing here is that IF you are interested, you can view and verify your purchase history online— but to do so you need (1) the link above, and (2) the five-digit code sent to you when you signed up for the wine club online (or in some cases just now when I signed you up for you!). If for some reason you lost your code send me an email and I will send you your code. Hopefully down the road a way we can figure out how to post this info to your own page on the blog…for now this is the best we can do…
Everyone’s gone to France…or is it Italy???
Took this photo last week at the shop when Steve and I were kidding around. I aimed the camera, zoomed in and clicked, and caught a nice portrait of Steve and Mary Beth, who by my calculation are right about now landing in Florence. Ah, si, si, Firenze, così bella, come ci manchi!
Then this coming week Ryan and some of you are taking off for France for the wine tour in the Languedoc-Minervois region around Carcassonne, which we visited in fall of 2011…sigh…! Fare well, all ye wine and food travelers!
We are looking forward to our next France trip in the fall, as members (and omg, designated driver!) of Ryan’s tour of the Loire wine region. Wine, food, friends, and travel…la dolce vita!
This Week’s Wines
Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes ’11 Argentina $14
Pale yellow. Sexy, slightly exotic aromas of wild herbs, flowers, licorice, mint and spices. Juicy, saline and dry, with flavors of lemon verbena, lavender and botanical herbs, dusty soil here and sweet citrus.
Il Filare Rosado ’08 Italy $8
A rosé of 80% Bombino Nero and 20% Montepulciano; aromas of strawberries and fresh-cut grass. Dry as bone with brilliant minerality, beautiful fruit and crisp acidity.
Sierra Cantabria Tinto ’09 Spain 90pts $11
100% tempranillo; aromas of ripe cherry, cassis, blackberry and dark chocolate, with a touch of cola. Lush, layered and focused, with a creamy texture and hefty dark fruit flavors. Finishes with smooth tannins, a hint of licorice and very good length.
Boomtown Syrah ’08 Washington $17
Second label from Dusted Valley; deep ruby-garnet color and complex aromas of black currants with smoky notes. On the palate rich and nicely concentrated with good structure, balance, and velvety tannins.
Palacios Rioja Crianza la Montesa ’08 Spain WA92pts $17
65% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo picked by hand; well-defined strawberry, Morello and shortcake-scented bouquet infused with fennel and licorice; medium-bodied with supple tannins, and an elegant, caressing finish that speaks of its place.
2072 Granger Way