Lummi Island Wine Tasting July 19 ’13
Maine
We are back from our week in Maine and my 50th HS reunion. It was the first time I have visited my home state as something of a tourist– an odd experience that comes to most of us when the passing of our parents leaves no family “home” to go “home” to. As mentioned last week, we stayed at the somewhat worn but still entirely pleasant Lucerne Inn, a familiar landmark of my youth, which we found comfortably creaky and out of square.
Last Sunday we had a double treat on the coast at the seaside family home of a classmate in Brooklin (home of Wooden Boat magazine, aka “Mecca” to wooden boat lovers!). After a little wading on the beach a short walk away, we had a leisurely outdoor brunch , complete with lobsters, corn on the cob, and fresh mussels, . On the coast we enjoyed a beautiful and comfortable sunny day, while inland temperatures approached 90. That heat wave continued till our departure flight from Boston on Tuesday morning. I had forgotten how hot and humid it can get in the Northeast…!
Here’s Pat talking with my classmate and our gracious hostess Joellyn ( her dad was my Little League coach…!) about the fine points of making truffles. If all of you are lucky, that could mean that maybe Pat will make another batch soon. Probably you should start lobbying her if you want to make that happen…!
It’s no accident so many Lummi Islanders have Maine roots; much about our surroundings here is reminiscent of the Maine coast. (though of coss we ain’t got no lobstuhs out heah like they do back theah…) One difference I noticed this time is that maybe because the terrain is more even in Maine (trees are shorter, mountains there are hills here…?), there is somehow more sky in most views, and in some way there is something comforting about that. Does that make any sense…?
The three-hour brunch was followed by an afternoon gathering at my niece’s house about a half hour up the coast, where we were treated to even more fresh Maine mussels, gathered that morning by her husband. It is worth noting that back in my youth No One in Maine ate mussels. Lobster, yes. Clams, yes. All kinds of fish, yes. But no mussels. And although there are some farmed mussels in Maine, a la our own Penn Cove, where they grow on nets hung from rafts, the “wild” ones are beautifully barnacle-laden, their shells wonderful shades of yellows, grays, and greens, and though they are good-sized, the flavor is a delight even with no accompaniment (except of course a nice white wine…in this case a perfectly serviceable pinot gris from a box!) Yes, folks, they are that good!
The Great Chili Cookoff Comes Again!
Okay, fellow Islanders, it’s here again, the something or other-th Annual Chili Cookoff this Saturday from noon to 3. This year we are neither cooking nor judging, so it will be fun to taste the delicious offerings from the usual suspects and always a few newbies. This is of course an annual fundraiser for the Heritage Trust, and draws crowds from Five Counties! (yes, I am making that up). This event has become an icon of Lummi Island Summer, so we know we will see most of you there.
And if you can still stand after all those beans, peppers, and beer, don’t forget to stop by the wine shop on the way home! We have a great tasting this weekend, featuring some new arrivals from our friends at Small Vineyards that are as Delicious as they are Curiously Underpriced! Need I say more??
This week’s tasting
Villa des Anges Rose ’12 France 90pts $10
A classic Provencal rose with fresh, crisp aromas of orange peel, wild strawberry and mineral water and a juicy, lively palate.
Martina Prieto Verdejo ’09 Spain $10
Delights the palate with flavors of nettles, ripe pineapple, dried mint, and pencil dust on a crisp, fresh frame. From vines planted in clay, shells, and limestone in the Rueda wine region.
Finca El Tesso Tempranillo ‘10 Spain $10
Already a local favorite–fruity and soft, with scents of violets, raw meat, sea salt and mineral; a perfect match for Serrano ham.
Gran Passione Rosso Italy $11
Raisined Corvina and Merlot meet to form this soft, lovely red wine with soft notes of rich red and black fruits, prunes, and raisins.
Mas Oncle Ernest “Patience” ’10 France $22
40% Syrah, 60% Grenache; perfumed nose of lilacs and roses, with fleshy palate of blackberry bramble, blackcurrant, and vanilla.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting July 13 ’13
Milestones
We are currently in Maine for the occasion of my 50th High School reunion in Bangor. This is a curiously sobering experience. More than retiring, more than starting to collect Social Security, and more than turning any particular age, the 50th HS reunion is a curiously poignant icon of aging. I mean, you see and feel it and acknowledge its coming in lots of small ways, but there isn’t actually a designated cultural ritual after which one can say—- or has to admit it to having become an Elder Citizen. So maybe the closest thing our culture ( I use the word loosely, of course!) has to such a ritual is the Big Five-Oh HS Reunion. We’ll see. Most likely it will be just a nice visit with folks I once knew very well…and even though a lot of time has passed, they are a valued part of my roots, even if it means we are now officially a bunch of geezers…
Lucerne Inn
We are staying at the old Lucerne Inn about 10 miles south of Bangor, on the Bar Harbor road. It overlooks Philips Lake, which most locals have always referred to as “Lucerne,” after the tiny spot nearby which is actually named “Lucerne-in-Maine.” We spent a lot of time at the lake when I was a kid in the late fifties, and the Inn became a familiar sight, with the lake lying behind it. My sister got married here in 1961, and we celebrated my mother’s 85th birthday here in 2000. So, like us, it’s getting on in years; the floors are pretty uneven, and everything is dated, bordering on “rustic.” Still, it is a good place to be for this milestone visit.
Family, Food, and Wine
One of the central meanings of returning to childhood homes is the connection of family and place, in this case a chance to visit with my niece Jennifer over delicious food and wine. Wherever we go, we strive to carry this sense of home and hearth with us, and it is perhaps the most basic ground of our human experience.
A Small Tip for social change
Sometime in the last few months Pat read an interesting idea on small ways to encourage social change. One very simple one was to play a small but active role in redistributing income by the simple act of leaving a tip for the person who cleans your hotel room. People who do these jobs do not get paid a lot of money; they work long hours; and they do jobs many of us would rather not do. Since we read that, we try to be more conscious of the possibility; if every room had a few bucks on the dresser, it could add up to a real difference. Pass it on!
This week’s tasting
Though we are away, Ryan will open the shop and pour this week’s wines for you on schedule Friday 4-7 and Saturday 2-6. Please note < /strong>: shop will close at 5:45 on Saturday!
Perazzeta Rosado di Montalcino ’12 Italy $14
It’s back! From the same grape as Brunello (sangiovese grosso), this beautiful rosado has it all: rich, bold, flinty, and summery.
Loredona Viognier ’11 California $9
Heady aromas of sweet orange, ripe apricot and honeysuckle lead to mouth-watering nectarine, tangerine and citrus notes on the palate. Surprisingly rich with nicely balanced acidity and minerality. Great value!
Rigal Malbec ’10 France $11
From Cahors, the birthplace of malbec in France (not Argentina!); lots of plum and a bit of oak on the nose and palate, with lively notes of raspberry and licorice and a touch of earthiness.
Lost River Western Red ’10 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.
Marchetti Rosso Conero Riserva ’08 Italy :$22
Made only from “free run juice,” and crammed with black berry, plum, and currant flavors, showing elegant traces of graphite, leather, stone, and smoke, with a streak of bitter chocolate; caresses the palate like silk scarf…!
Lummi Island Wine Tasting July 6 ’13 4th of July Weekend
CCSVI (Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency)
Last Saturday we had a long conversation with visitor Ben Munkres about CCSVI (which stands forChronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency), and its possible role in the development of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The theory is that MS and a number of other chronic debilitative diseases are caused by, or at least made worse by, blockages or constrictions of veins that move blood from important centers of brain activity. CCSVI advocates believe these blockages can be alleviated by vascular surgery or angioplasty.
Read more
See brief ‘before’ video
See brief ‘after’ video
In Ben’s case, he had rapidly advancing MS for several years and had lost a considerable amount of function when he learned about CCSVI. He told all of us in the wine shop about how he felt his symptoms disappear while the procedure was being done a couple of years ago. So now he is on something of a crusade to extol the benefits of the procedure.
If you Google CCSVI, you will find a lot of information pro and con. As Ben suggested, much of the “con” is from mainstream medical interests. He is convinced that the medical and pharmaceutical industries have been doing very well with diseases like MS, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimers, conditions that are chronic and increasingly debilitating over time, with essentially no hope of recovery…perfect Cash Cows. There is nothing so convincing as someone who has experienced a Miracle Cure, and these days the credibility of medical, financial, and insurance institutions has been deeply compromised. My take-away from the afternoon’s conversation is that vascular intervention worked for at least one man, and I would probably look into it if I or anyone close to me was so unfortunate to get one of these really horrible related conditions.
The Italians are back!
Lovers of Italian wines will have noticed our stock has been getting quite lean of late. Partially that is because we order many of the Italian wines we carry from an importer called Small Vineyards. Twice a year their representative puts on a tasting at a nice Bellingham restaurant for those who buy wines for shops, stores, and restaurants in the area. What sets the SV tastings apart from most others is that it is a sit-down affair, with a story about each of 20 or 25 wines, their wineries and winemakers as you taste them, along with a parade of delicious food. This is in sharp contrast to typical trade tastings, which are in a warehouse-sized room with perhaps hundreds of wines at 20 or 30 tables, and your mission is to taste as many as you can in a couple of hours, and maybe pick a few to bring into the shop.
Btw, this SV model is the same one we will be using in the shop very soon to introduce YOU to wines Ryan will be importing from France in the fall. Samples will be arriving soon, and just as SV does, we will host an event in the next few weeks where you will be able to taste each wine, munch a little something, and hear about who made it and where it comes from. Then you can pre-order those that you want and a few months later: Voilà, here is your wine!
As for this weekend, we will be pouring three of the new Italian arrivals, each the latest vintage of wines we have been consistently impressed with year after year. As I write this I am “previewing” the 2011 Poderi Elia Barbera d’Asti, and it may be the best one ever, smooth and delicious, with dark notes of cranberry, leather, and maybe just a touch of horse sweat on the nose…!
Fourth of July
Every Fourth of July I like to remind people to “Watch out for Falling Elephants!” That’s because of a limerick that was popular in our neighborhood in New England when I was a kid. It goes like this:
“I asked my mother for fifty cents
To see the elephant jump the fence;
He jumped so high he touched the sky, and
Didn’t come down till the Fourth of July.”
Well, this morning Judy O came by for a small “wine emergency” (Remember: we are open Fridays 4-7, Saturdays 2-6, and anytime for Wine Emergencies!) I knew that Judy grew up on Cape Cod, and here it was the 4th, so I asked her if she knew the limerick, and she did! That suggests it is a New England thing, not just a Maine thing. Cool! Pass it on: maybe it can become a Global Thing, and Everyone can be on the alert for Falling Elephants on the Fourth!
This Week’s Tasting
Trevisiol “Rosecco” Sparkling Rosé Italy $15
Where prosecco meets rosé; Light and effervescent wine that dances on the tongue with fresh berries, lively acidity and gentle bubbles.
Marchetti Later Harvest Verdicchio ’12 Italy $16
Full-bodied with lush notes of pear and melon, with beautiful acidity. An extra month on the vine delivers not sweetness, but rather greater body, structure, and fruit essence. Entirely satisfying!
Poderi Elia Barbera d’Asti ‘11 Italy $14
Balanced, soft, and rich, with freshly pressed cranberries on the nose, and lush palate of pomegranate, bright acidity, and soft tannins that beg for pairing with a savory meal.
Stonecap Cabernet Sauvignon ’11 Washington $9
Opens with aromas of blackberry, spice, and oak followed by flavors of currants, raspberry, and hints of chocolate and coffee on a smooth finish; a perfect companion to grilled meats.
Almirez Toro ’08 Spain 91pts $22
Vivid ruby. High-pitched red berries and spices on the nose. Silky in texture and emphatically fruity, offering fresh raspberry and cherry flavors and a hint of tangy minerality. Very fresh, with strong finishing spiciness and lingering mineral note. Impressive clarity and focus.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting June 29 ’13
Blogparents
About four years ago our world changed significantly with the appearance in our wine shop of a young couple (Leigh and Brian) who had recently moved to the island after having spent two years living on the road in an old Airstream trailer. They both worked online, so could work from anywhere, and the Anywhere they preferred was, as Willie Nelson sings, “On the Road.” It was at their insistence that this blog came into existence sometime in 2009, and they have been coaching us at various times ever since, for which we are continually grateful.
Before any of that happened, though, they bought some acreage in the hills southeast of Tonasket, Washington, over in Okanogan County, and this week we finally got a chance to go visit them on their land, where they are currently parked for a month in their trailer.
(as always, click on photos for larger version)
Vistas large and small
This is a shot looking west from their land. The little green spot is our trailer; theirs is tucked in next to the hillside, not visible. The land is quiet and spacious, a place that invites taking time to be quiet and contemplative; the far views speak of distance and dramatic terrain, while the near views this time of year are resplendent with tiny wildflowers. It’s a spot to claim some space around yourself, very appealing and soothing in many ways.
There are also lots of birds, because the air is full of little cheeps and songs, but the birds are mostly invisible! I spent a fair amount of time wandering around the steep hillsides trying to get a glimpse of even one of these little songsters, but whenever I got close the sound would stop. So I have NO idea what birds these are, but I am curious. So while I was trying to be still, hoping to catch a glimpse of a mysterious singer, I had a lot of time to look closely at the boundless array of tiny blossoms, and found much to admire.
Thus it was that I found this small, pale butterfly on one of my walks through the maze of blooming wildflowers; it was tiny and delicate, its wings subtle shades of pale purple-gray and soft orange. It appears to be a Common Ringlet, Coenonympha tullia, found throughout the world, but the first one I have noticed. All of which is to say, I know next to nothing about birds, flowers, or butterflies, and rarely take time for them. And there is something about Leigh and Brian’s land looking out over the Okanogan that invites and rewards a bit of contemplation.
Fourth of July, aught-13
One of the things I really enjoy about writing this blog is that the creative process is very, very similar to what I (used to) experience throwing pots, to follow the elusive Muse of the moment, a repeating sequence of feeling-acting-waiting, until it is done, whatever that means. Just now I was attracted to this photo of old church, somewhere in Italy, roof long gone, and dating back many hundreds of years. It was probably long in ruins already in 1776 when this country was born. It is sobering, this inexorable, indifferent March of Time, which gradually grinds even our grandest icons to dust.
So this year, for no particular reason, I find myself curious about the longer perspective on our good old USA, our good old Civilization, and our Good Old 98%-Chimp genes. Has human history always just been the unfolding story of the latest Guys in Suits’ intrigues for power, their garb always the best animal skins, silk, linen, or, you know, the armor? Are we doomed, like lemmings, to follow the whims of these idiots over cliff after cliff after cliff, drinking yet another cup of True Believer Kool-Aid, cheering yet another patriotic Slogan, demonizing yet another Godless Enemy?
All I’m saying is that the older I get, the more everyday news reports sound as if written by Rod Serling or Kurt Vonnegut: absurd and surreal. All of which is to say, we will not be open on the Fourth for any regular hours, but as always, feel free to call for “Wine Emergencies.” And of course we are open regular hours this Friday (4-7) and Saturday (2-6).
This week’s wines:
Blanco Nievo sauvignon blanc ’10 Spain $15
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An intriguing style of sauvignon blanc from Spain. Softer and fuller bodied than most, and showing fruits outside the usual grapefruit/kiwi/lime envelope.
Ryan Patrick Rose ’11 Washington $10
Made from syrah; greets the senses with aromas of rose petals and subtle spice; palate is a bright medley of violet and a hint of cloves.
Comoloco Monastrell ’11 Spain $9
Alluring black and blue fruit aromas and flavors; fleshy and smooth in texture, with good finishing punch and a touch of bitter chocolate.
Eguren Codice ’09 Spain 90pts $11
Vivid purple. Aromas of cassis, cherry, licorice and mocha. Dense, alluringly sweet and juicy, with excellent concentration to its chewy dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors. Silky, fine-grained tannins and lingering spiciness.
Meiomi Pinot Noir ’12 California 92pts $23
Dark and rich, showing toasty mocha oak flavors, with a beam of wild berry, raspberry, cola, vanilla, and spice, with lingering finish.
2072 Granger Way