Wine Tasting August 18 ’12
Thoughts on the First Annual (?) Lummi Island Jazz Festival
Last Saturday was complicated around our place, for two reasons (see last week’s post). First, it was the day of the Jazz Festival, ostensibly a fund-raising event for the remodel of the Island Library, which, as I pointed out last week, belongs to the people of Lummi Island via the Friends of the Island Library (FOIL). The library is long overdue for an upgrade, and the remodel project– years in the making– is kicking off its fundraising campaign, and therefore FOIL will be soliciting donations during the coming year to pay for it.
The Good News is that the Jazz Festival over-delivered in a big way; the weather was perfect, the music was fantastic, and the sound system was just right, all contributing to a sensational event! If you missed it, you REALLY missed something special.
The Bad News is that it was relatively poorly attended, so all day there were more empty seats than filled ones. That means that a lot of people missed out on a really Amazing event. It also means that the event underwriter generously took a very big loss, and the Library construction fund made only what it earned on the raffle (Many thanks to all of you who bought raffle tickets, and all of you who donated prizes!). So in the coming year I hope all of you will be able to dig deep and pledge some $$ to keep our library Strong!
Will there be another Jazz Festival next year? All you need to know is that if there is, you definitely want to be there!
Lullaby Winery
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nyway, we manned the entrance booth for a few hours before heading back to the wine shop for the second event of our day, the special tasting of wines from Lullaby Winery, owned by our long-time acquaintance, winemaker Virginie Bourgue. This was a real treat for all of us. Virginie’s winemaking style is definitely “Old World,” with considerable restraint in the use of new oak and a tendency to pick her grapes a bit before they are fully ripe in order to preserve their food-friendly acidity.
Her rosé was dry, 
pale, and delightful; her sauvignon blanc was crisp, fresh, and balanced; her viognier was refined and complex; and her special red wine, called “Lalayee,” is a stunning wine that showcases deep blackberry and black cherry aromas under layers of earthy leather, sandalwood and tar. Folks. the wines were Awesome, and yes, we have all of them in the shop!
Gascony
We recently discovered a couple of lovely wines from Gascony, a French wine region west of Toulouse near the Pyrenees. The whites have crisp, minerally notes of lemon, lime and orange rind, and the reds have a “wild and rambunctious character of smoke, dried herbs, roasted meat and black currant.” We poured the red, Terres d’Artagnan, named after the Three Musketeers’ dashing confrère) a few weeks ago, and it sold out immediately. The white wine from the same region, the Casterot Gascogne Blanc, was also very popular. This is to tell you we now have more of both, on our “Under $12” rack and of course qualifying for our ongoing $99 case sale!
Heat Wave
I know some of our regulars are old enough to remember the great Motown hit Heat Wave from Martha and the Vandellas (around 1965), but little did we expect we would, like, experience an actual Heat Wave right here on Lummi Island! OMD! It’s been nearly 80 degrees here, and ninety-something in Seattle and even Bellingham. What’s THAT about, huh? We have had to drag our AC unit out of the closet in the wine shop four times already this year, and this week I have to turn it on every afternoon. By comparison, in previous years we have maybe two or possibly three days where the temperature gets over 70 in the wine shop for a few hours before dropping back to the usual 50’s or 60’s overnight. All YOU need to know is that in honor of the hot weather we will be pouring five wines on Saturday, with two whites and a rose to start off with on both Friday and Saturday. So come by, cool off, and chill out!
This week’s tasting notes (Five Wines!):
Perazzeta Rosado di Montalcino ’11 Italy $14
It’s back! From the same grape as Brunello (sangiovese grosso), this beautiful rosado has it all: rich, bold, flinty, and summery.
Casterot Gascogne Blanc ’10 France $10
Light, bright, crisp and minerally, just the thing for our little spate of hot weather!
Martina Prieto Verdejo ’10 Spain $14
Verdejo thrives in the hot days and cold nights of the mesa and yields one of the most refreshing white wines of the world, delighting 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.
The Warrior Red ’07 Washington $14
A blend of 88% Merlot, 10% Cab Sauv, and 2% Petit Verdot; offers classic plum and red fruit notes with hint of chalk and minerality to support the delicious bouquet of cassis, spice, and blackberry. The balance is impeccable, with real elegance and restraint that gives this wine the kind of class that’s remarkable at the price.
Baguala Malbec ’08 Argentina $8
This was a hit a couple of weeks ago, just brought some more in. Rich, elegant, and full-bodied, with notes of raisins and a dash of bitters. Delicious!
As for this last picture, all I can say is that our little camera gets fairly creative from time to time, having a little trouble focusing, a little confusion about colors. So no, this is not edited in any way, this is just the way it came out. Kinda looks like “wine shop during acceleration to Warp Drive”…??
click on photo for larger view
Lummi Island Special Wine Tasting August ’12 Lullaby Winery
Lullaby Winery
A few weeks ago we mentioned we had recently been in touch with an old acquaintance, Virginie Bourgue, the winemaker/owner of Lullaby winery in Walla Walla, and we poured one of her wines that weekend. We first met her a few years ago when when she was the winemaker for Bergevin Lane Winery in Walla Walla, where she helped establish their reputation for quality wines. Now she has her own winery, and the Good News is that she will be visiting and pouring several of her wines at our shop this Saturday from 2-5. Don’t Miss It! See below for wines and winemaker notes.
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Lummi Island Jazz Festival and Island Library Upgrade
Virginie’s visit to Lummi coincides with the the kickoff of the Island Library’s fundraising campaign to support the expansion/remodel of our Library. Curiously there are still a lot of folks who don’t realize that even though our library is part of our excellent Whatcom County Library System (in which our dear friend Polly Hanson played such a major role years back), the building itself is owned by all of us through our own Friends of the Island Library. It is truly a community asset, and because of that maintenance of the buildings is our collective responsibility.
The Jazz Festival marks the beginning of the fundraising efforts to pay for the library upgrades to better serve our community. We hope you will support these efforts by attending the Jazz Festival and by donating generously during the coming year.
Hopefully there is no conflict between attending the Jazz Festival and dropping by the wine shop to taste these great wines. Your hand will be stamped at the Festival, so you can easily come and go. It’s a pleasant 15-minute walk from the Festival to our place; hope you can make it!
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Ongoing Case Sale continues!
There is this well-
known picture we have all seen of a man (obviously French) riding a bicycle along a tree-lined country road, with a small boy behind him and a lovely baguette tied on cross-wise behind the seat. It captures, as the French say, a certain je ne sais quoi about what is really important in life.
As it turns out, we encountered many roads like this one during our time in France last October. We found ourselves on many beautiful sections of rural highway lined with big old plane trees that seem to embrace everything in sight: you, the road, the vineyards or fields on either side, the sky—something about these trees is warmly welcoming.
Well, we don’t have plane trees lining the road on Lummi Island, and as yet there is no bakery where you can get a fresh baguette in the morning (although you can usually find something tasty at the Islander, and at the new incarnation of the Beach Store, and Janice keeps threatening to open a bakery sometime soon, so yes, we got bread!), and we still rely more on motors than pedal power for most of our transportation.
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Still, there is something of the same feeling to this little scene of our friend Megan loading a case of wine into the little trailer she had made to tow behind her scooter. And by the way, some of that wine will help Megan and Chris celebrate 25 years together…hoist yer glasses, mates, it’s cause fer Celebration!
And don’t forget: we are losing money hand over fist on this deal, but we just can’t stop, so the Madness continues: any twelve bottles from our $11 and under rack for just $99! Bring your scooter, bring your bike, bring your car, or take a hike, but hurry, cuz we can’t keep this deal going much longer!!!
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This week’s wines from Lullaby Winery in Walla Walla
2011 Lullaby Rosé $22
This single vineyard rosé is 100% Grenache from Alder Ridge Vineyard. It is dry, fruity, delicate and elegant. Lullaby Rosé has floral and fruity aromas of cherry, red currant, raspberry and citrus. Crafted in the true spirit of Provençal Rosé. Only 183 cases produced.
‘Blanc de Virginie’ ’11 $22
Clean and crisp, combining grapefruit, lime, lemongrass, pineapple, star fruit and passion fruit, with mouth-watering acidity, a perfect match for shellfish or a simple mixed green salad.
Viognier ’10 $32
Opens up on aromas of dried apricot, pear, hints of fresh hazelnut and vanilla followed by candied orange peel, gooseberry and marshmallow. Its silky texture and vibrant acidity will make this Viognier the perfect companion with food like scallops, prawns, pasta a la carbonara or roasted chicken.
Lalayee cab-merlot blend ’08 $45
Blended from two vineyards,this Cab-Merlot blend, called “Lalayee”, has a fragrant nose of blackberry, leather, cedar and tar. The mouth showcases blackberry and black cherry aromas over earthy notes of leather, sandalwood and pencil lead.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting August 4 ’12
A Rosé is a Rosé is a Rosé
It’s definitely looking pretty summery out here these days, with lots of sun and temperatures soaring to almost 70 degrees! That is Very Cool relative to the rest of the country, but that’s just how it is out here on the Frontier, and we are grateful for it. For the past month or so visitors will have noticed the “Rosé Shrine” at the top of the stairs, and hopefully it has gotten your attention. (I also mentioned this a few weeks ago…OMD, has summer lasted a MONTH already??!!) After many years of considerable indifference to rosé, I have been gradually converted over the past couple of years by friends who love it, trips to Europe where it is perfect to accompany the leisurely noon meal, and a sharp upturn in the number and quality of dry, Provencal-style rosés from both Europe and America. With its racy acidity, rosé pairs well with almost any dish, particularly in the afternoon!
Too Much Wine???
I know, I know, it sounds Oxymoronic. But there you have it, I find I can hardly get into the garage we have gotten so much wine lately. We are of course trying to keep our “Under $11” rack stocked for those of you who like to take advantage of our ongoing $99 case sale, and we have some new additions as well as some old favorites. In addition, we would like to invite your attention to the lovely array of beautiful Washington and Oregon wines that are curiously overlooked. These wines range in price from $13 and up, and include whites like gewurztraminer, chardonnay, and pinot gris, and reds from pinot noir to cabernet sauvignon, cab franc, syrah, malbec, and more.
Our Deal for this Weekend: 10% off all Northwest Wines $12 and over!!!
Lagrein
Last year we stocked a wine made from an unusual (to most Americans) grape called “Edelvernatsch.” Then this spring we attended a tasting in Seattle of wines from the same region of Italy, called Alto Adige. It is at the threshold of the Alps in an area equally influenced by Italian and German languages, and it is home to a number of grape varietals found few other places. This weekend we offer another wine from such a grape: Lagrein. We tasted many versions of this at the April tasting, and this one is typically rich, earthy, and vaguely rustic, yet curiously elegant. It is a unique varietal, and I think a lot of you are REALLY going to like it!
Here’s a fairly lengthy video segment about the varietal.
This weekend’s tasting
Bernier Chardonnay ’11 France $10
Light, bright yellow. Lemon, herbs and lees on the nose. Juicy but dry, focused, and refreshingly brisk.
Teutonic pinot noir Rose ’10 Oregon $14
A lovely rosé with all the characteristic aromas and flavors of a good Oregon pinot: pie cherry, forest floor, mineral, and spice, on a beautifully-structured, low-alcohol (10%) framework.
St. Michael-Eppan Lagrein ’09 Italy $17
Intense, with firm tannins and a smoky mineral sublayer supporting the ripe black fruit, espresso bean, iron, dried sage and fennel seed notes. Big and inky, but well-knit and integrated.
Scarafone Montecucco Rosso ’08 Italy $12
90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. A rustic Italian red with aromas and flavors of dried cherry and dark blackberry, with a somewhat toasty character that includes bramble and dried herbs with a hint of leather.
Ciocca Fior Chocolate Grappa Italy $24
A decadent liqueur-like wine combining lots of chocolate with grappa (a rustic Italian brandy)…it will definitely get your attention!
Lummi Island Wine Tasting July 28 ’12
Retrospective: the Great Chili Cookoff
Last weekend’s Chili Cookoff was a huge success. True, our new vintage of “Screaming Seagull” vegetarian chili did not win any prizes, but the event was Festive and well attended, as the accompanying photos confirm. And the music was great, a bluegrass/R&B band from ( I think) Skagit County, with great rhythm and style. It was a beautiful day, the event was well attended, and a good time was had by all. And after these festivities, we figured, okay, No One is going to want to come to the wine shop, but no, we were wrong about that! Since of a lot of the cooks at the Chili Cookoff were “Artisan Gallery Regulars” (the best kind of militia!), after the cookoff we were joined by many of the chili teams: Beth and “Never met a Pepper I didn’t want to put in my Chili” Blake, Mary Jane and son John (two prizes!), Barbara and Tobey, Mary Beth and Steve, Ian and Robin (another prize!), and of course Pat and yours truly. The interesting thing is that our expected Quiet Afternoon in the wine shop after the Cookoff turned out to be quite a party, very festive indeed. You just never know how things will unfold…so, really, why bother to make plans at all…???!
Celler Capçanes & “Nit de les Garnatxes 2012”
One of the highlights of our trip to Spain in May was a week in the little village of Capçanes. It’s small, it’s totally charming, and it has its own winery, one of several small cooperativa through which many grape growers combine their efforts to produce wine. Started in 1933 by five families, more recently, Celler Capçanes has taken the path of many Spanish coops, with a centralized management and production team that sets standards for the member vineyards.
What is important about Celler Capçanes is that it is at the very entrance to the town, and looks pretty sleepy, a couple of nondescript, modestly sized block buildings of indeterminate age. So it seemed peculiar that the three-day annual Falset Wine Festival celebrating the wines of the Montsant and Priorat regions was to kick off with a Friday night event at Celler Capçanes beginning at 11pm (yes, PM!) called “Nit de les Garnatxes” (Night of the Garnachas). So we drifted down the hill from our lovely apartment to find a pretty astonishing party, spread over both buildings and the space between them; we kept finding more stairways and more levels, with throngs everywhere, lots of delicious wines, food (including the Chocolate Fountain (image left)!), music, and art. AMAZING! Unfortunately, we haven’t figured out how to get any of their wines here, but we are working on it! (SEE MORE PICTURES)
Celler Masroig
We have been slightly more successful finding wines from another Montsant cooperativa, Celler Masroig, the first winery we visited after we arrived. (Btw, Masroig is a Catalan name which is pronounced “mahs roych.”) We didn’t have an appointment, just wandered in, and were greeted cordially by shop manager Eulalia, who spoke excellent English (whew!), and who told us about the many wines made at the coop while she poured samples. We wound up buying several bottles of their wines which we drank over the next several days, and we ran into Eulalia several times in the ensuing days of the Wine Festival…it’s a small region, and an ongoing celebration, so lots of faces became familiar.
At present we have only been able to find one of the Masroig wines here, and all you need to know is that we will be pouring it this weekend. It is called Sola Fred, which doesn’t make a lot of sense for a wine. It is NOT named for someone named Fred, I am sure of that, although I can’t quite remember the story of the name, only that it was created particularly for export. (Figure out what it means and get a free tasting!) more about Masroig
This weekend’s wines:
Alvise prosecco Italy $13
Prosecco is Italy’s famous dry white sparkling wine, offering fruity freshness, notes of green apple and a nice minerality…refreshing and delicious!
Lafond Tavel Rosé ’09 France $18
Light, bright red. Fleshy and smooth, with concentrated red fruit flavors and a touch of orange zest. Rich enough to pair with strong cheeses, grilled poultry, or fish.
Clua Domenech pedres ’09 Spain $10
An eclectic blend of cab, merlot, syrah, grenache, and tempranillo, pleasingly ripe fruit, this wine is fresh and easy to enjoy, with alluring minerality and a dark, smoky complexion.
Masroig Sola Fred ’09 Spain $12
100% carignan. Bright purple, with intense, perfumed aromas of cherry-cola, black raspberry and violet, with a suave mineral underpinning; juicy and precise, with very good clarity and lift to its dark fruit and floral pastille flavors. more about Masroig
2072 Granger Way