Lummi Island Wine Tasting Sept 10 ’11
Here it is only the Tuesday after the Labor Day Studio Tour, and I am writing this week’s post already while still a little dazed from a FULL Saturday and Sunday. Especially Saturday, which had possibly the most visitors and the most tastings we have ever before done in one day. It was loud, it was festive, it was summer, it was crazy! By comparison Sunday traffic was steady, but much lower key, much quieter, and more personal, with more opportunity to connect with our visitors personally, which is of course the fun part of this whole operation.
We departed from our usual practice of offering four or five wines for our weekend tasting menu. Instead, we rotated wines among selections from four of our neighbor wineries here in Whatcom County: Legoe Bay Winery right here on Lummi Island; Mt. Baker Vineyards , Whatcom County’s oldest and best established winery, dating back some thirty years; Dynasty Cellars, barely a mile away across Haro Strait on the ferry; and Masquerade , Whatcom County’s newest winery, which just moved to Bellingham from Walla Walla.
As usual, the most recent Legoe Bay viognier continues their consistent tradition of quality with this grape, and the 2007 syrah is very possibly their best one yet. The throngs agreed, and we saw a lot of these wines go out the door. If you are one of those locals who poo-poos your neighborhood winery, I urge you to give these wines another try, as they offer terrific quality for the meager price.
We also bought a pretty good stash of Mt. Baker Roussanne, and have been pouring a lot of samples to a growing following of believers. After we bought another five cases a few weeks ago they raised the price back up (it was lowered because so few people had ever heard of Roussanne!) ; the next batch will sell at $12 a bottle, not $9, so if you like a mouth-filling, full-textured white wine, come by soon and load up– this is a great wine at this price!
Finally, we were very impressed with several wines we poured from Masquerade Cellars, with its new winery just moved to Bellingham (Iowa St) from Prosser. Their bubbly "Effervescent Elephant" is terrific and reminiscent of some very expensive French champagnes, and their syrah and cabernets are big and rich. All were showing exceptionally well over the weekend, as were the wines from Dynasty.
All in all, our neighbor wineries are making some great juice out there, and it was great to promote their efforts. We will continue to offer their selections and to pour them for you from time to time.
WHY am I writing the blog early , you might wonder…? It is so we can take off for a few of these beautiful late summer days on the boat. Somehow the summer has slipped through our hands like water, frictionlessly, leaving all the imagined outings and explorations on the impossibly cluttered and overloaded Shelf of All the Things You Didn’t Get Around To, and it seems important to wrest from the relentless Hands of Time at least a few days of bobbing at anchor in a quiet cove. (not our boat, but you get the idea…!)
Our artist for the next month or two, as I mentioned last week, is our friend Brendan, with a lot of new paintings from recent travels to New Zealand, Italy, and Hawaii. Gallery supporter and regular visitor Mary Jane bought the painting of the Whatcom Chief, our stalwart ferry, which MJ has coveted since Brendan first showed it here a year ago. (If you click on the image below I think a larger version will open…) Though it only shows a small portion of the boat, it is instantly recognizable to every Islander.
This Saturday’s tasting:
Casa Lapostolle sauv blanc ’10 Chile $10
Brilliant pale lime yellow. Intense aromas of sweet citrus, tropical fresh fruit; light and fresh on the palate, with pleasant roundness and a grassy, minerally finish.
Chateau D’Oupia Minervois ’09 France $12
A blend 60% Old Vines Carignan (from vineyards up to 100 years old), 30% Syrah, and 10% Grenache. Elegant and balanced, It is aromatic, full and densely colored, with a long finish of dark fruits, enjoyable to drink young and can age 5-7 years.
Sant’ Antonio Monti Garbi Ripasso ’08 Italy $17
Nose of roasted meats, raspberries, and red licorice; full bodied and crisp, with smooth, ripe tannin on the palate; Intense and up front fruit of plum, blackberry and black cherry.
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.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting Artists Studio Tour Sept 3-4 ’11
Here it is, another Labor Day Weekend and another Lummi Island Artists’ Studio Tour, when thirty Island artists display their creations and people from far and wide come to visit. Every year we join in celebrating the end of summer here at the Wine Gallery with a new show; we are open both Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm. Also, of course, we continue to be open on Thursday and Friday evenings from 4-7 pm, so drop by on Friday night and avoid the holiday crowds!
Our returning artist for September is Brendan Dunn, whose acrylics and oils of Hawaiian flowers and Northwest scenes adorned our walls a year ago. This year he has been travelling and hiking in New Zealand and Italy (no they are not exactly in the same direction), and some of his new works derive from those experiences. Brendan will be available to visit with you and talk about his travels and his paintings both Saturday and Sunday from 10-1.
Last weekend, you will recall, was the debut of our new window tables, custom built by Island woodworking artist Tom Lutz. As you can see, the tables are a Hit…maybe even a little Magical!
Last week’s wines were not what you would call “flashy,” but I would be happy to share a glass of any of them with you. I think the Delille Doyenne Rose has become a wine we look forward to every spring; Provencal in style, but American in intensity, it’s a real glass of real wine that happens to be pale, pink, and refreshing. The Stephen Vincent Chardonnay is everything you like about California chardonnay. The Chateau D’Oupia “Les Heretiques” was surprisingly satisfying at its modest price, with abundant evidence of its roots, showing great fruit and lovely notes of garrigue. And finally, the Langmeil SMG does everything a big Aussie Rhone blend is supposed to do: knock you out with fruit-forward intensity.
This weekend’s wines:
This weekend we will be pouring wines from several nearby wineries: Legoe Bay Winery right here on Lummi Island; Mt. Baker Vineyards, Whatcom County’s oldest and best established winery, dating back some thirty years; Dynasty Cellars, barely a mile away across Haro Strait on the ferry; and Masquerade, Whatcom County’s newest winery, which just moved to Bellingham from Walla Walla.
We found Masquerade quite serendipitously last week while shopping for doors out on Iowa street. Literally one day earlier we had gotten an announcement from this new (in our area anyway) winery about an introductory tasting for local wine retailers. So, of course, seeing the sign, we popped in and tried the wines. All YOU need to know is that they are really tasty, AND that they include a lovely sparkling wine very nicely made in the classic Methode Champenoise.
Depending on when you drop by, we might be pouring any four of the following fourteen wines:
Legoe Bay: Viognier, Pinot Gris, Syrah
Mt. Baker Vineyards: Riesling, Roussane, Late Harvest Viognier, Sangiovese, Malbec, Cab Franc
Dynasty Cellars: Meritage blend, ZInfandel
Masquerade: Sparkling wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
As the old joke goes about voting, come early and come often to sample All of these lovelies!
Lummi Island Wine Tasting August 27 ’11
To begin with, we are doing a bit of a, what do they call it, a “makeover” in the wine shop. We mentioned several weeks ago that we were making a few changes that we hoped would improve traffic flow and make the limited space work better for all of us. Step one was moving the “Best Buys” rack, which gets most of the action, away from the tasting area. That seems to have worked quite well.
The second part of the plan has taken a little time to implement. That is, our local woodworking guru, Tom Lutz (who supervised the development of our whole space, from walls to cabinets to our bar (a Happy Place!) has installed lovely window-tables along our front wall. We have moved out the wine racks along that wall to make room for you to sit, sip, and enjoy the view. We also think the extra floor space will make it easier to move around the shop to browse all the displays. Below are Ryan and Mary Jane showing us how it works! (you can click on the picture for a larger image!). And for more information on Tom Lutz’s work, see his website . Yes, he IS available to make your woodworking Dreams come true!
On the local scene, our weather continues to be lovely (despite a couple of days of laid-back summer rains), and also it is the time of year when our local Historic Reefnet Fishery is in operation right out in front of us out in Legoe Bay. A couple of mornings ago I looked out to this eerie view, in which the early morning sun was shining on Legoe Bay and the reefnetters, while we and Orcas Island across the channel remained in shadow. The effect was so startling I took a photo, which may give some idea of the interesting light contrasts…it was quite arresting. (click on the picture for a larger image!)
Last week’s wines were great, although I did make a last minute substitution from the blog posted selection. Because it was actually HOT (we deployed our portable air conditioner for the first time in two years!…I’m not making this up!), I postponed our tasting of the Dynasty Cellars Zin from our neighbors across Haro Strait until a cooler day, and added a rosé, making the whole array lighter. This summer we have developed a definite taste for the Provencal style of rosé (light and dry) and have gone through cases and cases of several labels because it is so delightfully refreshing on a summer afternoon or evening. So look for the Dynasty Zin tasting on our next cool and gray weekend. This weekend we will again be starting with a rosé and a white, followed by a couple of economical and tasty reds.
Last week’s Argyle Brut sparkling wine from Oregon obviously touched a cordial nerve, because we sold out in short order. We will look for more if anyone missed the boat…call or drop a note. And as occasionally happens, the Atalaya ’08, which was nice but a little disappointing six months ago compared to the ’07, had evolved to be showing magnificently, so we are cleaned out. The Three Trees Cougoumeilles also struck a nerve, yet again showing that “89pts” is a magical wine rating score…not flashy enough for 90. not ordinary enough for 88, and usually priced to sell. My friends, a toast to the 89-point wines, the poor person’s ‘perfect wines!”
This week’s wines :
Delille Doyenne Rose ’10 Washington $20
Bright and refreshing, a zinger of a dry. Provencal-style rosé that brims with guava, rhubarb and tea flavors, finishing with creamy texture balanced with the zip of acidity. Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvèdre.
Stephen Vincent Chardonnay 09 California $10
A terrific value, the 2008 Chardonnay offers attractive melony, buttery citrus, and tropical fruit characteristics as well as a hint of minerality. Elegant, fresh, and medium-bodied, it tastes far better than its humble price suggests.
Chateau D’Oupia “Les Heretiques” ’09 France $10
Made in Minervois from Carignan and syrah with native wild yeast; delivers aromas and flavors of dried herbs and pressed ripe blackberry; fruit-rich, hedonistic, and a great buy. (see video review)
Langmeil Three Gardens SMG ’09 Australia $16
Rich, silky-smooth and round, delivering a generous wave of red berry, cherry, spice and licorice that plays out through a long, harmonious finish. Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting August 20 ’11
Announcements!
#1. Don’t forget we are now open Thursdays and Fridays from 4-6 pm! Two Generous Pours of our Vins du Jour plus munchies like olives, cheese, crackers, salumi, and a few surprises, hosted by notre bon ami et professeur de Francais, M. Ryan, comment dit-on, le “Wildstar.”
#2. We just stocked up on Pleasant Valley cheeses this week, including Herbes de Provence, Farmstead, Jalapeno, Fines Herbes, Caraway, and of course the straight Gouda, so if you have been waiting for something this is the time to come by.
National Radio Day. This Saturday, August 20, is (as I am sure you all know) National Radio Day. So let’s all bow our heads, or raise our antennas (antennae?) and take a moment to reflect on how much of our lives have been spent listening to radio: news, music, talk, whatever. Talk about something we take completely for granted– yet imagine how different our lives would be without it! Maybe better, maybe worse, but definitely Different.
Somewhere out in the garage “archives” is an old Zenith short-wave radio (also AM and FM) from the 40’s (or earlier) that was in the house when I was a kid. It is in too bad shape to show an actual photo, but something like the one below. Not only did it have a good speaker and good sound quality for the time (late fifties), but it also had “jacks” in the back so you could hook it up to your hi-fi turntable and play your 45’s through its speaker. Which reminds me, around the same era the “clock radio” showed up on the market, which also had jacks so you could (I’m not making this up) hook it up to your electric coffee pot (percolator of course) when you went to bed. The alarm function of the radio would then make the coffee so it was ready when the alarm went off. Pretty cool, huh?
Nowadays we have computers and phones that tell you (and anyone who wants to know) where you are at any given time, where you have been, what you spent your money on, who you called, what you said, who you emailed, etc. etc. etc., but do ANY OF THEM make coffee for you in the morning? I don’t think so! And they call that PROGRESS? Anyway, radio is deeply embedded in our culture and in each of our personal histories (as is every technology), and it’s fun to reflect on our interdependence with it, from the distant stations we listened to in the car late on summer nights to the programs we listen to now on the way to and from work every day. It’s an amazing thing we take completely for granted, so that’s why I am happy to find this odd little “holiday”— National Radio Day…!
Wow and Whew! We don’t keep records here at Artisan Wine Gallery, except for this blog, of course, but I think last Saturday was some kind of record-breaking day. It is possible that sometime or another, particularly during Memorial Day or Labor Day Artists’ Studio Tour, we have had a day with as many visitors and as many tastings as last Saturday. All I can tell you is that after a slow beginning, the crowd ebbed and flowed (mostly flowed) all afternoon till quite some time after closing. On a typical Saturday we go through about one bottle of each wine we are pouring, sometimes two, usually about one and a half. Last week we went through three bottles of everything and I was shaking the last drops out of each one to get everyone covered. Folks, it was PACKED with revelers, and the accompanying photos do NOT do it justice–VERY festive!
NOISE HAPPENS. Oh, and yes, it was LOUD! Several times people whose faces were not more that a foot away from mine were saying words in my direction, and I didn’t have a clue what they were saying, and would just shrug and point to my ears. As if that meant something. We are exploring ways to muffle the sound reflections in our little space, maybe with some carpet (there is a ‘test carpet’ in the far corner by the “under $12” rack) that so far seems to help, so the next step will be to carpet more space to see if it makes a difference.
Great Wines Last Week! Beginning with the lovely (in a crisp, wake you up with a slap in the taste buds kind of way) Chateau Guiraud Bordeaux White (sauv blanc and semillon), all the wines were showing really well. Curiously, not many buyers on the Guiraud, maybe a little $$ at $18, but a personal old favorite nevertheless…if sauv blanc is a poem, this one is a sonnet, that’s all I’m saying. The Vinosia was Big for an aglianico, lots of layers, very intriguing. The Elena dell’ Adami Comete Rosso was a surprise hit, one of those wines we pour a couple of times before we hit it in its stride and it’s Gone, gone, gone…whoah oh oh oh. Funny how that happens. To top if off was the eye-rolling favorite of the day, the Browne Family cab sauv, a limited production wine from the super-rich owner of Precept Brands, which bought out Walla Walla’s Waterbrook Cellars a few years ago. It’s limited production, and a great example of good Washington Cabernet Sauvignon at a remarkable price. VERY limited production, and we still have a few left.
Among last Saturday’s guests…when it was REALLY crowded, there was no time to take pictures…!
This week’s wines:
Argyle Brut sparkling wine ’07 Oregon WA90pts $23
Not only does this little Oregon winery make great pinot noir, it also has earned a reputation for producing terrific Old World style sparkling wine. This blend of chardonnay and pinot noir displays a bouquet of brioche, pear, apple, and white peach. Crisp, balanced, and lengthy, it’s an outstanding value.
Atalaya ’08 Spain WA90pts $14
A blend of Monastrell and Garnacha, 8 months in French oak. Deep crimson-colored, it displays an aromatic array of cedar, spice box, violets, blueberry, and blackberry with a hint of licorice in the background. On the palate it has layers of savory fruit, excellent concentration, and a long, fruit-filled finish.
Three Trees Cougoumeilles ’09 France WA 89pts $13
This fascinating Carignan-Grenache blend combines nutty and attractively vegetal elements – suggesting spinach, chard, and beat root – with tart-edged black raspberry and, surprisingly, red currant. Exuberant and persistently juicy, this wine’s unusual character won’t appeal to everyone, but will display deliciously distinctive, even rare versatility at table.
Dynasty Cellars DCZ zinfandel ’07 Washington $26
Sourced from the premium Walla Walla “Les Collines” vineyard, this wine is jam-packed with rich, dark, berry fruit and a long, lingering, slightly peppery finish that will leave you gasping for more.
2072 Granger Way
