Lummi Island Wine Tasting June 4 ’11
Last weekend was of course Memorial Day Studio Tour. Weather was pretty good, the crowds were out, and we had celebrated the opening of Ryan Wildstar’s show (and the continuation of Mary Beth’s photos) Friday night to a small but festive group of friends and family.
REMINDER: This Sunday is the second in our series of wine tastings with Ryan: A Nose is a Nose is a Nose Component Tasting, Sunday, June 5th, 2-4pm $20 (filling quickly, register now!)
A look at how wine and wine-making is influenced by terroir (soil composition) and typicity (the degree to which a wine reflects its varietal origins). To enhance the experience, we will assess a variety of wines side-by-side with an assortment of herbs, spices, rock composites, fruits, etc. that exemplify the components often reflected in the nose and on the palate. We will also talk about the basics of Biodynamic and Organic wine-making. Enjoyed with: 2 Whites, 3 Reds, and a dessert wine of different varietals from various wine regions. Surprise pairings with each wine (one pairing MIGHT be a new batch of truffles….!)
Interesting lighting on the trunk of one of the alders outside the shop in last weekend’s sunshine…yellow moss…??
Great wines for the tour last weekend. Still have some of the great bargains from Black Oak, the pinot noir from Italy and the Chardonnay from Lodi for $7, both entirely drinkable, wines to put away by the caseload for a rainy day. Or a sunny day. Or even better, a summer evening on the deck. Actually all of the wines last weekend were chosen from our “Best Buys” of the year so far, so the one thing they all had in common was overdelivering for their humble prices. Which is a Good Thing.
Well, it’s late, and time to turn in. The evening started tonight with the presentation at the Grange (Lummi Island’s unofficial Town Hall) by Nicole Foss from the website Automatic Earth. She talked nonstop for 90 minutes barely pausing for breath, and it was all very interesting (despite the unpleasant hissing and popping microphone). Check out the website for further info on how you can be ready for the BIG part of the financial collapse, which she says is yet to happen, and a lot of other really interesting ideas about energy and finance.
two more couples drawn to our shores by the Willows!
are these guys cute or what? This week’s wines:
Overstone sauvignon blanc ’10 New Zealand $10 vibrant aromas of gooseberry, citrus and melon notes with flavors of guava and passion fruit followed through with crisp, vibrant acidity.
Castle Rock pinot noir ’09 California $10 Bright aromas of ripe raspberry, cherry, tea, and herbal spice; on the palate smooth with a silky texture and mild tannins, with flavors of black cherry, plum and spice.
Castellare di Tonda Chianti ’08 Italy $10 A pretty good value in Chianti– one that has a lot of fruit and charm for the price. Try this, and ask yourself if you don’t need a case around for quick pasta dinners!
Lost River Nooksack Redd ‘08 Washington $18 Our friends at Lost River make this special blend of cab, merlot, and cab franc to benefit the Nooksack River Salmon Enhancement Administration…a worthy cause, AND it’s DELICIOUS!
Wine Tasting Lummi Island Artists’ Studio Tour May 28-29 ’11
Here it is, another Lummi Island Artists’ Studio Tour, so we will be open both Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 6pm. In the “entry gallery” we will be continuing our showing of photos of the Doors of Lyon by Mary Beth Watkins. In the main gallery we will be showing “Constructions” by Ryan Wildstar (who is also leading our current series of Sunday afternoon wine tastings –see below). I think you will enjoy both artists’ work, which will be on display through June.
Last Saturday was Out of Control busy, you’d think it was Studio Tour, WOW! We had a couple of big Waves of visitors, lots of new faces, and lots of conversation. It’s interesting that it does get LOUD sometimes in this little space, and when it does it kind of happens all at once. At somewhere between six and ten visitors there is a quantum leap in the noise level. Like electrons jumping to higher energy levels, the decibel level does not increase gradually, but rather jumps quite suddenly from “normal conversation” to “WHAT DID YOU SAY…??? I CAN’T HEAR YOU!”
My working theory is that there is some background noise level below which ordinary conversational tone works just fine. But once the noise exceeds that level, everyone unconsciously realizes it more or less at once, and compensates by talking louder. We are weird like that; for example, I have often seen people trying to explain something to children, or the elderly (OMG, is that ME?), or foreign-language-speaking people, and the natural tendency seems to be that if your idea doesn’t seem to be getting across, then you quite unconsciously start talking LOUDER, as if somehow that will make you understood. In the case of the wine shop, it’s as if one person starts talking louder, and then someone else, and so on, and within a minute or two everyone is struggling to hear and be heard.
I’ve often had similar thoughts about traffic slowdowns. We have all had the experience of driving along at highway speed and running into traffic backup that might crawl, start, and stop for miles before, for some not-at-all obvious reason, traffic returns to a normal speed. Sometimes there is a “cause” like an accident blocking traffic. Sometimes there is something innocuous like a car stopped in the breakdown lane, but often there is no obvious reason, as if maybe suddenly a few hundred cars got Raptured into Oblivion, and the lanes just magically open up. It’s a Mystery, that’s all I’m saying.
Last Sunday was our the first in our series of wine workshops with Ryan Wildstar, and it was GREAT! We had a full house, learned a lot, tasted some delicious wines, and had a great time! The next workshop is weekend after next, Sunday, June 5th, at 2pm:
A Nose is a Nose is a Nose Component Tasting, Sunday, June 5th, 2-4pm $20 (filling quickly, register now!
A look at how wine and wine-making is influenced by terroir (soil composition) and typicity (the degree to which a wine reflects its varietal origins). To enhance the experience, we will assess a variety of wines side-by-side with an assortment of herbs, spices, rock composites, fruits, etc. that exemplify the components often reflected in the nose and on the palate. We will also talk about the basics of Biodynamic and Organic wine-making. Enjoyed with: 3 Whites & 3 Reds of different varietals from various wine regions. Suprise pairings with each wine.
All of last week’s wines were dressed for success and showing well. The Shaya verdejo is a little oasis on a hot afternoon (I am imagining that, cuz, you know, we haven’t had a hot afternoon for a really long time), smooth and citric. The La Quercia aglianico was probably the WOTD for rave reviews, and the Sorenson malbec has evolved to the point where it was some folks’ favorite. But then again, the Urban Ribera tempranillo was still a cut above the others for finesse. All in all, it was a good day for wine!
This weekend’s tasting: Five Wines! (Might vary Saturday to Sunday…)
Peirano “The Other” White ‘07 California $10
Aromas of apples, pears, & tropical fruit, with hints of coconut and vanilla. Lush flavors of fresh ripe pears, apples, tropical fruit and homemade lemon pie lead to a long, seductive, finish. A fantastic buy!
Chateau Donjon Rose ‘09 France $10
Blend of syrah, cinsault, grenache, another element in my fascination with Minervois. Fruity, with berry, melon and red cherry flavors that are bright and refreshing, with mineral and spice on the finish…”Summer in a glass!”
Black Oak Pinot Noir ‘09 Italy $7
Pleasant, red-fruited red with a soft and smooth palate, a terrific buy…no kidding, a pinot from Italy, and and amazing bargain, too!
ALTOS Bonarda Colonia Las Liebres 08 Argentina $8
Shows nice dark, juicy plum, licorice and spice notes with a fleshy, open-knit finish–very easy to drink, and quite possibly the best wine bargain we have ever carried, a delicious wine that seriously over-delivers!
Bodegas Graffigna Grand Reserve Malbec ‘08 Argentina WA90pts $10
Opaque purple; spice box, incense, lavender, and black fruit aromas on a lasting underlying structure.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting May 21 ’11
still warmWine Tasting Classes begin this Sunday–still room for a few more!
Join sommelier and new Island resident Ryan Wildstar, who will present a series of four wine-tasting classes every other week beginning Sunday afternoon, May 22, from 2-4. The first workshop will be:
Introduction to Wine: The Five “S’s” of Wine Tasting Sunday, May 22nd, 2-4pm $20
We will discuss the principles of wine history and culture with a focus on the basic principles of wine tasting and analysis. An introduction to wine terminology, wine-pairing, and how to buy great inexpensive wine based on reading the label and knowing the region. Enjoyed with: 1 Sparkling Wine, 2 White Wines, 3 Red Wines. Paired with Artisan Cheeses and Charcuterie. (That’s six wines, tasty bites, good company, and wine education, all for 20 bucks! This is gonna be FUN!)
In case you missed the delicious Anne Amie Amrita white blend last weekend, there are just a few left (and most of those promised!) and I am trying to get more…but they are already sold out, so could be difficult. As a small consolation, we expect to be getting more of “The Other” white, which we poured a few weeks ago, and which is also really tasty!
Our three reds last week were delicious, alleviating my reservations about the new vintages. The Venta Morales tempranillo and the Altos Hormigas malbec are old favorites around here, and the trend continues as both tasted great. A new wine for us is the just-released Isenhower Purple Paintbrush, a cab franc-based blend from Walla Walla that delivers big flavor. We have more of all three wines in stock.
We went to a great French wine tasting a few weeks ago, wines arriving next week, so expect a French tasting soon. And then there was an awesome Italian wine tasting this past Monday at Il Graniao in Mt. Vernon (check it out, great food!), so you can expect a great Italian tasting soon…maybe two, as some past orders will also be arriving in June.
Studio Tour is next weekend and we will be open all day both Saturday and Sunday for Memorial Day weekend. In the “wine bar” part of the gallery we will continue our showing of Mary Beth Watkins’ photos of the Doors of Lyon— the more I look at them the more attached to them I become, so don’t miss them. In the “window” part of the gallery we will be showing a selection of Ryan’s (yes, our sommelier!) constructions from found objects. We are also working on a couple of winemakers to come and pour their wines for us for Studio Tour– wish us luck– so be sure to check next week’s posting for to see how we did!
This is someone’s Front Door...??
You know…it might actually be drinkable…!
Fyi, most Thursday nights while I slave over this blog the neighborhood “ladies” are playing Mah Jong in the wine shop…!!
OMG! Two More “Talls“…and now they have secret hand signals!!
I should take my daughters to Lummi Island more often!
This Week’s Saturday Tasting:
Shaya Verdejo ’09 Spain 91pts $13
Barrel-fermented and aged on its lees. Medium straw-colored, if offers up an alluring aroma of baking spices, spring flowers, and peach. On the palate it has a creamy texture, vibrant acidity, and intense flavors leading to a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Just in time for summery weather!
La Quercia Aglianico ‘09 Italy $11
Believed to be an ancient Greek wine grape, aglianico is a full bodied with notes of ripe plum and white pepper on fine-grained tannins.
Sorenson Malbec ‘07 Washington $18
Discovered this little winery in Port Townsend recently, and this was my favorite wine. Complex aromas of bright black cherry, juniper, and smoke lead to a satisfying palate with intriguing layers of fruit, berry, and spice flavors.
Urban Ribera Ribera del Duero ’07 Spain 91pts $14
100% Tinta del Pais (Tempranillo), four months in French oak. Purple-colored, it offers up a fragrant bouquet of scorched earth, violets, and black cherry that leaps from the glass. Smooth-textured and suave on the palate, it has loads of succulent black fruit, silky tannins, excellent depth and grip, and a juicy finish.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting May 14 ’11
Wine Classes beginning next Sunday!
Beginning May 22, we will be collaborating with sommelier (and new Island resident) Ryan Wildstar, who will present a series of four wine-tasting classes every other week beginning Sunday afternoon, May 22, from 2-4. The first workshop will be:
Introduction to Wine: The Five S’s of Wine Tasting Sunday, May 22nd, 2-4pm $20
We will discuss the principles of wine history and culture with a focus on the basic principles of wine tasting and analysis. An introduction to wine terminology, wine-pairing, and how to buy great inexpensive wine based on reading the label and knowing the region. Enjoyed with: 1 Sparkling Wine, 2 White Wines, 3 Red Wines. Paired with Artisan Cheeses and Charcuterie. (That’s six wines, tasty bites, good company, and wine education, all for 20 bucks! We must be crazy!). Please call 360.758.2959 to reserve your place–space is limited!
Ryan will also be our featured artist for the artists’ studio tour on Memorial Day weekend…he does constructions with found objects that I think you will find interesting. That also means you only have two more weekends to come by and see Mary Beth’s photos of “French Doors.” And no, in this case they are not “French doors”as in the movies or how you get from the living room to the garden. No, they are actual doors in Lyon, chosen for their character. All YOU need to know is that all of them had more character a hundred years ago than probably any door you (any of us) has ever used regularly in this country since then.
Which is interesting, because there is an important lesson in this, about who we are, what we value, and in some sense the shallowness of our national roots. And lately I have had the impression that there are huge corporate interests working diligently at keeping our roots shallow, keeping us, like some kind of cultural tumbleweeds, today grasping at this idea, tomorrow at that new product. Why build a door that will last for hundreds of years when you can deliberately build doors (any everything else) so poorly that they will either fall apart or bore you into replacing it as often as possible so they can keep selling you new ones and landfilling the old ones. So yes, try to come in this weekend or next to see the “door show.” Hopefully we will put it up again during the summer.
We recently spent a few days in Oregon, and visited one of our favorite wineries, Anne Amie. The first wine we tasted is the first one on this weekend’s list, a lovely white blend of Chardonnay 32%, Viogner 38%,
Pinot Blanc 29%, and a hint of Riesling 1%. Trust me, folks, it’s a knockout, and I wasn’t able to get much. So some early this weekend, or it will certainly be gone!
“you won’t believe this, but I manage all of Alaska’s fisheries from right here on Lummi Island!”
This week’s wines:
Anne Amie Amrita white blend ’10 Oregon $13
Sense-filling aromas of quince, grassy, passion fruit, gooseberry, and white flowers leads to rich flavors of kiwi, white peach, coriander, and key lime that taper into a dry, minerally finish. Pair with oysters, shellfish, Thai food, crab cakes; delicious, but don’t wait– VERY limited supply!
Venta Morales tempranillo ’09 Spain $8
100% Tempranillo raised in stainless steel. Deep crimson-colored, it emits aromas of spice box and fragrant black cherry. On the palate licorice and other black fruits emerge leading to a finish with no hard edges.
Altos Las Hormigas Malbec 09 Argentina $10 WA88pts
This fleshy, round red offers spicy black cherry, cocoa, plum and raspberry notes laced with a modest touch of roasted vanilla and balanced, long, ripe tannins; a solid crowd-pleaser.
Isenhower Purple Paintbrush ’08 Washington $25
A blend from a long-time favorite Walla Walla winemaker, Brett Isenhower, made up of 62% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, each varietal from a single vineyard. It was aged in seasoned French oak for 13 months. Medium ruby-colored, it proffers a nose of sage, thyme, olives, crushed blackberries, bing cherries, black plums, and black currant.
2072 Granger Way