Lummi Island Wine Tasting May 7 ’10
LOTS of announcements today!
#1. Okay we finally had dinner at the Willows last night, our first experience with Maestro Blaine, and we sat in the “library,” which used to be the office, and which is separated from the kitchen by a pair of French doors. So you can see what’s going on in the kitchen, and it is a lot of nonstop action. There are about six guys running around in there kinda like old silent Keystone Cops movies where everyone is moving too fast. Blaine is putting finishing touches on plates, someone is warming plates at the threshold of the flaming oven, and several others are running around at high speed, perhaps just for choreographic expression. There is a LOT going on!
All YOU need to know is that, yes, each morsel is a work of art, the flavors a revelation. And of course we took a couple of bottles with us that worked very well indeed; the Turley White Coat blend of Marsanne, Viognier, and Rousanne carried loads of intense tropical fruit/honeysuckle aromas, golden delicious apples, and a hint of nuts, with a full-bodied and viscous texture, and paired beautifully with the buttery aioli (“to die for!) on wild veggies and flowers served on heartbreakingly fragile and delicious bits of something bready-toasty, and with little bits of slightly smoked salmon (still smoking in a little cedar box!), prawns, razor clams, AND oysters–all separately presented, of course, like the distinct works of art they were.
Somewhere in the parade we slid into the beautiful Winderlea pinot noir we brought back from Oregon last week, and it was so delicious I might have imagined how well it went with the halibut dish or the amazing horseradish ice shavings, even the dessert. Bottom line?…the meal was a work of art from start to finish, and I was very pleased with the wines we brought. It is of course ideal when the wine you take to a meal is perfect; but with a complex, multi-course pageant such as Blaine presents, no one wine is going to cover all the bases, and it is a lucky thing if you can catch at least some of the pairings well. And I think we did! Make your reservations now, folks, cuz the prices are still really low for what you get, and that can’t last!
#2. The next thing you need to know is that beginning May 22, we will be collaborating with our new Best Friend (see recent posts) 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.
#3. Finally, we have a new show for your viewing pleasure until Memorial Day weekend. Our friend and neighbor Mary Beth Watkins has traveled to France numerous times in the last several years, visiting lots of towns and villages and tasting lots of regional cuisine and wines. She has also taken a lot of really interesting photos. Her show includes photos of many of the magnificent doors one sees in French (and Italian) villages. These are not just portals in and out of your house or apartment; they are aesthetic statements of their own, each one unique. Don’t miss it!
oo-ooga oo-ooga, clear the bridge, all hands brace for Dive…
Well, that was close but we made it!
Yep, a great glass of wine is the perfect accompaniment to a Narrow Escape…whew!
This week’s wines:
Lost River Pinot Gris ’09 Washington $13
Another charmer from our friends in Winthrop…Enticing aromas of citrus, pear and tropical fruits with a bit of residual sugar balanced by crisp acidity.
Four Graces WV pinot noir ’08 Oregon $22
Reminiscent of blackberries, luscious damson, warm red roses, and wild mushrooms, the 2008 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is vibrant and delicious in its youth yet has the soft, focused tannins to suggest ageing with grace.
Tarima monastrell 09 Spain $10
100% Monastrell sourced from 25-35 year old vines and raised in stainless steel with lees stirring. Medium crimson-colored, the nose reveals fragrant blueberries and underbrush. Firm on the palate with plenty of savory fruit.
Pend d’Oreille Bistro Rouge 07 Washington $13
Very aromatic blackberries and a chocolate note on the nose. Blackberry, blackcurrant, and blueberry flavors fill the palate and continue through a longish dry finish that includes modest oak and a cinnamon highlight.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting April 30 ’10
This week we are on the road, visiting friends and a few wineries in Willamette Valley in Oregon. We have dropped in on a few wineries, and will be bringing back a few interesting wines we have found at Anne Amie and at Winderlea. We also spent some time today at the Evergreen Aviation and Space museum, a curious and enjoyable collection of old aircraft and space race memoribilia. Lots of well-restored displays, including of course the infamous “Spruce Goose” designed and built by Howard Hughes in the 40’s, possibly the biggest airplane ever built, at least in some ways. It did manage to fly once for a mile or so before touching back down on the water. It’s HUGE, and made of wood in a method similar to today’s “cold-molding” of boats with epoxy laminated layers of wood strips.
Really nice crowd last week for another very satisfying tasting. Our first guests were Chris and Misty, here for a couple of days for, you guessed it, dinner at the Willows. He is the chef at the Four Seasons in Seattle. So we had a wide-ranging discussion about food and wine. There were also, of course, many of the Usual Suspects who give this place its quirky charm (just my opinion).
Probably the wine of the day was the ’03 Casa Lapostolle cab from Chile. We have had this around for some while, and it never showed particularly well. This time, however, it was big and complex and satisfying. Unfortunately we only had a few bottles and they sold quickly.
Okay, T-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-that’s about it, hope to see you all this weekend!
This week’s wines:
Peirano Estates 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!
Terre Rouge Tête-à-Tête Syrah 02 California $16
A likable and out-of-the-ordinary blend, with aromas of cedar, plum and spice and zesty yet supple flavors of licorice, coffee and blackberry.
Peirano Estates The Immortal Zin ’08 California $10
Hand selected from 113-year-old vines; deceptively subtle aromas of this wine combine red and black cherry, mineral, earthy rhubarb and slightly spicy red fruit; palate is wrapped in velvety layers of sweet red cherry, strawberry, cocoa and juicy red fruit leading to a lengthy, almost breathless finish.
Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero ‘04 Spain WA92pts $21
Dense ruby/purple color is followed by a projected nose of blackberries, currants, cherries, smoky oak, and crushed rocks. Terrific texture, super purity, an opulent, full-bodied palate, and a long, heady finish.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting April 23 ’11– Lovers Day!
Rumor has it that Willows Inn chef Blaine Wetzel’s former employer Noma in Copenhagen has again been named as the best restaurant in the world by S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards.
Click for more about Lovers Day!
It has been clear for a few months now here on tiny Lummi Island that Blaine and the Willows Inn are getting a lot of Coat-tail Effect from the Noma hype, and people are coming from all over the planet to indulge their palates (including us in early May!). So we’re hoping, you know, we will get a little…hmmm, how does one say…a “coat-tail coat tail effect”….! I mean, there are only about five things to do on Lummi Island on a weekend and we’re one of them, so…think of it like hitchhiking…when there’s a lot more traffic, there are more opportunities to catch a ride, that’s all I’m saying!
We are on such a roll…last week’s wines continued the trend of tasty, delicious, even luscious wines at amazing prices. This is a great time to be a wine lover; there is so much good juice out there that you can find a lot of great wines at affordable prices.
The Seghesio pinot gris was a knockout with its huge nose of fruit and flowers, and we ran out–don’t worry, looking for more! The Marchesi di Gresy Barbera I discovered at a great dinner at Ciao Thyme recently…lovely in all directions, a really satisfying wine. The Chook shiraz demonstrated why Australia is famous for its one-dimensional huge fruit bombs, this one deep, dark, almost black in color and lots of flavor. There is a certain mood that no other wine will satisfy, so you gotta keep some of these Aussies at the ready!
My personal favorite (by a small margin as they were all satisfying) was the Sierra Cantabria Crianza, which carried itself with a certain maturity, a certain complexity, and with nuanced flavors and the rich, soft tannins that, like Sirens, beckon you to drink more.
Looks like I forgot to take pictures in the shop last week, doh! So I found this photo of the high country of Italy from whence comes an unusual red we will be tasting this weekend. Pretty dramatic country, huh?
Alto Adige in Northern Italy
This week’s tasting:
Chalone Monterey Chardonnay ’09 California $10
Opens up nicely into a nice balance between the plush texture of oak and fresh notes of baked pear, Braeburn apple and sweet tangerine accented by floral notes and nutmeg.
Erste+Neue Edelvernatsch ’09 Italy $10 (read more)
An unusual grape from the Tyrolean alps of Italy. Light cherry red in color; aromatic, fine fruity bouquet dominated by cherry and raspberry tones, with hints of almonds; medium-bodied, very soft on the palate, an excellent accompaniment to typical Tyrolean fare such as speck and sausage (who knew?), as well as lighter meats and mild cheeses. Light acidity on the palate, fresh and straightforward.
Bodegas Graffigna Grand Reserve Malbec ’08 Argentina WA90pts $10
Opaque purple; spice box, incense, lavender, and black fruit aromas; underlying structure.
Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Cab Sauv 2003 (Chile) $18
A full-bodied and expressive red, with plenty of berry, red plum and chocolate-spice flavors. There are nice mineral and cedar notes mixed in, with fine tannins on the finish…
Lummi Island Wine Tasting April 16 ’11
This weekend (Friday the 15th) is the 99th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Hats off and glasses high, lads, to those who perished for the folly of its corporate owners, who thought the full complement of lifeboats would clutter the ship’s appearance.
Special Event Announcement!
Mark your calendars for this Saturday night at 7:30 pm at the Grange for a presentation (sponsored by Friends of the Island Library) on “State Banks” by Ann Tilentseff, author of “Web of Debt,” who is spearheading a national effort for all states to follow the very successful example of North Dakota, the only state to have its own bank. Like “duh,” how many Wall Street middlemen with their hands in our pockets does it take to make YOU want a state bank?
What can I say? Another fabulous tasting last Saturday, and a nonstop crowd– Very Festive! Not a great day for rose– spring is here but only between about 2 and 4 in the afternoon– but the reds were awesome! The new Bricco del Tempo Barbera is just plain delicious and a great buy; the Almira Los Dos was close behind, and–finally, after several years of bottle age– the Seghesio ’04 Home Ranch zinfandel was an absolute knockout, demonstrating that, yeah, some wines are worth waiting for!
By the way, we have just in the new Seghesio ’09 Sonoma zin; always predictably satisfying, this year is way over the top, so if you like big fruit, this one won’t last long! Also, if you liked last week’s Home Ranch Zin, we also just stocked the new release of their Rockpile vineyard zin, which is delicious right now, but is gonna get even better over the next couple of years. Btw, Seghesio has been making wine in Sonoma for five generations now, one of the oldest wineries/vineyards around.
rockpile vineyard
This week’s tasting:
Seghesio pinot gris ’09 California $17
Intoxicating aromas and flavors of ripe apples and quince. Lively citrus character followed by lingering notes of apple and tropical fruit. Try this wine with grilled pork chops with lemon zest, rosemary and black pepper.
Marchesi di Gresi Barbera d’Alba ’07 Italy $16
Deep red with ruby highlights. Superripe, perfumed aromas of raspberry, cherry and caramel oak. Fat, sweet, silky and broad, but with lovely acidity to frame the fruit and spice flavors. In a downright showy style.
The Chook shiraz ’09 Australia $15 90points
Glass-staining purple. Sexy, Rhone-like aromas of blackcurrant, cherry, violet and tobacco, with a strong peppery quality that becomes more intense with air. Juicy, palate-staining dark berry flavors show impressive freshness, with tangy acidity providing lift. Finishes with very good cut and persistent spiciness.
Sierra Cantabria Crianza ’06 Spain $18 90pts
100% tempranillo) Bright ruby. Mineral-driven aromas of cherry, coffee, mocha, game, sassafras and oak. The bitter cherry, tar and herbal flavors show a juicy quality and are nicely framed by dusty tannins. Finishes with very good freshness and a strong echo of musky herbs and graphite.
2072 Granger Way
