Wine Tasting Feb 20 ’10
Let’s start with this timely News Flash about the health benefits of wine and chocolate. NOT ONLY help your heart, but also fight FAT! (I’m not making this up!): clicky I mean, AS IF we needed any other reason to get together on Saturday afternoons…it’s not wine and chocolate, it’s Health Food!
Then let’s reminisce a bit about Valentine’s Day ought-ten. Kind of a quiet day allowing nice visits with the early arrivals, including Lisa L and Robin, our neighbor a block away, possibly first time I have seen her without her baby boy…they are noticeable cuz they obviously are, like, into each other in a big way. Actually there seems to be a bit of that going around, as Nancy and Joan dropped in also, and we got this sweet photo of Joan and Sammie.
Also we were graced by an early bird from the North Country, a rare visit from Gwen (Ms Latte Dah herself) on an outing from Juneau where she moved last year.
Interesting wines last week, with the most popular vote going to the Ricardo Santos malbec, which presented well with little fanfare, but solid in its tracks, good fruit and substance, comforting like a steady hand on the shoulder, a wine to take into the wilderness with you, or, like, out on the deck, or wherever.
The Perazzeta on the other hand had a casual sophistication, not formal by any means, but definitely classy, something special, a step or two towards elegant. This seems to be a style characteristic of this small family winery in Tuscany.
This week’s wines:
Anne Amie Cuvee ‘A’ muller thurgau Oregon $14
Crisp, fresh, light, and dry, this somewhat unusual German varietal a versatile match for mildly spicy dishes.
Alberti malbec 2009 Argentina $10
This is the new vintage of one of our most popular wines, tasty, substantive, and a terrific buy; Ripe and polished, with layers of red licorice, dark cherries, raspberries and a hint licorice that all glide together through the medium-weight finish.
Chandler Reach corella 06 Washington WS 90pts $18
Super Tuscan blend of 70% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot is definitely Italian in heritage. Bright, refined and beautifully focused, this is light on its feet, with guava, berry and a hint of pear as the silky texture carries the flavors through the long, vivid finish.
Graeagle Red Wing ’03 Washington WS 90pts $20
Dense, heady and impressive for its layers of black cherry, sweet spice and peppery sage flavors on a firm foundation of refined tannins, echoing as the finish persists. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Wine Tasting Feb 13 ’10
By my standards, which are of course very high, last week’ s tasting was superb; all the wines showed very well, and there was nothing I wouldn’t be pleased to serve or share with friends. I am particularly enamored of the Atalaya, from a region of Spain I have never heard of, this producer’s first vintage. I am thinking about featuring it as a Wine of the Month. Curiously, though we sold a few bottles, for a lot of guests it didn’t stand out so much…but of course it was in very good company.
The Savanha is an unusual and interesting wine that kind of grows on you with its somewhat tarry and earthy notes and a touch of bitters like the old New England soft drink “Moxie,” a sort of root beer with a curiously appealing bitterness on the finish, attributed to gentian root, its secret ingredient supposed to be especially effective against “paralysis, softening of the brain, nervousness, and insomnia”. Its history goes back to 1876, and one rarely finds it outside New England; it is in fact the oldest continuously produced soft drink in the United States. I remember the first time I tasted it, at an aunt’s house in Maine when I was eight or nine years old. Looked like root beer…smelled like root beer…take a big swig….Whoa, Dude, Surprise and Horror as sugary expectations take a bitter turn. Definitely aimed more at adult taste sensibilities. So somehow the Savanha pinotage/ shiraz is a vaguely similar surprise, curiously appealing, that’s all I’m saying.
First-time visitors Jean and Chantal (see post) are French Canadians living in Blaine; like nostalgia for Moxie, I also have nostalgia for French Canadian accents, which one often hears in Maine, so it was a little slice of childhood to have them visit. I think they enjoyed themselves, so hopefully we will see (and hear) more of
them...bienvenue a Lummi Island! 
REMINDER !!!! The truffles are made and boxed for all of you who ordered them, so don’t forget to drop by and pick them up! As usual they are AWESOME and you probably will want to keep them for yourself, not give them away as Valentine’s, but that’s a political question, you are just gonna have to work it out. There are a few extras that are not spoken for that will available on Saturday until they run out.
This week’s tasting
Secreto sauvignon blanc ’08 Chile $9
Nice weight, with fresh lemon verbena and grapefruit notes backed by a juicy finish.
Campos Reales tempranillo ’08 Spain $7
Full-flavored and very easy to drink, with notes of black pepper and bright cherry.. Great with chevre, grilled meat and tomato-based pastas.
Ricardo Santos Malbec ’07 Argentina $16
A ripe, juicy style, with a mix of raspberry and boysenberry fruit that stays fresh, while spice and licorice hints chime in on the medium-weight finish.
Perazzeta Rita ‘06 Sangiovese Italy $26 (read more)
From the southern fringe of Montalcino comes this stunningly powerful, lush Sangiovese; aged in French oak barrels,and pushing the boundaries of the varietal; named after winemaker’s wife AND mother, he said of his wine: “I had no choice but to name it Rita!”
Wine Tasting February 6, ’10
Last week’s pinot grigio and pinot noir were really showing well, the hits of the day. I had ordered the pg because the label I had gotten before was out, and now I definitely like this one better. Also, the Panther Creek pinot noir sold out. so we are out there looking for more. It’s an interesting wine in that it is a blend (“cuvee”) of different vintages, probably because ’06 was a difficult year in Oregon. In any case, it was showing very well indeed, definitely the wine of the day.
TRUFFLE NOTE! Last chance to order for Valentines Day!
FOUR new truffles for your Valentine Day celebration. Order up boxes of 4 lovely truffles, boxed and beribboned by calling 758-2559 (Janice) or 758-2959 (Pat) to place your order. Deadline for ordering is February 8, Monday. Boxes are $5. each and will be available for pickup on February 13, Saturday, at the wine shop between 1:00 – 5:00 or by special arrangement. As usual, the truffles will be made of only the finest chocolate, organic cream, and real flavors…Island-made and delectable!
For no particular reason that I can think of, last weekend was in some way about Couples, as evidenced by the following little gallery…are they Cute or What?
and then there’s this, some kind of Odd Couple sharing a privat Joke and their Cheerleader…??? No wonder Mark (middle) is smiling, he is off to Argentina for three weeks on Sunday…And we all know Jerry doesn’t smile for No Reason at all but we also know he isn’t going to elaborate, you gotta figure it out for yourself…
This week’s tasting: dis one gonna be verrrry tasty!
Viento Riesling ’07 Washington WS89pts $14
Bright and refreshing, with a lively mouthful of pear, grapefruit and delicately floral aromas and flavors that shoot right through the balanced, barely off-dry finish.
Savanha Pinotage-Shiraz ’08 South Africa $9
Forward, with cherry jam and pomegranate notes
Atalaya ’07 Spain WA91pts $14
First release, blend of Monastrell & Garnacha; expressive bouquet of violets, spice box, leather, game, blueberry, and black cherry; lots of easy-going flavor, superb depth, complexity, and a 45-second finish.
OS Red ’06 Washington $16
Blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc; nose exhibits cedar, cassis, spice box, and violets leading to a medium-bodied, smooth-textured wine with plenty of spicy fruit.
Wine Tasting January 30, ’10
It was a quiet day in the wine shop, only about five guests till around 4:30. Then there seems to be some kind of Happy Hour Wine Tasting evolving, as suddenly cars pull up and within the space of a few minutes a small herd of stalwart aficionados thunder up the stairs. As if on some kind of Secret Signal, possibly the same energy that makes the birds start singing at some particular moment in the pre-dawn.
Years ago, when I was trying to be a serious Zen student, that first chirp would come after what seemed a long time sitting still in a dark and very quiet hall, a very welcome sign of Morning, magically unfolding out of the stillness, something being born out of Nothing, which supposedly is what All of This is about anyway, but as usual I digress. Oh yes, secret signals…
It’s probably just everyone at once checking their watches wherever they are and realizing that if they don’t stop what they are doing right now, they will miss the Party, and that would be Unthinkable, and after all, they have gotten something done on a Saturday afternoon and so deserve a little break, and that’s what Happy Hour is all about anyway, so let’s trip on down to the wine shop and see what’s up.
The tasting was interesting last week because all the wines showed pretty well, and each one a bit better than the previous one, with the Chappellet Mountain Cuvee rounding out the show with a certain suave elegance, making it feel like a journey of the palate in a certain direction, no switchbacks or surprises, just a gradual elevation gain, an increasing complexity and allure with each pour.
If you missed last week, please note again the CHOCOLATE ANNOUNCEMENT!
TRUFFLE NOTE! TRUFFLE NOTE! TRUFFLE NOTE! TRUFFLE NOTE! TRUFFLE NOTE!
FOUR new truffles for your Valentine Day celebration. Order up boxes of 4 lovely truffles, boxed and beribboned by calling 758-2559 (Janice) or 758-2959 (Pat) to place your order. Deadline for ordering is February 8, Monday. Boxes are $5. each and will be available for pickup on February 13, Saturday, at the wine shop between 1:00 – 5:00 or by special arrangement. As usual, the truffles will be made of only the finest chocolate, organic cream, and real flavors…Island-made and delectable!
This week’s wines:
Avanti Pinot Grigio 08 Italy $9
Delicate aromas of fresh peach, wildflowers, and crisp mineral notes with a light touch in the mouth.
Terre antiche montepulciano 08 Italy $8
Stylish, medium to full bodied, has essence of tarragon and rosemary on the nose, and violets, raspberry jam and black cherry on the palate.
Telmo Rodriguez Deheso Gago 07 Spain WA89pts $13
Deep crimson-colored, it offers up an excellent bouquet of pencil lead, violets, incense, and blackberry. Ripe, medium to full-bodied and nicely concentrated.
Panther Creek Pinot Noir NV Oregon WA89 $16
Alluring nose of cinnamon, clove, cherry, and raspberry. On the palate it has plenty of lively sweet fruit, good acidity, and enough structure to ensure a 5-year lifespan– a super value in Pinot Noir.
2072 Granger Way
