September events at Artisan Wine Gallery
PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL NOT BE OPEN ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12!
Labor Day weekend is generally our biggest of the year, and this was no exception…many thanks to all who came by, and apologies for not being able to visit with each of you as we would like. Nancy’s work looked great, and despite her pending grandmother-hood, manned (womanned…??) the shop till one each day which allowed us to catch up with wine chores and, on Sunday, to visit a few other artist venues on the annual Labor Day Studio Tour, now a Lummi institution, thanks to Ria (she and her wonderful pottery an island institution of their own!).
Two brief stories about the weekend: First, on Saturday, late in the afternoon, a group of charming thirty-something (??) women came by for a tasting and one of them asked if the potter who used to sell his ware next door (our house) was still around somewhere. Many of you may not know that I have been a potter off and on for 30 years or so, something I hope to return to when this “day job” thing winds down at WWU in a year or two.
Anyway, the greatest honor of my little pottery career was that sometime in the late nineties a young woman commissioned me to make a pot for her father’s ashes. She had been on a bit of a quest to find a container with the right spirit (my words), and my work somehow spoke to her. As circumstances evolved, I don’t think she and I ever met face to face, but several pots got made, she found one that worked for her, and here she was in the wine shop all these years later. We had a nice near-teary hug, she still happy with the choice, and I still moved and humbled for it.
Second, on Sunday morning we visited a few of the other stops on the tour, including our first view of Torrey’s weaving, and fell in love with one of her absolutely lovely scarves–hope to post a picture!
WE WILL BE BACK for our regular Saturday tasting on Sept 19, wines to be announced, AND FEATURING ANOTHER DELICIOUS CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE TASTING!
NOTE AND INVITATION: MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND RESERVE SPACE NOW for Sunday, September 20 from 3-5pm for a special “Harvest Tasting,” featuring delicious ‘small bites’ prepared by our friend and chef extraordinaire Mary Beth, followed by delectable hand-made chocolate truffles from Pat & Janice, accompanied by a lovely set of wines. $28 per person, RESERVE NOW via email or message .360.758.2959. It’s gonna be good!
Artists Studio Tour & Wine Tasting September 5-6
Last weekend is a little blurred. Gonna have to check notes and photos. What I do remember is that we were blessed by the great Wine Buddha who brought us several people who bought wine by the case –god bless ’em! There is a special place in Wine Heaven for these people, and we pray for them with every swirl, sniff, and taste. The world needs MORE people like this, and I urge each and every one of you to step up to the plate and do your part to keep this shoestring enterprise going. If not you, who? If not now, when???
We had a nice visit with Judy and John, this time she wasn’t packing wine samples, so made for a more, um, subdued and conversational visit! We all toasted John for his the first sale in his budding Real Estate career, a satisfying milestone. 
Also visiting were Peter and Kathleen, from …hmm…somewhere…(???). He is the shy accountant turned screenwriter (I’m not making this up), excited and endearingly embarrassed by the airing of his screenplay “Reverse Angle” on Lifetime movie channel Sept 4, which is this Friday! 
So congratulations are in order for both John and Peter…and, in all modesty, what better place to celebrate than our Saturday wine tasting?…!
And all of you who have whatever kind of cable you need to pull in “Reverse Angle” be sure to watch and tell us what you think…and maybe tape it so we can see it, too, huh…???
Our artists this weekend are: Nancy Ging (almost certain to be a new grandmother by the weekend…!); small landscapes that are showing a new drama and focus– by all means come and see; and our reclusive neighbor “R” has promised to bring by a piece or two, which we look forward to. She has been in sort of creative seclusion for weeks, and have no idea what to expect, so we can’t help but be surprised!
Wines this weekend are the most popular of the year so far. Each one is a special treat, a great value, and certain to please. So be sure to stop by, see the new works, taste some favorites, and schmooze with the locals. Tour hours are 10-6 each day (too much!), and wine tasting 1-6 each day.
Montinore Borealis White Oregon $10: Back by popular demand! Grapefruit, pineapple, peach, and quince, with aromas of fresh flowers…
Santa Digna Carmenere 07 Chile $10: Chalky notes of toasty plums, blueberry, raisin give way to finish of dark prunes and spicy white pepper…a great value!
Alberti 154 Malbec 08 Argentina $10: Ripe and polished, with layers of red licorice, dark cherries, raspberries and a hint licorice that all glide together through the medium-weight finish.
Robert Karl Merlot ’06 Washington $22: This lovely merlot shows rich aromas of dark ripe fruit and berries, hints of mocha, leather, and sagey spice with a smooth and delicious mid-palate, lightly mouth-watering acidity and smooth ripe tannins.
Lummi Island Wine Tasting August 29
A million or so years ago when I was a young naval officer, the unwritten rule was that conversation in the wardroom (officers’ mess) should avoid the three controversial subject areas of sex, religion, and politics to avoid offending anyone. Nowadays, these are often popular and lively topics of speculation and debate, especially among familiars.
The reason this is on my mind is that it was a quiet day in the wine shop on Saturday, relatively speaking, beginning with a nice couple visiting from Chicago. He was reserved and cordial; she was lively and outgoing. Shortly after they arrived, Anne and Jerry (our most loyal “regulars”–see Anne’s blog) stopped in, including Anne’s daughter Clare, currently an Anglican seminarian. So it seemed natural to move into a conversation about religion, which moved to social justice issues, which moved to general values, which moved to politics.
As far as I know, our out of town guests were not offended, but one wants everyone to feel welcome, so one gets concerned sometimes. Ah, perhaps it is always a risk with a spirited debate and an interesting discussion…it is probably the main reason our shop is in existence, an ongoing salon, fueled by good wine, where we can enjoy musing about anything and everything.
Our other new guests were Kim and Carolyn from Vashon Island. Pat lived there for a time in the Wayback years, when carrying her first and only child who is now forty. We are impressed that these charming young women are not only married (in Canada) but have gone to the further trouble to have the same last name, even if they can’t “marry” in Washington. They still have a bit of “newlywed glow” about them, makes you smile to be around them.
In some way the wines seemed secondary to the day, but all were tasty and appreciated. We cleared the last of the 2004 Juan Gil, which opens the door to the ’06, which is even better! The Montinore white blend contunued to please, and the Emilio Moro “Resalso” tinto fino (i.e., tempranillo) won some advocates with its chewy freshness. But the Marchetti Rosso Conero montepulciano was the star, with its smooth texture and dark fruit. I am increasingly impressed by each wine I taste from this Italian artisan winemaker!
This week we are pulling a few more mature reds off the shelves:
- Legoe Bay Chardonnay ’06 : Washington Crisp lemon-lime, green apple, and grapefruit with a clean finish, our locally produced Chardonnay is a terrific value. $10
- Casale Vecchio Montepulciano ’06 Italy Strong ruby red colour with violet hues, richly fruity with a strong aroma of wild berries and prunes and warming, spicy notes from ageing in oak barriques. Soft, well-balanced and perfectly harmonious. $16
- Neyers Grenache Hudson Vineyard ’02 California Intense and vibrant, with a showy fruitiness up front, this offers snappy, grapey scents that echo wild berry and blackberry, and finishes with dense, complex flavors. $23
- Canon de Sol Syrah ’02 Washington Big jammy dark-fruit flavors, complemented by toasty spicy accents. $20
Wine Tasting August 22
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It was a quieter day at the wine shop on Saturday, more amenable to conversation than some recent Saturdays, very pleasant. Nancy B came by with her grown-up twins Sierra and Christopher both visiting with their respective partners. It’s always a little startling how much time and experience have happened in the lives of younger adults in a couple of years compared to when we are older. As if the soup of our lives tends to dilute if we don’t keep adding a little fat here, a little spice there, and keep ladling deep to bring up the goodies that may have sunk to the bottom and been forgotten. You know, a piece of chicken, a mushroom, the odd chunk of rutabaga…
All the wines showed well on Saturday, with the rosada and the verdejo fillling the lighter side of the increasingly sunny afternoon, and the the OS blend and the Ojai syrah adding structure and dimensionality.
Took several pictures but they came out a bit blurry; here’s Pat, wearing her new “”grapron” (gift last week from Kir) and Nancy wearing a nice smile…!
This Saturday we have another nice lineup, hope you can make it!
- Montinore Borealis White Oregon $10
back by popular demand! Grapefruit, pineapple, peach, and quince with aromas of fresh flowers - Emilio Moro Finca Resalso 07 Spain $13
enticing perfume of mineral, violets, black cherry, and blackberry. On the palate it reveals an elegant personality, savory, spicy flavors, good depth, and a fruit-filled finish. - Juan Gil 04 Spain $14:
This rich, full-bodied, inky/purple-tinged cuvee exhibits aromas of scorched earth, blueberries, licorice, and pepper, a savory, layered texture, and remarkable opulence for a Mourvedre - Marchetti Rosso Conero ’03 Italy :$22
made only from “free run juice” with enticing notes of exotic spice, vanilla, dried cranberry, and bitter, dark chocolate.
2072 Granger Way