lummi island wine tasting june 19 ’20
click on photos for larger images
Covid Wine Schedule
1. Our regular Friday and Saturday wine tastings at the shop have been discontinued due to Covid 19;
BUT…
2. As long as COVID remains a risk, we will be pouring a complimentary 3-wine tasting on Fridays during Bread pickup from 4:30 till 5:30pm at the north exit of the ferry overflow parking lot (bring your own glasses!) and
3. You can order wine online for U-pickup at the shop! (details below!)
Friday Bread, Social Distance, and Wine Tasting
As mentioned last week, Janice continues to send the week’s Bread Menu to our mailing list each Sunday, and accepts orders till Wednesday for Friday pickup. Though the wine shop remains closed for indoor tastings due to social distancing precautions, Friday bread pickups have moved from the wine shop to morphed into an impromptu Covid Tailgate party at the Ferry Parking Lot beginning around 4:30 each Friday afternoon.
So bring your folding chairs and wine glasses and share company and conversation (with appropriate physical distancing, of course!) and visit for a while. We are now offering a mini-tasting (three wines, see below for this week’s menu) from the back of our car. It’s not the same experience as the wine shop, but it is an entirely pleasant and safe opportunity to grab some relief from the ongoing Isolation.
We all thank Janice for beginning this tradition by moving weekly bread deliveries from the wine shop to the parking lot to allow for appropriate Distancing. It has become an enjoyable weekly Relief to catch up on some of the conversations and camaraderie we have been missing during the Shutdown!
Order Wines Online
During the Shutdown we are continuing to fill your individual wine orders online or by phone for pickup at the wine shop. Click on the “Order Wine” heading at the top of this page for a partial list of our current offerings. When you have made your selections there are two ways to order:
- Click “Contact Us”on the website header bar at the top of this page, enter the names and quantities of each wine you would like to order, and click “Submit,” or…
- Phone us your order at the number next to our logo, above right.
It’s that Simple! Operators are Standing By!
Cloudlift Returns
Our regulars know we have a particular fondness for the lovely wines from Cloudlift Cellars in Seattle. Winemaker Tom Stangeland and wife Joanie dropped by last Sunday with a number of new releases that we will be pouring at this Friday’s parking lot tasting. Last time we did this the Hit of the Show was Tom’s 2012 “Ascent,” mostly cab franc from Horse Heaven Hills. This week we will be pouring the 2013 vintage, along with his latest “Lucy” cab franc rose and Zephyr, his Southern Rhone style blend of syrah, grenache, and mourvedre.
Cab Franc is the fourth most-produced red wine grape in Washington, behind Cab, Merlot and Syrah. Most often, as elsewhere in the world, it is primarily used as a blending grape in wines where cab sauv and/or merlot dominate. In our Fair State, cab franc often has softer tannins than cab sauv or merlot, and brings notes of garrigue and black pepper along with hints of chocolate and coffee…yes, indeed, very easy to like!
Mar a Lago Update: “Equal Justice Under Law”
These are the words engraved over the main entrance to the United States Supreme Court. They represent an Ideal, a Goal, maybe just a Wish that the Court would and could be a just arbiter of the kinds of legal challenges which pit some groups of Americans, some behaviors, some laws against others in an ongoing struggle to define over time the Real Meaning of the Constitution and what it means to be an American.
Several months ago we watched Chief Justice John Roberts enjoy the questionable pleasure of presiding over the Impeachment of the Tweetster in the U. S. Senate. His role was sharply limited by the Constitution, which was, interestingly, written with broad and astute acceptance of the political nature of government. Impeachment was intended to be not so much a search for Justice as a nod toward Political Practicality. It must have taken a very sophisticated view of politics for the Founders to discern so clearly how unlikely it would be that any Congress, by its very political nature, would be able to try a sitting President without the intrusion of political affiliation.
Roberts managed to maintain a veneer of Dignity over his general Disdain for the Political Circus of the Impeachment Process, occasionally unable to keep himself from chastising both sides for their partisan dishonesty. But his assigned role left him few prerogatives for actually managing the process, and his discomfort was often subtly visible. The unexpected and welcome reality seems to be that, despite his being far from Liberal, Roberts has recently been stepping up to emphasize the coequal responsibility and authority of the Court to define the boundaries where legislation or executive actions conflict with the Constitution.
In the last few days we have been pleasantly surprised by Justice Roberts’ votes against Trump’s position in two major cases, one involving the rights of LGBT people and the other, just today, requiring the Administration to provide more solid foundation for its reversal of Obama’s protection for DACA recipients. In both cases he, as Chief Justice, was the deciding vote in 5-4 decisions. Which suggests he is filling a role as a deliberate Balancing force.
And in these challenging times, that is a Good and Welcome development for which we are grateful.
This Week’s Friday Tailgate Tasting
Cloudlift “Lucy” Rosé of Cabernet Franc ’18 Washington $16
A rare single-vineyard rosé, this wine is pale salmon in color. It offers aromas of fresh herb, citrus peel and strawberry. The palate is dry, bright and focused with lively citrus flavors and minerality that extend through the finish.
Cloudlift Ascent ’13 Washington $28
76% Alder Ridge Cab Franc with 18% Merlot, 4% Cab Sauv and 2% Petit Verdot; rich, smoky nose of raspberry, cherry, and plum with scents of rosebuds, brambles, tobacco, sage and pepper. The flavors mirror the aromatics notes of licorice, cocoa, coffee and scorched earth. Chewy texture with notes of roasted berries and nuts, mocha, toffee, and a savory, ripe tannin finish.
Cloudlift Zephyr ’13 Washington $34
44% Syrah from Arianses Vineyard, with 28% each Mourvèdre and Grenache from Elephant Mt. Its blueberry pie, huckleberry, orange peel, herb, raspberry, black pepper and spice aromas make for delicious Southern Rhone blend with soft and lingering fruit flavors.
lummi island wine tasting june 12 ’20
click on photos for larger images
NOTE: THE WINE SHOP IS CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR REGULAR TASTINGS DUE TO COVID 19…
BUT… while COVID remains a risk, we are providing:
- A complimentary 3-wine tasting on Fridays from 4:30 till 6pm at the north exit of the ferry overflow parking lot and
- Online wine orders for U-pickup at the shop! (details below!)
Friday Bread, Social Distance, and Wine Tasting
As mentioned last week, Janice continues to send the week’s Bread Menu to her mailing list each Sunday, and accepts orders till Wednesday for Friday pickup. Though the wine shop remains closed for indoor tastings due to COVID, Friday bread pickups have morphed into an impromptu Covid Tailgate party at the Ferry Parking Lot beginning around 4pm.
Since many of you set up folding chairs, bring wine and glasses, and share company and conversation (with appropriate physical distancing, of course!) it also provides an opportunity for us to offer a mini-tasting (three wines, see below for this week’s menu) from the back of our car. It’s not the same experience as in the wine shop, but it is an entirely pleasant relief from the ongoing lack of social contact.
We all thank Janice for beginning this tradition by moving weekly bread deliveries from the wine shop to the parking lot to allow for appropriate Distancing. It has become an enjoyable weekly Relief to catch up on some of the conversations and camaraderie we have been missing during the Shutdown!
Order Wines Online
During the Shutdown we are continuing to fill your individual wine orders online or by phone for pickup at the wine shop. Click on the “Order Wine” heading at the top of this page for a partial list of our current offerings. When you have made your selections there are two ways to order:
- Click “Contact Us”on the website header bar at the top of this page, enter the names and quantities of each wine you would like to order, and click “Submit,” or…
- Phone us your order at the number next to our logo, above right.
It’s that Simple! Operators are Standing By!
Mar a Lago Update: The Many Menaces of the Moment
We are all been coping pretty well with the limits imposed by COVID protocols. Most of us are feeling fortunate to have avoided it so far, and we have willingly adapted to Social Distancing guidelines — or as some prefer to call it, Physical Distancing — to better protect ourselves and our communities. Here on the Island we also enjoy the small but tangible luxury of the Moat that forms a physical boundary between us and the mainland. For the most part we are finding a certain comfort in the Distancing. Still, there will continue to be some emotional tension and stress until there is an effective vaccine.
So that’s Number One.
For the last two weeks our nation and the entire World have been protesting with Outrage after seeing video footage of the callous and offhand murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis policeman. The first instincts of Tweetster and his Republican cronies and followers were to Crush the Riots with Overwhelming Force using Police, the National Guard, and maybe even the Army and Marines. The voices of global protest have been so Loud and so Prolonged that there is an actual possibility that Something Could Actually Change.
Not to be outdone, as a casual display of his Power, the T deployed police with tear gas to disperse the crowd protesting peacefully outside the White House so he could walk unimpeded with his entourage to nearby St. John’s Episcopal Church for a photo-op with a Bible (borrowed) in his hand. Clearly the whole exercise was to say “See? I can do anything I want!” This performance is chillingly reminiscent of the Nazi and Fascist tactics in the 1930’s that led to the many Horrors of World War II.
So that’s Number Two.
For the last three months COVID has occupied a huge percentage of the news cycle, completely eclipsing the Presidential Election in November. The Tweetster maintains his daily Wallows before the Press, bragging about This, complaining about That, or firing the Scapegoat of the moment for telling the truth about something that hurt Little T’s insatiable Hungry Ghost Ego. Even though polls show an increasing lead for Biden (now having clinched the nomination) there have always been whispers about “what if T loses and refuses to leave? He could declare an Emergency, like the Nazis did, and declare martial law.
A friend recently mentioned he had an old friend with bona fides as a psychic. She had recently told him that something would happen in October that would result in T winning another term. I notice I find this way too easy to believe, and it is Deeply upsetting even to imagine. For twenty years there have been national efforts to require all elections to use and maintain paper ballots so that every vote can be recounted and verified. Electronic voting is far too unreliable, hackable, and crackable. Together with massive Republican gerrymandering across the country, the present voting system unfairly favors Republicans by ( I believe) several points, letting them steal the White House in 2000, 2004, and 2016. In 2008 Obama’s lead exceeded their Cushion and they lost, and that’s why they hated him so much– their sense of Entitlement to control the Government they hate.
And that’s Number Three.
Taken together, they are a Weight on many of us who are now quite gray and who were kids in the fifties and young adults in the sixties. We believed in an essential Goodness in our country, a shared pride and dedication to our shared humanity and the principles of our Constitution. But we have seen little in this century to suggest that more than a few Republicans share this view. Rather, indications are that they will stop at nothing to attain and retain power and use it for their own gain.
It’s a scary time in a world of Noise and Mirrors, Shiny Objects and Sideshow Barkers. Hard to be Optimistic with Dystopia looming ahead in the fog.
What would we do without Wine??
This Week’s Friday Tailgate Tasting
Mer Soleil Santa Lucia Highlands Reserve Chardonnay ’17
Vibrant scents of lemon blossom and honeysuckle infused with vanilla and a refreshing whiff of fresh sea breeze. Rich and lush palate of ripe peach and lemon meringue pie and lively acidity that smoothly balances its creamy roundness.
Conundrum Red ’17 California $22
Petite Sirah, Zin, and Cab; rich, complex and seductive, with round notes of cherries and baking chocolate, fine tannins, and a silky smoothness.
Tommasi Poggio Al Tufo Rompicollo ’13 Italy $12
Amarone-like raisiny opulence to the ripe, soft red cherry, sweet spice, and herb aromas and flavors. Velvety, well balanced and smooth, with long, lush, smooth tannins. Terrific buy!
lummi island wine tasting june 5 ’20
click on photos for larger images
Bread, Social Distance, and Wine Tasting
As mentioned last week, Janice continues to send the week’s Bread Menu to her mailing list each Sunday, and accepts orders till Wednesday for Friday pickup. Btw, our Archives tell us that we are (OMD!) just now beginning our Sixth Year of the Friday afternoon Bread pickup and Wine Tasting tradition!
Though the wine shop remains closed for tastings due to COVID, Friday bread pickups have morphed into an impromptu Covid Isolation Therapy Tailgate party at the Ferry Parking Lot beginning around 4pm. Many set up folding chairs, bring wine and glasses, and share company and conversation (with appropriate physical distancing, of course!)…not the same experience as in the wine shop, but an entirely pleasant relief from the ongoing lack of social contact.
This week marks our Third Tailgate Mini-tasting in the Parking Lot (three wines). We have all been missing the conversations and camaraderie of our customary weekend gatherings at the wine shop, and the Parking Lot Scene definitely provides some much-needed Social Nourishment. Hope to see you there!
How to Make an Online Wine Order
We are continuing to take individual wine orders online or by phone for pickup at the wine shop. Click on the “Order Wine” heading at the top of this page for a partial list of our current offerings. When you have made your selections there are two ways to order:
- Click “Contact Us”on the website header bar at the top of this page, enter the names and quantities of each wine you would like to order, and click “Submit,” or…
- Phone us your order at the number next to our logo, above.
It’s that Simple!
Boekenhoutskloof
Over the past several weeks we have been introduced to several very pleasant and surprisingly inexpensive wines from South Africa. Earlier this year we discovered a lovely merlot from Indaba which many of you have come back for several times. Over the last few weeks we have poured two delicious chenin blancs (Terre Brulee and MAN), and a couple of pinotage blends (MAN, Kanankopf), all selling for $11-$15.
This weekend we are offering yet another in this series, this time a red blend called The Wolftrap from Boekenhoutskloof winery on the Western Cape. The area specializes in syrah, and this is a blend with mourvedre and a bit of viognier. (see tasting notes below)
Mar a Lago Update: Opening Salvos in the War for an American Soul
Last week we explored how the Nazis seized the opportunity presented by the 1932 Reichstag Fire (or started it themselves…) to create an Exploitable Hysteria among the public that the nation was being attacked from without and that only the Muscle of the Nazis could save them. Hitler took control of all national media for the entire next decade and used it to distribute carefully designed Propaganda (i.e., “Fake News”) to convince the people of Germany that the nation was facing an Existential Crisis brought on by foreigners, Jews, Gypsies, and other non-Aryans. Within a few months the Nazis had taken Complete Power. Hitler declared a National Emergency and took away most individual rights in the name of National Defense; violators were sent to Concentration Camps. Most scary to note for us today…those rights were not returned until after Hitler was defeated in 1945.
Fast forward to this week, when a Mindless policeman and his cronies in Minneapolis (OMG…Really? Minneapolis??) has ignited our very own Reichstag Fire and thrown the entire nation — and much of the World– into Chaos with his self-absorbed Slo-Mo Murder of George Floyd, caught on video to the Horror of the Entire World. His Nine Minutes of Thoughtlessness may have changed the world forever by igniting a Civil War in America that has been building for several decades.
In the past week we have seen a battle of Two Narratives on the Meaning of Mr. Floyd’s senseless and heartbreaking death. Speaking for he Right, the Tweetster has called for Mayors and Governors to deploy Overwhelming Force to Suppress Demonstrators. Somewhat to the Left we have military leaders like Admiral Mike Mullen and General James Mattis taking strong stands against the involvement of the military in civil issues, and we strongly support that point of view.
Here at the Wine Gallery we may be even further Left. If we think of movies as metaphors, one major impact of fifties films like The Blob is that lethal enemies might have no Shape, no declared allegiance, and no Uniform to warn you not to trust them. So we have to rely on our own insight, values, and perspective to know what is right.
Most of us who were born in the 40’s were taught a noble view of our country. America stands for Right vs. Might, Truth vs. Lies, Honor vs. Deception. Every human being is Worthy and Equal. In my own case, my years as a midshipman deliberately trained me to believe in truth, honor, loyalty, responsibility, and service. So when General Mattis and Admiral Mullen chastise our so-called President for failing to reach beyond his Ego for once and grasp the enormous responsibility of his Example and Responsibility, I feel a sense of relief that they have spoken out, and that so many national leaders are calling for justice and restraint.
These are Scary Times. Recent events are only the latest salvos in the 20 year-old Republican agenda is to make America a dumbed-down, one-party country, take over all branches of state and federal government, repeal the Bill of Rights one phrase at a time, make the President a Unitary Dictator, and turn this country into a Christian-Fascist Feudal State divided into Competing Corporate Fiefdoms. Or to put it another way, Republicans are Orcs, and Democrats are Hobbits, and we all know which side we are on!
This Week’s Friday Tailgate Tasting
Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes ’17 Argentina $11
Highly perfumed aromas of lemon drop, grapefruit, white flowers, peppermint and white pepper. Supple, pliant and easygoing, with citrus, herbal and floral flavors joined by a hint of licorice.
The Wolftrap Red Blend Western Cape ’18 South Africa $11
Syrah, mourvedre, viognier; notes of black spice, dusty red plum and blackberry fruits in the glass with a soft smoky, floral essence. Medium-bodied, with flavors of dark cherries, plum and subtle red and black spices show up on the mid-palate and lead to an easy finish.
Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon California $21
Medium ruby red; opens with scents of currants and dried roses, grape pomace and fresh tilled soil. The nose is nuanced with toasty oak imparting a subtle smoked meat character. Flavors of blueberries and blackberries mix with the warmth of vanilla and toasted bread. Silky tannins and striking smoothness. Mouthwatering, lengthy finish trails off with the taste of unsweetened chocolate and cassis.
lummi island wine tasting may 29 ’20
click on photos for larger images
Bread, Wine, and Socially Distant Wine Tasting
As mentioned last week, Friday Bread pickups have morphed into an impromptu Covid Aversion Therapy Tailgate party at the Ferry Parking Lot beginning around 4pm. Many set up folding chairs, wine, and glasses to share company and conversation (with appropriate Spacing!). Last week we opened Our Own tailgate for a mini-tasting (3 wines), and now declare the experiment a Success! We have missed the conversations and camaraderie of our customary weekend gatherings at the wine shop, and the Parking Lot Scene definitely provides some much-needed Social Nourishment!
Our current plan is to continue our Tailgate Tastings. See this week’s tasting notes below; we look forward to seeing you this weekend!
How to Make an Online Wine Order
We are continuing to take individual wine orders online or by phone for pickup at the wine shop. Click on the “Order Wine” heading at the top of this page for a partial list of our current offerings. When you have made your selections there are two ways to order:
- Click “Contact Us”on the website header bar at the top of this page, enter the names and quantities of each wine you would like to order, and click “Submit,” or…
- Phone us your order at the number next to our logo, above.
It’s that Simple!
MAN Vinters, South Africa
Some of us (who will remain unnamed) have a taste for wines with a certain “rustic” quality, the kind of wine you would drink with a game stew cooked over a fire pit in an old cabin in the wilderness. There might be elements of “barnyard, with notes of damp earth and vegetation, or garrigue, which includes a wide range of aromatic herbs (rosemary, thyme, tarrogon, basil, and more) that appear on both the nose and the palate.
Pinotage, perhaps the dominant red grape in much of South Africa, often displays many of these qualities. The varietal was created in 1925 by Izan Perold, crossing seeds from Hermitage in France with pinot noir, and planting them in his yard where they were forgotten. Years later they were discovered, and cuttings grafted onto various rootstocks eventually created today’s pinotage, which became the backbone of South African red wine production.
MAN winery is a partnership formed in 2001 among three young couples in South Africa. The name MAN is an acronym of the wives’ initials (perhaps a lobbying point to gain their support?) for the venture. Who knows? All we can say is that we were impressed enough with their pinotage, which we first tasted a couple of years ago, to be curious about their chenin blanc.
We are offering both wines as part of this week’s Tailgate tasting (see notes below) from 4 – 5:30pm Friday. Come by and taste!
Mar a Lago Update: Fox News is the New Joseph Goebbels
In 1932 the Nazis leveraged the Reichstag Fire into a populist victory that swept them into power a few months later. One of Hitler’s first actions was to create a Ministry of Propaganda with Joseph Goebbels as its Director. Goebbels preferred it to be called the “Ministry of Culture and Public Enlightenment,” but Hitler insisted. While there were numerous propaganda offices in the Reich, Goebbels controlled the content newspapers, films, radio, and theater with detailed restrictions on content. Violators could be sent to concentration camps. Propaganda became the hallmark of the Soviet, Nazi, and Fascist regimes that spread across the world and ignited WWII, and which today remains a central strategy for dictators both petty and grand.
Over the past few weeks we have been reading On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by historian Timothy Snyder (watch interview). This little book is recommended reading for all citizens; using examples from WWII, it is a carefully crafted Wake-Up call to the Existential Threat our country faces from the Right from a movement that started decades ago and gained enormous traction after the 9/11 terrorist bombings on US soil.
There were countless ways our nation could have responded to 9/11 that would not have committed us to endless war in the Middle East. But Neocons in the Bush Administration, including Wolfowitz, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and others, had all been members of the Project for a New American Century, formed in in the late 90’s, when they had asserted to then-President Clinton that “the removal of Saddam Hussein’s regime from power” should be a top goal for the United States, and also that their goals would have to be accomplished slowly, unless “some catastrophic and catalyzing event, like a new Pearl Harbor,” should occur. You know, like their very own Reichstag Fire. We all remember how quickly and irrationally the US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq were conceived and executed. And how they turned out. It was their Reichstag moment, and they seized it.
In the last thirty years we have seen the Republican Party withdraw almost completely from its Constitutional responsibilities in favor of its own agenda. That agenda has seen the refusal even to consider Democratic appointees or legislation under Obama, the undermining of the Constitution by failing to hold the Tweetster Administration accountable for its lies, failures, excesses, and crimes, and at the state level, the vast disenfranchisement of likely Democratic voters through unconscionable gerrymandering and voter suppression.
There is clear evidence that the new agenda for the Republican Party is, like the Nazis before them, to turn our country into a one-party Authoritarian State. Wrapped in the Flag and carrying a Cross, lauded 24/7 by Propaganda Media, it has already succeeded in altering the perception of Reality for nearly half the population of the country. The Dept of Justice is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Empire. Arguably there has not been a fair Federal election in this country for nearly thirty years. Democracy is being dismantled before our eyes. There is a lot of work to do!
This Week’s Friday Tailgate Tasting
MAN Vintners Chenin Blanc ’19 South Africa $11
Uses only the free-run juice (no pressing of the grapes) to preserve a clean and natural character, refreshing acidity, and delicious ripe fruit flavors, with vibrant aromas of quince, pear and pineapple. On the palate, fresh stonefruit and apple flavors are backed by refreshing acidity, minerality and a pleasing, rounded mouthfeel. A versatile food wine that will pair well with poultry, shellfish and vegetable dishes.
La Vielle Ferme Rosé ’19 France $10
Classic and tasty blend of grenache, syrah, and cinsault from Ventoux; fruity, dry, crisp, delicious, smooth, at a bargain price.
MAN Vintners Pinotage ’18 South Africa $11
Pleasing aromas of mocha and dark coffee beans, accented by red berries, nutmeg, and vanilla spice, pairing well with spicy or gamy dishes. Dark berries, plum and a smoke on the nose. Rustic yet silky and juicy, with wild cherry flavors, smooth tannins and well-controlled acidity with good intensity to the plum and mocha flavors.
2072 Granger Way