Wine Tasting February 19 ’11

Posted at February 17, 2011

Hearty congratulations to our friends at Willows Inn and new chef Blaine Wetzel for their continuing international fame. So if you are flying in for a few days from Tokyo or Capetown or Peoria, remember we have a great selection of wines from Washington and around the world!

Remember: our regular hours are Saturdays 1-5pm, but call ANYTIME for Wine Emergencies!

Of course our chocolate Valentine Medallions were a big hit last week! It is hard to believe there is that much flavor, and that little bits of dried fruit and nuts could actually make high quality chocolate taste even better– but we now have an Island of Believers. Well done to Pat and Janice for another chocolate triumph; they just keep getting better and better!

Another great selection of wines last weekend, with a nice chardonnay from Maryhill, an interesting winery down on the Columbia Gorge, two bargain reds from Massimo that way over-deliver for the $$, and topping it off with an absolutely delicious syrah (Annie Camarda ’04) from Andrew Will which has matured into a deep, dark, and delightful treasure. I think we may have one or two bottles left, but they could easily get, um, “lost,” if you know what I mean.

For you off-Islanders, there is a continuing saga of the endless negotiations with Lummi Nation to continue the docking arrangements we have had with them for 100 years or so. Negotiations have dragged on for over a year. A few weeks ago it was announced that the current interim agreement and payments would continue indefinitely until a long-term solution was developed. Today it was announced that the Tribe was going to shut down the ferry in 60 days absent a permanent agreement. We just hope that whenever the dust settles, you will all still want to come and visit!

You flew all the way from Beijing for THIS?
When they’re not looking we’ll run for it…

Feels just like home, eh…?

Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world..

This week’s wines: (plus maybe a few samples of this and that..!)

Domaine Piquemal ‘05  (France, Roussillon) (video) $13
Nose of blackberry, flint, and leather gives way to sumptuous flavors of fresh, ripe cherries

Peirano Estates Petite Sirah  ’09   California   $12
Tempts the senses with an array of black raspberry, spice, coffee, cocoa, cola and white pepper. The palate is filled with ripe boysenberry, black raspberry, plum, sweet black cherry, and firm tannins, with a hint of smoke and dark chocolate.

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.

Giovanna Madonia Albana di Romagna DOCG Passito 04 Italy  (dessert)  $12
Late-harvested in small batches, laid on wooden crates for additional months of drying (think ‘raisins’!) After a soft press, it is fermented in French barriques from 12 to 15 months.
Following a micro-filtration, it is bottled, and rests for at least 1 year before release.

Wine Tasting

If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Comments are closed.