Wine Tasting March 19 ’11

Posted at March 17, 2011

Visiting Lummi Island? Flying in from Sydney for dinner by sensational new chef Blaine Wetzel at Willows Inn? Why not pick up a bottle of knockout Washington wine from our extensive cellar selection of the highly acclaimed Quilceda Creek and Betz wines from the last several years??? Our weekly tasting hours are Saturdays 1-5 pm, or anytime for “Wine Emergencies”…!

Very interesting selection of wines last Saturday, beginning with the very unusual white nebbiolo with its range of complex flavors, followed by an intriguing, densely flavored pinot noir from the southern-most reaches of Argentina in Patagonia.

The Fernandez Dehesa la Granja offered full-bodied flavors and texture in the Spanish style, and the Novelty Hill syrah was perfectly situated to be the Wine of the Day with its satisfying texture and full-bodied flavors.

This is also the week after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and at this writing several nuclear reactors are on the brink of catastrophic meltdown, which would have severe and long-lasting impacts. Heavy stuff…here’s hoping the world manages to dodge that bullet.

We are off to Snohomish on Sunday for the annual Quilceda Creek wine pickup, our one chance a year to taste these fantastic wines, so always a high point in our annual wine calendar! We do have several vintages tucked away; feel free to ask if you are looking for a world-class cabernet for a really special occasion.

Just got home from another awesome dinner at Ciao Thyme in Bellingham. Not exactly a restaurant, and operated by once upon a thyme chef at Lummi island’s own Beach Store Cafe (Mataio), Ciao Thyme offers periodic dinners where every bite is little poem to to the experience of taste. There is some talk of arranging some sort of Ciao Thyme dinner somewhere on Lummi Island, so stay tuned!

Hope to see you this weekend!

Stephen Vincent Chardonnay 09 California $10
A terrific value, the 2008 Chardonnay offers attractive melony, buttery citrus, and tropical fruit characteristics as well as a hint of minerality. Elegant, fresh, and medium-bodied, it tastes far better than its humble price suggests.

Stephen Vincent “Crimson” 09 California  $10
Firm and spicy, with appetizing blackberry, wild berry, pepper, spice and chicory notes that firm up on the finish. Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Terre antiche montepulciano 09   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.

Pasanau Ceps Nous 06    Spain          $22      WA 92pts
Blend of Garnacha, Merlot, Mazuelo, and Syrah. Dark crimson-colored, it has a fragrant bouquet of garrigue, mineral, black cherry, and blueberry. On the palate it delivers gobs of bright, lively fruit buttressed by good acidity, excellent intensity and concentration, and complex flavors. It is a fine value and a great introduction to Priorat.

Wine Tasting

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