I hope a lot of you noticed that I missed putting Bits & Bobs up last week. Unfortunately, I am a die-hard procastinator when it comes to writing, even though I enjoy doing it. Last Monday I was off to Seattle to partake in a very special tasting event. When I woke up early that morning to get ready to catch the ferry, I realized I had no time to sit down and write the piece. Yes, I could have brought my computer with me and tried my best to write on the ferry ride, and then find a place to connect to the internet and send it off. Problem is, I need the internet to write the article, and for all of you that ride the ferry like I do, you know that can be difficult. There you go. If I put off writing this piece until Monday I’m screwed if I am going somewhere. I tell myself every week that I need to start writing these things at least a week in advance, and here I am once again pounding the keys at six a.m. on a Monday morning. Consistent content is the key to a successful blog, I know this. My apologies for missing last week, I will try harder.
The special tasting I went to in Seattle is connected to the Auction of Washington Wines held for those in the wine trade (restaurants and stores), in Woodinville on August 16th. It’s a non-profit event to benefit the WSU Viticulture and Enology Research Program. The tasting I went to last Monday was a trade and media preview of some of the wines that will be available during the private barrel auction in August. This list of wines I had a chance to taste was crazy. Long Shadows, Col Solare, Canvasback, Avennia, Baer, Betz, Buty, Leonetti, Rotie Cellars, Sleight Of Hand, Sparkman Cellars, Woodward Canyon and more. There were a couple that really stood out to me and I’m hoping to talk my boss into going down in August to bid on some of the wines. The 2014 Aquilini Red Mountain absolutely blew my mind. The fruit, structure and balance of the wine is memorable. Also, the 2014 Pedestal Merlot from Long Shadows is silky smooth, open knit, delicious and ready to drink. It was nice to get a chance to taste the hard-to-get Psychedelic Syrah from Sleight Of Hand out of Walla Walla. This is one that wine maker Trey Busch is very proud of as he should be. A classic Washington State Syrah. Floral with loads of finesse and enough structure and power to age quite nicely over the next 10-15 years. In fact, being a 2015, I personally wouldn’t pop the cork for at least three years from now. A great tasting on the shores of Lake Union.
March is the official Washington Wine Month. I say official, because a few years ago, August was added as an additional Washington Wine Month. I used to fight the August thing, believing that March was good enough. With over 900 wineries in Washington State, I have now come to appreciate that August is a necessary addition. I will be focusing a lot on Washington State wines in both my blogs and on You Tube. My first “Pick Of The Week” on my blog The Blue Collar Wine Guy, hosted by the Seattle P.I. is a Washington State wine. My last You Tube episode featured value Cabernet Sauvignon from where else…Washington State. Also, my “Pick Of The Month” featured on this blog will be a Washington State wine, stay tuned. I am giving Washington State my full support this month, which is not really hard to do since our state produces some of the most outstanding wines in the world.
Susie and I are doing our best to slow time down a bit, enjoy each day and not let our trip to South Africa consume our time. Unfortunately, my plate is full going into April. There are four wine tasting events the last three weeks of March that will be held in Friday Harbor for the trade only, along with a wine makers dinner. It is of course my obligation to attend all of these events, juggled around my tasting event this week and in April, my You Tube episodes and my blogging. I’m not looking for sympathy in any way. I am simply trying to convince myself that if Susie and I stay reasonably organized and focused, this whirlwind of events will not steal our time and before you know it, we are off on a plane to Dubai and South Africa. I don’t know about you, but I cherish each day that I have a chance to live in, and I don’t ever want to rush life, it is too precious.
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
