Ah, the changing of the seasons is here once more! Cuisine, activities and hours of sunlight are in constant flux as we watch our short-lived summer come to an end. Driving home this evening, I noticed the leaves blowing on the ground. One thing that helps ease me into the third act of the year is a great glass of vino with the last of my garden’s vegetables. Wine also helps take that first chill of autumn off when I have forgotten to close my windows when the sun sneaks below the horizon. Here are some ideas to ease into autumn with:
*Merry Cellars — By now, most folks on the Palouse are aware that there is an award-winning winery just beyond our Idaho borders, in Pullman. My old buddy, Patrick Merry, has been making wine for many years and was finally bonded a few years back to sell wine to the public. I will not spend the whole article raving about his assorted awards or to tell about his humble beginnings. However, I will tell you the two wines we offer on our Co-op shelves are worth exploring! His Stillwater Creek Vineyard Merlot comes from one of the premier vineyards in Washington. It is everything a Merlot should be — and more! His “Crimson” red blend is a delicious blend of four different grapes. Hopefully, he will be able to join us for one our Tasteful Thursday tastings this coming winter.
*Paul Dolan Vineyards — New to our organic wines section. Paul Dolan was just profiled in Food and Wine as one of the top 15 “green” wineries in the United States. To understand the full scope of this winery’s dedication to green practices, please visit his website at pauldolanwines.com, since it would take many pages to explain what goes on at their farm. However, the wines are delicious. His Zinfandel is truly beautiful. It has a hefty mouth-feel, mild tannins and the complexity of a fine Cabernet — but the flavors are all Zinfandel. Black pepper, red and black cherries, currants, sweet tobacco, gingerbread and smoky notes. The Chardonnay is also a winner with pear, peach and butter cream flavors.
Super Deals:
*Stonecap Riesling, Columbia Valley $9.99
Tart and spicy Riesling with spicy green apple, pear fruit and a hint of citrus rind.
*Beringer Third Century Pinot Noir, California $11.99
Although this is a fairly one-dimensional wine, it really shows true Pinot Noir personality. Silky texture, cherry, crispness and a dry finish are offered without breaking the bank!
*Cono Sur Organic Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenere, Chile $12.25
Shows lots of dry fruit flavors and aromas that remind me of plums and cherries. These are accented by herbal/spice character and the slightest hint of vanilla from its time spent resting in oak barrels.
Beer…
I am still waiting for the major arrivals of the fall seasonals, although a few have trickled in. Red Hook Late Harvest Ale, Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale, Widmer Okto and the very popular Kona Pipeline Porter have all been flying off the shelves. Some special releases that are now gracing our shelves are as follows:
*Rogue Double Dead Guy Ale (26 oz.), Oregon $10.85/bottle
A Doppelbock style pours a nice darker amber-brown color. Smells of sweet and bitter malts with some spices and a nice piney aroma at the end of the nose. Tastes of nice sweet and some bitter malts followed by a sweet caramel flavor and then a big piney hoppy bitter end to it.
*Avery Brewing Ale to the Chief (22 oz.), Colorado $7.65/bottle
Only brewed in presidential election years, this year’s bottle has a special message on it. As for the beer, it is classified as an American Double/Imperial IPA. The way it smells is the way it tastes; nice hops that last from the front to the back.
*Snoqualmie Harvest Ale (22 oz.), Washington $3.85/bottle
Characterized as a Märzan/Oktoberfest, this garnet-copper colored beer has very distinct apple smells in the nose. The beer is a nice herbal, spicy märzen and spicy hops are present but do more bittering than flavoring or adding aromatics.
Have a wonderful month of October (my personal favorite month) and we will see you at Tasteful Thursdays beginning in November!
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