We are open Labor Day (Monday, September 2) from 11 AM – 5 PM. Just today we received a pallet of Spanish embutidos, chorizos, olive oils, cheeses, paella rice and more, so you can stock up and grill this weekend with Spanish ingredients. Within a week the University of Washington Husky football team plays its first game, and the weather forecast is inviting fans to barbeque sausages or even make paella at the tailgate party. And, if you’re heading to a potluck this weekend, our White Bean, Tuna and Pasta Salad would be a fancy and delicious contribution. See the recipe below.
Shoulder Season Wines
La Bicicleta Voladora Rioja 2017 ($17.99) This captivating wine from Rioja is a blend of 70% Tempranillo and 30% Viura, a white grape. The certified organic fruit is sourced from the Navarra part of the appellation from 35-year-old vines. Native yeasts are used in the fermentation and the wine ages in concrete tanks for 5-6 months. Fresh, light-bodied and silky, La Bicicleta is aromatic with delicate fruit flavors and excellent acidity. The insistent flavors linger on the palate with gorgeous balance and deliciousness which bring one back for more. Understated and seductive.
Notre Dame Pallieres L’Olivet Sablet 2017 ($12.99) Domaine Notre Dame des Pallières is a very old family estate, whose name comes from a place of pilgrimage visited by the Provençal people in the middle ages who believed that the fountain on the property would protect them from the plague. Claude Roux and his cousin Jean-Pierre have so many generations of Gigondas winemaking experience in their family that they don’t know exactly how many of their relatives have been involved up to now – Antique writings suggest that this Domain existed in the 900’s. Fortunately this tradition is continuing with Claude’s children, Isabelle and Julien, gradually taking over the day to day responsibilities of farming, production, and administration.
2017 L’Olivet is 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah from vines over 40 years old. Offering up a bouquet of fresh fruit, it shows intense morello cherry, blackberry and red fruit coulis notes. The palate is fleshy and round, with crisp edges and silky tannins. 92 points Wine Advocate GREAT VALUE!
La Reserve St. Dominique Ventoux Rouge 2017 ($12.99) This is another amazing value from vines 20 – 35 years old on a plot of land at the foot of Mont Ventoux at 1500 ft elevation. Higher altitude coupled with superb sun exposure produces fruit of exceptional quality rarely found at this price-point. Made of 100% Grenache, it is fermented in stainless steel vats after a short maceration period. With intense and expressive nose of cherries and raspberries, and fresh floral notes, it reveals a round and full palate. The balance of flavor emphasizes an aromatic richness with spicy accents and fine aromas of thyme and rock rose. 91 points Wine Advocate
WHITE BEAN AND PASTA SALAD
Beans should show up at the table as often as possible. Not just because they are filled with nutrition but because they taste great. Adding the tuna makes this a hearty main-dish salad, but you can omit it if you want to keep it lighter. Serves 2-4
2 cups Cooked White Pocha beans from a jar
1 cup Cooked pasta, such as small rotelli pasta
2 Scallions trimmed and chopped, green tops and all
1 Red Pepper, finely diced
2 tablespoons Minced parsley
2 tablespoons Lemon juice
¼ cup Matiz brand Alioli
1 Hard boiled egg, finely chopped
1 tin Spanish Bonito Tuna packed in olive oil (optional)
pinch Salt
grind Black Pepper
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
Add salt and pepper to taste.