The days are short, they sky is cloudy, there is a nip in the air, it’s time to PARTY. This Saturday we are featuring some wines to help get the Holiday Season going. We’ve got some wines that will go with a big Thanksgiving meal as well as a little impromptu get together. Drop by and join us.

2015 Torii Mor Pinot Gris $15
Torii Mor made their first wine in 1993, which makes them old school for the Willamette Valley. Their Pinot Gris is a blend from Kraemer Vineyard; near Silverton, Willamette Valley appellation and Olson Vineyard; in the Dundee Hills. This Pinot Gris has refreshing acidity, framed by pear notes and delicate anise notes. Juicy and mouth-filling, this wine has a long-lasting finish.

2014 Torii Mor, Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $20
A blend of 12 vineyards, Torii Mor’s Noir has rich aromas of fresh raspberries, sweet and plump dark cherries and fresh, delicate mushrooms. The flavors are fresh, with an amount of sweet darker cherries; the mid palate carries on that velvet-fruity goodness to a long, enjoyable aftertaste of pure Oregon Pinot Noir.

2016 Allegrini,Valpolicella $15
65% Corvina/Corvione, 30% Rondinella, 5% Molinara
From Allegini, one of the big wigs of Veneto winemaking, this wine is Classic Valpolicello without trying to be Ripasso. It shows fragrant fruit with prominent notes of cherries, echoed by fresher hints of pepper and aromatic herbs, typical of Corvina and Corvinone, the historic varietals of this appellation.

2013 Allegrini, Palazzo della Torre $19
70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese
Allegrini owns this estate where they make this baby Amarone. The vineyard surrounds Villa della Torre, a splendid masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. A small percentage of the harvested grapes are left to dry out until December and then added to the previously vinified fresh grapes. The result is a velvety, well-balanced red wine that proffers mature, pulpy fruit.

2014 The Underground Wine Project, Devil’s Playground Cabernet $30
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah
The Underground Wine Project is a collaboration between Washington wine makers Mark McNeilly (Mark Ryan Winery) and Trey Busch (Sleight of Hand Cellars). Their Devil’s Playground shows pure Red Mountain Cabernet character, with loads of ripe red fruits, currants, cocoa nibs, and spicy tobacco. This dense Cabernet is already immediately and undeniably delicious. It has the stuffing and tannin profile to age for at least a decade, but don’t feel bad if you crack a bottle open sooner than later.

Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.