This Saturday we are featuring a full lineup of Spanish Tempranillos from sister wineries Nexus One (Ribera del Duero) and Fontaura (Toro).  The winery of the Palacio de los Frontaura y Victoria was born out of the effort started a decade ago in the Pago de Valdelacasa vineyards. At present, this winery has the capacity to elaborate 700,000 kilos of grapes, of which 500,000 come from own estate and the rest from old vines from other growers in the area.   Nexus One is located in the heart of Ribera del Duero, 40 hectares of vineyards of Tempranillo Tinta Fina.  Loreto Herrero, the representative of the winery will be here to talk about the wines.

2015 Nexus One  $15
100% Tempranillo Tinta Fina
The Nexus One has aromas of intensity and freshness. At first floral touches appear followed by subtle aromas of red fruit with dairy notes and hints of caramel.

2014 Domino de Valdelacasa Cosecha $15
100% Tempranillo, Tinta de Toro
Very intense on the nose, red fruit aromas, strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry are predominate with dairy and well-integrated wood. Touches of eucalyptus, velvety licorice and mineral notes come out. It is smooth, balsamic and very long. It is a structured and complex wine.

2011 Nexus Crianza  $26
Made from old vine Tinta Fina, the Nexus Crainza ages for 13 months in French Oak casks.  This medium-bodied wine is very intense and fresh on the nose. Floral aromas are followed by slightly ripe fruit and walnuts, and balsamic hints make of it an interesting and distinguished wine.  It has a great balance of taste that on the palate makes an explosion of red fruit. Delicate wood makes it more complex, smooth and velvety.

2009 Frontaura, Crianza $30
Old vine Tinta de Toro, the Frontaura Crianza is full of very ripe dark forest fruit, with well-balanced firm tannins and acidity. It is all combined with a great little cigar box which you open on a cold winters eve. The complexity of the tobacco adds an additional dimension to this wine. The finish is rather fresh with a nice touch of bitterness at the end.

2006 Frontaura, Aponte Reserva $30
The flagship of the Toro winery the Aponte ages for 20 months in new French Allier oak casks.  It is powerful, open and clean with prominent aromas of red fruit and eucalyptus, together with the elegance of the vanilla and the coconut on the nose. Notes of black fruit and licorice stand out at the end. The mouth is delicate, velvety and intense. It is a sweet and long wine with hints of tobacco, coconut, mineral and spice.

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