Portugal was for centuries best know abroad for its fortified Port wine, with their dry wines mainly being drunk at home, but in the past 20 years or so things have changed.  The Duro the traditional home to port wines is becoming known for its full dry reds wines.  The Alentejo whose landscape lazily unfolds among gentle slopes that host vineyards, corn fields, olive groves and cork is producing world class wine.  Join us on Saturday as we sample a few Portugal’s fine offerings.
 
2011 Herdade do Esporão, Arco de Esporão Branco  $11
Antão Vaz, Roupeiro, Viosinho
Esperão is one of th major wineries of the Alentejo making wines in a wide range of styles.  The Arco Branco, made from 3 indigenous varietals, is fresh and elegant aromas with notes of lime and grapefruit, with rich and intense flavors on a crisp palate, and a persistent finish.
 
2011 Herdade do Mouchão, Alentejo Dom Rafael Tinto  $15
Trincadeira with Alicante Bouschet and Aragonêz
Dom Rafael is the 2nd wine of the celebrated Herdade do Mouchão.  The Rafael is softer and more approachable in its youth.  It has a rich, dark, full spicy nose with complex lush fruit. The palate is savory and dark with good depth of fruit and some nice spicy structure and a savory finish.
 
2010 Van Zellers, Duro Tinto  $17
Rufete, Sousão, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Roriz, Toruiga Franca, Toruica Nacional.
Van Zellers was established in 1780 as a port house, but it wasn’t until 2006 that they began the production of Douro DOC wines.  Their Tinto with its plethora of port grapes is very aromatic, with ripe red fruit, and plum. It is a very elegant and delicate wine with soft tannins and final long fruity and striking.
 
2011 Herdade do Esporão, Quatro Castas   $22
Alicante Bouschet, Aragonês, Petit Verdot, Syrah
Made from a blend of 4 grapes the Quatro Castas has predominately red berries aromas associated with Aragones. It has a full body palate from Syrah with attractive texture from Alicante and great balance from Petit Verdot.
 
Henriques & Henriques, Medium Rich 5 Year Old Madeira  $20
Madeira is Portugal’s other fortified wine.  Its unique character comes for heating the wine and exposing it to some oxidation.  Henriques & Henriques is the only Madeira producer with estate vineyards.  Their medium rich 5 YO is a blend of Tinta Negra Mole and Bual. The nose is dominated by a dry walnut husk and almost straw like character with a hint of burnt brown sugar and chocolate coming through.  The Palate has a real sense of freshness about it, with plenty of tang, plenty of orange and a really intense caramel and toffee sweetness. this is luscious through the mid palate and into the fresh and tangy finish.

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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.