Bill Easton started his winery in 1986 on the West Slope of the Sierra Nevada in Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley. His Terre Rouge wines focuses on classic Rhône varieties while Easton Cellars he uses for traditional California varietals. “Terre Rouge” means red soil, which can be found in the volcanic and granitic soils of the vineyard. The Estate is sustainably & organically farmed, the winery is solar powered and the uses recycled glass. They also have estate owls on the property for rodent control. Bill prefers organic farming. “With organic farming you are growing the soil and not just growing the plants.” Stop in on Saturday and try these original wines from Amador.
2012 Easton Sauvignon Blanc Monarch Mine Vineyard $17
Monarch Mine Vineyard is planted on a rocky site at 2500’with two clones of Sauvignon Blanc, Clone One (brisk) and Musque (floral, viscous). The wine is co-fermented then aged for nine months in neutral French oak barrels on lees before bottling. It does not undergo malolactic fermentation and therefore retains its delicious crispness. Its brisk mineral and key lime notes are rounded out by casaba melon and papaya flavors.
2011 Terre Rouge, Tete a Tete $19
The Tete a Tete is blended from more forward lots of Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache, with meaty, smoky, spicy complex characteristics. “This easy drinking Rhône blend is the perfect wine to have a head to head, or heart to heart conversation with your best friend.
2011 Terre Rouge Cotes L’Ouest Syrah $18
The Cotes L’Ouest is Blended from 60 % lower elevation sites with 40% high elevation vineyards. The wine has a clean purity of Syrah fruit that is reminiscent of a St. Joseph in the Northern Rhône. It is lush and supple with key notes of raspberry, smoke, pepper, and cinnamon.
2012 Easton Zinfandel $18
The Easton Zin is blended from 25, 40, 60 and 80 year old vines, then aged in new and aged French oak for 10 months. It is easy drinking and soul satisfying. The 2012 has full black cherry and blackberry fruit aromas with a beautiful balance and a big, sumptuous, and juicy mouth feel. It also presents complex spicy aromas, with a nice creamy texture.
2011 Terre Rouge Mourvèdre Mourvedre $28
The Terre Rouge Mourvèdre is made with long lees contact to help broaden and fill the middle palate with great textural sensations. It’s like a true Bandol without the funk. The classic game, meat, smoke, blackberry characteristics of Mourvèdre is the perfect match for wild game, leg of lamb with olives, and smoked sausages. The 2011 was voted Mourvèdre of the Year by Wine and Spirits Magazine.
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.