Located in Dallas Oregon just west of Salem, Illahe is and 80 acre estate of south-facing vineyards.  The mature grapes are dry farmed.  As one of Oregon’s few horse-powered vineyards, we utilize a team of Percheron drafts to mow and deliver grapes to the winery at harvest.  They do much of the winemaking by hand on small lots with age-old techniques and without enzymes or additives and still use a gentle wooden basket press for pressing.  This Saturday we’ll be tasting some of the fruit of their labor.  Come get a taste for yourself.
 
2014 Illahe Vineyards, Estate Gruner Veltliner  $18
Fremented partially in Acacia barrels, Ilahe’s Gruner has aromas of grapefruit, white pepper, lemon pith, sweet pea flower, licorice fern and tarragon.  The palate is lithe but commanding, tethered by wet stone minerality, fresh cut hay and a candied lemon.
 
2014 Illahe Vineyards, Viognier, Willamette Valley $18
Illahe’s Viognier has effusive aromatic notes of apricot, honeycomb, and peach pulp that leap out of the glass to greet the nose and are followed by more subtle notes of teatree oil, lime, and gardenia. The wine plays on the palate with a tantalizing acid backbone that is generous, opulent and unassuming.
 
2014 Illahe Vineyards, Tempranillo Rose  $18
Illahe’s Tempranillo Rosé is a whole-cluster pressed, resulting in a delicate wine with a pale salmon color and aromas of strawberries and cream, and a crisp, fleshy palate.
 
2012 Evesham Woods, Illahe Vineyard Pinot Noir $30
Evesham Woods uses fruit from Illahe vineyard is its larger production Willamette Valley blend, but the favorite, most expressive barrels receive additional age and make up this single vineyard Pinot. The wine is very forward with dark berries and a great velvety texture balanced with ample acidity. Only 300 cases were produced.
 
2012 Sparkman Cellars, Wilderness Red, Columbia Valley $20
37% Grenache, 24% Syrah, 24% Tempranillo, 5% Petit Sirah, 5% Touriga Naçional and 5% Petit Verdot.
As a bonus we had to include this last wine from Sparkman Cellars.  A few cases of their Wilderness red have flawed labels and to clear them out they have dropped the price.  The fruit for the Wilderness comes from Olsen, Klipsun, Red Heaven, Boushey and Lonesome Spring vineyards.  The wine has notes of graphite, spice, violets, blueberry, and blackberry with savory, ripe flavors, and a lengthy finish.  Was $30 now $20

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.