It is a beautiful October weekend in Madrona.  Wine making is well underway up and down the west coast and the mushrooms are poking their heads up all over.  But this weekend at the wine shop we’ll be focusing on the rewards of past harvests.

Saturday we’re popping the corks on some well-structured and simple delicious wines out of California.  We think we’ve come up with a selection of solid wines that outperform their price tags.  But don’t take our word for it.  Come see for yourself.  The cork comes out of the Anderson Valley Brut at 2pm.

Sunday we’re featuring a couple of wines from an old favorite.Cháteau Coujan has been in the Guy family since 1868. The vineyards are located on hillsides at an altitude of 140 meters and grow in the sandy, gravelly soil of a very rare fossilized coral island, a former atoll of the Helvetien Sea. This unique land offers excellent drainage and allows vines to develop very deep roots.  

2014 Domaine de Coujan, Cépage Rolle         $11
Vin de Pays Coteau de Murviel
The new vintage of this 100% Rolle (Vermentino) from southern France. Nice full fruit with notes of melon and citrus. 13% alcohol by volume

 2013 Chateau Coujan, Saint Chinian    $11
40% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, 25% Syrah, 10% Cinsault
A great price for a Saint Chinian red.  The Coujan has right combination of earth, spice and dark fruit. 13% alcohol by volume

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.