‘Tis the Season! And this Saturday we’re pouring a lineup of robust wines for the holidays that work well for celebrating and gifts.  Come raise a glass with us.

2014 Cà dei Frati,I Frati, Lugana $19
Trebbiano
The I Frati is grown on the glacial soils south of Lake Garda from 10 to 35 year old vines. The warmer days give wine more weight and intensity than those from to the east. The cool nights from the moderating influence of the lake ensures the grapes retain nice aromas and acidity. This complex, lees aged white has concentrated, fresh aromas of white flowers, peaches and ripe lemons. On the palate it has excellent depth and richness and a lovely crisp, lively finish.
 
2011 Basel Cellars, Claret  $20
45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42 Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec, 6% Merlot
The new vintage of this favorite Bordeaux style blend from Walla Walla is from the cooler 2011 vintage.  The wine spent 20 months in barrel and shows hints of ripe cherry, cedar, perfume and pencil shaving aromas. Its red berry fruits integrate well smooth tannins and a good acidity framing the structure. The wine is classy and restrained with dark fruit and lingering notes of tobacco and leather.
 
2012 Ancient Peaks, Zinfandel  $18
Ancient peaks estate Margarita Vineyard stands alone as the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles region, tucked beneath the peaks of the Santa Lucia Mountains just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The Zinfandel offers fresh aromas of raspberry jam and dried cherry with notes of white pepper and cocoa. Supple, rounded flavors of briary blackberry, cherry and cedar unfold with trailing vanilla accents. A savory spiciness lingers on a smooth, refined finish.
 
2008 Scacciadiavoli, Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG $40
Sagrantino is indigenous to the hills of Montefalco in Umbria It is believed that the name comes from the early cultivation of the grape by monks for sacramental uses (Scacciadiavoli means drive away devils). What better holiday wine?  The wine is a dark purple, nearly black color with thick legs, and aromas of intense red fruit, plums, spice earth and leather. It has a big flavor with lots of good mouth drying tannins.
 
2011 Chateau Loupiac Gaudiet   $18–750 ml & $10–375ml
95% Semillon, 3% Sauvignon. 2% Muscadelle
A satellite of Sauternes, Château Loupiac Gaudiet’s vineyards face southward, on the hills that overlook the river Garonne in the village of Cadillac with vines that average 47 years. The morning mists and sunny autumn afternoons enable the “Botrytis Cinerea” to develop.  The grapes are picked by hand, in successive harvesting as soon as the Botrytis Cinerea appears.  This makes a great dessert wine with notes of passion fruit, dry apricots and honey. The taste is a delicious combination of crispness and rich fruit.

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.