From every wine region, there are wines that never make it out of the local and into the export world, let alone into Seattle.  But every so often we get lucky.  This Saturday we’ll be pouring wines from five artisan wineries from Chile.  They are brought to us by Francesca Bravo a current Seattleite who wanted to bring these boutique wines from her native Chile to the Northwest. 
 
2015 Maurizio Garibaldi, Mako $18
Sauvignon Blanc
Maurizio Garibaldi is the third generation in his family to devote themselves to wine making. Two years ago, after accumulating experiences in various wineries in Chile, New Zealand, Portugal and France, he started his own project.  His Mako is an explosively expressive Sauvignon Blanc full of citrus, citrus and salt.
 
2015 Andes Plateau,  500 Cordillera de Los Andes $15
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Syrah, 2% Cabernet Franc   
Andes Plateau, refers not just about the altitude of the vineyards (500 meters) but also to the mountains themselves.  The Cabernet Sauvignon is fermented in stainless steel tanks, while the Syrah and the Cab Franc are fermented in open tanks to facilitate “Pigeage” (foot crushing).  The result is an elegant wine with red fruits, spices and black pepper notes and a good tannin structure.
 
2013 Puente Austral, Grand Reserva $14
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah
When Gabriel Edwards, took over his family’s vineyards (planted in 1945 by his grandmother Luz) in the Almahue Valley, he wanted to make his own wine.  The vineyards are ungrafted, non-clonal and organic and are mowed by sheep and plowed by horse.  The vinification is as natural as possible, with native yeasts and aging in used barrels that allow the fruit aromas to persist.
 
2014 Clos de Luz, Massa 1945  $19
Carmenere
Gabriel Edwards’ Massal 1945 Carménère comes from the oldest plots of the Almahue Valley.  The wine was fermented with natural yeasts and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels of different uses.  It has an expressive nose, fresh red fruit aromas, spicy notes such as black pepper and bitter chocolate.  It is balanced and elegant with a velvety texture, a round mid palate and a long finish.
 
2011 Blu  $30
92% Carrignan, 8% Syrah
Bluwines is a small family project born in 2010 to Paola Poblete, a Chilean oenologist, and her husband Ulf Bergman. The idea was to make a good wine, with a lot of dedication and care, but also to enjoy it.  They focus on Carignan which comes from 50-year-old vineyards in Cauquenes, Maule Valley, about 20-25 km from the coast.  The wine has complex aromas of red fruit and spices, full smooth tannins and a lingering 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.