The weather can’t seem to make up its mind this weekend here in Madrona.  Is it sunny or cloudy?  Will ti rain or is it snow?  While things here atmospherically sort themselves out, Here at Madrona Wine we’re sipping in sunnier places.

Saturday, it is summer in Chile and we’ll be pouring five wines from boutique, artisan wineries from that country. These wines just arrived in Seattle and show off Chile’s diverse viticulture.
2015 Maurizio Garibaldi, Mako $18
Sauvignon Blanc
2015 Andes Plateau, 500 Cordillera de Los Andes $15
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Syrah, 2% Cabernet Franc   
2013 Puente Austral, Grand Reserva $14
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah
2014 Clos de Luz, Massa 1945  $19
Carmenere
2011 Blu  $30
92% Carrignan, 8% Syrah

Sunday we’ll be tasting two wines from the El Coto winery in Rioja. El Coto was founded in 1970 and its first bottling was released in 1975. El Coto’s 1,200 acres of estate vineyards are located in all three subzones of Rioja: Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa focusing on the specific character of each region.  This Sunday we’ll be sampling their fresh Viura based Bianco and their beautifully developed Reserva from 2005.  Age has its beauty. 

2015 El Coto Rioja Blanco $12
Viura
The El Coto Blanco is intensely aromatic, well balanced, with body and the fruit has a refreshing tart character. Pleasant acidity combines perfectly with an exquisite aftertaste of flowers, fruit and fine herbs.

2005 Coto de Imaz Rioja Reserva $20
Tempranillo, Graciano
Aged for 18 months in American oak, this Reserva has a fragrant nose of cedar, rose petal, cherry, and cassis that jumps from the glass, on the palate it displays an elegant personality, good concentration, savory flavors, and smooth structure. Was $25 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.