Wine from California is epitomized by the high end Napa trophy wines Like Screaming Eagle on one end and Two Buck Chuck on the other.  In between these extremes there is a lot of quality wines at reasonable prices.  This Saturday we’re going to sample just a few of these.  To call them value wines seems a bit demeaning, but they are all great tasting and affordable. Come have a sip from the south.
 
2011 Grey Wolf Cellars, Barton Family, Blanc y Blanc,  $15
Grenache Blanc, Chenin Blanc & Sauvignon Blanc 
From Paso Robles Grey Wolf’s blend of blancs is a refreshing white with aromas of honey, lemongrass, and stone fruit. The palate is clean with bright lemon-lime notes, a bit of creaminess and a touch of minerality.
 
2012 Starry Night, Russian River Chardonnay,  $18
Made from grapes grown in the rolling hills above the Russian River in an area marked by cool refreshing nights and long warm summer days, The Starry Night is barrel fermented in a combination of French and American oak. It shows round and full rich flavors of apples, pears and vanilla with a warm creamy and roasty finish
 
2010 Tobin James, Notorious Cabernet Sauvignon,  $19
From Paso Robles fruit, the Notorious is an easy drinking style Cab that is medium bodied with a refreshing, polished palate of flavors, this wine is a hedonist’s delight. Boysenberry and blackberry emerge first while the surprisingly soft tannins manage to support the steady procession of flavors without being overpowering.
 
2011 Scotto Cellars, Nightfall Petite Sirah,  $13
From Lodi, the Nightfall Petite is as dark as the night and as clear as a starry sky.  This non-petite Petite has notes of black current, plum and roasted meat note along with some firm tannins.
 
2011 McNab Ridge Mendocino Zinfandel,  $17
95% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah
The Parducci family is no longer part of the winery that bears their name, but they are still making wine.  Their Mendocino shows off the essence of the fruit.  It exudes berry flavors and is infused with pepper and spice. It is a California classic.

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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.