The mushrooms are happy here in Madrona, as showers are forecast off and on through out the next week, mixed with a little sunshine to warm them up.  Perfect weather for fungi.  Meanwhile at Madrona Wine we are wetting our whistles with a more vinuos moisture.

Saturday we have a lineup of organic and biodynamic wines from around the world that have recently pleased our palate.
2015 Bonny Doon, Picpoul  (California)
2014 Reyneke, Vinehugger White  (South Africa)
2015 Doamine Saint Nicolas, Reflets Pinot Noir  (France)
2014 Bastide Miraflors, Côtes Catalanes, “Vieilles Vignes”   (France)
2014 Reyneke Vinehugger Red (South Africa)
Good taste knows no borders.

Sunday we tread the balance between sweet and bitter as we taste a new (to us) Malaga from 2006, a new (to the market) White Vermouth and a stalwart standard Sweet Vermouth.  Swing by and take a sip.

2006 Ordonez Malaga  $12
The 2006 Seleccion Especial is stainless steel fermented and  offers an alluring perfume of jasmine, honey, and tropical fruits. Medium-sweet, the wine is balanced by lively acidity.  Was $22 now $12

Vittore White Vermouth  $13
In 1904 Cherubino Valsangiacomo produced the first vermouth bottle, after 100 years, the fifth generation of the Valsangiacomo family is still making it with the ancestral formula devised by Benedetto Valsangiacomo.  The white is just slightly off dry with citrus notes and hints of Mediterranean herbs.  It is fresh with some natural bitterness and a long attractive finish.

Punt e Mes, L’ Oringinale Alternativa  $20
Italy Punt e Mes literally means “point and a half” in Piedmontese.  It has been said that it owes its name to a sudden raise of the stock market (naturally, of a point and a half) which greatly benefitted the Carpano distilleries, which then created the vermouth.

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.