This Saturday we are prepping for a feast and opening some wines that can handle all the diversity and cornucopia of flavors that is Thanksgiving.  They even make the relatives more agreeable. 
 
2014 Haden Fig Pinot Gris $19
Haden Fig is owned and run by Erin Nuccio who also merged with Evesham Wood in in 2010.  Both wineries emphasize minimal intervention in the winemaking.  This Oregon Pinot Gris is rich and layered from dry farmed grapes. It is Organic, Biodynamic, Sustainable and delicious.
 
2014 Claude Lafond La Grande Piece $13
Pinot Gris
From a single vineyard in the Loire, the Pinot Gris is left on its skins during its fermentation and the light pink of the grape transfers to the wine.  Light berry fruit and light apples notes with some herbal underpinnings. Was $20 now $13 
 
Jaillance, Cremant de Bordeaux, Cuvée de l’Abbaye Brut Rose  $14
100% Merlot
Jallance’s cellars at Pain de Sucre are built on a series of one-time quarries, hewn directly out of the rock, which ensures stability of temperature ideal for making sparkling wines.  Their Brut Rosé is vinified by the traditional method and sees 18 months of cellar ageing.  This wine has aromas of red fruit (raspberry and redcurrant) and a fresh hint of menthol. It has a creamy mousse. Flavors carry forward from the bouquet, with added persistent strawberry and a hint of vanilla on the finish.
 
2015 Evesham Wood, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $21
A blend of Illahe, Mahonia, Jubilee and Sojourner vineyards make up this dry farmed Pinot Noir.  This vintage of the WV blend shows a bright nose with cherry, earthy mushroom and a slight creamy/silkiness that’s balanced by juicy acid.   It is a great value in Oregon Pinot and always a shop favorite.

2013 Domaine Des Ronze,  Beaujolais-Villages $16
From a naturally farmed  vineyard of old vines on the edge of the Morgon appellation, Domaine Des Ronze has been run by the same family for 6 generations.  The Beaujolais is dominated by ripe red fruits is structured, layering tannins and intense fruitiness in harmony. The fruit has a pure, direct line of final acidity. 
 
2015 Dominio Basconcillos,  Vigna Magna,  Ribera del Duero 6 Meses  $19
Tempranillo
A new estate in the northern part of Ribera del Duero whose undulating and sloping terrain offers varied soil types (chalk, sand, clay, loam) and diversity of terroir within the contiguous property.  The farming is organic.  The state of the art bodega, is efficiently designed to obtain maximum quality.  Their 2015 is a powerful yet elegant wine with the ripeness of the fruit being tempered by grip by soft tannins layers of oak spice and 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.