This Saturday we are featuring some bold and beautiful wines from Spain starting with a crisp Cava and finishing with a dark and deep Priorat, along with a few delightful sips in between.  Come on by the shop and have a taste.
 
Ramon Raventos, Cava  $11
70% Xarel-lo, 20% Macabeo, 10% Grenache (Blanc de Noir)
A delicate bead with aromas of citrus and fresh green apple. Soft and elegant on the palate with notes of pear and toasted almond.
 
2017 Hiruzta, Guipucoa Txakolina Rosado  $18
60% Hondarrabi Beltza, 40% Hondarrabi Zuri
This classic Basque Rosé is redcurrant-pink in color with rich aromas of red and black fruits, such as strawberries, blackberries and black currants, over a citrus background and fine vegetal notes. Very fresh in the mouth with a balanced acidity accentuated by a hint of carbonic gas, offering a pleasing palate and a long, aromatic finish.
 
2010 Enate, Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon$ $17
A red wine from Somontano, the Enate Reserva has a broad, complex range of aromas: berries (blackberry, redcurrant), balsamic notes (mint) and a subtly spicy background (vanilla, pepper, bay leaf). Its structured palate lines the mouth with high-quality tannins. A long finish in the mouth recalling toast and bright tobacco.
 
2010 Bodegas Lan, Rioja Grande Reserva $25
90% Tempranillo from a selection of the best grapes coming from 30-year-old, low yielding bush vines in the Rioja Alta and 10% Mazuelo.  Lan’s GR is aged 24 months in American oak and French oak barrels, followed by a minimum of 36 months in the bottle.  The wine has aromas of ripe red fruits combined with spicy notes from the aging in oak (vanilla, cinnamon, fennel, licorice root) and tertiary aromas (leather, cigar box) from its prolonged bottle ageing. Full bodied and round, its mouthfeel is elegant and very well balanced.
 
2014 Cellers Unió, Roureda Llicorella Clàssic Priorat $25
50% Carignan, 25% Garnacha, 15% Merlot
Priorat’s steep slopes of licorella (brown and black slate) and quartzite soils, protection from the cold winds of the Siera de Monstant and a lack of water, leading to incredibly low vine yields, all work together to make the region’s wines unique. While similar blends could and are produced elsewhere, the mineral essence and unprecedented concentration of a Priorat wine is unmistakable. Unio’s Classic has drilling aromas of graphite and balsamic dark fruits.  Roaring berry, chocolate and pepper flavors get brushed aside by the tannic roughness of the finish. Give this plenty of air before pouring; drink through 2024.

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.