Tom Hoffmann, in the yellow shirt, at the Artist Reception.
Archive for Jim
Saturday and Sunday at Madrona Wine
Saturday: We’ll be showing off some great wines from Witness Tree Vineyards starting at 2pm.
Sunday: We’re having an opening reception for the new art on the walls. Come take a gander at Tom Hoffmann’s stunning watercolors, meet Tom and try a couple of our thirsty artist wine selections, from 3 to 5 pm.
Category: Tastings & Events /
Sodovino, It’s Got To Go Red Hot Red Sale!!
Sodovino, a small but excellent micro winery, was happily located in the shadow of Safeco Field until construction forced them to move. That left them with the big problem of a lot of wine and a shortage of space to keep it. Desperate times require desperate measures.
We’re now offering special case discount
pricing on Sodovino wines.
If you have a cellar now is the time to stock up. If you don’t have a cellar, now is the time to start one. If you are planning a wedding, a graduation or any other event, think ahead and these great wines at fantastic prices. We are down to our last six cases, so don’t wait around – stop in today.
2007 Sodovino So’ Syrah
86% Syrah, 14% Mourvedre
So’ Syrah has a smooth full mouth feel with firm tannins and a long finish. Aged in 75% neutral French oak and 25% new American oak for 14 months.
Gold Medal Winner – Seattle Wine Awards 2010
Originally from the winery, $19, NOW $13
2007 Sodovino Red Wine
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Mourvedre, 23% Syrah
Aromas of cherries and fresh blackberries combine with forest floor and spicy cedar, followed by cherry liqueur, chocolate and vanilla on the palate. This wine has a full mouth feel with firm tannins, balanced acidity, and a long finish of cinnamon and cloves. Aged 15 months in new and neutral American and French oak.
Bronze Medal Winner – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Contest 2010
Originally from the winery, $19, NOW $13
Mixed Case – $11 / bottle
(any combination of Sodovino wines)
Full Case – $10/ bottle
3 cases or more – $9 / bottle
Category: Tasting Notes /
Open Today!
Sunday, August 19
2010 Laya
70% Grenache, 30% Monastrell
The Laya is a full and fruit packed Spansh blend from Bodegas Atalaya. Grown on high altitude vines in Almavasa, it is just another example of what great values new Spanish wines can be. Stop in and try it.
Category: In The Beginning /
Northwest Refreshers, Saturday, August 18th, 2pm
Beat the heat on Saturday by beating it up to the wine shop to check out some fresh and refreshing new local wines. We’ll have some bubbles, a little mystery, some refreshing reds and a little magic.
Treveri, Extra Brut, Columbia Valley $14
Chardonnay
Treveri Cellars is a newer addition to the Washington Wine scene that specializes in Methode Champenois sparkling wines. Winemaker Juergen Grieb learned his craft in Germany before moving to the states. This Blanc de Blanc is zero-dosage, completely dry, with hints of apple, complex yeast tones, and acidity. On top of that it is really affordable and NOT made by St Michelle. What else can you ask for?
2009 NW Vine Project, Riesling Willamette Valley $10
The Northwest Vine Project was born from the idea that delicious, mouth-filling wines can be handcrafted at reasonable prices. Partnering with a rotating selection of big name winemakers who usually aren’t named, they source good fruit and make a range of quality inexpensive wines. Sourced from the Hyland Vineyard in McMinnville from vines planted in 1971, the Riesling is elegant and complex with a soft, supple sweetness balanced by lively acidity.
2009 NW Vine Project Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $15
Blended from sites throughout the Willamette Valley and raised in stainless steel to maintain pure varietal fruit character and freshness with about a quarter new French oak for greater complexity and structure. This medium-bodied Pinot Noir has a straight forward appeal and matches well with a wide range of foods.
2009 Walter Dacon, Skookum Red $20
47% Sangiovese, 47% Syrah & 6% Grenache
Walter Dacon focuses on Rhone and Mediterranean style wines sourced from select vineyard sites in the Yakima, Columbia Valley. The Skookum Red has aromas of fresh blackberries, strawberry and black fruit, just lively enough not to be too tart. It is smooth and refreshing with only minimal tannin making it an excellent complement to summer fare.
2010 Sleight of Hand Cellars, Spellbinder Red $18
36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 5% Sangiovese, 4% Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot
Sleight of Hand Cellars, a tiny “garagiste” winery located in Walla Walla, is the brainchild of winemaker Trey Busch producing “Simply Magical Wines”.
The 2010 Spellbinder was aged in older French oak barrels for 11 months. The cooler growing season allowed for extended hang time for the fruit, allowing for full flavor development while retaining the natural acids that make this such a terrific food wine. Loaded with black and red fruits, this wine has supple tannins and it should age for a while, but it drinks so well right now, who can wait?
Category: In The Beginning /
Free Towelette From Madrona Wine Merchants.
For a limited time Madrona Wine Merchants is including a free reusable 100% Bamboo Fiber Towelette with every purchase – just wrap, add a little water, and presto, you have a 12″x20″ towelette. Great for cleaning up those wine spills. Handy to keep in the car for that last minute polishing.
Just our way of saying thank you for your business.
Category: In The Beginning /
Summer Italians Saturday, August 11th, 2pm
It is the dog days of Summer, but we have something to beat the heat. This Saturday will be pouring an intriguing line up of Italian wines that will tantalize the brain and sooth the spirit. These are no common pizza wines. We have a crisp Tocai, A horsey Tuscan blend, a monkish Schiava and a sparling Bonarda. Come and get refreshed.
2010 Sferracavallo, Pinot Grigio, Umbria $10
This Pinot Gris comes from hillside vineyards with chalky limestone and volcanic soil that surround Orvietto. The wine is crisp, fresh with a good spicy note.
2011 Bastianich Friulano Adriatico $18
100% (Tocai) Friulano
Friuli-Venezia Giulia lies in the far northeast corner of Italy. Bastianich’s vineyards there sit in two distinct zones. The original vineyard in Buttrio/Premariacco is influenced by the warmth of the sea and is famous for producing wines of great power. The second property, in Cividale del Friuli, is influenced by the bora, or north wind. With cooler nights, the wines are much more aromatic. Both areas share similar soil, ponca, the crumbly sandstone gives the wines their signature mineral backbone. The Adriatico is medium bodied with ripe, luscious pear flavors carried by a refreshing mineral flavor and zesty, mouthwatering acidity.
2010 San Felice Cantrada $10
50% Merlot, 40% Sangiovesse, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
This red wine was created for the Contrade of Siena to be served at their traditional banquets during the days of the Palio (a yearly horse race). Fresh, and fruity, the Contrada is a robust Tuscan food wine with scents of ripe cherries and violet, soft tannins and big bright fruit combined with a balanced acidity.
2010 Kalterersee Auslese ( Schiava) Alto Adige $17
Schiava (also known as Trollinger, Vernatsch or Kalterersee)
Novacella is an Augustinian monastery founded in 1147. Today the monks still make wine to support the monastery. This Northern alpine Italian red is light and fresh with aromas reminiscent of red summer fruits and cherry; succulent, gentle and fruity on the palate with soft, unobtrusive tannins, mild but refreshing acidity and a typical hint of almond on the finish.
2010 Castekki du Luzzano Bonarda Oltrepo Pavese Frizante $20
100% Croatina (Bonarda)
This Bonarda Frizzante is a sparkling red wine familiar in the north of Italy. The estate lies on a hill that borders the regions of Emilia Romagna and Lombardy. The wine possesses plenty of fruit, intense aromas of raspberry and a dry palate of great elegance. Fresh and unusual.
Category: Tasting Notes, Tastings & Events /
The wine regions of South Africa Saturday, August 4th, 2pm
This Saturday we are heading to the other end of the earth and exploring the wines of South Africa. The warm climate blended with cool breezes off the ocean come together to make for great grape growing. Each region excels in different varietals and we’ve found some excellent examples to show that off. Take a break from the Seafair frenzy and come tour the Cape.
2011 Badenhorst, Secateurs Chenin Blanc, Swartland $14
Badenhorst is a family estate in Swartland growing old bush vines that are bio dynamically farmed. The Chenin is full-bodied yet discreet and inviting, with herbal, floral and citrus flavors.
2011 Southern Right, Sauvignon Blanc Walker Bay
The estate is located only 3 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean and the cool breezes that come in off the ocean make this the coolest region for wine production in South Africa. The blanc has full aromas of lime and gooseberry and a touch of mineral along with flavors of lemon and pineapple.
2011 Boekenhoutskloof, Wolftrap Red, Franschoek $10
65% Syrah, 32% Mourvedre & 3% Viognier
The wine gets its name from the early settlers in the Franschhoek valley (where the Boekenhoutskloof winery is located) who built Wolftraps. The only problem is, there have never actually ever been any wolves in or around the region. The reds were fermented using selected Rhone strain yeasts. French oak matured with Viognier blended prior to bottling. Egg white fined. The wine has a spicy profile with ripe black fruit and violets with soft tannins, good density and a hint of oak.
2009 Spice Route, Chakalaka, Swartland $20
37% Syrah, 21% Mourvedre, 18% Carignan, 10% Petite Sirah, 10% Grenache and 4% Tannat
Swartland’s deep red soils sustain these unirrigated bush vines through the long warm summers. The harsh condition is tempered by cool Atlantic breezes rolling in overnight. The wine has initial smoky cloves and savory notes that give way to a plum and black cherry nose with hints of sweet oak spice.
2010 Fairview, Pinotage Paarl $15
The Fairview Pinotage is sourced from a number of different vineyards in the coastal region of Paarl. It is a classic example of this uniquely South African varietal. The wine is big and earthy with smoky aromas and lots of dark ripe fruit.
Category: Tasting Notes, Tastings & Events /
Madrona Wines Monthly August Selections.
Join Madrona Wines Monthly and get either six or twelve exciting new finds from our cellar. All wine club members get 10% off our normal price on each selection. 6 bottle selection: $50 – $75 plus tax. 12 bottle selection: $100 – $150 plus tax.
Six Reds
2010 Domain Montmartel Visan Côtes de Rhóne Villages ($15)
50% Syrah, 50% Grenache
Montmartel is a family run estate in Visan, a village in the Côtes du Rhône. The vineyards are certified Organic. The wine has more Syrah than most Southern Rhônes. Full good fruit, lush body. A big wine from a great vintage. Organic
2009 Château Haut-Colombier Blaye ($15)
90% Merlot, 10% Cab Franc
Côtes de Bordeaux
30 year old vines aged in 1/3 new oak, all for 15 bucks. Pencil lead, leather and dark fruit. Tasting good now and should get better.
2008 Château Fontaynes Cahors Cuvèe Dorian ($12)
Malbec
A packed Malbec from Cahors, with nice fruit up front and a big mouthfeel.
2008 Alighieri Bello Ovile ($10)
80% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, 5% Ciliegiolo
Rosso di Toscana
The descendants of Dante, who have been biding their time making beautiful Amarone, Branch out into Tuscany and put out this great deal in a Sangiovese blend. A little tar, a little dry berries, a little licorice.
2010 Rio Madre Rioja ($10)
Graciano
The Graciano grape has long been used in Rioja to add a wonderful floral bouquet and complexity to their blends. Rarely is it used on its own. Several years ago we noticed that our estate grown Graciano vineyards, which surround the town of Alfaro, were capable of producing a wine which exemplifies the best that the grape has to offer. The deep, almost opaque color, the exuberant aromas and luscious flavors of blackberries and cherries tell you this is not a Tempranillo. — winemakers note
2008 Eye of the Needle Merlot ($10)
Columbia Valley
A big bodied Washington Merlot at a little price.
Six Whites
2010 Domaine de Coujan Cépage Rolle ($10)
Vin de Pays Coteau de Murviel
100% Rolle from south France. Dry, full-bodied.
2010 Southard Columbia Valley White ($15)
65% Viognier, 35% Roussanne
A big bodied Rhône style white from east of the mountains.
2008 Moulin de Chauvigné Savennières ($15)
Chenin Blanc
This wine, made a small estate in Rochefort sur Loire, sees no oak and doesn’t undergo malolactic fermentation. It has lots of mineral notes coming from the schist soil, a crisp acidity and a rich and concentrated body with notes of clove and citrus. It is drinking great now and will develop with more age. Was $20 now $15
2006 Kloster Eberbach Steinberger Riesling ($12)
Rheingau
This semi sweet Riesling has lots of soft spicy fruit loaded with apricot, pear, and apple flavors. Big mouthfeel and a long finish. 9.5% alcohol. Try it with Thai or other spicey Asian food. Was $20 now $12.
2010 Botromagno Gravina ($10)
60% grecco and 40% Malvasia
A very floral and spicy white for Puglia.
2011 Vingnerons di Grimaud Cuvée du Golfe de Saint Tropez ($14)
60% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and 10% Carignane
A Provance Rosé that is light in color but full of crisp citrus and tropical flavors.
Category: Madrona Wines Monthly /
Meet The Grower And Owner Of Airfield Estates.
A funny thing happened on my next winery visit… doors opened and I’m greeted my Mike Miller, the grape grower and owner of Airfield Estates:
This visit I hadn’t set up in advance so it was an unexpected pleasure to have him give up 45 minutes of his day to talk about his wines, including his secondary label Lone Birch. His son is the winemaker (Marcus) who I briefly met (he was in the middle of wine experiments). Funny that all the winemaker’s I’ve met this trip have been men in their 30′s.
At Madrona Wine Merchants we carry the 2010 Airfield Estates Late Harvest Columbia Valley Riesling ($13 for 375ml). This lovely dessert wine has citrus, pineapple and apricot flavors and is no longer available from the winery. We even have one in the refrigerator, chilled and ready to drink.
Category: What We've Been Tasting /