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Sunday Sunny Spanish Sippers

June 30, 2013 / Jim / No comments

Values from Ribera Del Duero

This Sunday takes us to Spain for some summer sippers from the Ribera Del Duero region. Located in north-central Spain, to the southwest of Rioja, the high plain of Ribera del Duero is Tempranillo country, with nearly all of the best wines made entirely or almost all from this variety. As in Rioja, the spring comes late here; summer temperatures can be hot but the nighttime cools considerably at these altitudes, with the result that the wines from this region normally possess decent acidity and avoid overripe character.

Come taste for yourself.

2011 Bodegas Viña Vilano Verdejo ($10)

Ribera Del Duero

Bodegas Viña Vilano is located in the village of Pedrosa de Duero, province of Burgos, internationally regarded as the most privileged wine-growing region within the Designation of Origin of Ribera del Duero, with 300 hectares of vineyards dating back to its foundation in 1957. A tasty Verdejo with a good mix of tropical fruits and herbal notes. Quaffable.

2007 El Quintanal Joven ($10)

Tempranillo

Ribera Del Duero

A ripe and fruity old vine Tempranillo was once young but now has a good bit of bottle age on it after 3 months in oak. Still robust. Excellent for appetizers, pastas and red meats. Was $12 now $10

Category: In The Beginning /

Join Our Monthly Wine Club
Your Selections Are Available The First Week Of July.

June 23, 2013 / Jim / No comments

Can’t make the tastings, but still want to try new and interesting wines?

Sign up for Madrona Wines Monthly, our Wine Club where each month we pick unique selections from the hundreds of wines we taste each month. You get:

— A hand-picked selection of intriguing wines waiting to be discovered

— 10% off your wine club selections

— Discounts on our “Special Tastings” such as our Champagne Tasting in December

— A ready supply of delicious wines just waiting for a pull of the cork

We have several wine club levels to suit your pallet and pocket:

Everyday Exploration:
Good quality wines that don’t require a special occasion. This club gives you wine for good, everyday drinking. These selections from all over the world are meant to go with food. If you buy two or three bottles a week at the grocery store, we promise you that you’ll drink better with this club! Pick your favorites and come back for more.
Your choice of either six or twelve bottles a month. Choices all red, all white or 50%/50% or 60%/40%).

6 bottle selection: $50 – $75 plus tax
12 bottle selection: $100 – $150 plus tax

Connoisseur Classics:
Classic samplings from around the world. It could be a new Cabernet from Walla Walla, or an old Barolo from the Piedmont, but they all will be excellent wines that represent their place and style. We’ll pick from some of the most exciting wine we find each month. Take our choice or tell us your preferences, and we’ll hand pick to your interest.

3 bottle selection: $75 – $135 plus tax
6 bottle selection: $150 – $270 plus tax

Category: Madrona Wines Monthly /

Sunday Sippers, Rosé Tasting
June 23rd, 11-5pm

June 22, 2013 / Jim / No comments

This Sunday it’s a knock down rosé taste off pitting the Feisty French against the New World Americans. Representing France is:

2011 R. Dubois & Fils Rosé ($10)
Pinot Noir
Sister and brother Béatrice and Raphaël Dubois have been running the estate together since 2006, winegrower in Burgundy for nine generations. Today, the young generation of the family shows an unusual collaboration between Béatrice, who, being a winemaker, takes care of the vinification with passion and Raphaël who is responsible for the vineyard and the wine marketing. The vineyard covers today 23.5 hectares. A succulent pink to hold us over until the boats come in. Was $15 now $10

Weighing in for the Americans we have:

2011 Sorter Vineyards North Valley Rosé ($13)
80% Pinot Noir, 16% Chardonnay, 4% Gewürztraminer
A somewhat odd blend of grapes for a rosé, but it totally works. Nice strawberry flavors mixed with a bit of spiciness from the Gewürztraminer. Sustainable.

Category: Tasting Notes, Tastings & Events /

Terre Margaritelli,
June 9th, 11-5pm

June 16, 2013 / Jim / No comments

Round four of our Sunday Sippers Series. This week we head to Italy to the Terre Margaritelli winery. Since 1870, the Margaritelli family has tended 52 hectares in the center of Umbria between Perugia and Assisi in the noted wine region of Torgiano, one of the first Italian DOCs. Around thirty hectares are for regular production and market, while the other 22 hectares consist of experimental vines. The winery recently built an experimental wine laboratory which will work with small quantities of diverse varietals to test the production of each and to optimize the process of vinification, in relation to the specifications unique to the territory of Torgiano. But that’s all just background for this Sunday Sipper tasting. We will be featuring one of their whites and one of their reds.

2010 Terre Margaritelli Roccascossa ($9)
70% Sangiovese, 10% Canajolo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
From Umbria, a fresh all stainless Sangiovese blend. Was $12 now $9
Organic

2011 Terre Margaritelli Pietramala ($10)
85% Trebbiano, 15% Grechetto
From Torgiano, a small hill town in the heart of Umbria, the Pietramala has Meyer lemon, salt-water stream, and green olive aromas. Grassy aromas and good body. Was $12 now $10
Organic

Category: Tasting Notes, Tastings & Events /

Sunday Sippers
June 9th, 11-5pm
Château Petit Sonnailler

June 8, 2013 / Jim / No comments

Round three of our Sunday Sippers Series. This week we feature a little trip to France to balance Saturday’s trip to Italy. Château Petit Sonnailler is situated in the heart of Provence near Aurons, a small typical Provence village. The winery dates from the 10th century with the tower added later in the 12th century. The 45-hectare vineyard is located on chalky terrain and is farmed in the traditional way with several ploughings throughout the seasons. The vines are grown between 250 and 290 meters altitude on the North slopes, under the magnificent Provençal sky. Their words not ours, but no matter – come try these lovely French lovelies.

2011 Petit Sonnailler VDP Méditerranée ($9)
Grenache Blanc
A light and citrusy Mediterranean white. Perfect for Summer weather. 12.5 % ABV.

Was $10 now $9

2011 Petit Sonnailler VDP de Méditerranee Rouge ($10)
Greanche, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon
A Provence red full of sage and other herbal earthiness.

Was $12 now $10

Category: In The Beginning /

Sunday Sippers,
May 26th, 11-5pm

May 25, 2013 / Jim / No comments

Starting May 26^th we will be kicking off our Sunday Sippers Series. An excuse to stop by and taste some new and interesting wines. Each Sunday we will have both a red and a white open. This Sunday we are starting with the:

2011 Moser Grüner Veltliner ($10)
This wine is 100% Grüner Veltliner, Austria’s most widely cultivated varietal. It is a young light wine with a fresh and spicy nose. The palate is spicy with a fruity body featuring notes of mineral and pear. Comes in a 1 liter bottle, perfect for 4 people on a weeknight dinner.

2010 Tikves Vranec ($10)
An unusual red variteal from Macedonia, This Vranec is deep and rich like full bodied Zin, but with more tannins and chewiness. Fun and interesting.

Category: Tasting Notes, Tastings & Events /

Stop In For Some Liquid Sunshine.

May 19, 2013 / Jim / No comments

Category: In The Beginning /

Trust Me,
I Think She’d Like A Nice Bottle Of Wine Better…

May 12, 2013 / Jim / No comments

We are open today until 5PM for those last minute Mother emergencies. Stop on in.

Category: In The Beginning /

It’s a fast paced weekend at
Madrona Wine Merchants.

May 4, 2013 / Jim / No comments

Saturday

We are tasting some thoroughbred wines whole we wait for the Kentucky Derby at 3:24. Come pick a favorite.

Sunday

New works by Bob Perlman grace our walls and Bob will be here from 3 to 5 for the Artist’s Reception.

The imagery is mainly non-referential and admittedly ambiguous although I ultimately try to make a picture, that is, a composed image that has a visual logic to it: a top, a bottom, a near, a far, a sense of light, something implied or depicted with a feeling of completion and resolution. While I’m concerned about each aspect of the work, in the end the whole needs to be greater than the parts – the painting needs to come together. More important, it should invite the viewer to journey into its space and sense of place. –Bob Perlman

Category: Tastings & Events, What's Hanging In The Shop? /