This time of year the question arises what to serve with Thanksgiving Dinner.  There is advice in every newspaper and magazine you happen to open.  What goes with such an array of flavors?  Well the truth is that it is more wine than they would have you think.  Sure a few wines might not be the best choices but a vast number of wines fit the bill just fine.  Stop by the shop this Saturday when we’ll be pouring a flight of wines that we think will match your meal to a tee.

Case Bianche Prosecco Superiore DOCG Cognegliano Valdobbiadene Extra Dry  $16
There is never a wrong time for bubbles and the Case Bianche is a very high quality Prosecco that has all the right letters. DOCG.  It is round and supple with a dry-yet-fruity medium body, tangy green apple and mineral notes.

2013 L’Ecole  Chennin Blanc  $16
From our home boys in Walla Walla, this fresh and vibrant Chenin Blanc shows abundant expressive aromatics of jasmine, passion fruit, and orange blossom with flavors of star fruit and apple on a balanced, crisp mineral finish.  They have produced this old vine, crisp and aromatic Vouvray-style Chenin Blanc since 1987.

2012 Soléna, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Grand Cuvee $24
The Grand Cuvee is a combination of vineyards from though out the Willamette including Domaine Danielle Laurent (Yamhill-Carlton), Grand Cru Estates (Yamhill-Carlton) Hyland (McMinnville), Zena Crown (Eola-Amity Hills), Willakia (Eola-Amity Hills), Bailey (Chahalem) and Monk’s Gate (Yamhill-Carlton). It has a full fruity nose with a hint of violet. The brightness shows up front the vivacity of the fruit with layers of black and red cherry. The structure is round with just enough tannin on a light creamy coffee roast finish.

2011 Giralamo Russo, a Rina Etna Rosso $25
Nerrello Mascalese
Russo’s a Rina is a truly delicious wine grown on the north slopes of Mt Etna.  It has a nose of red fruits, pepper and wild flowers along with flavors of cherry, pomegranate, red current and a smoldering hint of smoke.  One sip and you’re hooked.

2011 Soos Creek Sundance, Columbia Valley Red Wine $20 
38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 15% Syrah, 13% Cabernet Franc
Sundance Red Wine uses fruit from the Charbonneau and Ciel du Cheval Vineyards.  The wine is medium bodied, with a delicious purity of fruit with cornucopia of flavor nuances — juicy cherry, raspberry, herb, spice box and cedar notes.

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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

This Sunday Sherry Expert Jeffrey Sisson on hand from 3-5PM to answer all your in-depth questions about Sherry.

Jerez de la Frontera, El Maestro Sierra Fino NV         $16
Jerez de la Frontera was fFounded in 1832 by José Antonio Sierra, who was the barrels maker for all the major Sherry houses, but longed to become involved in the Sherry trade itself. Eventually he became one of the top almacenistas of high quality Sherries. Poking fun at his struggle, the label depicts a fox hunt of that time period with the “nobles” hunting the fox (El Maestro Sierra). 100% Palomino grapes and aged for six years in the Solera and bottled straight off the lees with only a minimal cold stabilization before bottling. Yeasty and doughy notes with hints of brine. The palate is dense and full flavored with bright fruit and a nice salty component.

San Lúcar de Barrameda, La Cigarrera Manzanilla NV         $12
Bodegas La Cigarrera is located in the heart of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. This almacenista began operations in 1758, and cellar master Ignacio Hidalgo began bottling his own Manzanilla in 1997. La Cigarrera Manzanilla is aged four years in the Solera before being bottled. 100% Palomino grapes, this is vibrant and fresh with aromas of yeast and saline. The palate is rich and substantial.

Bodegas Grant Amontillado “La Garrocha” NV Cadiz,        $14
Bodegas Grant, located in the heart of the town of El Puerto de Santa María, has been owned by the same family since 1841. The Grant family are almacenistas who only recently began to estate bottle. Their label, La Garrocha, refers to a famous dance performed with a stick while on horseback. This Amontillado has spent nine years aging through the Solera system. The microclimate of the bodega produces a distinct flor that gives this sherry its unique characteristics. Made from 100% Palomino grapes, this is very floral with sweet nutty aromas. The palate is savory and dry with notes of walnuts, almonds and crystallized orange.

Cesar Florido Oloroso “Cruz del Mar” NV Chipiona,        $18
Bodegas César Florido was founded in 1887 and is currently maintained by César Florido, a descendant of the founder. The winery is the oldest bodega in the town of Chipiona. It is one of only two bodegas that are still operating outside of the cooperative. Chipiona is an area dedicated to growing Moscatel, but most of the wine produced here is sold in bulk to the big Sherry houses. 100% Palomino grapes, this Oloroso is aged for 12 years in solera. Elegant with brown, velvety aromas and a great palate that pairs wonderfully with red meat, game and mature cheeses.

Cesar Florido Moscatel “Pases” NV                 $18
When the grapes are harvested, the clusters are laid out in the sandy flats close to the ocean and left to dry for two to three weeks. Once the majority of the moisture is evaporated the grapes are crushed and fermented. Aged for nine years in the solera, and made with 100% Moscatel grapes. The flavors are concentrated and rich. This is a dessert Sherry with wild floral aromas along with intense flavors of figs, apricots and toffee.

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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

Bordeaux needs no introduction.  The home of Cabernet and Merlot in France has been an obsession for several centuries.  Like Burgundy, the vineyards have been ranked and classed for pedigree.  Unlike Burgundy, the production is bountiful. And while the prices of the first growths have long ago gone through the roof, there is plenty of quality affordable wine to be had.  Join us this Saturday as we try a small cross section of these wonderful wines.

2012 Grand Bateau, Bordeaux Blanc  $12
80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Semillon
From well-known Bordeaux producer Château Beychevelle, this sustainably grown blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc shows citrus and herbal characters with a touch of oak and mineral backbone and a modest 12.5% alcohol.

2010 Château D’Arvigny, Haut Médoc  $15
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
D’Avigny is the second wine of Chateau Beaumont.  It is characterized by supple; silky, feminine structure with mellow tannins.   The wine has aromas of ripe fruits and a smooth depth of flavor, along with dry mineraled tannins.

2009 Château Lyonnat, Lussac Saint-Emilion $24
85% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc
A long standing family estate, Lyonnat has 79 acres in this satellite of St. Emilion with several parcels of old vines. The wine sees 18 months in new oak barrels.  It is a classic right bank Bordeaux with good aging potential.  Notes of cedar wood, roasted herbs, loamy earth and soil undertones in addition to abundant black cherry and black currant fruit jump from the glass of this medium to full-bodied, earthy style of wine.  The palate is powerful and smooth, with very elegant and blended tannins.

2010 La Serene de Giscours, Margaux  $47
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
La Sirene is the second label of the third growth house Giscours.  The wine has woodland aromas, red and black fruit, chocolate notes and a beautifully structured palate with a long finish.  It is delicious to drink now but it will improve in the cellar.

2004 Chartreuse de Coutet, Sauternes  $20
75% Semillon, 23% Sauvignon, 2% Muscadelle
In 2004, warm and dry weather from mid-August to the end of September enabled the crop to reach optimum maturity. The botrytis took a long time to set in and, as a result, the harvest took 32 days and required numerous passages through the vineyard. The wine shows “notes of white and yellow fruits (pear, peach, and cherry plum) mixed with beeswax and crystallized quince. On the palate, one can detect a marriage of elegant, ‘old alcohol,’ fruit brandy, notes of spices and dried fruits… a very aromatic, well-integrated blend giving a small yet quite pleasant complexity, with finesse and a savory impression. The finish, with a small touch of caramel-toffee, lingers on an aromatic expression rather than power, giving this vintage a lot of charm.”

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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

We like wines that have been aged and are at their peak when we pull the cork.  The problem is that unless you have a cellar and some patience that is hard to achieve.  Sure that young 2009 Barolo with a bit of decanting and a bit of air taste great, but not as good as it will 5 to 10 years from now.  So we looked around to see what Barolo we could get with a bit of age on it.  Sunday the 23^rd you can come taste the results.

We’ll  be pouring :
2006 Scarzello Barolo $45  (2.5 cases available)
2004 L’illuminata Barolo Tebavio $65  (7 cases available)
2001 Fantino Barolo Dardi  $55  (8 cases available)
1997 Borgogno Barolo Classico Riserva  $142  (3 cases available)
1995 Bovio Barolo Vigna Gaterra  $90   (13 bottles available)

Space is limited to 12 people and we are taking prepaid reservations.  Contact us to save a spot.  It will start right at 5 when the shop closes and we’ll have some appropriate appetizers to match the wines.

Supplies are limited on these wines and we’ll be offering a 10% discount on orders.  They make great presents.

In addition to our occasional paid tastings, 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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample. Our next paid specialty tasting will be Vintage Champagnes on Sunday, December 7^th at 5PM.

This Sunday we continue our weekend theme of everything French – well, OK, two things French. Stop in on this drizzly day for these two lovelies…

2013 Les Perles Pays de L’Herault    ($10)
Piquepoul
Laguedoc
Picpoul is the grape, known as “the Muscadet of the South” in France. The Les Perles, made by Jérôme Calmes in the Languedoc, is a Lip Stinger! Pale yellow color with green tints the Picpoul has fresh and fine aromas of grapefruit, exotic fruit and lime.
12.5% alcohol by volume

2011 Château De Cabriac Corbières    ($11)
Carignan
Old-vine Carignan done in cement tank the way God intended. Dark and chewy with lots of cherry 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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.