Saturday should be warm and sunny with the sounds of Blue Angles overhead and Hydroplanes from the lake.  And at two well be pouring a lineup of fine Italian wines that will soothe the nerves, wet the pallet, and refresh the mind.  Stop in and give them a try.
 
2012 Orsolani Erbaluce di Caluso DOC $14
Caluso might be one of Piedmont’s more obscure DOCs, but it produces some very tasty whites.  The Orsolani family’s Erbaluce has herbal floral notes along with green apple aromas.  It has a dry medium body, high acidity, and finishes with more flowers, stone fruit, and mineral notes.
 
2013 Cantina il Gorgo, Custoza , San Michelin $15
Cortese, Tocai, Trebbiano , Garganega.
The wine may sound like a battle between a Japanese Si-Fi monster and the tire company’s mascot, but this reserve white from the particularly rocky and calcareous soil of Veneto is aromatic and persistent, with scents of ripe fruits and citrus. It is smooth and velvety, full-bodied and has a lingering finish.
 
2012 Gulfi  Rossojbleo  $18
Nero d’Avola
An organic winery in Sicily, Gulfi specializes in the local grape Nero d’Avola.  Their Rossojbleo has aromas of plums, blackberries and silky tannins, lively acidity, and a touch of spice.
 
2012 Gulfi ,Cerasuolo di Vittoria  $20
50% Frappato, 50% Nero d’ Avola
Gulfi’s blend from Sicily’s only DOCG is refreshing and bright.  The Frappato brings freshness, acidity and drinkability to this wine, while the Nero adds structure and depth.   The wine is aromatic with cherry, peach notes and a hint of salinity. 
 
2012 Sassetti, Montecucco Rosso  $15
60% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot,  20% Syrah.
Montecucco borders Brunello di Montalcino, and on the other side the Maremma. Its soil is sandy and full of clay, with the protection of the ancient and extinct volcano Mt. Amiata that overlooks and protects the vines.  For more than a century, the Sassetti family has been producing wine in the region.  Lorenzo Sassetti makes the wine using time-honored traditions, including hand harvesting, giant  oak botte, and spontaneous fermentations in accordance with the phases of the moon and organic farming regulations.   Their Montecucco is rich, full with lots of dark fruit restrained tannins and some olive and mineral notes.

Saturday is the last day of the Tour de France and by the time we open we’ll know who crossed the line first.  At 2pm we’ll be celebrating some winners of a different kind with a tasting of French wines that endure the test.  One sip and you’ll want to finish the bottle. 
 
2012 Domaine Trotereau Quincy $19
Sauvignon Blanc
Quincy was the second recognized appellation in France, second only to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Southwest of Sancerre, this relatively small appellation of 200 hectares has sandy, silex-ridden topsoil with an undercurrent of pink limestone.  Sauvignon ripens fully here while retaining a very interesting aromatic profile, with violet and lavender notes along with full fruity citrus.  The Trotereau gives a lot of Sancerre a run for the money.
 
2013 Triennes Rosé $16
Mostly Cinsault with some Grenache, Syrah and Merlot
Triennes is a reference to Triennia, the festival for Bacchus, which was held every three years during Roman times.  The winery was started by two Burgundians, Jacques Seysses and Aubert de Villaine, joined by a Parisian friend, Michel Macaux, who wanted to develop the potential of Provence wine.  The Treinnes Rosé has a bouquet of strawberries and white flowers with hints of vanilla and smooth full fruited mouthfeel.
 
2012 St Germain, Rouge de Savoie, Vieilles Vignes  $17
Gamay
This non-Beaujolais Gamay comes from old vines in the Savoy.  It has wonderful savory aromas, a bit of a saltiness in the mouth from the limestone, and pretty good grip in the mouth with a bit of tannin as well to balance the red fruit.  It is a great summer red that can be served slightly cool.
 
2011 Château L’Ermitage Rouge  $10
40% Shiraz, 40% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache.
L’Ermitage’s rouge has a modern feel. On the nose there are plum, blueberry and cassis notes along with a little cinnamon. It is spicy and ripe on the palate and finishes with supple tannins.
 
2010  Triennes, Saint Auguste  $18
Syrah, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot
Saint Auguste is Triennes’ flagship wine, coming from a selection of their best cuvées.  The wine is rich with alluring aromas of ripe black cherries, nutmeg and clove.  The palate is full of life with plenty of structure.  Drink it now or watch it develop over the next ten to fifteen years.

Join us on Saturday as we do a bit of the Tour de France with two side trips into Spain and Italy.  It is a great line up of Old World wines that have come our way at solid prices.  Stop in and have a sip with us.

2009 Château de la Bigotière, Muscadet Sur Maine  $11
Melon de Bourgogne
Chateau de la Bigotière located in the the Loire Valley, is made up of 54 hectares, cultivated by the same family for three generations. The wine has floral aromas, and a distinctive sur Maine character. It shows a lot of body due to the ripe year, but it still has enough crispness to make it good with the standard shellfish.
 
2013 Torre Gajo Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie  $11 ltr.
A Pinot Grigio from a growers’ cooperative in a big bottle, the Torre Gajo is a great value with good body and crisp spicy fruit.
 
2013 Cave de Loire, Les Caprices d’Ines Rosé d’Anjou, $12
Grolleau
Grolleau is derived from the French word grolle, “crow” for the deep black berries of the grape. It is commonly made into rosé wine in Anjou. Les Caprices has a beautiful dress with pink highlights. The palate is frank and flavors already present in the nose grow in a balance of sweetness and freshness. Tasting is extended by a good length.
 
2012 Bodegas Isidro Milagro, 5 Oros Rioja, Vendimia Seleccionada  $12
Garnacha
From 25 to 50 year old vines in Rioja, this Grenache has bold, dark cherry flavors with spicy tannins and hints of chocolate.
 
2010 Château Franc Grâce-Dieu,  Saint Emilion Grande Cru  $29
70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc
Situated beside Château Figeac and 2 kilometers from Chateau Cheval Blanc, Franc Grâce-Dieu benefits from a complex soil of brown sand, clay and rich iron deposits. This “privileged” terroir produces well-structured and well balanced wines with pronounced red-fruit aromas, leaving a velvety mouth feel with a cashmere-like silkiness. It is a rich and complex Bordeaux with a lot of leathery & mineral nuance.

Today Madrona Wine Merchants we are celebrating the World Cup Final with the Madrona Wine Cup Final – its Germany vs Argentina. Whichever sells the most is the winner! Come vote with your pocketbook.

Representing Germany we have:

2010 Lenz Moser Grüner Veltliner    ($10)
Austria
Light with spicy overtones.
12% alcohol by volume

And representing Argentina:

2012 Altos las Hormigas Colinia las Liebres    ($8)
Bonarda
Mendoza Region
Bright raspberry fruit flavors. Rich and tasty. Take this bunny home with you.

As a bonus round, from 3-5pm we are having an artist’s Reception for Shirley Rudolph’s new show Wine and Roses.

How cool can you get? With the air-conditioning on, we know cool.

July 14^th is Bastille Day — commemorating the start of the French Revolution.  To celebrate we’ve rounded up a rabble of rosés crisp and fresh enough to quell any monarchy.   Stop by on Saturday and take some home to the stockade.

Dopff & Irion, Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rosé   $18
Pinot Noir
A sparkling rosé from one of our favorite Alsace winemakers, the Brut Rosé is a light pink with tinges of orange. The bouquet is full of red berry fruit with a lively, round and elegant palate with pleasant, long-lasting aromas.

2013 Bieler Pere Et Fils, Rosé Provence   $10
55% Syrah, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Grenache, 3% Cinsault, 2% Rolle
This rich, deeply colored rosé from 5 hillside vineyards of Coteaux d’Aix en combines the rich flavors of a red wine with the refreshing qualities of a white. The Bieler Rosé is cranberry-red in color with aromas of raspberry, cherry, strawberry and a distinct minerality. The finish is long and refreshing.

2013 Château D`Or Et De Gueules, Les Cimels Rosé  $13
40% Mourvèdre, 40% Cinsault, 10% Syrah, 10% Grenache
Another outstanding Nimes pink the Les Cimels has a light gooseberry color. Its elegant nose combines harmonious aromas of fresh fruit.  The mouth is all together crunchy, full, long and complex.  The description sounds better in French but you get the idea.

2013 Domaine Sainte-Eugénie Corbières Rosé   $10
80% Cinsault, 10% Grenache, 10% Syrah
This Cinsault heavy rosé comes from 30-50 years old vines.  It has an attractive raspberry-pink color. And displays fresh raspberry notes with a slight touch of mineral and dried herbs with a dry finish.

2012 Secco Italian Bubbles Brut Rose , IGT Veneto  $12
80% Raboso Piave, 20% Pinot Noir
After we storm the Bastille we head down to Italy to finish with some more bubbles.
Like kids in a candy store, this unusual blend from Prosecco country is a
combined effort from Charles Smith and two Venetian sisters, Ginevra and Olivia
Casa.  The wine has a brilliant color, with notes of rich strawberry and Italian
cherry along with subtle biscotti and a hint of red vines and Necco Wafer.

This Sunday it is Madrona vs. France as we try a lovely white and a red in the World Wine Cup competition.

Stop by this Sunday for our French Sippers from 11-5. These two guys just arrived in our shop and I’m excited to try them. Come join me.

2011 Perrier Chignin Bergeron    ($12)
Roussanne
A Rousanne from Savoie with notes of apricots and violets. Was $20 now $12

2013 Domaine de Thulon Beaujolais Villages    ($10)
Gamay
A clean and mineraled gamay with good cherry fruit.
12.5% alcohol by volume