Welcome to sunny Portugal as we try a lovely red and white from the Land of Ports….
2009 Quinta do Infantado Douro Red ($14)
30% Touriga Franca, 30% Touriga Nacional, 30% Tinta Roriz, 10% Other red varieties
A full rich estate red from a quality Port producer. Lots of ripe pie cherry, Kirsh, and smooth tannins.
2011 Quinta das Maias Vinho Branco ($10)
Malvasina Fina, Encruzado, Sercial and Verdelho
A dry Portugese white with, full and rounded flavors of melon and apple.
This Saturday we have a great tasting of Rhône wines from Xavier Vignon featuring his 2007 Châeauneuf du Pape. It is one you won’t want to miss. That starts at 2pm.
Sunday Mark will be pouring two new Portuguese wines for all the dads on Father’s day.
Take a break from the World Cup and stop on by.
Saturday June 14th, 2pm
Xavier Vignon, an oenologist from the University of Montpellier, worked as a winemaker in Alsace, Champagne, Saint-Emilion, Burgundy and Languedoc-Roussillon before settling in the Rhône Valley 15 years ago. Xavier is the consultant oenologist for large number of Châteauneuf du Pape estates, including prominent estates like Raymond Usseglio, La Gardine, Jerome Quiot, Beaurenard, La Nerthe, Mont Redon, Marcoux, Grand Veneur. In 2002 he decided to start making his own wine from purchased grapes from his many contacts. This Saturday we’ll be trying a great line up of his wines. Don’t miss it.
2012 Grimaud, Cuveé du Golfe de St. Tropez Rosé $10
Syrah, Grenache, and Cinsault
Before we jump into the Xavier wines we’ll be pouring this lighter rosé with peach and strawberry notes is priced to move as the 2013 gets delivered on Monday.
Was $16 now $10
2013 Le Petit Xavier Blanc $17
50% Sauvignon, 30% Picpoul, 20% Grenache Blanc
The Le Petit wines are blended from grapes from the Languedoc and the Rhone that Xavier epitomizes as “Fruit, flowers, spices & foremost fun”. The blanc offers notes of citrus, tropical fruit followed by floral white flowers. On the palate the wine offers plenty of freshness.
2013 Le Petit Xavier Rouge $17
50% Syrah, 50% Grenache
The Le Petit rouge displays notes of pepper, red fruits, and floral notes including violet. The palate is rich, fresh with a mineral finish.
2010 Xavier, Cotes du Rhone $17
60% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah
A very solid Rhone assembled from a large number of plots throughout the appellation combining the many soils types that can be found in the Rhone valley: limestone, clay, clay and limestone, or grave. Parker: “the 2010 Cotes du Rhone was aged in wood barrels (one-third) and tank (two-thirds). It possesses copious notes of garrigue, loamy soil, balsam wood, underbrush, kirsch and blacker fruits. This medium-bodied 2010 is ideal for consuming over the next several years.”
2007 Xavier, Châteauneuf-du-Pape $50
55% Grenache, 35% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah
This CNDP is a blend of the three soil types of Châteauneuf-du-Pape soils: galets roulés, sand and terres graveleuses. The Grenache comes from 90-year-old vines, the Mourvedre from 75-year-old vines, and the rest from vines of at least 25 years of age. The Grenache is aged in tank and the Syrah and Mourvedre are kept in small oak casks. Parker: “The 2007 . . . exhibits an extraordinary bouquet of garrigue, smoked meats, black cherries, blackberries, licorice and Asian soy. With stunning power, opulence, body, richness and purity, this brilliant Chateauneuf du Pape will age effortlessly for 15+ years.”
There is lots going on Madrona Wine Merchants this Sunday—from 11-5pm we have our Strange Bedfellows Sunday Sippers.
This Sunday we are exploring a crisp German and dark and lenghty Frenchman. Strange bedfellows indeed – enjoy the Rosé on the deck while manning (or womanning) the barbeque and the Red with the meal. Stop in for a sample…
2013 Von Buhl Spätburgunder Trocken Rosé ($20)
Pinot Noir
An ultra-crisp pinot rosé with good solid fruit underlying the bright acidity.
12.5% alcohol by volume
2011 Domaine Ollier Taillerfer Les Collines ($14)
Carignan, Grenache, Syrah
Faugères
A dark and lenghty Languedoc red.
Suzanne Brooker
Women in Paint
May 4th-June 29th 2014
ARTIST RECEPTION: June 8th from 3-5PM
This collection of paintings includes portraits from naturalistic realism to interpretations of invented color that express human gesture.
Suzanne teaches drawing and painting at the Gage Academy of Art. She is the author of Portrait Painting Atelier: Old Master Techniques and Contemporary Applications, (Watson-Guptil 2010). Her second book, The Elements of Landscape Oil Painting: Techniques for Rendering Sky, Terrain, Trees and Water will be available in spring 2015.
Saturday, June 7th, 2pm
This Saturday California Chrome will try to win the Triple Crown at Belmont Park, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since 1978. And it will be no surprise if he crosses the finish line first. But we have lined up some surprises on Saturday. We’ll be tasting some fresh and unusual wines that will get you ready for summer. Stop by and give them a try.
Marcato, Lessini Durello 36 Mesi, Brut Metodo Classico $18
85% Durella, 10% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Nero
Made from the grape Durella and aged in underground caves for at least three years. The Lessini has complex aromas of white wild flowers and white-fleshed fruits with hints of toasted bread. Rich in texture, it has a good acid balance with a great deal of minerality and a long finish. It is a great deal in quality bubbles.
2012 Valle del’Acate “Tenuta Ibidini” Insolia Sicilia $15
100% Insolia
From eastern Sicily the Inzolia is a crisp, unoaked, fruity dry white that highlights the varietal’s natural citrusy profile with surprising mineral verve. It is a refreshing summery wine.
2013 Domaine de Pellehaut, Harmonie de Gascogne Rosé $11
Tannat, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec
A delicious rosé from an unusual set of grapes, The Harmonie has aromas of gooseberry, raspberry, & flowers. On the palate it shows remarkable balance between freshness and richness.
Cocchi, Americano Bianco Vermouth $21
Cocchi’s Aperitivo Americano has been made continuously since 1891 using only natural ingredients. On the nose you initially detect notes of orange zest, orange flower and elderflower before more mature aromas of baked apple and pear drops emerge. Your palate will immediately appreciate the bitter/sweet balance as more bitter notes mingle with honey and citrus flavors, mainly orange and lemon zest.
Aperitivo Cappelletti $20
The Italians are fond of infusing wine with bitter herbs to make aperitifs, and Cappelletti is one of the bitterest. But blended with sparkling wine or soda water it is a refreshing start to just about anything. Cappelletti may be the oldest of its style still in production. It is made with traditional, all natural ingredients.
Château Moncontour is one of five estates in the Loire run by the Feray family. The Chateau overlooks the Loire River, and extends over the hillsides in the heart of the Vouvray, with stunning views over the whole Loire Valley. This Thursday we will be having a special tasting of a few of their wines. Thibault Poisson from the estate will be here to talk about their exciting wines. We’ll stay open a bit late just to make sure you can make it after work.
2011 Chateau Moncontour Vouvray Sec $17
Chenin Blanc
Vouvray doesn’t have to be sweet. The Sec has a fresh nose of white flowers and green apple aromas – clean and soft in the mouth with a nice acidity, and a long delicate finish.
2013 Le Grand Bouqueteau Chinon Rosé $17
Cabernet Franc
From the village of Chinon, Le Grand Bouqueteau rosé is dry and crisp with aromas of ripe fruit, strawberry, pear and roses.
2012 Le Grand Bouqueteau Chinon $17
Cabernet Franc.
The full red brother to the rosé, this classic Chinon ha a powerful nose of coffee and of red fruits with a hint of spice. – The body has soft mineraly tannins with a medium body and a lingering finish.
2010 Cox Malbec IGP du Lot $13
Not from the Loire, but Thibault’s side project, this Malbec from Cahors is a refreshing summer wine. Cox is the word for ladybug, and this lady has intense aromas of berries, red fruits and violet. The body has soft juicy tannins, and a stylish, rich attack.
This Sunday we are exploring France with a tasty rosé and a lighter red – perfect to enjoy now that the warm weather and sun are with us. Stop in for a sample…
2013 Château Routas Provence Rosé ($12)
45% Cinsault, 35% Grenache, 20% Syrah
Mint aromas, bright red fruit, and watermellon rind.
13% alcohol by volume
2011 Chartreuse de Moungéres Le Pèlerin ($10)
30% Syrah, 70% Grenache
Pays de Caux
A lighter Languedoc Red that as the winemaker says is “very accommodating on the palate.”
Was $12 now $10
13% alcohol by volume
Saturday, May 31st, 2pm
“They will blossom as the vine, their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.” —Hosea 750 BC
Lebanon is one of the world’s oldest wine growing regions. Most of the vineyards are located in the picturesque Bekaa Valley. The Bekaa enjoys dry summers and has its own natural irrigation courtesy of the melting snow that runs off the slopes of the surrounding mountain ranges. Saturday we’ll be tasting the work of two Lebanese wineries:
Château Ksara is Lebanon’s oldest and largest winery, dating back to 1857, when it was founded by a group of Jesuit monks. All of Ksara’s vineyards are located in the central and western Bekaa Valley, at an average altitude of 1,000 meters.
IXSIR is a newer winery with selectively chosen vineyards throughout Lebanon, spread from Batroun in the North, to Jezzine in the South, and the hillsides of the Bekaa Valley in the East.
2009 Ksara Blanc De L’Observatoire $13
Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat and Clairette
The Sauvignon gives finesse and elegance, the Muscat subtle flowery aromas, and the Clairette Fruity richness
2012 Ixsir Altitude White $20
40% Muscat, 30% Viognier, 15% Sauvignon, 15% Sémillon
This blend of four noble southern varieties, presents an elegant swirl of golden glittering robes. Breathing an exquisite bouquet of floral aromas with hints of Muscat and notes of grapefruit, this floral and fruity blend translates into a balanced and sharp palate hinted with spicy undertones. A soft touch of acidity gives the wine a pleasant freshness.
2009 Ksara Le Prieurée $13
This is a bright and intense ruby-red wine, with an exotic, fruity aroma with notes of licorice and spice. Made from Cinsault, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, it is a classic yet supple wine, perfect for daily consumption.
2010 Ixsir Altitude Red $20
35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Syrah, 26% Caladoc, 17% Tempranillo.
With a black cherry color and garnet reflections, this wine unleashes fresh aromas that vary between red and black fruits, with a touch of oak. Its unique blending gives the wine a supple and delicate character where blackcurrant and blackberry merge.
2009 Ixsir Grand Reserve Red $36
61% Syrah, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon
Rich in minerals and saturated with Mediterranean character, this wine unleashes exuberant aromas of mature fruits and spices. Its concentrated taste enrobed in a fine texture gives it an attractive liveliness, while its rich and mellow yet always-complex palate lasts until the final touch of fruit.
May 25th, 2014, 11-5PM
Italian BBQ Reds.
2012 Tasàri ($9)
55% Nero d’Avola, 45% Merlot
A powerhouse Sicilian blend, with lots of plum, blackberry, licorice and road tar. Not subtle, just a lot of flavor.
2008 Manzano Cortona ($14)
Syrah
A dry and dusty Tuscan Syrah with more herbal notes than smoke and spice. Was $18 Now $14
It’s a nice long Memorial Weekend here in Madrona and for those who haven’t skipped town, it’s a good time to kick back and relax. To assist with that we’ve got a couple of fun tasting lined up.
Saturday we’ll be pouring a great flight of Italian wines that are both distinct and delicious. That starts at 2 and goes until the bottles run out.
Sunday Mark will be tasting a couple more bold Italian reds to complement any weekend Barbeque. They’ll be open all day so stop in anytime.
Monday we are closed as usual and will be kicking back ourselves.
See you soon.