This Sunday we will be tasting interesting and very different Vermouths – these are not your Mother’s Vermouths. Spain, France, Italy and the United States will be represented. Come learn that you might actually like Vermouth as an aperitif or as a mixer in your favorite cocktail.

Vermouth is a fortified wine, flavored with aromatic herbs and spices (“aromatized” in the trade) such as cardamom, cinnamon, marjoram and chamomile. Some vermouth is sweetened; unsweetened, or “dry” vermouth tends to be bitter. The person credited with inventing the vermouth recipe, Antonio Benedetto Carpano from Turin, Italy, chose to name his concoction “vermouth” in 1786 because he was inspired by a German wine flavored with wormwood, a herb most famously used in distilling absinthe. The modern German word Wermut (Wermuth in the spelling of Carpano’s time) means both wormwood and vermouth. The herbs in vermouth were originally used to mask raw flavors of cheaper wines, imparting a slightly medicinal “tonic” flavor.

Foro Extra Dry Vermouth                                    ($16)
A intriguing dry Vermouth with more citrusy components than most. Creamy enough to drink as an aperitif as well as adding to cocktails. Organic to boot. 1 liter

Perucchi White Vermouth                                    ($20)
A wildly flavorful white vermouth from Spain that is more suited for an aperitif than a Martini, but would be fun to play with in cocktails. Floral notes, so forget the Gin — Vodka is the ticket, with a twist of lemon or as a summer spritzer with mineral water and a twist. 1 liter

Dolan Vermouth Rouge de Chambery                                ($15)
Made of fine wines and botanicals found in the Alpine meadows above Chambery. The particular mixture of plants found near Chambéry give a fresh, restrained and elegant nose, with a subtle, complex bittersweet palate.

Quady Vya                                                ($15)
Sweet Vermouth
California
The perfect sweet vermouth to pair with that truly fine bourbon for a stunning Manhattan. 375ml

Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth                                 ($16)
Antica Formula is a red vermouth made from an original recipe by Antonio Benedetto Carpano, the man credited with creating modern vermouth in Turin in 1786. Inspired by a German aromatised wine and was a fan of German poetry. As a result, he named his new product after the German word for wormwood, wermut, which was frequently used to flavor wine at the time. Antica Formula is richer and more complex than most red vermouths and will make an excellent Bronx, Manhattan or Negroni. 375ml

Perucchi Gran Reserva Vermouth                                ($20)
A red Vermouth from Spain that comes from a solera. Would work for a Manhattan, but you might want to just drink it straight. Think Christmas spice — cardamon, all spice, mace. 1 liter

This Saturday we are featuring wines from Roussillon and the Rhône Where Grenache and Syrah reign supported by an interesting court of Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault.  It’s a royal combination.  Come tour the Villages.

2012 Chapoutier, Bila Haut, Côtes de Roussillon Blanc   $15
Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris and Macabeu.
Michael Chapoutier is best known for his Rhône wine, but his second estate in Roussillon makes some distinct, well-crafted wine.  And of course if you know Braille you can read the label by touch.  The Blanc has aromas of lemon and grapefruit with smoky notes.  The palate is round, with good acidity and a fresh finish mixed with salty notes, which express the minerality of the wine.

2008 Château de Jau, Côtes de Roussillon Villages$12
52% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Carignan, 8% Grenache
The Dauré family has been making wine in Roussillonsince 1792.   Château de Jau is located in the southernmost foothills of the Roussillon slopes of the Corbières Mountains in French Catalonia.  The Côtes du Roussillon Villages Rouge has “arômes de garrigue, d’épicesorientales et de fruits rouges bienmûrs.”  It’s a full and supple Syrah dominate blend.

2011 Domaine des Escaravailles, Les Sablieres Côtes du Rhône $15
70% Greanche, 20% Syrah, 10% Carignan
In 1953, Jean-Louis Ferran purchased several well-situated hillside parcels above the southern Rhône villages of Rasteau, Roaix and Cairanne. He dubbed his new domaine “Escaravailles,” the Occitan word for beetles (scarabs). This was a nickname for the black-robed monks of the area’s hill-perched Catholic monasteries in centuries past. The monks knew what they were doing and so does Jean-Louis’ grandson who now runs the winery.  The Les Sablieres is a smooth and silky Rhône red. Full bodied and rounded out.

2009 Château Val-joanis Syrah Tradition.  $13
90% Syrah, 10% Grenache
Châteaux Val-joanis is located in Luberon in the shouthern Rhone.  They turn the balance of Syrah and Grenache upside down with their Syrah heavy Tradition.  It is well structured and balanced with spice notes and supple black and red berry fruit.

2011 Domaine des Escaravailles, Les Côteaux Rasteau  $20
80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
Rasteau was elevated from Village to Cru status in 2010.  The grapes that used to go into Escaravailles CDR Villages now are bottles as Cru Rasteau.  These are 50 to 60 year old vines on hillside slopes, all vinified in cement tanks.  The wine is full, rich and powerful.

We’ve been open in Madrona for TWO YEARS now.  Boy, the time has gone fast.  To celebrate we’re going to open a few special bottles this Saturday.  We’ll also have a wine trivia quiz with swag prizes while they last.  What wines are we pouring you ask?  Well if we told you it wouldn’t be a surprise now would it.  Stop by and find out.
Sunday we’ll have a couple of new to the shop Italian wines open to taste.

2008 I Sassi Aglianico del Vulture        $12

2012 Campodelsole Durano                  $10

This Sunday we’ll be pouring bargain bubbles and a new rich red.  Stop in.

Varichon & Clerc Privilège Blanc de Blanc    ($9)
Made from a mixture of Chardonnay, Chenin, Ugni Blanc and Colombard grapes in the méthode traditionnelle, this brut blanc de blancs has aromas of buttered toast and pears .While the wine is good the lables ae messed up.

Was $14 now $9

12% alcohol by volume

2011 La Celestiere VDP Vaucluse    ($12)
Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Alicante.
Blended from over 50-years-old vines on clay/lime stone soil, the surface is peppered with pebbles. Manual harvest . Raised 100% in concrete tanks. A full dark Rhone style wine from a CNDP maker.

Today at 2 we’re tasting perfection with a lineup of wines that come from their ideal locations.

Sunday we’ll be pouring bargain bubbles and a new rich red.  Stop in.

Varichon & Clerc Privilège Blanc de Blanc    ($9)
Made from a mixture of Chardonnay, Chenin, Ugni Blanc and Colombard grapes in the méthode traditionnelle, this brut blanc de blancs has aromas of buttered toast and pears .While the wine is good the lables are messed up. Was $14 now $9
12% alcohol by volume

2011 La Celestiere VDP Vaucluse    ($12)
Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Alicante.
Blended from over 50-years-old vines on clay/lime stone soil, the surface is peppered with pebbles. Manual harvest . Raised 100% in concrete tanks. A full dark Rhone style wine from a CNDP maker.

Folks have generation looking for the best place to grow different grapes.  Sangiovese does better in Tuscany that anywhere else.  Merlot is a unique character in Bordeaux.  Tempranillo reaches it’s peak in Rioja.  This Saturday we’re pouring some less usual wines that have also found their perfect place in the world.  We’ll be showing Jaquèrre, Siegerrebe, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc and Mourvedre from the places that those grapes grow best.  Come see what you think.

2011 Jean Perrier Apremont Jacquère $13
Jacquère is a white grape that is widely planted in the Savoy region of Eastern France along the Swiss border.  The Savoy landscape is distinctly alpine. Between lakes and mountains, the Savoy vineyards hang from slopes or clutch at hillsides in little islands that produce their special growth.  Perrier’s Apremont is a nice dry herbal wine with a full round body.  It matches perfectly with cheese fondue and other food of the region.

2011 Ansellmann, Siegerrebe Spätlese $16
Siegerrebe is a hybred cross between Madeleine Angevine and Gewürztraminer. The vine is suited to colder climates as bud-burst is late and fruit ripening is very early  It easily reaches a high must weight which is unusual in cooler climates.  Ansellmann’s Spätlese shows how well the grape does in the Paltz.  The wine is very aromatic with elegant, floral and fruity fragrances reminiscent of roses, mango, passion fruit and apricot. The taste is round, rich with a mild acidity and a long finish.

2011 Tabalí Reserve Carménère  $14
Carménère was originally planted in Bordeaux and used as a blending grape to help balance out the Merlot and Cabernet.  But it wasn’t until it was transplanted to Chile that it came into its own right.  Tabalí’s Reserva has a complex nose with spices, black fruit and chocolate, and a mouthful of smooth tannins.

2011 Les Villaises Saumur Champigny $13
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is one of the common Bordeaux blending grapes, but it didn’t find its own limelight until sometime in the 17th century when Cardinal Richeliueu transported cuttings of the vine to the Loire Valley. The Les Villaises has notes of ripe cherry with a hint of violets, caramel and an earthy mineralness.

2010 Domaine Sorin, Bandol Rouge $25
Mourvèdre 85%, Syrah 10%, Carignan 5% 
Mourvèdre is the backup grape in the Rhone Valley, rarely exceeding 20% of the blend.  It also grows in Spain under the name of Monastrell.  But in Provence the grape comes alive finding a balance between full tannins, wild game and earthy notes and soft red fruit.

2011 Terre di Gioja Pinot Nero    ($14)
Della Venezie
The Armani family viticultural origins date back to the 17th century. Terre di Gioia is the family’s newest initiative which sources their grapes from specific vineyards in “Vallagarina”, the area that connects Trentino, the Veneto, and South Tyrol. This line of wines are “vini di tavola”; table wine from agricultral regions, meant to be pleasurable, affordable reflections of the places where the vines sink their roots. A North Italian Pinot Noir with a lighter body, clean cherry fruit and smooth lingering finish. 12.5% alcohol by volume

2011 Cormòns Merlot    ($11)
Venezia Guilia
A vine of French origins, it was imported in 1880 from Gironde (Bordeaux) to Friuli, where it has found an ideal habitat, it has adapted without problems to the climate, it has developed with vigour and fertility, so much so that it has become the most widespread after the Tocai Friuliano. A northern Italian Merlot with good dry fruit and spicy notes. 13% alcohol by volume

And from 2-4pm we will be having an artist reception with Genevieve G. Tremblay.

South Africa is about as far as you can get from Madrona, but this Saturday you can go there.  We’ll be pouring some wines that show South Africa’s great value and fine complexity.  Whether it is the ten dollar Pinotage or the world class Rubicon, you won’t want to miss it.

2012 La Capra, Chenin Blanc  $10
La Capra is a project of the Fairview winery using a selection of younger trellised and older bush vines from their estate in Paarl. This Chenin is fermented in stainless steel. The palate is well-balanced with clean, refreshing acidity whilst showing good mouth feel and texture.

2011 La Capra, Pinotage  $10
Pinotage is the unique South African varietal which is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault.   The La Capra ages in older French and American barrels for 10-12 months. The wine has notes of perfumed plums on the nose leading to ripe berries on the palate with a gentle texture and refreshing fruit acidity. Soft tannins and a hint of spice linger on the finish.

2011 La Capra Malbec  $10
This Malbec is grown on the lower slopes of Paarl Mountain. The wine was pressed off the skins early and matures 12 months in older French barrels. The wine has sweet blackcurrant on the nose.  Hints of violet follow through to the palate which is juicy and spicy. Flavors of cherry and currant linger on the finish.

2010 Essay Wines Shiraz  $10
Shiraz 87%, Cinsault 6%, Mourvèdre 6%, Viognier 1%
From Stellenbosch, the Essay Shiraz is a medium-bodied red wine with an expressive nose and a soft, lush mouth-feel. The Shiraz and Cinsault combine to give ripe plum cherry fruit on the palate with a touch of pepper spice. Mourvèdre adds complexity with savory and dark fruit aromas. The Viognier adds softness and intriguing floral notes. 

2007 Meerlust Estate Rubicon  $30
74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc
Meerlust Estate in Stellenbosch has been in the Myburgh family since 1756. In the summertime, ocean breezes and evening mists roll in from the coast to cool the vineyards. The grapes ripen slowly, thus achieving full, concentrated varietal flavors. The Rubicon is the estate’s flagship wine.  The wine has an expressive nose with violets, ripe plum, cedar wood and intense spiciness. The 2007 is still young and intense, promising further maturation potential. The palate is full bodied, structured but packed with fresh dark fruit and rounded, linear tannins.  It will continue to develop for a number of more years.