This Saturday we’ll be featuring the wines of Gilbert Cellars. Gilbert is an excellent example of grape growers who expand out and start making their own wines. Their wines show both good quality and good value. Their main vineyards are on the Wahluke Slope including Doc Stewart Estate, one of the older Washington vineyards with the grapes planted in the 1970’s. Meg Gilbert will be here to talk about her family’s wines.
 
2011 Rosé of Mourvedre $13
In the tradition of the great rosés of Bandol and Provence, this 100% Mourvedre Rosé of was cold fermented to retain its delicate rose petal aromatics and bright fruit character. The wine gives off a complex and distinct aroma of citrus peel, melon, spring strawberry, and coriander. The palate is fresh and full, with balanced acidity and a lingering finish.
 
2011 Unoaked Chardonnay $18
This Chardonnay from the Columbia Valley embraces its time in stainless steel tank, expressing pure aromas of lemon and lily. The palate is wonderfully bright but not without substance, bright, crisp, aromatic, and fun.
 
2009 Allobroges $20
37% Grenache, 29% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, 14% Counoise.
In the days of the Roman Empire, the Allobroges were a Celtic people living in the Rhone Valley of France who received acclaim for their dark, rich red wines made from the Allobrogica vine. Their winemaking tradition has continued in the Rhone Valley for over two millennia and inspired this wine today. It spent 21 months in 21% new oak barrels (80% French & 20% American). This is a bright, medium bodied wine with lots of complex berry flavors. Perfect for pairing with a wide range of foods.
 
2009 Left Bank Red $20
53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot, 9% Malbec.
Left Bank was named after the “Left Bank” of Bordeaux which this delicious blend is styled after. The Doc Stewart Vineyard is also perched on the Left Bank of the Columbia River. The wine is dark and full of well structured, lip-smacking tannins.

The wines of Burgundy are all about place with each little parcel of vineyard being divided and sub divided to make very specific wines.   Here Pinot and Chardonnay find their most nuanced expression.  Saturday we’ll be pairing up a few solid examples of Burgundy with some Oregon counterparts. It’s not a fight to the finish, but a good chance to compare the differences and find what turf suits your palate.
 
2009 Walnut City WineWorks, Chardonnay $18
Walnut City WineWorks is run by two partners who manage over 200 acres of grape for different wineries and vineyards. Out of a handful of these vineyards they pull grapes to make their own wine. The wine for the 2009 comes from Courting Hill vineyard. The wine is barrel fermented and has a bright acidity and minerality, a rounded mid palate of lemon curd, lemon peel and sweet saline.

2010 Albert Bichot Chablis Domaine Long-Depaquit $23
Albert Bichot is a large family run winery that owns 4 large estates in Burgundy and buys grapes from many others. Domaine Long-Depaquit is their estate in Chablis where they produce this fine Chardonnay. The wine has a very pure nose, typical of Chablis, with notes of white flowers and flint that open up to almond notes and mineral precision.
 
2010 Albert Bichot, Bourgogne Rouge, Vielles Vignes $16
This Pinot is a blend of different vineyards form the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits from 25 to 35 year old vines. The wine shows aromas of blackcurrant, redcurrant and plum, the mouthfeel is fleshy and well-balanced with discreet woody notes and a pleasant finish.
 
2010 Evesham Wood Vineyard, Eola-Amity Pinot Noir $26
Evesham Wood makes their wines from low-yield non-irrigated vineyards using minimal intervention in the winemaking process. The Eola-Amity Pinot is a selection of the top 16 barrels from within the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. 8 barrels come from Hidden Rocks Vineyard, and 8 from Eola Springs Vineyard to make 400 cases of this reserve wine. The 2010 vintage shines here with bright cherry fruit and clarity. 
 
2009 Domaine Michel Sarrazin et Fils, Maranges $31
The Sarrazin brothers inherited the wine bug and their estate in Jambles from their father who encouraged his sons to explore the limits of winemaking beyond the town’s small borders. Their Maranges is a seriously delicious red Burgundy with both grace and heft. The wine’s aromatics show sassy notes of cinnamon and clove mixed with bass notes of licorice with hints of dried roses and plenty of black pepper. More spice and saturated red and black fruits dominate the mouth, with a stunningly silky mouth feel and good freshness.

It is Garage Sale Saturday here in Madrona with lots of people parting with treasures and lots of others scouring the neighborhood for jewels and bargains. We’ve been doing a little local treasure hunting ourselves, so after you have exhausted the sales stop by the shop and refresh yourself with the great local wines we’ll have open for tasting. It is a sure thing that you’ll find something treasures among them.
 
Pick up a map to the garage sales at the shop on Friday afternoon, or at Café Verite. And be sure to hit the whole block sale at 29^th & Pike Saturday morning.
 
2011 Northwest Wine Academy Rosé $10
51% Nebbiolo, 15% Cinsault, 11% Cabernet Franc
The NW wine Academy is made in the wine making program at South Seattle Community College. The grapes for this refreshing rosé mainly come from Gilbert Vineyards on Waluke Slope. The wine has a good balance between soft fruit notes, herbal undertones and good acidity.
 
2010 Cedergreen Cellars Sauvignon Blanc $14
This unoaked Sauv. Blanc from Kevin Cedergreen is in the full bodied New Zealand style, a little grassy with lots of ripe fruit. It is great food wine that pairs well with Caesar Salad, grilled fish, spicy foods and of course scallops.
 
2010 J. Scott Cellars Roussanne $18
72% Oregon and 28% Washington.
This cross border blend of Roussanne has pretty aromatics, lots of dry fruit and citrus flavors and is rich in the mouth. It is unoaked and undergoes no malolactic fermentation. It is also a favorite at St Clouds.
 
2008 J.Scott Cellars Syrah $19
J. Scott located in Eugene pulls fruit from both Washington and Oregon to make his wines. The grapes for his Syrah come from Oregon’s Rogue Valley, a warmer micro climate than the Willamette. The wine is spicy and full bodied and drinks much better than its unassuming price.
 
2009 Angel Vine Zinfandel $19
Angel Vines Estate vineyard is located in Oregon’s Eola-Amity hills and of course is planted in Pinot Noir, but they source grapes of a darker nature out of Washington. Their 2009 Zinfandel comes for Stonetree Vineyard on Waluke Slope.   The wine has good round blackberry fruit and a supple spicy body.

Can’t make the tastings, but still want to explore new and unique wines? Consider joining our wine club, Madrona Wines Monthly. Each month we put together a diverse assortment of wines for our club members. It doesn’t get any easier to find something new. Check out our website for more details.

Southern France has so many things we love in wine — independent family run estates, distinct terroir, abundant grape varieties, and excellent quality for their price. The appellations of the Languedoc, Roussillon, and Provence are strung out like little jewels along the Mediterranean. Stop by on Saturday as we check out a few of these gems.
 
2010 Domaine des Cassagnoles, Cotes de Gasgogne $10
50% Colombard, 40% Ugni Blanc,10% Gros Manseng
Domaine des Cassagnoles is situated in the heart of the Gascony, where the Cardeillac family has produced wine for several centuries.Gilles Baumann and Janine Cardeillac took up residence at the family farm in 1974 and started making their own wine instead of using the grapes for Armagnac. The wine shows fresh lime, grapefruit and other citrus notes offered in a light-bodied, fresh, zesty style.
 
2010 Val de Salis, Viognier, Vin d’Pays d’oc $10
Viognier from 15 to 20 years old vines
Between the Corbières and Minervois, Val de Salis sits on an ancient wetlands amidst the hills and mountains of the Languedoc, cut off from the sea during the uplift that raised the Pyrenees. This brackish lake, with its unpleasant and unhealthy climate, was drained under Louis XIV, at the end of the 17th C, and the land was steadily reclaimed and planted during the French Second Empire. Val de Salis has been in the Gau family for more than 100 years. The vineyards are flooded at the end of each winter, an ancestral technique which allows the vines to be grown on their own rootstock and uniquely protected from phylloxera. The wine has an intense and very complex nose of pineapple, lichees, peaches and apricots. Full-bodied and flavorful on the palate.
 
2009 Chateau D’Oupia, Minervois Tradition $12
60% Carignan (from 100 years old vineyards), 30% Syrah and 10% Grenache.
15 years ago André Iché switched from selling the wine from his terraced hillside vineyards in Minervios to négociants and turned to bottling it himself. Since then D’Ooupia has become a standard of value. The Tradition is aromatic, full and densely colored, with a long finish of dark fruits that are elegant and balanced. It drinks well young and can age up to 5-7 years.
 
L’Oustal, Blanc K 10 $17
100% Carignan from 100 year old vines
L’Oustal is a naturaly farmed estate in the Languedoc. The grapes for the K10 come from a blend of their vineyards in Minervois and St Chinian. “Toasted pecan and walnut; dark chocolate; ripe blackberry and cassis; and maritime saline and alkaline minerality combine for complex appeal and terrific value. I suspect this will be lovely for at least the next 3-4 years.” 90pts WA
 
2009 La Bastide Blanche, Bandol $28
Mourvedre, with a bit of Cinsault/Grenache
La Bastide Blanche is just outside of Castellet, a pretty village in Provence that has been a center of grape cultivation for millenia. The estate is run by the two Bronzo brothers who purchased the vineyards in 1972 Their Bandol shows intense black-fruit aromas and a rich spicy herby flavors along with deep earthy notes. Find out why Bandol is the King of the South.

Stop by after work on Thursday, as we have a special mid-week tasting with new local importer Barrique Imports. We’ve picked up a few of their wines and we’re taking this opportunity to show them off. We’ll have these delicious wines for you to try, plus some special appetizers from our friends at Locosho. Drop by and check it out.
 
2010 Château Chênaie, Cuvée Conviction, AOC Faugères $16
80% Roussanne, 20% Rolle
The Chabberts are a 5th generation wine growing family, their estate vineyard is located in the Southeast of Faugères, nestled in the schistous slopes of the foothills of the Montagne Noire in the Languedoc. The wine has aromas of flowers, apricot and a touch of honey on the end. The palate is fine round with a good balance and pleasant finish.
 
2010 Clos d’Espinous, Corbières $18
40% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 30% Syrah
A rough and rugged Old vine Carignan from a small estate in the foothills of the Pyrenees. The grapes are grown with environmentally sustainable methods and certified Agriculture Biologique, France’s equivalent of Organic certification. The wine has a smoky and deep red berry nose, with a mouthful of boysenberry and spice, with ripe tannins.
 
2008 Chateau Fontaynes Cahors Cuvèe Dorian$12
Malbec
This powerful 100% Malbec is grown on the ‘second’ and ‘third tier’ (some of the best terroir in Cahors) of the banks of the River Lot, where it winds its way past the medieval village. The wine has nice fruit up front and a big mouthfeel, and a lot more complexity than any Argentinian Malbec at this price.
 
2006 Domingo Molina, Malbec $20
From hand-harvested grapes from Yacochuya vineyards at 6,400 feet above sea level, this Malbec reflects the high altitude microclimate and the unique soil of the Cafayate region in Salta. The wine is an intense deep purple red wine, with good structure and balance, and a good example of how an Argentinian Malbec can develop if given a little time.

Stop in this Saturday and try some captivating wines from the northern regions of Italy. We’ll be tasting wines from Lombardy, Alto Adige, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna, made from unique grapes such as Edelvernatsch, Wildbacher, and Bombino Bianco. It is not your typical Italian tasting. Come discover something new.
 
2010 Campodelsole San Pascasio, Emilia-Romagna $13
Bombino Bianco
Campodelsole is a Modern state of the art winery located amongst the vineyards at the foot of mount Bertinoro, a region that has grown grapes since Roman times. The Bombino Bianco, a local variant of Trebbiano, comes from an old family vineyard. The wine ages six months in stainless steel tanks, with small percentage aged in oak barriques. It is crisp yet full bodied with rich fruit flavors of citrus, mango, and melon.
 
2010 Erste & Neue, Edelvernatsch, Alto Adige $11
Erste & Neue is a collective of growers in the Kaltern region of the South Tyrolean Alps where they grow the grape Edelvernatsch. The wine is distinct and refreshing lighter bodied red, with a fine fruity bouquet with light almond tones. It is fruity with light acidity on the palate, and is a great match for lighter dishes.
 
2004 Tenuta Col Sandago, Wildbacher Colli Trevigiani IGT, Veneto $27
Wildbacher is a very old dark-skinned grape originally from Austria that was transplanted centuries ago to Marca Trevigiana in the Veneto. It is named after the district in which it was originally grown, Wildbach, which literally means “wild stream”. Its yields are extremely low, which lead to its near extinction in the mid 1900s, a period when the mass production ruled the wine industry. Tenuta Col Sandago is the only winery to produce a 100% Wildbacher. The wine is aged for 20 months in 500 liter barrels. It has aromas of small red berries and spices and herbal notes. The body is full with robust tannins and good acidity and a strong personality. It is truly unique and one of a kind.
 
2008 Umberto Cesari, Sangiovese di Romagna Reserva $19
This estate grown Sangiovese from Emilia-Romagna is aged for two years in barrel before release. The wine is aromatic with notes of dark fruit and violets. The flavor is full rich and dry with mouth filling tannins.
  
2005 Vinicola Nera, Sforzato Valtellina DOCG, Lombardy $40
Chiavennasca, (Nebbiolo)
This local Nebbiolo is grown on the terraced lands at the base of the Rhaetic foothills in Valtellina, where it has been grown since the 16th century. The grapes for the Sforzato are dried on mats like Amarone for several months and then pressed in February after the fruit has been concentrated. It is then aged for two years in large oak barrels. The wine has an intense bouquet with hints of violets, spice, plum preserves and raisins. It has a dry and savory flavor with lots of structure and complex fruit with an aftertaste of toasted hazelnuts and licorice. The Sforzato will get better and better with age.

French wines are all about diversity, with each region manifesting its distinct Terroir, that unique blend of soil, grape climate and tradition. This Saturday we’ll be taste touring some of those regions with some favorites from our racks. Each is a good representation of its region. And while there are no big names here, each wine drinks much better than its price. Viva la France!
 
2010 Chateau la Mouliniere Bordeaux Blanc $11
80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon
Built in the late 16th Century, Chateau La Mouliniere is a beautiful single-estate vineyard located on the right bank of the Dordogne River near Saint-Emilion. This dry white is soft and lush, with notes of melon, citrus and a hint of grass, good acidity and minerality balance out the fruit.
 
2010 Château de Domazan Côtes du Rhône $12
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre.
Château de Domazan was built in the 14th century in the middle of a vineyard. More recently it was purchased by the Burgundy négociant Mommessin who was branching out into the Rhône. The 2010 is a smooth and full fruited Côtes du Rhône with nice floral aromas and a spicy touch.
 
2009 Château Cadillac, Cuvee Lesgourgues, Bordeaux Superieur $19
70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
Château Cadillac was built in the 13th century. The Cuvee Lesgourgues comes from older vines that grow on the highest areas around the chateau. The wine always drinks much better than its price. The 2009 is aged with a good percent of new oak, but has enough fruit to stand up to it. The wine shows great fresh black currant fruits, dark plum skins and sweet tannins. It is great Bordeaux with a lot of structure that tastes good now and will get better with age.
 
2006 Château Peyros Madiran $14
60% Tannat, 40% Cabernet Franc
In the foothills of the Pyrenees, Chateau Peyros makes their Madiran using sustainable agricultural practices and modern winemaking techniques. It was the winner of a recent brown bag tasting of different Tannat wines. It also got 92pts and a Best Buy nod from Wine Enthusiast. “A powerful expression of intense terrior. Very Concentrated and dense, with the tannins just beginning to soften, the wine is packed with black ripe fruits, solid and chunky.”