Just a reminder that we are now open Tuesdays through the end of the year. Until the end of the year, our hours are:
Tuesday to Friday – 12 to 7pm
Saturday – 11-7pm
Sunday – 11-5pm
Additionally, we will be open Monday, December 23rd from 12-7, Tuesday the 24th from 12-7pm, closed Christmas Day. Also, for New Year’s week we will be open Monday, December 30th from 12-7, Tuesday from 12-7pm, closed New Year’s Day.
May the season be merry for one and all.
Things are popping this weekend at the wine shop as we get ready for the holidays. We are pouring bubbles both Saturday and Sunday for as long as the samples last. Everyone needs a little sparkle this time of year. Stop on by and enjoy the effervesce.
Saturday, December 14th
Starting at 2pm
Vilarnau Brut Reserva Cava $10
50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada, 15% Xarel·lo
Townshend Brut $14
60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir
Savian Evento Rosé $12
100% Merlot
Prova Cava Brut Méthode Traditionell $13
40% Macabeo, 30% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada
Trouillard Champagne Extra Selection Brut $35
35% Pinot Noir, 35% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay
Sunday, December 15th
Starting at noon
Rive Della Chiesa Frizzante $10
Pinot Grigio
Peneca Rebula $13
Ribolla Gialla
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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.
We’re getting ready for the holidays by popping the corks on a whole lot of Sparklers. Stop by the shop Saturday and Sunday and effervesce with us.
Saturday, December 14th
2pm
Vilarnau Brut Reserva Cava $10
50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada, 15% Xarel·lo
Aged 15 months in bottle, delicious crisp apple and ripe pear flavous amongst an abundance of fine bubbles. Was $15 now $10
Townshend Brut $14
60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir
A finely balanced blend of from the best grapes of Washington State. Crafted in the traditional French Méthode Champenoise style with a minimum of 24 months spent “en Tirage”. Good local fizz.
Savian Evento Rosé $12
100% Merlot
From Veneto, this extra-dry Spumante strikes the eye for its hues of rose petals. Its bouquet is delicate and at the same time complex, with a light hint of walnut husk. Well-balanced in acidity and sugar contents, it reveals a particularly intense, harmonious, markedly lingering flavor.
Prova Cava Brut Méthode Traditionell $13
40% Macabeo, 30% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada
The Prova is a translucent pale yellow with foamy head effervescence. Nice composition with a quite dry profile, well-balanced and with a rather long refined taste.
Trouillard Champagne Extra Selection Brut $35
35% Pinot Noir, 35% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay
Fine bubbles, full-bodied with a full mixture of white fruits. The flavor is dominated by notes of hazelnuts and grilled almonds. This crisp, delicate, fresh, creamy and elegant champagne, with just a touch of yeastiness, is sure to enhance any special occasion or meal. A very classic and delicate Brut.
Sunday, December 15th
noon
Rive Della Chiesa Pinot Grigio Frizzante $10
Light and apple-driven, and clean. The flavors are like lime lollipops and orange juice, which may sound unappealing but that’s not the case.
Peneca Rebula $13
Ribolla Gialla
This Slovenian sparkling wine is made from 100% Ribolla Gialla in the Charmat method. It has aromas of green apple, brioche, toast and hazelnut. In the mouth, the bubbles are pleasant and prepare your palate for flavors of apple, hazelnut and toasted almond.
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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.
Châteauneuf du Pape
Library Wines
Just in time for the holidays we have received a few bottles of older vintages from Château de Beaucastel, one of most renowned Châteauneuf makers. Looking for a special bottle for a present, for that over the top dinner, or just looking to fill a hole or two in the cellar? This might be for you.
2003 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape $130
Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape delivers a surprisingly fresh profile, yet ten years after the vintage, it is entering the early stages of maturity. Loaded with red and black currants, iron, beef blood, rolled stone, and garrigue on the nose, with no roasted fruit or over ripeness, it shines on the palate with excellent depth and richness. Medium to full-bodied, supple and integrated, with plenty of ripe fruit, it should continue to evolve for a handful of years. WA 90pts.
2006 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape $130
Its dense plum/ruby/purple color is followed by a big, sweet perfume of black truffles, camphor, earth, incense, new saddle leather, and loads of peppery, blackberry, and herb-infused, meaty, black cherry fruit. Deep, full-bodied, and dense, with sweet tannin, this explosively rich Châteauneuf is a stronger effort than the 2005, 2004, or 2003. WA 95pts
2009 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape $130
Made from this estate’s classic blend, it possesses soft tannins as well as a silky, open-knit seductiveness, a dense plum/purple color and a beautiful perfume of smoky Provencal herbs intermixed with grilled steak juices, garrigue, kirsch and blue as well as black fruits. The wine is full-bodied, unctuously textured, and silky smooth (the latter characteristic being somewhat atypical for a young Beaucastel WA 94pts
2012 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape $130
the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape offers a full-bodied, decadent style to go with awesome black and blue fruits, garrigue, licorice, crushed flowers and violets. The purity here is truly something, and it has fabulous mid-palate concentration, building tannin and massive texture. Given all of the fruit and texture here, it will no doubt drink well in its youth, but it should still be alive and kicking after two decades as well. 96pts WA
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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.
It is a grey December here in Madrona. But here at the wine shop we have somethings lined up to brighten your weekend. Make a space in your plans to stop in and add a little glow to the grey.
Saturday, all the way from the Willamette Valley we have winemaker Chris Berg of Roots Wine Co. in the shop to show off his wines. Stop by after 2 and meet the maker.
2018 Roots Sparkling Rosé $19
2017 Roots Estate Pinot Gris $16
2017 Roots Cancilla Vineyard Chardonnay $22
2018 “Klee” Pinot Noir $19
2017 Roots Crosshairs Cuveé Pinot Noir $22
Sunday, we are taking a trip back in time. It has been 15 years since the movie Sideways first trashed Merlot drinkers, yet we still find Merlot much maligned (and very unfairly so.) This Sunday we’ll tray and right that by pouring two Merlots that break the stereotype.
2015 Cotarella Sodale Lazio Merlot $16
Sodale is composed of 100% Merlot. These Merlot vines thrive on the calcium-rich, volcanic soils of Montefiascone in Lazio. Sodale is redolent with inky black fruit, sweet spice, and mineral- all of which are woven together tightly with a degree of finesse that calls its revered cousin, Montiano, to mind. On the palate the wine is juicy yet structured with abundant tannin that is polished and supple in texture.
2010 Masciarelli Marina Cvetic Merlot $20
Founded by Abruzzo native Gianni Masciarelli in 1981, Masciarelli and its wines have become the standard-bearer for the Abruzzo region The Marina Cvetic is intensely dark color, virtually black; dark fruits, earth on somewhat subdued nose; massive red cherry, blackberry, red plum, raspberry on the palate. This is really big for a merlot, more tannin and grip than you expect A year in new French oak delivers vanilla but thankfully not huge oak; drying finish that extends significantly. This is not a mild, gentrified merlot, but a big, dark red wine. Was $30 now $20
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.
with winemaker Chris Berg
Saturday, December 7th, 2pm
In 1999, the Berg family planted seven acres of mostly Pinot Noir on the 20-acre property near Yamhill in the Willamette Valley. In 2002, they picked their first harvest of a whopping three tons, which were made into 72 cases of Pinot Noir. Today, Roots produces approximately 5,000 cases annually. Besides their estate fruit they also source from neighboring vineyards in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. While Pinot Noir is the main focus, they also make an estate Pinot Gris and a Chardonnay sourced from Cancilla Vineyard. Stop by on Saturday when winemaker Chris Berg will be with us showing off his creations.
2018 Roots Sparkling Rosé $19
Chris’s pinot noir sparkler pulls off the complicated juggling act of being both delicious and affordable.
2017 Roots Estate Pinot Gris $16
This is a well-made Oregon Pinot Gris whose lush mouthfeel bursts with flavors of ripe pear and sweet orange blossom and then finishes with a distinct minerality.
2017 Roots Cancilla Vineyard Chardonnay $22
Oregon seems made for Chardonnay.
2018 “Klee” Pinot Noir $19
In homage to one of winemaker/owner Chris Berg’s favorite artists, Klee is named for the famous Baus Haus artist Paul Klee. The 2018 is vibrant and layered; the hallmarks of Oregon Pinot are all here: dark/sour cherry, plum, cola, soil, delicate body, bright acid, fine tannins. Remarkably complex at a great price
2017 Roots Crosshairs Cuveé Pinot Noir $22
This wine is made from grapes sourced from Roots Estate Vineyard (35%), as well as the following Yamhill-Carlton AVA sites: Saffron Fields (30%), Fairsing (20%) and Yamhill Springs (15%). All are meticulously farmed and utilize sustainable methods. The wine ages for 17 months in barrel with 15% being new French oak.
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.
Saturday, November 30th, 2pm
December is here and we need a little sustenance to make it through til the New Year. So of course we contacted Bill Meyer of Sustenance Distributing to come pour some wines to get you through the holiday season. He’ll be in the shop this Saturday sharing his wares. Come and taste some real holiday winners.
Pascal Ponson 1er Cru Champagne $39
80% Pinot Meunier, 10% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay
Pascal Ponson is a small grower producer from Montagne de Reims. His Brut has rich and creamy aromas of red and yellow apple, quince, lemon blossom, white mushroom, honeysuckle, hazelnut, and delicate purple flowers are woven around a strong core of mineral notes. There is a lot of complexity here for the price.
2017 Dauvissat Petit Chablis $20
Chardonnay
Made from Vincent Dauvissat’s outlier vines located above Les Clos, on limestone soils, this wine has good focus and minerality with some of the savory complexity that’s the domain’s hallmark. It is very rich with classic notes of white flowers, citrus zest and struck flint over its silky fruit.
2007 Becker Landgraf Riesling, Gau-Odernheimer Trocken $24
Julia trained as a chartered engineer, Johannes as an oenologist, subsequently making the wines at his parents’ estate in Rheingau. In 2005 they married, and Johannes joined Julia in running her family estate in Gau-Odernheim. They dry-farm with as little intervention as possible, using only organic fertilizer, and interspersing green fallow plots in the vineyards. Their vineyard sites are distinctive, but are essentially calcareous clay. This aged Riesling has a pure, mineral driven Riesling notes accompanied by all the secondary note that only age provides.
2016 Edmond Monnot Maranges Les Saugeot $26
Pinot Noir
After taking over his father’s estate, Stephan Monnot built a new winery on the steep hillside below the family home designed to facilitate all movement of the wine by gravity for a more gentle journey from press to fermentation tank to barrel. His wines offer a great ratio of price to quality. This Maranges shows hints of pine and earth, mingled with tangy cherries and silky tannins on the finish. Drinking great now.
2015Domaine de la Gonorderie, Anjou Rouge $16
Cabernet Franc
Domaine de la Gonorderie is a 30-hectare. Family-owned and operated winery located only 15km away from Angers. Their Cab franc is a light bodied red, with soft red berry aromas, a fresh acidity and mineral finish. It is great for any occasion.
Sunday we’ll be pouring a pair from Piedmonte. Both ore on special for $12
2012 Tacchino Dolcetto d’ Ovada $12
Ripe, clean, fragrant strawberry-raspberry-scented wine with dusty tannins and brisk acidity. On the palate it is dry, medium-bodied, well balanced, with plenty of fruitiness. 13% alcohol by volume. Was $22 now $12
2016 Cantine Valpane Rosso Pietro $12
Barbera di Monferrato
A deep, earthy fruit nose and a palate loaded with bright, spicy Barbera fruit and smooth tannins followed by a deliciously perfumed finish. Was $15 now $12
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.
For Those Last-Minute Wine Emergencies
(like Mom got into the Dinner Wine last night)
Starting today we’ll be open Tuesdays from Noon until 7pm through New Year’s Eve.
This Thursday, Thanksgiving, we will be open from 11am to 3pm for those last-minute wine panics.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone,
Mark & Jim
Madrona Wine Merchants.
We are counting the days to Thanksgiving here in Madrona this weekend. Stop on in and get something to go with the holiday meal. We’ll be tasting some pairing suggestions if you need some inspiration. Starting this Tuesday we will be OPEN on Tuesdays from here through New Year.
Saturday we’ll be tasting:
Son of Man Sagardo Basque style Cider $15
2018 David Hill Estate Gewurztraminer $21
2016 Erste + Neue Kaltereresee Leuchternburg $16
2015 Chateau de Javernand, Chiroubles Vieilles Vignes $21
2014 Chateau de Caraguilhes Corbiers Rouge $16
Sunday we have two moor wines perfect for Thanksgiving.
2018 Bois d’Arlene La Comtesse $16
40% Vermentino, 40% Viognier, 20% Piquepoul
This cuvée is lively and very aromatic. Floral and tropical fruit notes can be distinguished on the first nose, then citrus fruit notes appear. We will also find these flavors on the palate. A slight minerality provided by Piquepoul is making this cuvée unique and seductive. 13% alcohol by volume
2107 Pascal Aufranc Chénas $13
Gamay
Big scoring Gamay for little bucks. “This is so fragrant and has a very fresh array of bright and fruity, wild red fruit that is so full of life on the palate. The strawberries are so pure here. Great depth and energy. Drink or hold.” 94pts James Suckling.
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.