This Saturday we head to the heel of Italy with three wines from L’Antica Cantina in Puglia (a cooperative that dates back to 1933).  They specialize in local varieties such as Bombino Bianco, and Uva di Troia, as well as more familiar grapes like Sangiovese.  We’ll also be tasting a Gaglioppo from Calabria, a Super Tuscan from Tenuta San Vito and our favorite olive oil.  Fulvio Longo, a southern Italian himself, will be here to show off the wines.
 
2017 L’Antica Cantina, Zephino Frizzante  $10
Bombino Bianco
The Zephino is a sparkling wine made from Bombino grapes, typical of the Daunia Plain. The wine is fresh and creamy with just the right amount of effervescence.  
 
2015 Baroni Capoano, Ciro Rosso  $15
Gaglioppo
From Calabria this Gaglioppo has hints of blueberries and blackberries combined with fresh aromas of pressed rose petals and hints of licorice, mushroom and wet earth.  The flavor is smooth and silky with light tannins, backed up by a surprising richness, good balance and long finish.
 
2017 L’Antica Cantina, Rosone  $11
Sangiovese
The Rosone is a fresh and young Sangiovese with bright cherry fruit and smooth tannins.  A great everyday wine.
 
2016 L’Antica Cantina, Nobliss  $16
Uva di Troia
The Nobliss has a fresh bouquet with a hint of violets, spice and soft fruit aromas.  The wine has notes of red cherry, red currant, black pepper, tobacco, underbrush as well as a dry tannic underpinning. 
 
2012 Tenuta San Vito, Madiere  $30
60% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot
Tenuta San Vito in picturesque Tuscany is set amongst groves of olive trees and the vineyards which they tend organically.  The Madiere expresses rich, lingering aromas of wild, red berries and spice. Harmoniously-balanced on the palate with flavors of strawberries, cherries and black currants. The wine has a round texture, a full body and velvety tannins.

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.

The weekend forecast  is sunny outside  here in Madrona.  Here at the wine shop we’ll be tasting a few things to make you sunny inside.  Bundle up, stretch the legs and come see what we have open.

Saturday we tasting some great deals to start they year off right.
2015 Reinhold Haart Estate Riesling  Trocken  $12
Was $16 now $12
2013 Rocche Costamagna Dolcetto d’Alba  $10
Was $15 now $10
2015 Bergamota,  Dao Private Selection  $15
80% Touriga Nacional, 5% Tinta Roriz, 5% Jaen, 5% Alfrocheiro, 5% Other
2013 Wind Gap Old-Vine Grencahe  $20
Was $40 now $20
2013 My Essential California Cabernet  $15
Was $20 Now $15

Sunday, we’ll have a pair of French wines open to try.
2017 La Maroutine Bordeaux Blanc  $11
80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Semillon
From vines on the slopes above the Garonne river, this herbal, fruity wine is dominated by Sauvignon Blanc. Its acidity is balanced by the yellow fruits as well as citrus.
2013 Domain de la Biscarelle Début d’une Histoire  $15
90% Cinsault, 10% Grenache
A Rhone Cinsault from 50-year-old vines just outside of Châteauneuf. Raspberry, plum, boysenberry, bay, thyme, lavender scents. Big, ripe chewy, purple fruit flavors with black pepper and stony tannins. Organic

Sunday is also the Artist Reception for our new show of drawings by Julian Birchman.  3 to 5 pm   Stop by and meet the artist.
Whenever I sit down to doodle, I always draw a man. I draw a variation of several different dudes that I have in my visual library. I don’t do this consciously; it’s just what comes out. As a result whenever I need to draw a female character or a non-masculine appearing person, I feel stumped. So I took this opportunity to draw 20 women as an exercise to break up a bad habit.  -Julian Birchman

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 still cleaning out a few things we found at the end of last year.  Swing on by this Saturday and sweep up a few bargains.

2015 Reinhold Haart Estate Riesling  Trocken  $12
A dry Riesling from a solid producer.  Sour apple, citrus, floral notes on the nose. Great minerality and salinity as well. Very nice on the palate and a very nice finish. Was $16 now $12

2013 Rocche Costamagna Dolcetto d’Alba  $10
This is a classic Dolcetto d’Alba for everyday drinking with pleasing aromas reminiscent of Marasca cherries. It is soft on the palate, with delicate and persistent flavors, marked by a light almond finish.  Was $15 now $10

2015 Bergamota, Dao Private Selection  $15
80% Touriga Nacional, 5% Tinta Roriz, 5% Jaen, 5% Alfrocheiro, 5% Other
The Bergamota is dry farmed, sustainable and non-certified organic.  It shows ripe cherry, sweet vanilla, damson and floral aromas. Fresh and bright on the palate with fine-grained tannins, brisk acidity and lots of red fruit flavors. Just starting to come together with lots more to come. — 95 points Decanter 
 
2013 Wind Gap Old-Vine Grencahe  $20
A single-vineyard Grenache from 100 year old vines in Sonoma.  Deeply layered red and black fruits are set off by spicy stem aromas and a bright fresh crystalline fruit quality that elevate all of the components together. On the palate the depth of fruit and old-vine concentration are evident as the wine slowly reveals the spicy tannins that this wine is becoming to be known for. Was $40 now $20

2013 My Essential California Cabernet  $15
Tastes like California Cab.  Plum flesh, grapeseed and black-peppercorn aromas introduce this leaner, less-extracted style of wine. The palate shows deep cherry and plum juice with lots of peppery spice and decent tannic structure.  Was $20 Now $15

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.

The holidays are over and the dust settled on the first week of 2019.  Looking around the shop we have gathered a few odds and ends that didn’t make it out the door in December.  Stop by the shop this weekend and see if you want to take a few of these delicious gems home.  All limited to stock on hand
 

Saturday, January 5th, 2pm
January House Cleaning

2015 Villa Gemma,Bianco Masciarelli  $13
80% Bombino Bianco, 5% Chardonnay, 15% Cococciola
A great deal on a delicious winter white from Abruzzo.   Fairly intense bouquet with hints of yellow fruit, apple, banana, white flowers like jasmine.  Was $25, Now $13

2015 Esporao Monte Velho  $10
40% Argonez, 35% Trincadeira, 20% Torriga Nacional, 5% Syrah
Faithful to its roots, Monte Velho is the Alentejo in a glass.  The wine has aromas of spicy red and dark berry fruits, earthy notes. The palate is fresh and elegant with good fruit depth, nicely structured.

2015 Dieu Donné Cabernet Sauvignon / Shiraz  $11
This South African Red is an aromatic expression of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz that delivers the grapes in a ripe, smooth style.  The wine has a nose of black and red plum, forest floor, raspberry and red cherry. On the palate the dry, medium-plus bodied red blend is smooth with grippy, high tannins. Was $13 now $11

2012 Larose de Gruaud Saint Julian  $35
61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
The second wine from a 2nd Growth, Bordeaux Château –“Really pure, with a delightful mix of plum, cassis and black cherry. Long on the finish, with sanguine and tar notes mixed together, staying fresh. A very solid second wine.” – 90-93 Points – Wine Spectator.  Was $40 now $35

Quady Deviation  $15
Deviation is Orange Muscat wine infused with Rose Geranium and Damiana. The Rose Geranium leaves gathered from the Quady garden impart an herbal quality and an unusual finish in a sweet wine. Damiana, wild harvested from South America, was first used by the Mayans for its aphrodisiac properties and continues to be popular today for luck in love.  375ml.  Was $26 now $15
 

Sunday, January 6th, 11 to 5
Two Wines from the South of France

2017 Delas Viognier  $12
From Languedoc fruit this Viognier offers aromas of apricots, peaches, exotic fruits and preserved citrus fruit. The palate is both smooth and fresh, finishing with a hint of dried fruits. 13% alcohol by volume
 
2016 Perrin Cotes du Rhone Nature  $13
Grenache, Syrah
Like a bowl of very dense and ripe black and red fruit. Notes of crushed strawberries, raspberry jam, balanced by a beautiful freshness of spices from Provence and its Garrigues. On the palate, this wine is beautifully balanced in richness and freshness, a good structure with fine and elegant tannins. The finish is long and aromatic. Organic

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.

The days are getting longer (really). And what’s left of 2018 is quickly shrinking.  Stop by the shop and help us say goodbye to old father time and get ready to welcome the new year.  We’ll be opening some good wines the next few days to toast the new season.  Stop by early if you want the full fizz of the bubbles.

We’ll be OPEN New Year’s Eve from noon to 5pm
We are Closed New Years’ Day but will be back on Wednesday, January 2nd.

Saturday 12/29

2016 Monte Tondo Garganega Frizzante   $10
This Frizzante is 100% Garganega from certified organic vineyards, this one is zesty, spritzy, light, and airy. It offers up aromas and flavors of ripe apple, pear, lemon, white flowers, and just a touch of mineral. And all of those delicious aromas and flavors are delivered along a rush of tiny, gentle bubbles.
Was $13 now $10

Ellner Carte Blanche Brut  $40
40% Pinot Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay
A small family-owned “house” that grows most of its own grapes in Epernay. Very aromatic, with mineral aromas and flavors, plus candied berry and citrus tones matched to a light body, lively structure and intense flavors.

2012 Allegrini Amarone  $68
45% Corvina Veronese, 45% Corvinone 5% Rondinella, 5% Oseleta
A fresh, creamy, medium- to full-bodied red, with fine, supple tannins layered with flavors of crushed black raspberry, fig cake and spiced orange, offering a subtle, savory underpinning of smoky mineral and tobacco that lingers on the finish. Long and elegant.

Sunday 12/30

2016 Pizzolato Brut Prosecco Fields  $15
Glera
This delicately sparkling wine boasts enticing scents of white spring flower, beeswax and pear. The vibrant, ethereal palate is loaded with finesse, offering Rennet apple, lemon and mineral alongside crisp acidity and a light, elegant perlage.  organic

Reserve du Chevallier Cremant de Bourgogne Brut  $20
This wine is sourced  from a wide variety of soils throughout Burgundy. They range from the chalky subsoils of the Joigny district in the north to the granites of southern Burgundy, via the limestones and marls of the Côtes where most of the wines of this appellation are grown.  It’s white floral and citrus aromas are coupled with fine elegant beads with lively citrus, fresh apples and a rich creamy body.

2011 Domaine de Fregate Bandol  Rouge $28
95% Mourvédre, 5% Grenache
Aromas of violet, the raspberry, blackberry, truffle and undergrowth.  A robust wine  virile and powerful.

Monday 12/31

Peneca Rebula  $13
Ribolla Gialla
Start the New Year out with something different.  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.
Was $17 now $13

2016 Monte Tondo Soave Brut  $15
Garganega
This fun and refreshing sparkler offers heady white spring flower and ripe orchard fruit scents. The refreshing palate doles out crunchy green apple, white peach and orange zest flavors, with tangy acidity.
Was $18 now $15

After a quiet day off on the 25^th we are back open and tasting some fun wines to prepare for the New Year.  Come by and toast out the old and get ready to ring in the new.
 
Thursday 12/27

2016 Allegrini Valpolicella $15
65% Corvina/Corvione, 30% Rondinella, 5% Molinara
Classic Valpol without trying to be Ripasso.  Fragrant fruit with prominent notes of cherries, echoed by fresher hints of pepper and aromatic herbs, typical of Corvina and Corvinone, the historic varietals of this appellation.
 
Friday 12/28

2017 Pieropan Saove Classico  $15
85% Garganega, 15% Trebbiano di Soave
Ample & floral aromas with notes of elderberry, apple, pear & lemon verbena on a background of almonds and nuts; fresh, elegant & well balanced on the palate, with a long finish.  Was $19 now $15

2016 Scenic Valley Farms Pinot Noir  $20
This estate-grown Willamette Valley Pinot Noir delivers pretty black cherry fruit at a modest price. There’s a lightly earthy, salty aspect to the flavors and well-integrated Mediterranean herb highlights. Aged 10 months in French and Oregon oak, presumably neutral, it was bottled unfiltered.
 
Saturday 12/29

2016 Monte Tondo Garganega Frizzante   $10
This Frizzante is 100% Garganega from certified organic vineyards, this one is zesty, spritzy, light, and airy. It offers up aromas and flavors of ripe apple, pear, lemon, white flowers, and just a touch of mineral. And all of those delicious aromas and flavors are delivered along a rush of tiny, gentle bubbles. Was $13 now $10
 
Ellner Carte Blanche Brut  $40
40% Pinot Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay
A small family-owned “house” that grows most of its own grapes in Epernay. Very aromatic, with mineral aromas and flavors, plus candied berry and citrus tones matched to a light body, lively structure and intense flavors.

2012 Allegrini Amarone  $68
45% Corvina Veronese, 45% Corvinone 5% Rondinella, 5% Oseleta
A fresh, creamy, medium- to full-bodied red, with fine, supple tannins layered with flavors of crushed black raspberry, fig cake and spiced orange, offering a subtle, savory underpinning of smoky mineral and tobacco that lingers on the finish. Long and elegant.
 
Sunday 12/30

2016 Pizzolato Brut Prosecco Fields  $15
Glera
This delicately sparkling wine boasts enticing scents of white spring flower, beeswax and pear. The vibrant, ethereal palate is loaded with finesse, offering Rennet apple, lemon and mineral alongside crisp acidity and a light, elegant perlage.  organic

Reserve du Chevallier Cremant de Bourgogne Brut  $20
This wine is sourced  from a wide variety of soils throughout Burgundy. They range from the chalky subsoils of the Joigny district in the north to the granites of southern Burgundy, via the limestones and marls of the Côtes where most of the wines of this appellation are grown.  It’s white floral and citrus aromas are coupled with fine elegant beads with lively citrus, fresh apples and a rich creamy body.
 
2011 Domaine de Fregate Bandol  Rouge $28
95% Mourvédre, 5% Grenache
Aromas of violet, the raspberry, blackberry, truffle and undergrowth.  A robust wine — virile and powerful.
 
Monday 12/31

Peneca Rebula  $13
Ribolla Gialla
Start the New Year out with something different.  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.  Was $17 now $13
 
2016 Monte Tondo Soave Brut  $15
Garganega
This fun and refreshing sparkler offers heady white spring flower and ripe orchard fruit scents. The refreshing palate doles out crunchy green apple, white peach and orange zest flavors, with tangy acidity. Was $18 now $15

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 11 to 7pm

Sunday 11 to 5 pm

Monday December 24th

noon to 5 pm

We’ll be closed Christmas Day but we’ll open again at noon on Wednesday.

In the mean time, we’ll be opening some Gift Worthy Wines (they make great last minute presents) as we celebrate the Solstice and the days getting longer.

Saturday 12/22

2017 Bethel Heights Pinot Gris $25
One of the best Pinot Gris that I’ve tasted in a long time. Bone dry and crisp with aromas of nectarine, apricots, and peach, with hints of breadfruit and cardamom. The palate shows the full, supple fruits of a warm vintage without losing the purity and elegance characteristic of our estate. The languid and expansive texture of the wine is pitched against a bright core of acidity, building tension and energy. Organic

2016 Pignan Châteauneuf du Pape $37
64% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 12% Syrah, 11% Cinsault, Counoise, Terret Noir
The Pignan has an attractive bouquet of black cherry fruit, loamy soil and foresty aromas in addition to plenty of glycerin, body and freshness. There is no evidence of oak as it is aged primarily in foudre. This generous wine combines sweet to strength and fullness to power.

2015 L’Ecole Perigee $47
56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec, 7% Petit Verdot
From the older blocks of Seven Hills Vineyard, Perigee shows its characteristic cedar and black plum structured elegance. Alluring aromas of blueberry, cigar box and herbal flavors are accented with notes of cassis and earth, on a fine tannin finish.

Sunday 12/23

2016 Dellas, Crozes-Hermitage Les Launes $23
Syrah
The charming, quaffable 2016 Crozes Hermitage les Launes features plenty of cherry fruit, medium body, supple tannins and a juicy, mouthwatering finish. It should drink well for the next few years.

2014 JB Neufeld Yakima Valley Cabernet $36
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc
A three vineyard blend in JB’s Yakima Cabernet. A full-fisted but not heavy-handed Washington Cabernet.

Monday 12/24

2013 Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo $45
Nebbiolo
Wild berry, crushed herb, violet and baking spice scents lift out of the glass along with a whiff of menthol. Focused and elegantly structured the delicious palate doles out ripe Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, cinnamon, sage and white pepper, while refined tannins and bright acidity provide supple support and impeccable balance.  –95 pts Wine Enthusiast.

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 are opening some very tasty bottles as we lead up to Christmas. Stop on by for a taste and get in a little last minute present shopping.

Thursday 12/20

2016 Allegrini, Valpolicella $15
65% Corvina/Corvione, 30% Rondinella, 5% Molinara
Classic Valpol that manages to be rich without trying to be Ripasso. The Allegrini has fragrant fruit with prominent notes of cherries, echoed by fresher hints of pepper and aromatic herbs, typical of Corvina and Corvinone, the historic varietals of this appellation.

2013 Barao de Vilar Statement LBV Porto $20
This unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage is aged over 4 years in oak barrels before bottling. It has a great variety of flavors, a strong wine with an attractive bouquet of strawberry jam, medium bodied and sweet with refreshing acidity and gentle tannins.

Friday 12/21

2015 Raeburn Russian River $20
Chardonnay
Classic California Chardonnay—elegant and expressive with bright fruit character, creaminess and toasty vanilla. The 2015 vintage is ripe, luscious with fruit tones ranging from pear and Gravenstein apple to nectarine beautifully complemented with toasted oak, vanilla, and hints of Crème Brûlée.

2015 Pelissero Langhe Nebbiolo $23
A very serious wine at this level, as it has considerable tannic clout underpinning the fruit. Lifted aromatics, finely sculpted red fruits and firm tannins are front and center. Deceptively understated, the 2015 Langhe Nebbiolo packs a good bit of energy and intensity into its mid-weight frame. The Langhe Nebbiolo is Barbaresco juice given a shorter aging time of five months in tank and five months in cask.

Saturday 12/22

2017 Bethel Heights Pinot Gris $25
One of the best Pinot Gris that I’ve tasted in a long time. Bone dry and crisp with aromas of nectarine, apricots, and peach, with hints of breadfruit and cardamom. The palate shows the full, supple fruits of a warm vintage without losing the purity and elegance characteristic of our estate. The languid and expansive texture of the wine is pitched against a bright core of acidity, building tension and energy. Organic

2016 Pignan Châteauneuf du Pape $37
64% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 12% Syrah, 11% Cinsault, Counoise, Terret Noir
The Pignan has an attractive bouquet of black cherry fruit, loamy soil and foresty aromas in addition to plenty of glycerin, body and freshness. There is no evidence of oak as it is aged primarily in foudre. This generous wine combines sweet to strength and fullness to power.

2015 L’Ecole Perigee $47
56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec, 7% Petit Verdot
From the older blocks of Seven Hills Vineyard, Perigee shows its characteristic cedar and black plum structured elegance. Alluring aromas of blueberry, cigar box and herbal flavors are accented with notes of cassis and earth, on a fine tannin finish.

Sunday 12/23

2016 Dellas, Crozes-Hermitage Les Launes $23
Syrah
The charming, quaffable 2016 Crozes Hermitage les Launes features plenty of cherry fruit, medium body, supple tannins and a juicy, mouthwatering finish. It should drink well for the next few years.

2014 JB Neufeld Yakima Valley Cabernet $36
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc
A three vineyard blend in JB’s Yakima Cabernet. A full-fisted but not heavy-handed Washington Cabernet.

Monday 12/24

2013 Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo $45
Nebbiolo
Wild berry, crushed herb, violet and baking spice scents lift out of the glass along with a whiff of menthol. Focused and elegantly structured the delicious palate doles out ripe Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, cinnamon, sage and white pepper, while refined tannins and bright acidity provide supple support and impeccable balance.  –95 pts Wine Enthusiast.

2015 Olivier Dumaine, Saint Joseph $30
Syrah
From 50 year old vines, the St Joe has aromas of black fruits, and a bit of earthiness, the supple palate shows black berry fruit, tar, and a note of varnish with dark tannins.

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.

The Holidays are upon us here in Madrona.  As we prepare for the Solstice, we’re tasting some great wines from France that are perfect for presents or partying.  come by and taste with us.

Saturday, we run the gammon from Crozes-Hermitage Blanc  to Bordeaux.
2015 Cave De Tain,  Crozes-Hermitage Blanc  $20
2012 Olivier Morin, Bourgogne Chitry $15
2015 Château Mountfaucon, Lirac  $20
2013 Château Respide-Medeville Graves  $25
2005 Château Citran, Haut Medoc  $36

Sunday we are back at it with two more reds.
2017 Bila-Haut, Côtes de Rousillion Villages  $15
Syrah, Grenache, Carignan
Aromas of black cherry. Hand harvested, this wine is fleshy, well-structured with the warm and savage of soils of the Roussillon area.
2016 Jean-Luc Colombo, Les Collenes de Laure  $20
Syrah
Expressive nose of red fruits and spices. Fresh, round, tannins, good balance. Manual harvest. Perfect as an aperitif, accompaniment of tapas and sliced meats, or on a meal off the grill. Sustainable

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.