It’s supposed to be 91 degrees today in Madrona.  That’s kind of toasty for our Northwest sensibilities.  We’ll have the air conditioner running at Madrona Wines and be chillin’ out with some of our favorite wines all weekend.  Come by and keep cool.

Saturday, we’re mixing two wines from Maison Bleue in Walla Walla and three wines collected from across Europe.  It’s an odd blend but it tastes great.
2015 Slavcek, Sivi Pinot Grigio
2012 Maison Bleue – Metis Blanc
2015 Gran Corbiére, Vin Gris Rosé
2013 Azienda Agricola Martilde, Oltrepò Pavese DOC Bonarda
2012 Maison Bleue, Bourgeois Grenache

Sunday the temperature drops a bit and we’re pouring two wines from the Mache region of Italy located on the Adriatic Sea.  Stop to see what makes the region so special.

2014 Fattoria Laila, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi  $12
A dry Italian white from the Marche with delicate aromas of wild flowers a creamy citrus body and a slightly bitter aftertaste.

2012 Sasa, Lacrima di Moro   $12
From the Marche, intense flowery aromas and bright cherry fruit with spice notes and light tannins.  Was $16 now $12

Sunday Art Review  3 to 5 pm
Also on Sunday we’re having a closing review for our current show of painting by D.Lisa West.  Come meet the artist and take a look at the work.  The show comes down at the end of the month.

Keep cool.

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.

Sometimes we have concise themes for our Saturday tastings, and sometimes they are a bit looser.  Every so often we throw away the theme altogether and just pour wines we want to show off.  This Saturday we have a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  We think you’ll find they’re all delicious. 
 
2015 Slavcek, Sivi Pinot Grigio $17
Slavcek farms 10 hectares on the outskirts of the Vipava Valley of Slovenia.  The family winery has existed for over two centuries. A brief duration of skin-contact gives this wine a faint and delicate pink hue and also instills the wine with a gorgeous, silky texture. The wine is then aged in neutral acacia and Slovenian oak barrels made from trees just beyond the vineyards. Organic with minimal sulfur added.
 
2012 Maison Bleue – Metis Blanc $20
60% Marsanne, 35% Grenache, 5% Roussanne
Walla Walla winemaker Jon Meure has a touch for Rhône varietals. From Boushey Vineyard, the Metis has potent aromas of grapefruit and flavors of rind and pith. It’s crisply defined, with excellent density and natural acidity.
 
2015 Gran Corbiére, Vin Gris Rose $15
Grenache Gris and Blanc, Syrah
A family-run estate in Corbiére with 28 hectares of organically-farmed vines.  You can taste the sea and sand in this wine, which is exactly the region where it was grown. This lovely, fresh rosé that has a nose of fresh-picked strawberries and cherries with hints of maritime air.
 
2013 Azienda Agricola Martilde, Oltrepò Pavese DOC Bonarda $13
100% Croatina
Croatina is a fruity and mildly tannic grape that is sometimes compared with Dolcetto.  Oddly enough, in Lombardy they call it Bonarda (no relation to its Argentinian counterpart).  The Martilde is a rustic wine with a great body, color and tannins.  Organic.
 
2012 Maison Bleue, Bourgeois Grenache $25
90% Grenache, 10% Syrah
Another delicious wine from one of Washington’s Rhone Rangers, the Bourgeois is a small production wine that hits it on the head. Provençale herbs, smoked meats, red cherry anise and oak on the nose. The palate has black cherry, anise, cassis and nice acid structure.  Now on deal.  Was $40 now $25

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 tomatoes are loving the weather this weekend here in Madrona.  But here at the wine shop we are staying cool as a cucumber because we have some perfect wines to beat the heat.  Swing by and chill out with us.

Saturday, we are pouring some fresh and refreshing French wine to complement the weather.  We’ve got dry bubbles from Alsace, a crisp Picpoul from the Languedoc, an organic Rosé from Gassac, as well as two bold reds to match up with the barbecue.
2013 Domaine Bechtold, Crémant d’Alsace
2015 La Chapelle du Bastion, Picpoul de Pinet
2015 Mas de Daumas Gassac, Guilhem Rosé
2013 Chateau Massiac, Minervois  
2012 Domaine Boisson, Cros de Romet Cairanne

Sunday we’ll have a couple of more excellent BBQ wines that are new to the neighborhood.

2015 Marestangno Ile de Beauté $9
Sciaccarellu
There is a lot going on in this inexpensive Corsican rosé.  The wine is fresh and direct with light orange zest, peach, and white cherry notes framed by a hint of savory. It is well-balanced with good length and a rich finish.

2014 Cesani Chianti Coli Senesi        $14
80% Sangiovese, 20% Canaiolo, Cilegiolo & Malvesia Nera
Aged for 6 months in 2nd-use barrels, the Cesani Coli is an open, red fruit, potpourri, with a juicy, lingering, pleasant finish. 13% alcohol by volume.

Stop on in for a sip — then get those coals glowing!

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.

Summer is still with us.  So this Saturday we are pouring some fresh and refreshing French wine to complement the weather.  We’ve got dry bubbles from Alsace, a crisp Picpoul from the Languedoc, an organic Rosé from Gassac, as well as two bold reds to match up with the barbeque.  Swing by the shop and have a taste.
 
2013 Domaine Bechtold, Crémant d’Alsace $20
From organic and biodynamic vineyards, The Bechtold is equal parts Chardonnay and Auxerrois bottled with no dosage, and disgorged in May of 2015. The soul of raciness and finesse, this wine is electric and citrusy, with the earthy depth of the Auxerrois grape coming through on the palate, and a firm limestone minerality on the finish. 
 
2015 La Chapelle du Bastion, Picpoul de Pinet $12
This Picpoul or “lip stinger” grow on the slopes of the Languedoc facing the Mediterranean, and the sunny climate of the region gives the grapes wonderful ripeness.  The wine is dry, clean and fresh with yellow peach and lemony citrus aromas and flavors
 
2015 Mas de Daumas Gassac, Guilhem Rosé $14
50% Syrah, 50% Carignan
This organic rosé comes from 25-50 year old vines grown on limestone slopes along the Gassac River. It boasts a pleasant nose of crushed red flowers, cherry and redcurrant. The light, refreshing palate is cooling, with lovely red apple skin and peach notes. It is fruity but dry, with a crisp, lip-smacking finish.
 
2013 Château Massiac, Minervois  $18
75% Syrah, 25% Carignan
Massiac organic vineyard lies at the extreme south of the Massif Centrale, in the gently sloping foothills that lead to the Mediterranean coast which is not terribly distant. The Minervios is the flagship wine from the Château, with “enticing notes of juniper, rosemary and thyme as well as the savory flavors of wild berries and a hint of the ‘animal'”.
 
2012 Domaine Boisson, Cros de Romet  $25
80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
Domaine Boisson (owned by two brothers, Alain & Bruno who are advised in the cellar by the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape oenologist, Philippe Cambie) is one of the finest estates in Cairanne.  The 2012 Cros de Romet offers lots of spice, black raspberry, licorice and cherry blossom-like aromas and flavors, along with the classic melted licorice, roasted herbs and the background meatiness that’s always found in this cuvee.

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.

It is Seafair weekend here in Madrona.  While the crowds are clogging all the traffic down by the pits, we’ll be kicking back on the top of the hill drinking some fine wine.

Saturday, we are tasting an interesting collection of South American wines. These immigrants slipped across the border without any green cards.  Come drink them now before Trump gets elected.
Bodegas Cruzat, Reserve Extra Brut Valle de Uco, Mendoz, Argentina
2014 Vina Litoral, Sauvignon Blanc, Leyda Valley, Chile 
2011 Ermisch Cellars, Erendira’s Rise Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 
2013 Elqui, Red Blend, Elqui Valley Chile
2013 Garage Wine Company, Carignan, Maule Valley Chile

Sunday, we’re pouring two newly discounted wines, good for the BBQ or any other occasion.

2014 Coral Wines Rosé $11
85% Mourvèdre, 15% Cinsault
A very dry Washington rosé still going strong with a year of age on it and a few dollars off the price.  Was $18 now $11

2012 Sasa Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo $12
A full, rich, Montepulciano with more going on than most.  Dark fruit, smoke and tar notes.  13% alcohol by volume. Was $16 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.

Chile and Argentina produce large volumes of wine, a lot of which is unexceptional, in a lot of ways like California.  But amidst the big producers you can find dedicated wine makers who are crafting distinct wines that reflect their specific vineyards.  This Saturday we’ll be tasting wines from five of these specialists.  Come discover them for yourself. 
 
Bodegas Cruzat, Reserve Extra Brut Valle de Uco, Mendoz, Argentina $20
75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay
Sourced from estate grown vines from 4,600 feet elevation, this rich/leesy extra brut has restrained aromas of strawberry, watermelon and fresh herbs. A faint touch of sweetness (six grams per liter) lifts the wine’s subtle red fruit and saline flavors, with a touch of minerality giving the back end a tactile quality.
 
2014 Vina Litoral, Sauvignon Blanc, Leyda Valley, Chile  $13
Leyda Valley is Chile’s newest and most radical cool climate wine region, strongly influenced by the cooling effects of the Humboldt Current that flows up the country’s west coast from the Antarctic.  Litoral’s 2014 Sauvignon Blanc is an extraordinary example of for the grape and zone. It’s a wine with great marine influence whose verticality is aided by the cooling effect of the granite soils yet juicy and refreshing.
 
2011 Ermisch Cellars, Erendira’s Rise Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley  $35
After running Bodega Calle in Argentina for more than a decade, Kirk Ermisch wanted to try his hand at Pinot Noir, so he headed to Oregon and hooked up with Robert Brittan. The result is lithe and expressive, taut and focused, with cherry, mint and sassafras flavors playing against velvety tannins, finishing long. “
 
2013 Elqui, Red Blend, Elqui Valley Chile $16
52% Syrah, 37% Carmenere, 11% Malbec
A blend of 3 vineyards with alluvial soils rich in minerals deposited by the Elqui River and cooled by ocean breezes, the Elqui Red has a substantial nose offering plenty of dark fruits, some currant and a minty almost hint of menthol. it is juicy and vibrant with loads of suave tannin, earthy elements and elegant minerals, building into a smooth lingering finish.
 
2013 Garage Wine Company, Carignan, Maule Valley Chile$31
94% Carignan, 6% Mataro (Mourvèdre)
Boutique by design, GWCo makes a series of small Lots that are 8-17 barrels each.  The Carignan is a field blend, sourced from a small, dry farmed vineyard with centuries-old rootstock still farmed by hand and horse.  It has a serious nose mixing tree bark aromas, red and black fruit, licorice and subtle spices. The palate is fluid with good acidity and medium body.

The wine makers at Elqui Valley.

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’s cooling off here this weekend in Madrona (mid 70’s & Sunny is nothing to complain about).  And, we’ll be tasting some very cool wines to help with the weekend chill.

Saturday we have the locals from Locus Wines here to share their wares.  We’ll be pouring their:
2015 Dineen Vineyard Sémillon  
2015  Rosé  
2014 Modo Red 
2013 Yakima Valley Red 
2013 Keller Vineyard Syrah

Sunday, we’ll be pouring two crisp, dry whites to match the summer weather.

2012 Rojac Istra Malvazija  $12
From Slovenia, the Rojac is an organic, low sulfite, Malvasia that is totally dry, leaving just the great aromas: white peach, blossoms and citrus character.  Was $17 now $12

2014 Two Mountain Winery Riesling  $12
From Two Mountain’s estate Copland vineyard fruit, this Washington Riesling is truly a dry, crisp refreshing wine with a nice balance of pear, citrus, and minerals on the palate.

Stroll on in and join us.

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.

locus noun, [loh-kuhs]. 1. a place; locality. 2. a center or source, of activities or power.
 
locus wines:A winery headquartered just down the hill on Madrona Drive.  There Rich Burton & Ton Yazici plot out their designs to craft wines from out distinctive fruit from both touted and obscure vineyards in Eastern Washington. 
 
This Saturday Rich will be at the shop talking about his wines and of course pouring a taste to back up the talk.  Ton promises to have some little bites to go with (a cut above our normal spread to be sure.)  Together it is a day not to be missed.  Join us.
 
2015 Dineen Vineyard Sémillon  $15
A single vineyard Sémillon from Dineen vineyard.  Sémillon, resilient and hearty, loves the hot days and cool nights of Yakima Valley, producing plenty of acid to balance a soft creaminess and zesty lemon flavors.

2015  Rosé  $15
38% Cinsault, 31% Grenache, 31% Mourvèdre
This rose pulls off a balancing act between the classic Provence varietals. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault flourish in the Yakima Valley heat, producing a surprisingly crisp, well-balanced wine with complex fruit flavors, with a bone dry finish.   12.5% alcohol by volume
 
2014 Modo Red  $15
59% Merlot, 25% Malbec, 15% Syrah
Locus’  everyday drinker.   Merlot is definitely the power plyer of this blend with a bouquet of blueberries and a hint of ground nutmeg. On the palate, brambly blackberries and dark cherries morph into subtle tobacco, cedar, and leather. It has bright acidity and surprisingly gripping tannins round out this easy-drinking red.
 
2013 Yakima Valley Red  $23
68% Syrah, 32% Grenache
The Rhone-style blend from high-elevation fruit offers typical Rhone flavors with Eastern Washington signatures (the good kind) all over it with aromas of sage & lavender, juicy fruit nots of blood orange and dark cherry and a cardamom spicy finish.

2013 Keller Vineyard Syrah $35
From a cooler vineyard in Naches Heights, the Keller Syrah shows  plums and crushed violets on the nose. Initial cassis and blackberry flavors lead to star anise on the finish.   Smooth tannins and great acidity round out this very unique Syrah.

Dog Gone Good Wine!

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.