The weather can’t seem to make up its mind this week in Madrona, switching from buckets of rain to balmy spring like temperatures.   But at Madrona Wine we are single-mindedly going about our mission — Drinking good wine.

Saturday, we have a superlative line up of Piedmont wines, including a Sparkling Nebbiolo by Luigi Giordano.  We’ll also be tasting his 2011 Barbaresco Cavanna, his flagship wine that you won’t want to miss.  It starts at 2pm.

Sunday we’re pouring two new arrivals at the shop from this week. 11-5pm
2014 Tarima, Monastrelle $10
Red raspberries, cooked cherries, and mulberries show in this wine’s expressive nose and mouth; the middle and finish also offer black plums and black raisins. Spices, herbs, and chocolate mark the finish as well.

2014 Petroni, Corsican Red, $12
50% Niellucciu, 35% Syrah, 15% Grenache
A good versatile red for Corsica, the wine has aromas of red fruit (strawberries, blackcurrant and raspberries) as well as delicate spice and a light minerality. It is supple on entry to the palate with red fruit flavors and subtle roasted notes.

Our Sunday evening tasting of Older Bordeaux is filled up.  We’ll get back soon with the groups favorites.

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.

Luigi Giordano is a fourth-generation family winery whose vineyards are planted in some of Barbaresco’s most prestigious Crus. One particular Barbaresco bottling from the Cru of Cavanna showcases the winery’s elegant, hands-off style of winemaking. This Saturday we’ll be pouring this elegant Barbaresco along with some other of the wineries creations as well as a couple of offerings from some of his neighbors. It is a great line up you won’t want to miss.

2013 Angelo Negro “Serra Lupini” Arneis $22
This winery’s origins date back to 1670. Giovanni Negro, the estate’s present owner, produced the first dry Arneis on record in 1971 The wine has aromas of peach and pear, acacia flowers and tropical fruits. It has a soft persisting attack and a mineral aftertaste which comes from the sandy soil of Roero.

2013 Luigi Giordano, Brut Rosé $37
100% Nebbiolo
This sparkling Nebbiolo is made method classico (Champagne method) from 30 to 35 year old vines. The wine has an abundant, rose-tinted effervescence with a fine and persistent perlage. The perfume is intense and ample with notes of raspberry, red berries, citrus fruits and a hint of wilted roses. The flavor is fresh and full-bodied with a soft, clean aftertaste and a slightly tannic finish.

2014 Luigi Giordano, Langhe Rosso $21
80% Nebbiolo, 10% Dolcetto, 10% Arneis
A unique blend the Giordano Rosso’s cépage changes each vintage. The 2014’s bouquet is full and fruity, with hints of crisp dried flowers, dried plum and red fruit jam. The light spicy notes are just delicately noticed. The wine is full-bodied and elegant, well balanced and particularly drinkable.

2012 Oddero, Barbera d’Alba $22
Oddero’s first bottle was released in 1878. Today, the estate is run by the fifth and sixth generations: Giacomo Oddero and his daughters, Mariavittoria and Mariacristina. They are currently converting the vineyards to certified organic. The Barbera has a bouquet of cherry, blackberry, small red fruits, pepper and mineral flavors with an excellent dash of freshness. The tannins are soft and fresh in the mouth, maintaining the classic Barbera backbone, thanks to its pleasant acidity.

2011 Luigi Giordano, Barbaresco Cavanna $41
The Cavanna is left to age for 18-24 months in large (30-50 hectolitre) barrels of Slavonian oak and is then refined in bottle for at least 6 months before release. The wine has a brilliant garnet red color with orange highlights developing with age; It has an ample and intense perfume with fruity, jammy and spicy notes. The wine is dry and full with aristocratic flavor.

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.

Most wine needs a bit of time to hit its prime, but unless you have a cellar and a bit of forethought, it dissapears before it hits it peak. Sunday evening we are going to try and get around that. We’ve rounded up some Bordeaux with some age on them and it is time to check in and see how they are doing. Space for this tasting is limited so contact us to reserve your spot. We start at 5:30 on Sunday, have a few snacks to go with the wines and you can still get home for Sunday dinner.

2004 Château Lanessan Haut Medoc $25
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot
A library release of a solid Bordeaux that is just hitting its prime. Lots of mineral notes, full fruit and smooth tannins.

2005 Gigault Cuvee Viva, Cotes de Blaye $26
90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc
Lots of ripe black fruit aromas and even more richness on the palate with oak flavors in the background. This richness is balanced with good acidity, nice astringency and a good tannic backbone.

2005 Grand Bos, Graves Rouge $33
47% Cabernet Sauvignon 45% Merlot 6% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc.
A great aging wine from 2005 that is time to check in on.

2006 La Garde Pessac-Léognan Rouge $25
55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.5% Cabernet Franc, 2.5% Petit Verdot
Chateau La Garde 2006 red is ruby-red, brilliant. Its delicate nose opens up on a note of Morelo cherries and plums. The initial attack is full, evolving into silky, integrated tannins, as a result of careful extraction during vinification.

2007 Gueyrosse, St Emilion Grand Cru $30
Merlot, Cabernet Franc
An under-the-radar estate. As of last Fall the Gueyrosse was showing bountiful aromas, dry full fruit and firm leathery finish.

2007 La Fleur Milon Pauillac $28
65% Cabernet, 25 % Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc
One of the Rothschild properties, Fleur Milon is a Fifth Growth Estate and the 2007 is drinking well right now with red fruit aromas along with some more spicy notes. Well-structured on the palate, it builds on nicely balanced tannins, revealing licorice, coffee and blackcurrant flavors.

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.

Rain is on the forecast this weekend in Madrona, and per usual it’s pouring at Madrona Wine.  We’ve got a busy line up so grab that umbrella and come check it out.

Saturday, we’re tasting wines from Domaine Le Fay d’ Homme  a great organic estate winery in the Loire that specializes in Mellon de Bourgogne or what is more commonly known under the appellation Muscadet.  They also make two very aromatic reds, one from Gamay and one from Malbec.

Sunday, some things come and some things go.  We’re pouring two red wines: A Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero that we got the last of this week, and a Cabernet Franc from the Loire that has just arrived.

2012 Domaine de la Rablais Mis en Bouteille Cuvée Rouge $14
Loire Valley
This 100% Cabernet Franc is just off the boat and tasting great. Lighter bodied — nice spice notes.

2009 Ismael Arroyo Ribera del Dureo “Mesoneros”    $14
From Ribera del Duero, this big Tempranillo has had time to soften up.  Its smoothness will make your taste buds think they’ve been put to bed with silk sheets. Oak aged in chalk tunnels hundreds of feet underground. Full, dark and rich.  Was $20 now $14

Sunday is also the Artist Reception for Suzanne Brooker’s show of new oil paintings, Waterways from 3 to 5pm
Water is the element of change that creates paths through the landscape. A trickster with many disguises, the dynamics of water is a constant challenge to render from the dancing currents of fast water to the sculptural effects of the water course over rocky shores.

Suzanne Brooker is a Teaching Artist and has published two books: The Elements of Landscape Oil Painting:–Techniques for Rendering Sky, Terrain, Trees and Water & Portrait Painting Atelier: Old Master Techniques & Contemporary Applications

And keep your eyes out for our upcoming special tasting of older Bordeauxs.  We’re drawing up the details and will get it out soon.

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.

No, Fay d’Homme was not a 1920’s silent movie star.  It is however a great organic estate winery in the Loire that specializes in Mellon de Bourgogne or wat is more commonly known under the appellation Muscadet.  They also make some very aromatic reds.  Owner Vincent Caillé Earl is a 5th generation winemaker.  Indeed both of his parents, came from winemaking families which makes him a “concentrate”. His parcels are spread over 14 kilometers in 4 towns and 3 terroirs.  After converting his all property from conventional methods back to organic practices, he is now starting to learn and work a part of his domaine in Biodynamy.  This Saturday we’ll be pouring five wines from the winery, and being very French we’ll pour the reds first.

2014 La Part du Colibri Gamay  $13
La Part du Colibri means the Part of the Hummingbird from an ancient Indian parable meaning that even if you do just a little bit but the best you can, you contribute to a better place. This pure Gamay is from 40 year old vines and is a nice balance of fresh fruit and minerality.

2014 La Part du Colibri Cot $14
A bit of an odity, this Cot (aka Malbec) from the Loire is a bit lighter than Cahor, but abounds with juicy and spicy black cherry and plums with hints of pepper and anise and a large core of minerality.

X bulles Methode Ancestrale   $18
100% sparkling Melon de Bourgogne made in the méthode ancestrale style – a very traditional way of making sparkling wine where it is bottled before all the residual sugar is fermented into alcohol, without dosage and often riddling.  The fineness of the bubbles, salinity, mineral X bubbles form a nice balance between fruit and freshness.

2014 Muscadet Sêvre et Maine  $14
The Muscadet is Melon de Bourgogne from 35-year-old vines and aged in traditional glass lined cement tanks, offering a classic expression The wine ages “Sur lie” (on its sediment) for several months which adds body and mouthfeel.  The La Fay is a fuller Muscadet, dry and focused with notes of white flowers and melon & citrus notes.   12% alcohol by volume

2010 Monnieres, Saint Fiacre  $27
This “Grand Muscadet,” from 60 year old vines underwent a long fermentation and spent 15 months on its lees giving the Melon de Bourgogne a fuller richness.   It drinks beautifully, with supple, deep flavors, and power.

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.

Today we have THREE Malbecs open for tasting – was going to be two, but for the next bit we have some of yesterday’s Malbec that still tasting good.

From France:

2012 Les Fiefs d’Anglars Malbec    ($10)
Vin de Pays du Lot
A great value Malbec from Cahors with good full fruit and scents of red and black fruit, pepper and spices.12.5% alcohol by volume

From Chile:

2013 Echeverria Gran Reserva    ($12)
Malbec
A Chilean Malbec that sets itself off from its Argentinian neighbors. Full and soft plummy fruit, with violet aromas and a smooth round finish.

From Washington State:

2012 Malbec, Estate, Wahluke Slope $20
Aromas of blueberry, plum and violets. Fabulous balance of fruit, tannin and acidity. The flavors roll from blackberries and dark plums to a floral/herbal note of violets and lavender. The well-heeled mouth feel brings a light note of vanilla to the finish. Try this versatile wine with grilled (or plumb) duck, steak, pasta Bolognese, roast turkey, Mexican style chicken mole.   GOLD – North Central Washington Wine awards.

CURRENT SCORE

A little over an hour into the competition – it’s neck-n-neck.

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.

Join us Sunday for MALBEC MANIA – a smackdown tasting with two Malbecs, one from the feisty French, the other from the cunning Chileans. We’ll be posting the score throughout the day. Come vote with your wallet.

2012 Les Fiefs d’Anglars Malbec    ($10)
Vin de Pays du Lot
A great value Malbec from Cahors with good full fruit and scents of red and black fruit, pepper and spices.12.5% alcohol by volume

2013 Echeverria Gran Reserva    ($12)
Malbec
A Chilean Malbec that sets itself off from its Argentinian neighbors. Full and soft plummy fruit, with violet aromas and a smooth round finish.

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 morning fog is burning off and turning into sunshine here in Madrona.  It’s a perfect afternoon for a walk through the forest.

Saturday at 2pm, we’ll be walking through the wines of Ginkgo Forest Winery, a Washington estate on Waluke Slope.  The wines are full of varietal character and reasonably priced.  You can imagine the breeze through the trees while you taste the vines.  We’ll be trying their:

Botanical White Blend (33% Viognier, 33% Riesling, 33% Gewuztraminer)
Sangiovese
Malbec
Coalesce Red (34% Grenache, 33% Mourvèdre, 33% Syrah)
Melange de la Forêt  (42% Carmenere, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc)

Sunday it’s MALBEC MANIA – a smackdown tasting with two Malbecs, one from the feisty French, the other from the cunning Chileans.  It is the perfect sport for after the Seahawks.

2012 Les Fiefs d’Anglars Malbec $10
Vin de Pays du Lot
A great value Malbec from Cahors with good full fruit and scents of red and black fruit, pepper and spices.

2013 Echeverria Gran Reserva  $12
Malbec
A Chilean Malbec that sets itself off from its Argentinian neighbors.  Full and soft plummy fruit, with violet aromas and a smooth round finish.

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.

Ginkgo Forest’s vineyard and winery are located on the Wahluke Slope one of Washington’s great AVAs.  The winery is named for the ginkgo trees that millions of years ago covered that area of eastern Washington.   Now grapes thrive where there once was forest.   Stop by this Saturday as we pour a line up their intriguing wines.   You can imagine the breeze through the trees while you taste the vines.  These wines seem to clean up the medals at the local taste offs.
 
2013 Ginkgo Botanical Series White Blend, Estate, Wahluke Slope $18
33% Viognier, 33% Riesling, 33% Gewuztraminer
Wonderful floral notes on the nose bringing your senses to a cleaver zing of spices and pleasing acidity. Clean stone fruit and honeydew melon flow into a ripe pineapple experience. Try it with salads, shrimp, shellfish of all sorts, sturgeon or any white fish. BRONZE – North Central Washington Wine Awards
 
2010 Sangiovese, Estate, Wahluke Slope $15
Aroma and flavors of plum, pomegranate, cranberry, and spice. BEST BUY OF ITALIAN REDS – Wine Press NW, 2013 • BRONZE – Great Northwest Wines, 2013
 
2012 Malbec, Estate, Wahluke Slope $20
Aromas of blueberry, plum and violets. Fabulous balance of fruit, tannin and acidity. The flavors roll from blackberries and dark plums to a floral/herbal note of violets and lavender. The well-heeled mouth feel brings a light note of vanilla to the finish. Try this versatile wine with grilled (or plumb) duck, steak, pasta Bolognese, roast turkey, Mexican style chicken mole.   GOLD – North Central Washington Wine awards.
 
2011 Coalesce Red, Estate, Wahluke Slope $26
34% Grenache, 33% Mourvèdre, 33% Syrah
A delightful Rhone Blend. Grenache dominant with soft spiced berry flavors. Mourvèdre adds earthy notes and deep color. Syrah brings structure with black pepper and olives. GOLD – North Central Wine Awards, 2014
 
2013 Melange de la Forêt Red Blend $24
42% Carmenere, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc
A carnival of fruit with floral notes on the nose. Flavors of Rubrum Lilly, hibiscus, spices and a light cocoa afterglow. Pleasant, smooth tannins holding on just enough to reach the lovely finish. Wonderful as an aperitif wine or enjoy with Filet Mignon, Osso Bucco, or a nice pot roast. SILVER – North Central Washington Wine Awards

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.

2016 has arrived!  And to start the year off right, this weekend we’ll be pouring some delicious wines to get the year going on the right foot.

Saturday We’ve got some great values from the Loire, Sicily, Rioja and the Piedmont, and we have a nice lazy weekend to enjoy them in.

2014 Pichot, Coteau de la Biche, Vouvray Sec  $13
Chenin Blanc
This wine is warm, rounded and packed with fruit. Baked apple and spice are combined with almond and honey flavors. The wine is dry, very fresh while also concentrated and dense.

2010 Valle dell ‘Acate Cerasuolo di Vitoria  $15
70% Nero d’Avola, 30% Frappato
Sicily’s only DOCG, the Cerasuolo has scents of mature blackberry and raspberry with notes of soft spices like licorice and cacao.  The flavors are soft and velvety. The tannins are balanced.  The wine is addictive, and now on deal.  Was $23 now $15

2005 Leza Garcia Rioja Alta Reserva  $16
Tempranillo
The wine is aged for 24 months in a combination of American and French oak barrels followed by an additional 5 years of bottle. It has a rich and elegant nose. On the palate it is complex with well-rounded ripe red fruit flavors, and has a lingering deeply fruity finish. Was $20 now $16

2010 Pasquale Pelissero. Bricco San Giuliano Barbaresco  $30
A family estate, single-vineyard Barbaresco that comes from an 8-hectare parcel of 25-year-old vines at about 400 meters above sea level.  The wine is aged for 2 years (90 % in large botte and 10% in New French barrels)  The wine has plum, cherry, licorice and leather notes on a broad frame. It is tight and dense, with a lingering, fresh finish and dusty tannins.

Sunday we’ll be have two Rhône Reds to compare and contrast.

2012 Pasquiers Côtes du Rhône    $10
Grenache, Syrah
Gluggable but serious, full of red berry fruit which makes it so seductive and easy to drink but alongside this beguiling fruit lurks a beautiful floral note and a sophisticated garrigue, herbal finish.

2012 Michel Gassier Cercius Vieilles Vignes Visan  $15
85% Grenache, 15% Syrah
Made from 80+ year vines the Cercius has dark berries and wood smoke lifted by a spicy element. It finishes with gentle tannins and subtle anise and cola qualities.

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.