Saturday is Valentine’s Day and we have lined up some lovely wines to help express the Amoré within your soul.  Bring your sweetheart to the shop and share the love.
 
2012 Antech Émotion Rosé $15
Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Mauzac and Pinot Noir
The Émotion is a different Cremant de Limoux from the Languedoc region of the south of France. It is a crisp, elegant sparkler made in the traditional method, spending 15 months in the bottle before disgorgement.  It has a fine bead, delicate hints of cherry and strawberry with white floral notes. What would Valentine’s Day be without a little Emotion?
 
2011 Chateau Les Hauts de Plaisance, Haut Medoc $15
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
The Heights of Pleasure (Hauts de Plaisance) promises a lot and delivers.  This second wine from Chateau Pontoise Cabarus has a complex aromatic nose of red fruit, berries, coffee, and spice.  The palate has a delicious balance of fruit, tannins, and acidity this wine tastes of cherry and blackberry, with a hint of coffee and chocolate.  Take your Valentine to the heights of pleasure or take the Hauts de Plaisance to your Valentine.  
 
2012 Gabbas LilLové, Cannonau di Sardenga  $20
Cannonau is Grenache in Sardinia.  This one comes from Giuseppe Gabbas’ strategically placed vineyards, which he farms with a whole lot of love, using strict yield-reducing techniques such as green harvesting, canopy management and frequent pruning to produces the highest quality Cannonau grapes. The wines is macerated for an extra-long period of 30 days. The LilLové is delicately spicy with juicy red berry fruit and soft earthy notes.  Love a little, love a lot.
 
Terracruda, Sweet Temptation  $12
This wine is a blend of Terracruda’s Pergola Rosso wine with a particular variety of wild cherries called “Visciole”. In July, when the cherries are mature, they are picked and mixed together with wine and sugar to obtain a second fermentation. The result is a sweet, delicate, particularly aromatic wine that marries well with desserts and chocolate based sweets.  No one can resist such temptation.

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 matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

Continuing our theme this weekend, we’ll be pouring these two from Portugal. Stop on by, try, and buy.

2013 Esporao Alandra    ($9)
Antão Vaz, Perrum and Arinto
Fragrant and elegant with floral as well as lime and other citrus aromas and full dry fruit. A lovely little wine from Portugal.
12.5% by volume

2012 Tuga Douro    ($9)
Portugal
Red fruits and spicy aromas. The mild maceration preserves the typical flavors of the varieties that show its potential after bottling. The palate is very gentle and sweet, with well balanced acidity and fine tannins. Pairs well with Mediterranean and Asian food.
12.5% by volume

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 matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

Punxsutawney Phil may have seen his shadow last Monday on Groundhog Day, but it ushered in a week of gray and moisture here in Madrona.  But while the skies are overcast we’ll be pouring a weekends worth of Portuguese wines to drive away the dampness.

Saturday we start at 2 with a five wines from Alentejo, the Douro and Madeira that will warm the body and lift the spirits.

Sunday we’ll be pouring two more Portuguese favorites:
2013 Esporao Alandra  $9
Antão Vaz, Perrum and Arinto
Fragrant and elegant with floral as well as lime and other citrus aromas and full dry fruit.
2012 Tuga Douro Red  $9
The Tuga has red fruits and spicy aromas. The palate is very gentle and sweet, with well-balanced acidity and fine tannins.  It’s a crowd pleaser.

Sunday is also our Artist Reception for our new art:
Unconditional Line
Landscape Drawings by Heather Comeau Cromwell & Suzanne Brooker
A collection of landscape drawings, from quick sketches to tonal renderings that explore the ability of line to define shape, create form and provoke the sense of texture.
3-5pm — stop in and meet the artists.

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 matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

Portugal was for centuries best know abroad for its fortified Port wine, with their dry wines mainly being drunk at home, but in the past 20 years or so things have changed.  The Duro the traditional home to port wines is becoming known for its full dry reds wines.  The Alentejo whose landscape lazily unfolds among gentle slopes that host vineyards, corn fields, olive groves and cork is producing world class wine.  Join us on Saturday as we sample a few Portugal’s fine offerings.
 
2011 Herdade do Esporão, Arco de Esporão Branco  $11
Antão Vaz, Roupeiro, Viosinho
Esperão is one of th major wineries of the Alentejo making wines in a wide range of styles.  The Arco Branco, made from 3 indigenous varietals, is fresh and elegant aromas with notes of lime and grapefruit, with rich and intense flavors on a crisp palate, and a persistent finish.
 
2011 Herdade do Mouchão, Alentejo Dom Rafael Tinto  $15
Trincadeira with Alicante Bouschet and Aragonêz
Dom Rafael is the 2nd wine of the celebrated Herdade do Mouchão.  The Rafael is softer and more approachable in its youth.  It has a rich, dark, full spicy nose with complex lush fruit. The palate is savory and dark with good depth of fruit and some nice spicy structure and a savory finish.
 
2010 Van Zellers, Duro Tinto  $17
Rufete, Sousão, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Roriz, Toruiga Franca, Toruica Nacional.
Van Zellers was established in 1780 as a port house, but it wasn’t until 2006 that they began the production of Douro DOC wines.  Their Tinto with its plethora of port grapes is very aromatic, with ripe red fruit, and plum. It is a very elegant and delicate wine with soft tannins and final long fruity and striking.
 
2011 Herdade do Esporão, Quatro Castas   $22
Alicante Bouschet, Aragonês, Petit Verdot, Syrah
Made from a blend of 4 grapes the Quatro Castas has predominately red berries aromas associated with Aragones. It has a full body palate from Syrah with attractive texture from Alicante and great balance from Petit Verdot.
 
Henriques & Henriques, Medium Rich 5 Year Old Madeira  $20
Madeira is Portugal’s other fortified wine.  Its unique character comes for heating the wine and exposing it to some oxidation.  Henriques & Henriques is the only Madeira producer with estate vineyards.  Their medium rich 5 YO is a blend of Tinta Negra Mole and Bual. The nose is dominated by a dry walnut husk and almost straw like character with a hint of burnt brown sugar and chocolate coming through.  The Palate has a real sense of freshness about it, with plenty of tang, plenty of orange and a really intense caramel and toffee sweetness. this is luscious through the mid palate and into the fresh and tangy 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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

Continuing our mixed theme this weekend, we’ll be pouring these two from France. Stop on by, try, and buy.

2010 Claude Lafond Les Grande Vignes    ($15)
Pinot Noir
A lighter aromatic Pinot for a small estate in the Loire. Lots of rose petal, pie cherry and citrus peel.
Was $19 now $15.
12.5% by volume

2012 Cave de Rasteau
Cotes du Rhone     ($11)
70% Grenache, 20% Carignan, 10% Cinsault
With no Syrah in this CDR, the wine ends up showing off its fruit more and has some lovely perfume notes.

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 matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

This weekend the Seahawks will try and win the Super Bowl for the second year in a row.  In preparation we have assembled a team of local wines that defiantly have game.  Saturday afternoon we’ll have them open for tasting and letting them show their stuff.  Come join us and pick your own winners.
 
2012 Saviah Cellars “The Jack” White  $12
Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Marsanne
Saviah Cellars in Walla Walla produces some big Walla Walla AVA wines that come with bigger prices. “The Jack” line of wines, named after Saviah’s husband Jack, is sourced from Columbia Valley Fruit, and comes in at an affordable price.   This white has notes of pear and apple fruit on the nose, nice body, and refreshing acidity.
 
2012 Ross Andrew, Meadow Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley  $15
Ross Andrew Mickel runs his winery out of Woodinville, sourcing his grapes from Eastern Washington and this Pinot Noir out of the Willamette Valley in Oregon.  The Meadow is an expressive Pinot, trading on finesse rather than brawn with notes of rose petal and light cherry.  Its 14 months of aging in 2nd use barrels gives it a bit of earthy toast.
 
2011 Saviah Cellars “The Jack” Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon  $15
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot,2% Cabernet Franc
the Jack Cab gives out a lot of wine for the money.  Collected from a number of different vineyards, the wine ages in 40% new oak.  Classic aromas of mint, black cherry, cassis and barrel spice are present in spades.   It has delicious flavors, beautiful balance, and a long smooth finish. 
 
2011 Corvus Cellars, “Cuvee” Columbia Valley  $22
Corvus  takes its name from Apollo’s raven in mythology, who suffers from eternal thirst.  The wine is estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from Corvus Vineyard on Red Mountain and Merlot from Les Collines vineyard in Walla Walla. This deep hued wine opens up with black cherry, tar, tobacco and plum and evolves to a defined mid-plate with allspice, roasted marshmallow and cocoa distinctions. Our Cuvee delivers a full and rich mouth feel along with a clean finish. The wine over delivers and is a tremendous value.
 
2012 Amavi Cellars, Walla Walla Syrah  $28
98% Syrah, 2% Grenache
Amavi’s wines are 100% Estate. 100% Sustainable. 100% Walla Walla. Their estate consists of parts of Pepper Bridge, Les Collines, Seven Hills and Goff Vineyards with 45 acres in production.  The wine has notes of dusty violet, blueberry, caramelized fig, black cherry, smoked herb-encrusted meat, and olive brine, but maybe not in that order.  It has a richly textured mid- to back-palate, and a gripping minerality.

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 matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

Continuing our French theme this weekend, we’ll be pouring these two from France. Stop on by, try, and buy.

2012 Cave de Rasteau Cotes du Rhone Blanc    ($11)
60% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 10% Bourboulenc
A Rhone white with aromas of citrus and white-fleshed fruit and notes of flowers, almonds and menthol in a nice structure both full and fresh. 13% alcohol by volume

 
2012 Roc de Levrault Bordeaux ($10)
60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
A sturdy little Bordeaux from a 3rd generation wine making family in Entre deux Mers. Dark plummy fruit.
13% alcohol by volume

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 matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

It is no secret that Madrona Wine favors small growers and wine makers, but it isn’t just cheering the underdog.  Smaller producers use hand harvested grapes.  They pay attention to individual lots.  And as a result, if they do it right, they can use less chemicals and preservatives in their wine, making it fresher and more distinct and lively.  Saturday we’re pouring a few wines from small producers bought to us by Petit Monde, a new local importer.  Cyril Frechier, long time sommelier for Rovers and Café Campagne will be back in the neighborhood pouring the wines.  It’s a small world.
 
2013 Dominique Andiran,” Vain de Ru”, Vin de France $15
95% Colombard, 5% Ugni Blanc
Dominique makes Gascon wines in a natural way, utilizing organic farming principles and minimal intervention. Andiran likes to say his winemaking philosophy is “vineyard first, second and third and I like to stay out of the way in the winery because I am basically lazy.” Dominique has embraced the natural wine movement, using only wild yeasts, not adding sulfur when at all possible and bottling without fining or filtration.  The wine has aromas of ripe nectarines, honeysuckle and pine needles and a trace of salinity followed by a nice palate of lemon curd and marmalade.
 
2013 Cave de la Bouquette, Sancerre $22.
Sauvignon Blanc
Cave de la Bouquette is a 5.5 hectare estate of 30-year-old vines on the sloping hills around Chavignol, and is one on t smallest producers in Sancere.  It is run by Thierry Veron who inherited it from his father.  The Savignon Blanc has a dry citrus body packed in a mineral wrapper.
 
2013 Domaine de la Biscarelle, Debut d une Histoire, Vin de France $17
90% Cinsault, 10% Grenache
Domaine de la Biscarelle is owned by a couple Jerome Grieco and his wife, Christelle in the the Côtes du Rhône, with vineyards in Orange and Châteauneuf du Pape. They farm their vineyards with minimal intervention.  The “beginning of a story” is a Côtes du Rhône turned on its head with more Cinsault than Grenache.   It has aromas of fresh red fruit and lively spice accents, thyme and pine mingle with this olfactory dance. Freshness and fruit expression combine on the palate.
 
2011 Chateau Mazeris , Canon Fronsac $23 
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc
Chateau Mazeris was built in 1769, and given as a dowry in 1805 to Jeanne-Modeste Couvrat, when she marries Jean-Baptiste Cournuaud.  Nine generations later the family still runs the farm.  Their Canon Fronsac is a nicely balanced Bordeaux with classic notes of graphite and leather to balance the dark fruit.
 
2011 Domaine de l’Hermas, Terrasses du Larzac $27
60% Syrah, 40% Mourvedre
Run by Matthieu Torquebiau, Domaine de l’Hermas in the Languedoc makes just one white and one red wine.  His red has a large percentage of Mourvedre and is deeply knitted and full with notes of red and black fruit and, menthol, thyme, and small fine 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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.