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

2013 Marchesi di Gresy
Langhe Savignon ($14)
From vineyards situated in Barbaresco and Treiso, this lees aged Sauvignon Blanc has crisp sharp limey acidity over creamy fruit of apple and pears.
Was $21 now $14

2012 Lucchetti
Lacrima di Morro d’ Alba ($13)
From the Marche region of Italy, this Lacrima di Morro has a big floral quality and a little salinity from the salt air of the Adriatic Sea. Distinct and delicious.

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 looks like Seattle is welcoming Greenbay with a good dose of dampness. But for the home team we’ll be pouring some great Italian wines to shake off the winter chill.

Saturday starting at 2 we’ll have five wines open from some of Italy’s small, traditional producers. Come in and stock up for game day.

Sunday we’ll be pouring two more delicious Italians.

2013 Marchesi di Gresy Langhe Savignon  ($14)
From vineyards situated in Barbaresco and Treiso, this lees aged Sauvignon Blanc has crisp sharp limey acidity over creamy fruit of apple and pears.

2012 Lucchetti Lacrima di Morro d’ Alba  ($13)
From the Marche region of Italy, this Lacrima di Morro has a big floral quality and a little salinity from the salt air of the Adriatic Sea.  Distinct and delicious.

Stop in before the game, at half time, or after to celebrate. They’ll be open all day from 11 to 5.

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.

Italy has long been comprised of family farms and small co-operatives. The wines are made using techniques passed down from generation to generation.  More recently, modern practices & equipment have blended in with the old ways leaving the character, but improving the quality.  Saturday we’ll be pouring a fine line up of these wines.  Join us for a taste.
 
2011 Sono Montenidoli Vernaccia di San Gimignano Tradizionale  $13
100% Vernaccia
In 1965 the property of Montenidoli (mountain of the little nests) had been abandoned and overgrown when Sergio Muratori and Elisabetta Fagiuoli arrived with their 9 children. Today, their 24 hectare estate of vineyards focuses on indigenous varietals using organic farming methods.   They use the old tradition of maceration with skins, waiting to press until fermentation begins.  The wine has aromas of herbs and almonds, rich flavor, and a dry, crisp finish.
 
2012 Tenuta di Corte Giacobbe Soave $13
100% Garganega
The Dal Cero family has been producing wine for over three generations.  Their Soave has delicate scents of flowers pear and apple notes and a vibrant, textured body with the characteristic final hint of almond. 
 
2013 Torre Gajo, Montepulciano $11
Tore Gajo is produced by a cooperative of growers located in Abruzzo. The wine has aromas of cherry and light spice with a palate of smooth, juicy red fruits and light earthiness on finish.
 
2013 Vinchio & Vaglio Serra “SetteFiglie” Nebbiolo Langhe  $17
Vinchio &Vaglio Serra was founded in 1959 by a small group of vineyard farmers whose vineyards are located on the steep slopes of the Alto Monferrato’s hills in Asti.  These farmers tend the vines with reduced use of pesticides & other chemicals, and focus on low yields and concentrated sugars. This Nebbiolo has scents of bright red berries, cherry & violets.  The palate is approachable & easy drinking with its medium body & bright fruity notes.
 
2010Tenimenti Andreucci Chianti Riserva “Costavecchia”  $20
100% Sangiovese
This small family winery has had vineyards in Tuscany for over 200 hundred years. The wine’s label honors the family’s legacy showing a bill of sale from Napoleon, who the Andreucci family supplied wine.  Their Reserva spends 27 months in oak before bottling.  It has aromas of sweet red fruits and wisteria and dry cherry, full fruit and a slightly tannic 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.

As an addition to our Saturday Eco-Spanish tasting, we are proud to present two more good deals from Spain. We’ll have them open all day, from 11am to 5pm. Stop by for a taste.

2011 Vina Costeira Ribeiro Blanc ($9)
50% Trexeiadura, 20% Albaranio, 10% Torrontes, 10% Godello, 10% Palomino
Aromas of orange and mineral are uncomplicated and friendly. It feels pure and offers good flow, with apple, lime, mineral, white pepper and anise flavors. Fruity, dry and composed on the finish. Was $12 now $9 11.5% alcohol by volume

2012 Pazo de Eguren Terra de Castillia ($11)
Tempranillo An in expensive Spanish wine that takes itself seriously enough to put it in a wooden box. Pagos de Eguren has a very attractive nose of ripe red and black fruit and a lot of vanilla. The taste is very pleasant, has lots of ripe fruit and is nicely rounded. 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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

As an addition to our Saturday Eco-Spanish tasting, we are proud to present two more good deals from Spain. We’ll have them open all day, from 11am to 5pm. Stop by for a taste.

2011 Vina Costeira Ribeiro Blanc ($9)
50% Trexeiadura, 20% Albaranio, 10% Torrontes, 10% Godello, 10% Palomino
Aromas of orange and mineral are uncomplicated and friendly. It feels pure and offers good flow, with apple, lime, mineral, white pepper and anise flavors. Fruity, dry and composed on the finish. Was $12 now $9
11.5% alcohol by volume

2012 Pazo de Eguren Terra de Castillia ($11)
Tempranillo
An in expensive Spanish wine that takes itself seriouly enough to put it in a wooden box. Pagos de Eguren has a very attractive nose of ripe red and black fruit and a lot of vanilla. The taste is very pleasant, has lots of ripe fruit and is nicely rounded.
Sustainable

Saturday we’re pouring a lineup of Spanish wines with an ecological conscience. These wineries all practice responsible viniculture and are ecologically farmed and either mostly organic or certified organic.  Either way, they are lip-smacking delicious.  Swing by and give them a try.

2013 Carballal Sete Cepas Albariño $17
Produced from its younger vineyards, tended with natural fertilizer, untilled, hand harvested grapes, ecologically farmed and organic whenever possible, with treatments used only when absolutely necessary. The wine has a nice bracing acidity, with tropical and stone fruits notes. It is a fine match for fish or shellfish.

2013 Bodegas Vegalfaro, Rebel.lia, Utiel-Requena $12
Equal parts Bobal, Tempranillo and Garnacha Tintorea (Alicante Bouchet)
A rebel with a mission, the Rebel.lia is an intense red with an expressive nose bursting with red and black fruits, smoky herbs, baking spices, chocolate and clove. It is loaded with fresh fruit on the pallet than finishes with wonderfully balanced acidity and a smooth with a nice long finish. Certified organic.

2013 Biurko Gorri, Rioja Alta Joven  $10
Temparnillo
From the Basque part of Rioja, Biurko Gorri tends vineyards and olive groves certified organic since 1998. The Llorens family stands out for its commitment to combining modern winemaking methods with sustainable viticulture to bring out the true character of tempranillo, and that includes avoiding new oak. The Biurko Joven has aromas of forest red and black fruits (blackberries and strawberries) combined with slight mineral nuances.

2010 Biurko Gorri, Rioja Alta Crianza $15
80% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano
Biurko’s Crianza is aged for 12 months in barrel.  Black raspberry, cocoa powder and violet aromas work with savory scents of thyme & sage along with a layer of stealth minerality. A core of fruit drives the palate with sultry, smooth flavors that crawl through the mouth. The finish is polished, regal and gracefully rich. Certified organic

2010 Bodegas Canopy, Tres Patas  $22
80% Garnacha, 20% Syrah
The 2010 Tres Patas is produced with the Garnacha fruit from five different vineyards in the village Real de San Vicente in the Gredos zone close to Madrid.  The Grenache comes from 40 year old head-trained vineyards on siliceous soils that are ecologically farmed.  “The nose comes through as very ripe, with notes of damsons, roasted sunflower and sesame seeds. The palate is medium-bodied, with some grainy tannins, good acidity and a slightly drying finish. It should show better with more bottle aging, even though it’s approachable now.”  WA

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.

New Year’s Eve is approaching and at Madrona Wine we’re sipping our way into it. 

Today (Sunday)  from 11 to 5, Mark will be pouring two wines to toast the passing of 2014.

2012 Stephen Vincent Chardonnay  $13
A toasty, but not overly buttery California Chardonnay.

2008 Grand Caumont, Corbières, Impatience  $16
45% Syrah, 45% Old-Vine Carrignan, 10% Granache
Now why do they call it impatience when the current release is 2008. Intense & powerful with black berry fruits, violet & pepper aromas dominated by dark berry fruit flavors, this wine is well balanced & structured with good length & a lingering finish.

New Year’s Week Schedule:
We’re open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 7
Closed New Year’s Day
And then back open on Friday, January 2nd.

Stop in and pick up some bubbles to say goodbye to 2014 and don’t forget a nice bottle for New Year’s Day dinner.

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.

Come sample a couple of new arrivals to the shop. A lovely California Chardonnay and an older French Beauty. We are pouring all day, from 11-5. Stop on by.

2012 Stephen Vincent Chardonnay ($13)
A toasty, but not overly buttery California Chardonnay.

2008 Grand Caumont Impatience ($16)
45% Syrah, 45% Old-Vine Carrignan, 10% Granache
Corbières
Now why do they call it impatience when the current release is 2008. Intense & powerful with black berry fruits, violet & pepper aromas dominated by dark berry fruit flavors, this wine is well balanced & structured with good length & a lingering 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.