The temperature has warmed back up this week in Madrona, bringing a little life back to the winter dreariness.  Earlier this week a friend sent us this note:
We were on the wagon for a few days.  Then we were kind of peddling with one foot while one leg was on the wagon. And then we were waving goodbye to the wagon with our filled wine glasses.
Stop by Madrona Wine this weekend and toast the wagon as it disappears into the distance.  We’ve got a nice line up of wines to sample.

Saturday we are pouring some bold wines from Italy to shake off the gloomy corners of January. 
2015 Terresacre, Falanghina  
2012 Luccarelli, Negroamaro 
2013 Fattoria Uccelliera, Ginepraia  
2007 Ca’ Salgari Amarone
Cantina Quisello, Lambrusco

 Sunday, we are tasting a couple of French wines to match up with the Sunday dinner. 

2015 Château de la Cantrie Muscadet $10
A fine Muscadet to go with the seafood from across the street or just cheese and bread.

2014 La Florane Visan $11
90% Grenache, 10% Syrah
A Fleur de Pampre seduces with its perfect balance and ripe fruitiness with yet supple tannins —  blood orange meets dark cherry with a spicy topping. Good for those more roasted dishes.  Was $15 now $11

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.

I’m in the shop until 3pm for those last minute wine emergencies!

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 pouring these five bad boys until five – get out, enjoy the sun, sip a little Vermouth! These aren’t your grandmother’s Martini and Rossi. Great on their own, on the rocks, with a twist, or in a top shelf cocktail.

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 Super Bowl arrives this weekend, and while it won’t see the Seahawks out on the gridiron, it will have all the over the top commercials and Lady Gaga and light shows and fireworks and maybe even some football.  Of course to celebrate we are pouring some Super Wines all weekend at Madrona Wine.

Saturday, we have a fine line up from the Loire and the Rhône that offer up some tasty exceptional value.
2013 Pierre Chainier, Château de la Roche, Touraine  $12
2014 Pierre Chainier, Les Hospices Sancerre  $19
2013 Charles Thomas, Côte du Rhône  $11
2012 Alain Jaume, Haut de Brun, Côte du Rhône  $15
2012 Pierre Chainier, Roc de Chateauvieux, Chinon $21

Sunday, we’ll be showing off a couple of wines from Italy.

2014 La Jara Pinot Grigio Rosé  $9
After the tide of summer rosés you sometimes find the gems in the receding surf.  The La Jarra blossoms with rose petal and red fruit, lots of blood orange and lively goodness. And due to the season it is now $9.  Was $12 Organic  12.5% alcohol by volume

2013 Contini Tonaghe  $12
Cannonau di Sardegna
Sardinian Grenache that taste like it comes from nowhere else. Intense, with a well-defined vinosity and a hint of ripe plums and blackberries, lovely grippy tannins; warm and full-bodied with blackberry notes and juicy, ripe plum flavors.

Slip 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.

The new boats of 2016 are arriving loaded with wine. This Sunday we’ll be welcoming two new arrivals to the shop — One from Corsica, and one from Spain. Stop by and greet them.

2014 Domaine 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. 12.5% alcohol by volume

2014 Tarima, Monastrell $10
This is your brain on Monastrell –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.

As New Year’s Eve draws near celebratory bubbles come to mind.  Is it because like bubbles, time is fleeting?  Or is it something in the POP of a Champagne cork that bodes well for a start of the New Year?

While we ponder that, Madrona Wine Merchants will be OPEN from NOW until New Years. So if you have bubbles in mind or need anything else to usher in the new, swing by and pick some up.

We will be closed New Year’s day, but open again on Saturday with a new start.

If you want a little reading material Eric Asimov has a good article this week on Grower Champagnes in the NY Times:   http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/30/dining/new-champagne-brands.html 

Madrona Wine stocks a great selection of Champagne made by the people who grow the grapes.  And if you want something really special, we have
the largest selection of Special Club Champagnes in Seattle.

Happy New Year
from Jim & Mark

Got a well-mannered mutt? We have treats for them and treats for their owners.

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.

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 sneaking up on us. Thanksgiving is 10 days away. So, between November 17th and New Years we will be open on Tuesdays from noon to 7 along with our regular schedule.
Thanksgiving Day we will be open for 11am to 3pm, so that Mark can get out of cooking.

Remember, wine from any other Shoppe doth not taste as sweet.

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.

Sunday Sipping

September, 27^th

11 to 5

Most wines from certain regions are what you have come to expect as far as the grapes that go in them. If it is red from Bordeaux it is likely to be Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon as the major players. If it is the Rhone then Grenache and Syrah. In Tuscany, you expect there to be some Sangiovese in there setting the tone. But life is not always what you expect. This Sunday we’re pouring a couple of reds that are surprising blends for where they are from.

2013 Domaine de Mougin VDP L’ Aude $10
30% Syrah, 30% Merlot, 20% Carignan, 10% Grenache, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
From the South of France where the Atlantic grapes (Merlot and Cabernet) can get blown together with the more Mediterranean ones (Grenache, Syrah and Carignan). A dark and fruit driven everyday drinking wine with enough going on so your tongue never gets bored. What Vin de Pays should always be.
2013 Nottola, Tre Pezzi $13
80% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot
A Super Tuscan with bold red fruit flavors blended with soft tannins that linger through the long velvety finish. Aged for 6 to 8 months in French oak. No Sangiovese here, just big full wine.