Two old Bordeaux that are new to our shelves.

We love old Bordeaux, and we love to drink it without hitting our cellar.  Here are two new arrivals that would go nicely to your table or to your cellar.  We were able to grab a few case of each of these, but we are willing to share.

2011 Chateau Malaison, Moulis en Medoc  $25
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
An old Bordeaux estate bought by the Rothchilds in 1978 and revitalized.  Fresh fruit (black currant and plum) aromas, a touch of menthol, and delicate hints of oak. The wine starts out rich and full-bodied, going on to show considerable elegance and a fine balance between well-focused, velvety tannin and acidity that contributes freshness and length.   Was 38 Now $25

2010 Château du Grand Bos, Graves  $35
47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot.
A steal in an aged Bordeaux from a great year.  Medium-to-full-bodied, it envelops the senses with ripe blackberries cassis, and black cherries, with layers of vanilla, saddle leather, tobacco, savory herbs, graphite, and cedar adding depth and dimension. The tannins are firm yet plaint, making this beauty drinkable now with a brief decanting but also giving it considerable aging potential.

MASK UPDATE
Per Governor’s Order
Masks Are No Longer Required Inside
If you are masked,
and would prefer that we be masked,
please ask and we will be happy to mask up.

Hour: Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

We’ve had a few intriguing whites come into the shop over the past couple of weeks. Some from familiar grapes and some a bit more exotic.  Come explore.

2020 Elvio Cogno, Anas-Cëtta Langhe  $29
100% Nascetta
This Langhe Nascetta shows complexity and crispness. Lime, grapefruit and a hint of flint on the nose are perfectly connected with the abundance of plump and fresh juiciness in the mouth. A long finish and good minerality are due to a beautiful acidity and a partial wood fermentation.  Organic

2015 Pierre Sparr, Pinot Gris Grande Reserve  $15
A perfect match for Asian food.  Mellow notes of ripe pear and fresh earth combine on the nose. The palate majors in ripe juicy pears, boosted by a touch of residual sweetness. The aromas are fresh and easy. Drink this while they are at their peak. The finish is just off dry.   Was $20 Now $15

2019 Margante, Il Bianco da Uve Nere  $19
Nero d’Avola
White wine from red grapes.  This bright offering opens with aromas of white stone fruit and honeysuckle. The fresh palate offers pink grapefruit, white almond and a saline finish.

2014 Domaine Laroche, Petit Chablis  $20
Chardonnay
The plateau vineyards that are the source of this wine give a cool, crisp and light character. It’s fragrant, pure fruitiness, with a light minerality and citrus at the end.  Was $25, now $20

2020 Hubert Brochard, Les Carisannes  $14
Sauvignon Blanc
Just over the border from Sancerre.  Les Carisannes shows classic aromas and flavors of citrus, fresh herbs, and minerals. This Vin de Pays du Val de Loire is lighter in weight and texture than Sancerre, but its fresh and fruity character make it a delicious wine for warm-weather refreshment and simple food pairings.

2016 Molino Real, Mountain Blanco  $17
Moscatel de Alejandría
A unique dry white.  This wine is made from 100% Moscatel de Alejandría sourced from two steep sites on slate slopes from 500m to 1,000m elevation. Fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks and aged for 9 months. Yummy aromas of orange blossoms and citric overtones. The palate has substance yet is bone dry of good length.

2021 Ovum, Big Salt  $18
A co-fermented blend that is wildly aromatic, laced with Gewurz and Muscat overtones, but framed by citrusy Riesling.  Salty bergamot, lemon, nectarine and white tea– exotic fruits fill out the nose.  The palate is filled with the texture of Gewurz, herbal hints from Pinot Blanc, but quickly washed back with classic Riesling acidity.  Organic

2017 Höpler, Trockenbeerenauslese  $25  375ML
80% Welschriesling, 20% Sämling
A rare wine of the highest quality, the Trockenbeerenauslese is created from a selected picking of dried, very ripe berries that have been affected by noble rot.   Intensive floral notes of pineapple and passion fruit.  Hints of caramel, honey, apricot and gooseberry.  Complex, rich and harmonious finish.

Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

As February turns from cold to wet, here are a  few new wines that recently came into the shop.  Happy Mardi Gras!

2020 Rive Droite, Rive Gauche, Côtes du Rhône Blanc  $12
Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, and Viognier
from vineyards on both banks of the Rhône, this tasty a Côtes du Rhône Blanc is dry but creamy with delicate hints of apricot.  Natural, No Sulfites Added

2020 Long Story Short, New Zealand Sauv Blanc  $12
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Bright aromas of white peach, guava and lemon zest. Floral nuances reminiscent of honeysuckle and elderflower reflect the wild flora and fauna that grow alongside our Wairau Valley vineyards. Mouth: Brimming with juicy flavors and bright acidity,

2020 Château Puy-Servain Marijolaine, Bordeaux Blanc  $24
80% Sauvignon, 20% Sémillon
Montravel
The Semillon adds a richness and layered complexity to the crispness of the Sauvignon Blanc.

2020 La Domitienne. Mourvedre Rosé  $11
Like Bandol but not the price?  This Languedoc Rosé is you pick.  The silky texture adds to the flavors of peach, nectar, and cherry blossom to produce a complex and crisp quaffrer.  Was $14 Now $11

2020 La Perdrix, Costières de Nimes Rosé  $13
60% Grenache, 40% Syrah
Hints of strawberry preserves and raspberry cordial extend from nose to finish. While full bodied and succulent on the palate, it’s a freshly balanced, dry rosé with a mineral lift on the finish.

2018 Domaine du Cros, Marcillac Lo Sang del Païs  $18
Fer Servadou
Domaine du Cros is the key estate in Marcillac, leading this region of the French south-west’s current revival. This is light, crunchy and thirst-quenching with delightful ruby color and flavors of raspberry and plum. Charcuterie wine par excellence.

2013 Sordo Perno Barolo  $50
Nebbiolo
Single vineyard Barolo from a good year.  Leather, licorice and balsamic aromas slowly take shape in the glass. Full bodied and taut, this delivers dried black cherry, mature raspberry, star anise and clove set against fresh acidity and firm, refined tannins.

Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

The shipping containers are still backed up at the ports, and what does get unloaded is getting hit with exceptionally higher shipping costs.  The result is that the price on newly arrived wines is going up.  Don’t be surprised to see some cost increase on some of your favorites.  Both our suppliers and us here at Madrona Wine are trying to mitigate this as much as possible.  Let’s hope the situation sorts itself out before too long. 
 
In the meantime, here are a few deals where the price has gone down.  They take a little of the sting out.
 
2019 Menard Gaborit, Muscadet Sevre et Maine  $13
Melon de Bourgogne
Fresh, fruity, hints of white flowers, and iodine aromas. The palate has aromas of white flesh fruits, citrus, green apple, minerality.  Organic
Was $16 now $13

2018 Domãne Wachau, Federspiel Bruck Riesling  $18
From a very cool and stony gneiss spot in the Spitzer Graben, the 2018 Ried Bruck Riesling Federspiel shows a fine and aromatic and spicy bouquet of apricots and white blossoms mixed with fir needles and  truck stop nuance.   Lean and strong on the palate, with intense and spicy fruit intermixed with crystalline flinty notes. It’s lithe but intense and concentrated.  A diesel lovers delight..
Was $30 now $18

2019 Nortico, Alvarinho  $13
A young, fresh white wine with the characteristic bright acidity and aromas of peach and grapefruit. Nortico is light and delicate, lovely as a “porch-sipping wine” to drink on its own.  Also a terrific seafood wine, particularly with salty, fattier dishes like fish tacos or broiled oysters.
Was $15 now $13

2011 Weinbau Erich Sattler,Zweigelt  $12
Zweigelt is Austria’s most widely planted red.  The wine matures on the lees for six months and is bottled after minimal filtration. This wine is dense and juicy with hints of strawberries and fresh herbs on the nose. It exhibits ripe fruit on the palate, reminiscent of plum with pleasant acidity and pepper. It is an elegant wine with a spicy balanced finish.
Was $20, now $12

2014 Gerard Bertrand, Languedoc Rouge  $12
Syrah, Grenache
A rich red from the south of France.  Complex aromas of ripe red fruit, backed by notes of licorice, gingerbread and scrubland. 
Was $16 now $12

2013 Gerard Bertrand, Tautavel  $12
50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 15% Carignan
An intense, radiant robe with a subtle brown tinge. Intensely fruity on the nose, with red fruit and raspberry aromas underpinned by complex, spicy notes. A wonderful combination of supple tannins and delicate notes of scrubland and spices on the palate.
Was $20, now $12

2015 Finn Hill, Merveille Merlot $15
Stillwater Creek Vineyard
Aromas of red currant, dried cherry and toasty oak, the latter an indicator of the 21 months in 100% new French barrels.  On the palate is where it comes alive with more cherry and currant flavors with dusty tannins and age-worthy pomegranate acidity.
Was $30 now $15

2016 Finn Hill Vivant, Malbec  $18
Rosebud Vineyards
The 2016 vintage exhibits an inky purple-magenta color and wafts perfumed aromas of crushed black and red berries on wet gravel, with hints of molasses and bay leaf. The pour delivers predominant fruit notes of blackberry, boysenberry, red currant, and blueberry. The finish brings mellow plum-skin acidity and tannin.
Was $30, now $18

Winter Hours
Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

While shipping is still a mess for most of our distributors, we have managed to have a few new wines from the Iberian Peninsula make their way to our shelves.

2020 Adaras Lluvia, Bianco  $11
60% Verdejo, 40% Sauvignon Blanc
An organic Spanish white wine from the Almansa region using grapes from the high altitude vineyards 850m above sea level. Clean and bright with a harmonious balance of the grapes, it shows aromas of tropical fruit and subtle notes of peach and apricot. The palate brings balanced complexity and an intense, long, fresh finish.  Organic

2020 CUNE. Monopole Bianco Seco Rioja  $11
Viura
This has a pretty nose of lemons, sliced apples, peaches, fresh apricots, sea shells and stones. Hint of anise and jasmine. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and a creamy, lightly waxy texture. Fresh and elegant.

2020 Pazo das Bruxas. Albarino  $19
Seductive, with exquisitely fine floral (lime blossom) and fruit (lemon) notes against a backdrop reminiscent of quince jam. Intense and flavorful on the palate, with delicate, subtle fruit acidity.

2019 Quinta da Fonte Souto. Alentejo Branco  $26
75% Arinto, 25% Verdelho
A crisp and taut blend of Arinto and Verdelho, with a delicate floral aroma, clean, wet-stone freshness, salty tang and finely honed texture on the palate.

2020 Kiki & Juan. Vino Tinto  $15  1 liter
70% Bobal, 10% Tempranillo, 20% Macabeo
Co-fermented with Macabeo (a white grape)  this Vinho Tinto is a fresh Spanish wine with bright aromatics of sour cherry, framboise and juniper.  Organic, Vegan

2020 Mendieta Osaba, Mendi Rioja  $14
Tempranillo
Packed with perfume on the nose, this is a very fresh, youthful rioja with intense aromas of blackberries and dashes of spices. Bursting with fruit, this wine is round and complex with licorice notes and a long finish.

2009 Siglo Rioja Gran Reserva  $21
Tempranillo
Cool and foresty in tone, this wine feels integrated, with a lovely weave to its tannins and fruit. The wine melds tannins from oak, fruit skin and seeds in notes of caraway and walnut, with a vegetal anise scent adding complexity. The texture is plump and silken, with a ping of fruit.

2020 Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat  $25
55% Garnacha, 15% Syrah, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 8% Cariñena
A high scoring entry wine from Palacios.  Notes of vanilla, toast, smoke, tobacco, dark fruit, red fruit, spice box, cedar, and mushroom.  Rich flavors of black currant, blackberry, dust, leather, currant, blueberry, strawberry, cherry, bell pepper, licorice and anise.

2020 Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat  $25
55% Garnacha, 15% Syrah, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 8% Cariñena
A high scoring entry wine from Palacios.  Notes of vanilla, toast, smoke, tobacco, dark fruit, red fruit, spice box, cedar and mushroom.  Rich flavors of black currant, blackberry, dust, leather, currant, blueberry, strawberry, cherry, bell pepper, licorice and anise.

Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

The grey days of January require a little something extra.  One bottle sometimes isn’t enough.  Fortunately, a little extra something is at hand.  Try a liter bottle, you get an extra glass (think of all the fights this could save).  Or a Magnum, you get a second bottle (perfect for when you invites that couple over that brings a wine they grabbed at Trader Joes.)  Expecting more folks?  Just go for the Big Boy, (scroll down and start the marinara sauce.)

Liters

2018 L’Archetipo Litrotto Bianco  $20
Marchione, Verdeca Fiano, Falanghina
A skin contact white with scents of citrus, yellow fruits and aromatic herbs are wrapped in a marine and Mediterranean breath. The taste is fresh and delicate. Organic/Biodynamic.

2020 Peaceful Living Calcarius Orange Wine  $26
Falanghina, Puglia
A funky, cloudy liter of skin contact white from an organic farmer in southern Italy. Falanghina grown on limestone soils, given 5 days of maceration on the skins developing into a deeply hued orange wine. Fermented with indigenous yeast, no filtering or fining and a small addition of sulfites at bottling only.  Organic.

2020 Kiki & Juan Vino Tinto  $15
70% Bobal, 10% Tempranillo, 20% Macabeo.
Co fermented with Macabeo (a white grape) this Vinho Tinto is a fresh Spanish wine with bright aromatics of sour cherry, framboise and juniper.  Organic, Vegan.

2017 L’Archetipo Litrotto Rosso  $19
30% Montepulciano, 20% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Primitivo, 10% Susumaniello
The Litrotto spends 36 months in steel tanks. It has a fine and quite intense fruity and mineral nose. This red blend is balanced, quite tannic, fine and quite tasty.  Bio-Dynamic

2013 Giá Langhe Rosso  $18
Barbera, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo
An easy going Langhe Rosso in a liter bottle. The wine has intense red fruit and violet aromas that make your mouth water for the first sip which is pleasantly dry, smooth and perfectly balanced. This young wine shines with ripened plums and cherries.

Podericellario È! Rosso  $20
Barbera
Hand-harvested into small bins. Spontaneous fermentation. Ten days maceration. Aged in 100hl cement tanks for one year. Bottled with minimal sulphur (~10ppm) and without filtering or fining. It is a great red with a little chill on it.  Organic, Natural.

Magnums (1.5 liters)

2015 Avia Cabernet/Merlot  $10
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot
From Goriska Brda in Slovenia, this red blend is a crowd pleasing deal.  Aromas of cherry, blackberry and currants combine and result in flavors that are full bodied yet smooth.

2015 Bousquet Malbec  $20
A big bottle of big wine, punchy and grapey on the nose, this bright Malbec feels edgy. Flavors of spicy black cherry and kirsch finish solidly, with a hint of chocolate flavor.  Organic.

2017 Tombacco Aglianico  $30
The big bottle from Campania in in Southern Italy, Tombacco’s Aglianico is big, rich, warming and smooth. Hints of cherry and red berries, with a marked vanilla and spicy note lead into an excellent mouth feel, elegant and warm, sapid and full-bodied with some spice on the long finish.

2014 Dry Creek Vineyard The Mariner  $60
69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 9% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc
This delicious Bordeaux-inspired blend comes from several prized estate and hillside vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley. At first swirl, the wine displays aromas of blueberry, vanilla and cherries. Several more minutes reveal hints of clove, cinnamon, black licorice and mocha characters. The palate has dark berry flavors along with cedar sweetness and cassis. It finishes with black pepper, boysenberry and a hint of barrel spice. Good acidity will help this wine to age beautifully for years to come.  Was $95 now $60  1 bottle available

2014 Pelissero Long Now Langhe Tosso  $80
50% Nebbiolo, 50% Barbera
Long Now expresses the concept of long-standing.  The nose reveals rich aromas of ripe fruit, blackberry, raspberry and red cherry, framing the subtle notes of vanilla.  Velvety, enveloping, fruity and elegant. It closes with a finish of great length.  1 bottle available

2014 Comte de Lauze Châteauneuf-du-Pape  $82
80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Cinsault
Spicy, cedary nose of blackberries and fresh herbs lifted by a note of lavender; medium- to full-bodied, savory black cherry flavors fill the mouth. Ready and willing.

2008 La Fiorita Bruenello de Montalcino  $145
Sangiovesse
Alluring from start to finish, this boasts cherry, earth, spice and mineral flavors. Firmly structured, remaining vibrant and long on the finish. Best from 2015 through 2026.

The Big Boy (5 liters)

2015 San Felice Chianti Classico  $133
80% Sangiovese, 10% Pugnitello, 10% Colorino
Aromas of dark cherry, raspberry and sweet violets. Dry and medium-bodied, it is smooth, rounded, and well-balanced with a savory palate. Get the party started right.

Winter Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

2022 is coming up on the horizon and we have our shelves stocked with Cava, Prosecco, Cremants, as well as Champagne and other bubbly things.  Here’s a few last-minute additions, but just stop in and see what’s on the selves.  But don’t miss the last item on this email.  The weather outside is frightful. . . .But tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1999!  Why not?  Skip to the bottom to see the 1999 Vintage Champagne.  Call ahead to reserve yours for New Year’s Eve.

2020 Col Sandago, Wildbacher Brut Rosé  $20
A distinct bubbly from Northern Italy.  Delicate, fresh and alarmingly easy. Pale pink, laced with cherry and black forest fruits, a twist of bitters and a suggestion of fragrant rose.

Pierre Trichet, Authentique Premier Cru Brut  $40
53% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, 22% Chardonnay
A reserve Champagne (a blend of several vintages), pleasant and well made, with a fine bubble, predominantly black grape varieties.  The effervescence is dynamic and the mousse is generous. On the nose; yellow fruits and citrus, enhanced with hazelnuts and noble vegetal notes. The palate; a minty, spicy, even peppery universe. Round, fresh and balanced wine

De Saint-Gall, 1er  Brut Blanc de Blancs  $44
Chardonnay
A step into chardonnay refinement with fresh-lemon and brioche aromas. The palate is crisp, elegant and focused. Neat lemon and pastry flavors.

Vincent Couche, Chardonnay de Montguex Extra Brut  $65
Grown in a single parcel in Montgueux. It is an assemblage of three different vintages and long rest on its yeasts (at least 8 years) before disgorging. Crispy, fruity and creamy Champagne Extra Brut with incredible depth.  Biodynamic

2015 Liébart-Régnier, Ecélia Vintage Brut  $53
75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay
This Vintage Champagne sees 4 years cellar ageing and very low dosage (6 g).   Ripe wheat and slightly peaty notes give character, which is further reinforced by the Pinot Noir. The confit fruit, musk and cinnamon deliver its trademark maturity and olfactory complexity. Smooth and fleshy mouthfeel with a dense, silky texture. Dried fruits, grains, wet tobacco and ginger notes make for a rich and varied aromatic spectrum. The Chardonnay led finish has zippy notes of orange zest and cinchona bark.

1999 Vincent Couche, Sensation  $145
50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay
Vincent, a man of calculated genius, waited nearly two decades before disgorging and releasing this wine.  Tonight, we’re going to party like it’s 1999!

Holiday Hours
Tuesday to Friday Noon to 6pm
Closed New Year’s Eve
Open Sunday January 2^nd Noon to 6pm

The Solstice is here, we are turning the corner on more daylight. Christmas is just a few days away, and New Year’s is on its way. Happy Holidays!! Here are a few things that might come in handy.

Stuffers (half bottles, 375ml)

Champagne Canard Duchêne Authentic Brut  $26
45% Pinot Noir, 35% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay
Authentic Brut epitomizes the Canard-Duchene style, where freshness and intensity bring together nobility and nature. A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the wine is characterized by fresh fruit aromas jostling with brioche notes. The fruit aromas carry through to the palate and intermingle with pastry notes.

2013 Albert Bichot Bourgogne Rouge, Vieilles Vignes  $10
Pinot Noir
Old-vine Pinot, bright cherry flavor with a touch of earthiness and mineral.

2010 E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape  $27
70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre
Rich, textured and medium to full-bodied, with ample black cherry, olive tapenade and subtle meatiness, this traditional effort stays pure and lively, with fine tannin emerging on the finish.

2009 Château De Cérons Cérons  $20
90% Sémillion, 5% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Muscadelle
The richness of the vintage is very apparent in this luscious, still-young wine. A dry core of botrytis rests on flavors of bitter-orange marmalade, apricot, acidity and spice from wood aging.

2008 Château Aney Haut Médoc $15
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
A full and smooth Medoc with lots of deep fruit and the right amount of age.

To Albalá Fino 3 Fases Electrico  $14
Pedro Ximenez
When ordering Electrico in Córdoba one need only say “Shock Me!” (Dame un calambrazo). Pastry and brine notes from the flor yeast add complexity to the retained varietal personality. Naturally balanced and pure, this Fino is unmatched in its food pairing versatility.

2015 Valdespino Manzanilla Deliciosa en Rama  $12
Deliciosa En Rama is around 6 years of average age and made with grapes from the pago Miraflores. Its solera system consists of six criaderas and the solera stage. The En Rama version is said to maintain some energetic youthfulness while showing the complexity that comes with age. Only one bottling is made each year in spring.

Kopke, 10 year old Tawny  $20
A blend of different vintages averaging 10 years old. 375ml

Stockings

2021 Chateau Buffiat, Les Lutins Beaujolais Nouveau  $17
100% Gamay
Better late than never. This Nouveau just arrived in time for Christmas, and it has little elf stockings on the label.  What more could you want?

Solstice Sipping

2019 Troon, Vineyard Druid’s Fluid  $18
Southern Oregon terroir in a “Cotes du Rhone” style blend, crunchy red fruit like fresh cranberry, tart pomegranate, and ripe red cherries with undertones of herbaceousness and pepper. Biodynamic, Vegan

Holiday Hours

Christmas Week
Tuesday to Friday noon to 6
Closed Christmas Day
Open Sunday December 26^th, noon to 6

New Year’s Week
Tuesday to Friday, noon to 6
Closed New Year’s Day

Looking for a special bottle to slip into someone’s stocking?
 
2011 Pierre André, Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru –La Maltroie  $65
Chardonnay
A quality Burgundy from a primier Cru vineyard. Full fruit, slatey minerals, toasty biroche and layered complexity.

2017 Olivier Leflaive, Meursault  $83
Chardonnay
Aged in wood, this blend of parcels from across Meursault shows the richness for which the appellation is famed. It contrasts that with acidity, freshness and crisp citrus. The combination has produced a wine that can age further.

2014 Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard, Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge  $60
Pinot Noir
If terroir is key in Burgundy, the Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard is ready to unlock every door in Chassagne-Montrachet including Pinot Noir.  Developed and ready to drink.

2014 Bouchard, Le Corton Grand Cru  $135
Pinot Noir
The Bouchard Père & Fils Le Corton is a classic. This red is marked by ripe, crunchy cherry and raspberry fruit, accented by rich loam and chalky mineral notes. Firm, yet balanced and long on the spice- and smoke-tinged aftertaste.

2011 Muga, Prado Enea Rioja Gran Reserva  $85
80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha
The most structured Prado Enea ever. A reduced center palate that is so compact with dark fruit, dark mushrooms and cedary spice. Full body. Wonderfully polished tannins and a long, long finish. Electric acidity. Muscular and well toned. –99pts James Suckling

2010 Altesino, Brunello di Montalcino  $103
Sangiovese
Expressive aromas of eucalyptus, juniper and wild rosemary give way to sweet berry flavors, though the juniper, rosemary and emerging mint accents linger. This is like a walk in the woods, with a fresh, elegant frame. Best from 2017 through 2030

2007 Massolino, Barolo Margheria  $140
Nebbiolo
The 2007 Barolo Margheria is fabulously ripe and explosive in its dark red fruit, leather, licorice and anise. Medium to full in body, the Margheria possesses superb delineation and nuance to match its elegant personality. It turns exuberant again on the finish, where floral, minty notes add lift and freshness. The 2007 Margheria is a wonderfully complete, regal Barolo from Massolino.   Ready to Rock!

2016 L’Arco, Rúbeo  $81
40% Cabernet Franc,  30% Corvina, 15% Rondinella, 5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Molinara
During the harvest the clusters are selectioned and dried on matts for about 60 days.  The Rúbeo is an original mix between traditional and international, with an intense ruby red color, spiced bouquet, great structure and elegance.

2015 L’Arco, Amarone della Valpolicella  $120
55% Corvina and Corvinone, 35% Rondinella, 10% Molinara
A wine that exudes strength, unwavering character and unrelenting beauty. Anticipate some smokiness. Aromatics tend toward violets and dark plum – and on the palate and complementary smorgasbord of chocolate-covered cherries, savory herb notes and deep, dark baked berries. Exquisite tannins, lingering finish.
2008 Bertani, Amarone della Valpolicella  $140
80% Corvina Veronese, 20% Rondinella
Aged Amarone from one of the big guns.  First there are the typical notes of plum, cherry and morello cherry on the nose, followed by a great variety of tones: nuts, tea leaves, licorice and spices. On the palate there are hints of red berry fruits, softened by plush vanilla notes, in perfect harmony with the acidity and tannins

2019 Clos du Caillou, Les Safres Chateauneuf du Papes  $77
95% Grenache, 5% Syrah
Caillou’s flagship CNDP.  The Les Safres is impressively rich and ripe, delivering velvety layers of black cherries and blueberries, combined with hints of dried spices and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, expansive in the mouth and long on the finish,

2015 Delas Chante Perdrix Cornas  $64
Syrah
Big scoring Syrah.  Licorice, tarragon and mineral black fruits. Full bodied, juicy and ripe with balancing acidity. Lots of life and a lifted glint on the finish. Drinking Window 2019 – 2029.

2011 Reserve de la Comtesse Pauillac  $79
53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc
Pichon Lalande’s second wine, the 2011 Reserve de la Comtesse offers juicy, cherry, red and black currant notes as well as a medium-bodied, elegant, finesse style. It is already drinking well and should continue to evolve nicely for another decade.

2008 Clos du Marquis, Saint Julien  $86
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
A single parcel owned and made by Léoville-Las-Cases, the Clos du Marquis has a lovely nose of black cherry and violet, complicated by graphite and minerals. Full and sweet on entry, with ripe red and black fruit flavors, smooth tannins and a long, clean finish. A standout wine from 2008.
Was $105 Now $86

2008 Château Rauzan-Ségla, Grand Cru Margaux  $142
62% Cabernet Sauvignon,  38% Merlot
Here is 2008 with a velvety texture yet the underlying bright acidity comes through at the same time. Medium to full body, firm and chewy tannins and a fresh finish. Very pretty and energetic.

Magnums (1.5 liters) bigger is better.
 
2014 Pelissero, Long Now Langhe Tosso  $80
50% Nebbiolo, 50% Barbera
Long Now expresses the concept of long-standing.  The nose reveals rich aromas of ripe fruit, blackberry, raspberry and red cherry, framing the subtle notes of vanilla.  Velvety, enveloping, fruity and elegant, it closes with a finish of great length.

2014 Comte de Lauze Châteauneuf-du-Pape  $82
80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Cinsault
Spicy, cedary nose of blackberries and fresh herbs lifted by a note of lavender; medium- to full-bodied, savory black cherry flavors fill the mouth. Ready and willing.

2008 La Fiorita, Bruenello de Montalcino  $145
Sangiovese
Alluring from start to finish, this boasts cherry, earth, spice and mineral flavors. Firmly structured, remaining vibrant and long on the finish. Best from 2015 through 2026.

Holiday Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Looking for a special bottle for the wine lover on your list.  Here are a couple of ideas from our domestic stock.  But don’t stop there, come in a browse around.  We have plenty of other options available.

2019 Woodward Canyon, Chardonnay  $42
Old Vine Shard (over 40 years old) from Walla Walla. Aromas of peach, melon, and light starfruit notes marry perfectly with the beautifully understated oak creating a subtle spice and vanilla. Whole cluster pressing gives delineated fruit flavors. The texture and weight create a very nice mouthfeel and leave ripe fruit flavors of nectarine, peach, and apple.

2017 Soléna, Hyland Vineyard Pinot Noir  $50
As with Soléna’s other Pinots from this vintage, both the finished alcohol and percentage of new French oak have been pulled back significantly from the 2016s, to good effect. This wine has fresh cranberry fruit and highlights of bark, dark chocolate and black tea.

2019 Foundation Cellars, The Silence  $38
Rockgarden Vineyard Syrah
This wine is unmistakably from the Rocks District. The stem influence is upfront, with notes of grilled asparagus, Stargazer lily, fresh parsley and flowers in front of black and green olives. The palate brings an abundance of savory flavors, with gravel notes on the finish.

2018 Cadence, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard  $45
38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 19% Merlot, 12% Petit Verdot
Lots of classic Red Mountain tannins and minerality as well as notes of cassis, currants, dried herbs, graphite, and loamy soil define this beauty, and it’s medium to full-bodied and wonderfully balanced, with a round, expansive mouthfeel and a great finish.

2018 JB Neufeld, Yakima Valley Cabernet  36
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
A four vineyard blend in JB’s Yakima Cabernet. A full fisted but not heavy handed Washington Cabernet.

2016 Joseph Phelps, Napa Cabernet  $65
76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is ultra-concentrated with dense black fruit, anise, roasted coffee, ripe blueberries, cedar box and graphite. A fresh and focused wine with creamy texture and a long luscious mouth feel with dusty earth, baking spices, sweet vanilla and fresh fig notes.

2018 Woodward Canyon, Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon  $110
93% Cabernet, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec
Intermingling aromas of baking spice, cedar, graphite and ripe blackberries develop in the glass. Flavors of black fruits blend beautifully with pencil, cigar box and exotic spice of new French oak. The texture is soft but firm with beautifully integrated tannins offering a rich, long finish.

2017 Sinegal, Napa Valley  $50
82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 4% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot
This high scoring Napa Cab exhibits elegant aromas of ripe raspberry, plumb and black cherry, with notes of rose petal, cinnamon and all spice. The subtle oak spice tones are well integrated with the fruit and floral aromas in this wine. On the palate there is a silky texture with smooth tannins and long lingering finish. Flavors of candied cherries, and blackberry kirsch are intermixed with secondary notes of vanilla bean, mocha and coca nibs.  Was $100, Now $50

Holiday Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM