Archive for Tasting Notes

The Judgement of Madrona

It is getting toasty. So over the next few days we are going to see which Rosé can better handle the heat.  We’ll be pitting a French Gris de Gris against a Columbia Valley Challenger.  Stop in both days and pick the winner.

Thursday — The Warm Up
2021 Kiki & Juan Vino Tinto  $16  ONE 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
12.5% alcohol by volume

Friday – Say French
2022 Domaine de Fontsainte, Corbières “Gris de Gris” Rosé  $20
90% Grenache Gris, 5% Carignan, 5% Mourvèdre
Languedoc-Roussillon
Grenache Gris is a pink-skinned, more characterful version of Grenache Blanc. Aromas of pine resin and rock roses, of rosemary and thyme, and aromatic heather show up in the glass of this Rosé.  Richer fare is lifted by its juicy acidity, salty foods are washed clean.
13% alcohol by volume

Saturday—The Home Team
2022 Gilbert Cellars Rosé  $18
58% Mourvèdre, 42% Grenache
This Bandol inspired Columbia Valley Rosé is dry and crisp, and delivers aromas of grapefruit oil, rose water, peach and stone-muddled strawberries.  Vegan.
13.1% alcohol by volume

Sunday—Closed

Limited Schedule Next Week!!
We will be Open Tuesday (July 18th)
But CLOSED Wednesday, Thursday & Friday for a little vacation. (July 19th, 20th & 21st)
We’ll be back Open on Saturday (July 22nd)

Summer Syrah

Tuesday we’ll be tasting a juicy Syrah from the Northern Rhone.  Swing by the shop and have a taste.

2019 Charles Helfenbein, La Syrah   $15
From the Northern Rhone, the La Syrah has an opulent nose of plum, bacon live and fig to the incredible array of flavor. It is an old-world full-bodied Syrah with supple tannins layered underneath ripe round red fruit notes, and subtle hints of terroir throughout that linger on the finish.
Was $19 Now $15

Summer Hours
Tuesday-Saturday
Closed Sunday-Monday

New Shop Hours!

Summer Fun.

It is too nice in the back yard so we are cutting back our days at the shop for the summer.

Summer Hours
Tuesday to Saturday
Noon to 6pm
Closed Sunday and Monday

That still leaves 5 days to come taste wine and prepare for those dark Sundays and Mondays.

This week we are pouring:

Thursday
2020 Collefrisio, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo  $13
A rich Montepulciano with strong fruity aromas of slightly spicy cherry & plum. Nice structure and well balanced.

Friday
2020 Tormes, Vinho Verde  $12
50% Avesso, 50% Arinto
A classic Vinho Verde with an impressive freshness that reflects well the terroir of the Baião sub-region. Lightly effervescent, crisp and clean.  Organic

Saturday– The Rhino is Back!
2022 La Spinetta, Il Rosé di Casanova  $20
50% Sangiovese, 50% Prugnolo Gentile
Tart and juicy, with citrusy grapefruit and tangerine dominating the nose and mouth, the wine’s aromatic profile is enriched by white peach and strawberry and floral and mineral notes. The rosè shows great clarity, with a suave, penetrating finish that lingers with a floral tenacity.

Four Day Weekend

It’s going to be a long warm weekend leading up to the 4th.  Break out the barbecue, chill down the whites and rosé and kick back.  To help get you prepped we’ll be tasting a few appropriate selections to get you in the mood. Stop in for a taste.

Friday
2019 Bodegas Ontanon, Akemi Rioja Blanco  $16
Viura
A collaboration between Michelin starred Kiro Sushi Restaurant and Onaton.  It is a very dry version of viura with lots of Asian pear flavors and saline note.  What a surprise! — This would go great with sushi.
12.5% alcohol by volume

Saturday
2021 Les Quatre Tours, Aix en Provence Classique Rosé  $14
50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon
Ripe strawberry flavors contrast with the zesty acidity and lemon freshness. A blend of four grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is lightly textured, touched by pepper and ready to drink.
13% alcohol by volume

Sunday
2021 Rezabal, Txakoli Rosé  $16
Hondarrabi Belza
This vivacious rosé from the Basque region in northern Spain has lip-smacking acidity, wild strawberry, sea salt and fresh grapefruit impressions that make for a delicious thirst quencher.
10.5% alcohol by volume

We will be CLOSED
Monday, July 3rd and Tuesday, July 4th.

Tuscan Tuesday

Liven up your Tuesday with a taste of Tuscany.  This little value wine drinks much better than its price.  Stop by the shop and have a sip.

2020 Bruni, Poggio D’Elsa Marema Toscana  $15
50% Sangiovese, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
This mini Super Tuscan, half Cab, half Sangi shows off  notes of cranberries, vanilla, spices and a notable depth and smooth tannins.

June Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Duo Italiano

Get ready for the weekend.
 
The sun is here and you know you want some wine to go with it.  This weekend we are tasting two Italian wines to match the weather.  Stop in for a sip.
 
Friday
 
2021 Il Poggione, Brancato Rosato  $16
Sangiovese
A Sangiovese Rosé from the famed Brunello producer Tenuta Il Poggione.  Floral nose with notes of raspberry, strawberry, and spices.  Fresh on the palate, but with a pleasant roundness, this rosé flows onto the palate with an expressive core of perfumed cherries, spices, and flowers.  Was $23, Now $16

Saturday
 
2020 Mariano Abbona, San Luigi Dogliani  $20
100% Dolcetto
Piemonte
This is an easy-drinking wine, with a freshness and sweetness that never wearies the palate. In the glass, a nose full of fruit and violet, a beautiful sweetness and a remarkable freshness in the mouth.

Closed Sunday, June the 25th.
Madrona Wine will be closed this coming Sunday. 
We’re sorry for any inconvenience.

Rosé On A Rainy Day

Some days you just can’t afford to wait for the sun to come back.  It’s Tuesday, it’s raining but twisting the screw top on a great little everyday rosé that is off the boat and on your shelves.  Get out your unbrella and come have a taste and stock up.  The sun comes back tomorrow for the Solistice.

2022 Domaine de Pellehaut, ‘Harmonie de Gascogne’ Rosé  $11
Tannat, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet, Sauvignon, and Malbec
A dry nose of red fruits, violets and roses. In the mouth, the freshness and roundness of the fruits intermingle. A wine with natural balance, which reveals the complexity of Gascony.
Vegan
11.5% alcohol by volume

Closed Sunday June 25th.
Madrona Wine will be closed this coming Sunday.
We’re sorry for any inconvenience.

Father’s Day, Juneteenth, New Art, & Free Play Tickets

So what else do you have to do?  Come by the shop and try some wine, see some art and Pick up some tickets.  We’ll be pouring:

Friday
2021 Domaine de l’Idylle / Famille Tiollier, “Le Tithonien” Mondeuse  $20
Savoie
Grown on chalk soil, this 100% Mondeuse has fine acidity and layers of spice. Minerality adds further texture.

Saturday
2016 Còlpetrone, Montefalco Rosso  $18
70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino, 15% Merlot
This Umbrian dry red imparts an ample fruit nose of raspberries with hints of spices and vanilla. On the palate it is full-bodied and structured with tannins that complement the wine’s roundness and a long flavorful finish

Sunday
2021 Cascina Ca’ Gialla, Langhe Nebbiolo  $15
Piemonte
An everyday Nebbiolo with lovely floral notes. Scent of dried rose petals, green tea leaves and well-handled tannins with no astringency despite being so young.

Free tickets for All New Cells a play by the Shattered Glass Project.
written by Aliza Goldstein
directed by Alison Kozar
produced in association with Theater Off Jackson
June 2-18, 2023
Thursday-Saturday @ 7:30 p.m.
Sunday @ 2:00 p.m.
Theater Off Jackson
409 7th Ave S., Seattle WA 98109

https://www.shatteredglassproject.org/all-new-cells-june2023

You have to come by the shop to get them.  First Come, First Served

Also this weekend we get New Art on the walls:

Ambient Light
Photographs 2015 – 2023
By Fred Birchman
June 18th to August 12th

Opening Reception Thursday June 22nd 4 to 6 pm

June Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Tannerie Tuesday

As we try to follow the bouncing ball of our local weather, let’s have a sip of wine from the south of France where they mix the Mediterranean varietal Grenache with Atlantic varietals Merlot and Cab Franc.  Here’s to balance in the different climes.  It’s delicious.

2021 La Tannerie, Cité de Carcassonne Rouge   $14
56% Merlot, 24% Grenache, 20% Cabernet Franc
This Languedoc Red blend offers a sturdy foundation of velvety tannins, a deep well of dried black fruit accented with a touch of tamarind, and a drop of orange oil. Resonant earthy notes weave in and out of a bowl of dried fruits on the finish.
Bio Dynamic

June Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Deal Me In!

We have some new deals hit the floor this week and we are dealing them out to you.  Stop by the next few days and see what cards we have been dealt.

Friday
2019 Domaine Allégret, Laudun Cotes du Rhone Villages  $12
52% Grenache, 48% Syrah
The Allegret overdelivers for the money. Elegant, complex and with a fine minerality, lovely concentration. Tannins are melted and the finish is round.  14% alcohol by volume
Was $15 Now $12

Saturday
2018 Château Eugénie, Traditional  $12
80% Malbec, 20% Merlot
Cahors
A very traditional Malbec from the Southwest of France with minerals and tannins to balance out the fruit.  12.5% alcohol by volume
Was $14 Now $12

Sunday
2021 Domaine des Diables, Les Petit Diables Rosé  $13
60% Syrah, 20% Cinsault, 20% Grenache
The little brother of the Big Devil, this  Provence rosé is elegant, bright and engaging from the off, this vivacious fruit filled wine is a joy to taste. Citrus, sour cherry, tangy yellow plum and peach, fill the senses but never overwhelm.   12.5% alcohol by volume
Was $18 Now $13

June Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM