Archive for Tasting Notes

DeLille Deals & Bad Bunnies

We have a fun line up this weekend.  Saturday we are featuring a little price reduction on two wines from DeLille Cellars.  Better yet we’ll have them open for tasting.  Come get some savings.

Sunday is Easter so we picked a rosé with bunnies on it. Bad Bunnies.  Los Conejos Malditos.  Hop on in and try it.

Saturday

2021 DeLille Cellars, Chaleur Blanc  $28
71% Sauvignon Blanc, 29% Sémillon
Crisp and vibrant yet fleshy, with pretty honeysuckle, fresh fig and apricot accents that build richness and structure on the supple finish.
Regularly $40, Now $28

2021 DeLille Cellars, Métier Cabernet Sauvignon  $25
Métier Cabernet Sauvignon is an inviting, smooth wine with black cherry and plum aromas pouring from the glass. Flavors of bold dark fruits and charming notes of baking spice combine with a juicy midpalate and pleasantly firm, dry finish.
Regularly $30, Now $25

Easter Sunday

2021 Bodegas Mas Que Vinos, Los Conejos Malditos  $13
Tempranillo Rosado
From central Spain the biggest threat to these old Tempranillo vines is extreme conditions they face every year — whipping winds, blasting heat, bitter cold and lack of rain– it’s the rabbits.  The destruction they case is massive.  Bad Bunnies.  This is a light to medium-bodied Rosado, with plenty of juicy fruit and tangy acidity.
Organic

Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday 12-6PM

A Bird Of A Certain Age

Kestrel

It is nice to find a Northwest wine that we like with a bit of age.  It is even better to find it at a good price.  Kestrel Vintners found a bit of their reserve Malbec in their cellars, and we found the deal alluring.  Stop by the shop today and have a sip.

2014 Kestrel Vintners, Winemakers Select Malbec  $25
95% Malbec 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Yakima Valley
Washington Malbec with some age to it.  Packed with aromas of blackberry, raspberry, and anise seeds. The body is velvety smooth with spicy notes and a subtle hint of fresh mint. The finish is lingering with toast and vanilla.
Was $45 Now $25

Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

 

New Zealand Grüner

Wondering what to have with those mussels and clams from East Anchor?  Have a glass of Grüner.

2020 Misty Cove Wines ‘Marlborough’ Grüner Veltliner  $12
This bright and spicy Landmark Grüner Veltliner is a playful balance of quince jelly dashed with tropical pear. The palate is beautifully weighted and rounded. It is texturally appealing with lovely fruit vibrancy, leading to long and engaging finish.
Was $16 Now $12

Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Why? Because We Are Thirsty!

And it is Thursday.

And you need a good mid-week Rhone.  So we’ll be pouring:

2020 Domaine Amido, Les Galets Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages ‘Signargues’  $15
70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre
This CRV is full-bodied and luscious with loads of warm and ripe cherry, raspberry and plum fruit. With soft tannin and mild acidity, it is smooth and seamless, yet with an underlying seriousness.

Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Tuscan Tuesday

We are spending Tuesday dreaming of the sun drenched hills of Tuscany and sipping on a supple rosso that slipped a little on its price.

2018 Villa Pillo, Borgoforte Toscana  $15
50% Sangiovese, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot
A barrique-aged red from Villa Pillo. This full-bodied wine expresses ripe black fruit, intertwined with hints of tobacco leaves, new saddle leather and earth.
Was $22 Now $15

Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Weekend Warm-ups

The calendar says spring, but the air says chilly.  This weekend we are pouring two rich red wines to help take the edge off our brisk weather. Stop in and have a sip.

Saturday

2019 Vallepicciola, ‘Pievasciata’ Rosso  $18
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Sangiovese
This Tuscan Red shows a nose of dark berry fruits like cassis with balsamic undertones and hints of fresh violets. In the mouth the wine is silky and savory with a long finish that shows just a suggestion of earthy spice.

Sunday

2015 Leogate Estate, The Gatecrasher Balmain  $12
40% Shiraz, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot
From a Certified Organic Vineyard located in the Central Ranges of New South Wales. It takes a while to open in the glass, but have patience. With time, some interesting aromas float to the fore: tree sap, graphite, black licorice, plum and cherry vanilla cola. The juicy fruit on the palate is wound by powerful, leathery tannins.  Organic.
Was $15 Now $12

Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Thirsty Thursday

It is a moist Thursday here in Madrona.  But if your jacket is wet you might as well wet your whistle with an old vine red from the Jura.  Stop in and have a sip.

2020 Domaine Baud (Génération 9) “Rouge Ancestral” Côtes du Jura  $21
70% Trousseau, 30% Pinot Noir
This ‘Ancestral’ Jura is made with the vintner’s oldest plots of red grapes. On the nose, Trousseau gives off aromas of leather. The Pinot Noir brings body and more tannin.. A well balanced wine.
12.5% alcohol by volume

Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday 12-6PM

Tasting Tuesday

Someone broke a bottle of this delicious wine and we got a deal on its stained label neighbors.  Patrick will have a bottle open for tasting today.  Stop in and visit Spain.

2016 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Reserva  $20
80% Temprinillo, 12% Graciono, 6% Mazuelo, 2% Garnacha
Estate fruit, 18 months in American oak. Ripe-blackberry, licorice, smoke and bourbon notes.  Stained labels, better price!
Was $32 now $20

Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Changes

Spring is in the air and we have warmer weather for the weekend.  To celebrate this Saturday we are pouring a fresh white wine from Campania in southern Italy to help put a spring in your step.  Sunday is the artist’s reception for the new show gracing our walls.  Patrick of course will have a few things open to sip while you look at the art.

Saturday

2019 Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina $18
A white from Campania, with lots of green pear and lime with some stone and almond undertones. It’s full-bodied, layered and very intense with beautiful fruit and focus.

Sunday

(Re) Emergence
{Entrances and Exits}                                                                                                                       

Artwork by Chi Stewart
March 12th to May 14th
Artist Reception
Sunday March 19th
3 to 5 pm

Artist’s Statement:
The last 3-4 years have certainly been a challenging change point for me, as it has been to most everyone.  These paintings reflect an evolution from fear and approach boldness. The pandemic years ironically gave me time to experiment with new ideas and concepts and have the space to listen more closely to my own inner voice. Since I sometimes think in images, we see here paintings of Obstacles, sacred spaces Falling, Entrances and Exits, Autumn and Winter scenes.  And in Partnership we witness a reminder of both the light and dark side everything.

In the end my Muse whispered, “Have Some Fun!”  Hence the Pears.

Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Thirsty Thursday

Stop in today for a taste of Rhone Syrah.

20/21 Heller, Bonne Fortune Syrah  $15
100% Syrah
Rhone Valley
A non-vintage blend from 2020 & 2021.  Big, with plenty of blackberry and a lot of freshness, this bold red is brimming with ripe but not overripe fruit. Very clean and straight.
Organic Certified

Shop Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6PM