The moisture has returned to Madrona this weekend.  But don’t let the dampness dampen you Holiday spirit.  We have a couple of tastings here at Madrona Wine to make the season bright.

Saturday it is Bubbles!
Come effervesce with us.  The corks fly out at 2pm and we’ll be pouring for as long as the bubbles and bottles last.
Cune Cava Brut $11
Antoine Simoneau, Touraine Brut Blanc $13
Domaine de Saint-Just, Crémant de Loire Brut $20
Champagne Lallier, Grande Reserve, Grand Cru Brut $48
Maison Parigot & Richard, Cremant de Bourgogne Rosé $24

Sunday we head to California to warm up with.  We’ll have a Napa Sauvignon Blanc and a Central Coast Zinfindal from the sunny state.  Both are great for parties. 

2016 Markham Vineyards   $14
Sauvignon Blanc
Napa Valley
Crisp and bright, with honeysuckle and tropical floral notes. Enjoy with food, or just on its own.

2014 Four Vines Old-Vine Zinfandel  $14
A full-bodied Central Coast Zin at a good price. 35 to 80-year-old vines. Dark berry notes, a hint of spice, ripe plums and black & blue berries.

Next Week as we lead up to Christmas we are going to opening a lot of fun stuff to taste at the shop.  Swing in and see what’s pouring.

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.

Things will be popping at the wine shop this Saturday as we let loose the corks on five sparkling wines for the holidays. Bubbles can make any event a little brighter. Come see what fits into your holiday plans.

Cune Cava Brut $11
50% Xarelo, 35% Macabeo, 15% Parellada
This little Spanish Sparkler comes from the well-known Rioja producer. It is a rich and crisp Cava with more body than you’d expect for the price.

Antoine Simoneau, Touraine Brut Blanc $13
100% Chenin Blanc
The Antoine Simoneau family estate lays in the appellation of Touraine in the Loire Valley where they have grown grapes since 1790. This Brut has a dominant fruity bouquet with white flower aromas and brioche notes.

Domaine de Saint-Just, Crémant de Loire Brut $20
80% Chenin, 20% Chardonnay
Domaine de St. Just’s organically farmed vineyards are planted on sandstone, clay and limestone soils in Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg. The limestone bedrock not too deep below the clay and sand helps to create a tension-filled expression of Chenin Blanc. It is a rich Crémant with fruity aromas followed by almond, quince, and pear on the palate. This finish has an elegant creamy texture with long flavors.

Champagne Lallier, Grande Reserve, Grand Cru Brut $48
65% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay
Lallier is a very small négociant out of Ay, in the heart of Champagne. Their Grande Reserve is made entirely from Grand Cru vineyards. Spicy pear and orange aromas are complicated by notes of beeswax, chamomile and anise, with a nutty overtone. The Reserve is dry and expansive, offering pliant orchard and citrus fruit flavors and a touch of green almond which shows a subtle herbal quality on the finish, and clings with good authority.

Maison Parigot & Richard, Cremant de Bourgogne Rosé $24
Pinot Noir
Located in Savigny-Les-Beaune, Parigot & Richard is a 6^th generation family winery specializing in sparkling wine from Burgundy. Their sparkling rosé has the subtle berry fruit aromas commonly found in Pinot Noir. In the mouth it has character, vivacity and youthfulness, while staying round and elegant.

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.

It is a crisp, December weekend here in Madrona, but we have a lineup of tastings at shop that will warm you up.

Saturday we are tasting Burgundy and Bordeaux!  Stop by and try a few samples from the King and Queen of French viticulture. 
Jaillance, Cremant de Bordeaux Cuveé de l’Abbaye Brut Rosé  $14
2016 Chateau Lamothe de Haux Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux Blanc  $15
2012 Olivier Morin, Bourgogne Chitry  $15
2014 Domaine Regis Rossignol,-Changarnier  $27
2014 Chateau Angludet, Reserve d’Angludet Margaux $35

Sunday we are thinking BIG and opening Two Magnums with special pricing.  They are perfect for the holidays with friends and family. Both of these are a little lighter on the alcohol content, making them great for entertaining.

2012 Cortijo Rioja  $20
Tempranillo
A big bottle of Rioja for a little price.  Lots of ripe black cherry notes intermixed with hints of roasted herbs, loamy soil and spice box are found in this medium-bodied, fruity, spicy, fresh, lively red. 1.5 liter.  13.5% alcohol by volume

2015 Bousquet Malbec $20
A big bottle of big wine, punchy and grapy on the nose, this bright Malbec feels edgy. Flavors of spicy black cherry and kirsch finish solidly, with a hint of chocolate flavor. 1.5 liter. Organic. 13% alcohol by volume

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.

Stop by on Saturday and try a few samples from the King and Queen of French viticulture. 
 
Jaillance, Cremant de Bordeaux Cuveé de l’Abbaye Brut Rosé  $14
Merlot
A sparkling Rosé from the predominate grape of Bordeaux.  The Jaillance has delicate, earthy aromas and flavors of wild strawberries and white mulberries, sautéed almonds, with a silky, vibrant bubbles and an engaging sour cherry, herbal honey, and chalk finish.
 
2016 Chateau Lamothe de Haux Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux Blanc  $15
40% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Sémillon, 20% Muscadelle
This 4th generation family run Bordeaux estate sits on limestone soil (its cellars being dug out of the rock.)   The Blanc boasts floral and fruity aromas and is fresh and round on the palate with a crisp, dry finish.
 
2012 Olivier Morin, Bourgogne Chitry  $15
Pinot Noir
Between Auxerre and Chablis, nestling in a vineyard lined valley is Chitry-le-Fort where Olivier Morin organically cultivates 12 hectares.  This Chitry is a great deal on a Bourgogne Rouge.  It has a fresh nose with notes of cherries and roses. It is light and supple with balanced tannic structure, evolving on notes of spices and red fruits.  Was $18 now $15
 
2014 Domaine Regis Rossignol, Changarnier  $27
Pinot Noir
Régis Rossignol’s first harvest was 1950 and he completed his 62nd in 2011 on his 7 hectare estate. Régis’ winemaking philosophy is very much to craft ‘vins de terroir’, and as such he has retained most of the traditions handed down to him by his father. The Changarnier is a beautiful wine with pretty strawberry and crisp red cherry fruit on the nose. Dry, with plenty of ripe fruit on the finish. The wine is no shrinking violet and has fine tannins and high acidity.
 
2014 Chateau Angludet, Reserve d’Angludet Margaux $35
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
Surrounded as it is by Grand Cru Classé properties, Château Angludet would almost certainly have been included in the famous 1855 Classification, had the property not been broken up as part of an inheritance settlement.  The Sichel family bought the estate in 1961.  Since then, they have worked to restore and improve the vineyard and cellars, giving Angludet back the reputation its exceptional terroir deserves.  The Reserve is Fragrant and alluring, with classy, ripe, slightly spicy aromas and a palate that is rich, supple and loaded with exotic flavors of sweet blackcurrant, licorice and pencil shavings.  It has elegance, aromatic finesse and their exceptional ageing potential.

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 are escaping the dampness and spending the weekend in Italy here at Madrona Wine with two days of great Italian wines to please the palate.

Saturday we have a full line up of Tasty Tuscans.
2016 San Felice, Vermentino Perolia  $13
2014 San Felice, Chianti Classico$16
2015 Campogiovanni, Rosso di Montalcino $20
2013 Barone Ricasoli, Brolio, Chianti Classico Riserva $30
2013 Tenuta Argentiera, Poggio ai Ginepri, Bolgheri Rosso   $20

Sunday we are pouring two more from the big boot.

2016 Francesco Intorcia, Grillo $12
A Sicilian white with distinct notes of citrus fruits and yellow fruits, also ripe, and pleasant hints of herbs and sweet spices. Intense, rich and embracing, it is smooth and warm on the palate.

2013 Leonello, Valpolicella Ripasso   $15
Corvina, Rondella, Molinara
This is a strong, full-bodied wine with an intense bouquet of red fruit conserved in spirits with agreeable hints of spices and a well-balanced taste. This is undoubtedly a Ripasso wine with an impressive, distinct, tannic, clean and elegant character.  Was $22 now $15

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.

It is the weekend after Thanksgiving here in Madrona. As we were creative about what to do with leftover turkey, we decided to go Bold and Bubbly — with the wines that is.

Saturday we have a lineup of Bold, Rich Wines to please the palate.
2013 Christian Ninot, Bourgogne Blanc “Les Pellans” $20
2014 Christophe Pichon, St. Joseph $27
2013 Quinta da Romaneira “R de Romaneira” $15
2015 Ken Wright Cellars, Tyrus Evan, Claret “Ciel du Cheval” $18
2011 Quinta da Romaneira, Late-bottled Vintage Porto $26

Sunday we’re pouring Affordable Bubbly from Italy and France. Stop in and stock up.

Borgo Maragliano Brut  $12
Chardonnay
From the Piedmont this is a non-prosecco bubbles. Fresh with bright acidity and steady effervescence. The aromas are of citrus fruit, almonds and the aromas of freshly baked bread. Was $15 now $12

J. Laurens Cremant de Linoux Brut Rosé  $15
60% Chardonnay, 25 % Chenin, 15 % Pinot Noir
The Brut Rosé has a gentle yeastiness accompanying its effusive effervescence, but the real story is its rich, tangy, full-in-the-mouth, appealing fruit.

Reminder–
Our Barolo Tasting has been moved a week to Sunday, December 3rd.  Contact us if you want more info or to reserve a spot.

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.

Thanksgiving Day Hours: We will be open on Thanksgiving from 11am to 3pm in case you realize you need more wine at the last minute. (This is really just a way for Mark to get out of cooking, but don’t tell anyone.)

And of course, in the meantime, we are TASTING WINES!

Saturday, we are pouring five wines to go with the big upcoming feast. Come find a match for your meal. (The real secret is that the wines taste great the rest of the year as well.)
2015 Bricco Barlolomeo La Colomberg $15
2015 Tenuta Col Sandago, Wildbacher Brut Rose $20
2015 Broadly Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $20
2015 Domaine Brotte, Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne $15
2006 Malvera, St Guglielmo $22

Sunday, we’ve got two Washington State wines to show off to your holiday guests.

2014 Northwest Cellars Chardonnay $10
80% Chardonnay, 20% Viognier
The Viognier in this blend adds a little complexity to the Chardonnay, making it perfect for the holiday table. Nice acidity. Was $16 now $10.

2014 Robert Ramsay Mason’s Red $18
42% Cinsault, 19% Syrah, 19% Mourvedre,
10% Grenache, 10% Counoise
This “everyday wine” has a lot more going on it than the price suggests. Full spicy fruit in a dark, smoky Rhone style.

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.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and that raises the question — what wine to have with the big bird. If you are stuck for an answer, we have five wines we are pouring on Saturday that will fit the bill. They are all innovative answers to the cornucopia of flavor that is Thanksgiving. The real secret is that they are great the rest of the year as well. Come have a taste.
 
2015 Bricco Barlolomeo La Colomberg  $15
Produced with Cortese grapes, the wine has notes of nectarine, apricot and broom flower. On the palate it is fresh, zesty and persistent. It is a versatile wine which is great as an aperitifs or through out any meal.
 
2015 Tenuta Col Sandago, Wildbacher Brut Rose  $20
Tenuta Col Sandago, nestled among the hills in Veneto is the only vineyard in Italy to grow Wildbacher (wild stream) — an Austrian grape that makes this great rosé. The Brut Rosé is an elegant, pale pink sparkling wine with delicate notes of wild strawberry and rose petal.  It can cut through gravy with sparkling precision.
 
2015 Broadly Pinot Noir Willamette Valley  $20
Broadley is a family owned and operated vineyard and winery established in 1981. The estate vineyard is farmed using sustainable and organic farming practices.  The wine has raspberry and cherry aromas, with hints of cranberry, spice and subtle mushroom/earth. Flavors of black raspberry, pomegranate, leather and earth open mid-palate sliding to the back of the tongue. Pinot is the go to red for the annual feast.
 
2015 Domaine Brotte, Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne   $15
Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan
This Châteauneuf du Pape-based estate continues makes a bevy of beautiful wines from the Southern Rhône. In almost all cases, the wines over-deliver. The Cairanne is no exception. It is focused, with a graphite spine carrying crushed plum and warmed cherry notes. Light tea and anise hints run through the finish. It is ready to arm wrestle the cranberry sauce.
 
2006 Malvera St Guglielmo  $22
70% Barbera, 25% Nebbiolo, 5% Bonarda
An aged Piedmont Rosso that spends 24 months in barrel before bottling, and several years after in the bottle to blend its great flavors. Yes, the wine is 11 years old and only costs $22. Aromas of blackberry, prunes and tobacco. The wine is powerful but velvety with blackberry, vanilla, and leather notes. It is both full and elegant. Pass the stuffing.

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.

Looking to warm up the dark nights.  Come join us for our Special Barolo & Barbaresco Tasting. We’ll be pulling the corks on Five Nebbiolo kingpins and seeing how they stack up. The tasting starts at 5:30 after the shop closes and we’ll have some tasting appetizers to match the wines. It’s a great way to recover from Thanksgiving. Space is limited so contact us to reserve a spot.
 
2013 Pasquale Pelissero Barbaresco Cascina Crosa  $25
This single-vineyard Nebbiolo from a small family estate has earthy aromas of leather, truffle, violet, ripe black cherry and a funky whiff of game on this. The approachable palate offers fleshy dark cherry, cranberry, clove and a hint of licorice. And it has an incredible price. Was $32 now $25

2012 Podere Ruggeri Corsini, Barolo “Bussia” $40
This single-vineyard Barolo is from Monforte d’Alba. Ripe berry, violet, leather and menthol aromas lead the nose. The firm palate offers mature cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and sage alongside assertive, tightly wound tannins that need to unwind.
 
2013 Luigi Pira, Serralunga Barolo   $37
Pira’s Serralunga racked up a lot of points from the critics for the money.  “The 2013 Serralunga is a gorgeous Barolo from Pira in this vintage. Attractive aromatics of fresh strawberries and cherries are laced with spices and floral nuances. Balanced, focused and beautifully structured with a lovely polished texture and wonderful length on the finish. This impresses from start to finish, and as always the standard Serralunga Barolo from Pira is simply outstanding”.  93pts IWR
 
2009 Schiavenza di Pira, Broglio Barolo  $50 
Broglio is a village of Serralunga d’Alba with southeast exposure with loamy ground, and slimy deeply calcareous  soils. A combination of cherry, licorice, leather, spice and tobacco notes gives way to solid tannins. All the elements are there, and the long finish picks up a black tea accent.
 
2008 Borgogno, Barolo Le Teorie  $80
A special bottling of the 2008 Barolo, the le Teorie is from Cannubi, Liste, Fossati and San Pietro delle Viole vineyards. After at least four years aging, it is bottled and labelled and is ready to stimulate intellectual reflection. A wine which at table can stimulate discussion of the most refined topics. Six different labels take your pick or get the set. The regular labeled 2008 got 92pts from Vinous.

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.

It is a busy weekend here at Madrona Wine Merchants.  We are putting together a series of Special Tastings for the upcoming weeks (more about those soon).  And Sunday from 3 to 5 is the Artist Reception for our new show: The Discovery Park Series by Charles Prutting.  Come by and see the work and meet the painter.  But first there are wines to try!

Saturday we have an interesting lineup of versatile wines to prepare you for the upcoming Holiday Season.
2015 Torii Mor Pinot Gris  $15
2014 Torii Mor, Pinot Noir Willamette Valley  $20
2016 Allegrini ,Valpolicella  $15
2013 Allegrini , Palazzo della Torre  $19
2014 The Underground Wine Project, Devil’s Playground Cabernet $30

Sunday we are featuring two Spanish favorites.  Both go well with food or sip fine by themselves.

2015 Monteabellon, Avaniel Ribera del Duero  $10
Tempranillo
Surprisingly complex and spicy, the wine has an attractive nose of spice box, blueberry and blackberry. This is followed by a medium-bodied wine with a supple texture. 
Was $12 now $10

2013 Triton, Mencia  $13
From Bierzo the Triton has a sweet nose of blueberries, black raspberries, wet stones and white flowers. The wine is medium-bodied with supple tannins, good opulence and surprising intensity.  It throws a bit of sediment at the end so watch that last sip.

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.