Whether it is for presents or just a bottle with dinner or a party, the Holiday Season requires a lot of wine. This Saturday we’ll be pouring an array of wines to fill the gap. Stop in and see if you don’t find what you are looking for.
 
2015 Apolloni Vineyrads, L Pinot Gris $19
This distinct Pinot Gris from the Willamette is aged in Acacia barrels rather than the typical oak. The wine has a lovely perfume and tropical fruit. Nicely balanced, it offers a full palate and texture, followed by a crisp, refreshing finish.
 
2014 Trisaetum, Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $30
This Pinot Noir is a blend from Trisaetum’s three estate vineyards. The wine has a captivating perfume of dark cherry, blueberry, sandalwood, and Asian five spice. Deeply complex flavors of cocoa and cherry are layered with savory notes of star anise and chai tea spice. Vibrant acidity is balanced by smooth, finely-textured tannins and a creamy mouthfeel, lingering with great finesse on the lengthy finish.
 
2015 Chateaux Les Millaux, Bordeaux Rouge  $13
Chateau Les Millaux is located between Fronsac and St-Emilion.  All Merlot this smooth Bordeaux offers up generous notes of cassis, dried currants, and sour cherry.  Hints of smoking oak and cedar spice grace the nose and palate while notes of sweet vanilla and white pepper dominate the hearty finish.
 
2014 Cor Cellars Momentum  $20
42% Petit Verdot, 30% Merlot, 22% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Franc
Cor Cellars is located in Lyle, Washington on the Columbia Gorge. The new vintage of the Momentum puts the Petit Verdot in the forefront. The wine is dark and smooth with lots of nuance lurking at the bottom of the pool.
 
2011 Caparzo, Brunello $40
Sangiovese
The 2011 Caparzo was a big scorer with the critics and it always has high marks with us.  “The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a terrific wine for the year. Sweet red cherry, plum, tobacco, mint, sweet spices and orange peel are all front and center. This is a gorgeous 2011 Brunello that represents everything the vintage can be; open-knit, accessible and polished.” –94pts Vinous

BUT WAIT – THERES MORE!

Can’t wait until the Saturday tasting? We’ll have a bunch more stuff open between now and Christmas! Friday the 16th we’ll be pouring a pair of Bordeaux (a white and a red) from Barons de Rothschild.  Both are $15 and excellent party wine.

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 thawing out from the big blizzard here in Madrona.  To get the chill out of the bones we have some great wines open for tasting this weekend here at Madrona Wines.  They are all French and all delicious.

Saturday we are popping Burgundy.  We’ll be pouring 5 examples of the 2013 vintage (including two Premier Cru wines.)  We’ll be decanting the reds early to get them to open up.
2013 Vincent Girardin, Bourgogne Blanc, Cuvee St Vincent 
2013 Matrot, Bourgogne 
2013 Montanet Thoden, Bourgogne Garance 
2013 Vincent Morey, Maranges Fussieres 1er cru 
2013 Vincent Girardin,  Savigny-Les-Beaune, 1er Cru Les Serpentières 

Sunday we’ll be pouring two wine from the south of France. That’s all day from 11 to 5.

2015 Chateau Bizard, Blanc d’Amour  $13
40% Grenache Blanc, 40% Viognier, 10% Marsanne, 10% Roussanne
A full and resinous Rhone white with lots of pear and apple notes.

2013 Château D’Oupia, Minervois Tradition $12
50% Carignan, 40% Syrah, 10% Grenache
This this old-vine Minervois (from 50+-year-old vineyards) is highly structured with lots of  dark fruits and an elegant and balanced finish.

Sunday, we are having the artist reception for our current show Floralscapes, Sandy Haight
Her original Watercolors and as framed giclee prints are brightening the shop through the rest of December.  The reception is 3 to 5.  Come meet the artist.

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.

Whether it is the soil, the climate or the number of years they have been doing it, but Burgundy produces the best Pinot Noir in the world.  Unfortunately, due to several reasons (small parcels, low yields, demand exceeding supply) the wines are often very expensive.  They also need a bit of time in bottle before they are ready to drink.  This Saturday we are going to try and buck all that.  We’ll be pouring 5 examples of the 2013 vintage that are all a bit of a bargain.  We’ll be decanting the reds early to get them to open up.  Come see how we do. 
 
2013 Vincent Girardin, Bourgogne Blanc, Cuvee St. Vincent  $16
Chardonnay
The 2013 St. Vincent Cuvee Blanc is everything you want in a Bourgogne Blanc.  A fresh and elegant wine whose floral and fruity (citrus, peach) notes combine with mineral notes and a good length.  Was $21 now $16
 
2013 Matrot, Bourgogne  $18
Pinot Noir
A nose of red fruits, mainly strawberries. Good supple texture, round and creamy with some cranberry flavors. Exhibits good freshness with nice acidity which balances the wine. Excellent for a Bourgogne Rouge.  Was $23 Now $18
 
2013 Montanet Thoden, Bourgogne Garance  $20
Pinot Noir
A drinking great now Burgundy from Kermit Lynch with full supple fruit and smooth tannins. Organic.  Was $32 now $20 
 
2013 Vincent Morey, Maranges Fussieres 1er cru  $35
Pinot Noir
Vincent Morey is keen on lees-stirring which lends his wines an engaging plumpness.  The Fussieres is sourced from two premier cru parcels in Maranges. It is usually a full, rich, age worthy example with an intense mineral core.

2013 Vincent Girardin, Savigny-Les-Beaune, 1er Cru Les Serpentières  $35
Pinot Noir
Premier grapes from a single vineyard in Beaune.  The Serpentières is a full rich wine with plenty of fruit and good structure. Its crisp cherry, strawberry and spice flavors pick up a mineral accent–lean and firm, presenting a lingering aftertaste of spice and chalk.  Was $45 now $35

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 rolled into December this last week in Madrona.  The skies are grey and the temperature looks to drop this weekend.  But here at Madrona wine we’ll be keeping warm with some great tastings.

Saturday we are pouring the well aged wines of López de Heredia as well as several other Spanish vignerons.
2006 Lopez de Heredia, Rioja, Viña Gravonia 
2008 Lopez de Heredia,  Viña Cubillo Crainza
2012 Hnos Perez Pascuas, Vina Pedrosa  Crianza
2015 Eira dos Mouros, Riberiro Blanco 
2013 Castell del Remei, Gotim Bru Costers del Segre 

Sunday, we are showing two wines from Italy. The white comes from the Northeast, near Verona, while it’s smoky older brother hails from Sicily.

2015 Suavia Suave Classico  $15
Garganega
A rich full flavored Soave from one of the best producers. Fresh aromas of apple, pear and almond balance clean minerality and a hint of fresh herb. Crisp and refreshing on the palate, the flavors and aromas build toward a harmonious and lingering finish.

2015 La Favola Nero  $12
This dark smoky organic Nero d’Avola from Sicily has dark berry fruit with a dark bitter chocolate finish.

Special Champagne Tasting
Sunday, 5:30pm  $25
We have a few spots left for our Sunday evening tasting of Grower Champagnes. We think these wines show what sets Champagne off from the other bubbles.  Let us know if you want to 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.

Spain is a land of contrasts and Spanish wines are no different.  They are masters of young fresh wines and are also masters of letting wines age and develop complexity.  Join us Saturday as we taste a couple of wines from Lopez de Heredia one of the masters of aging.  For 139 years, four generations of the López de Heredia family have devoted themselves to producing exceptional and unique wines. They are masterpieces which the founder of the company, Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, defined in the late nineteenth century as the “Supreme Rioja”. We’ll also have some young fresh youngsters to put up against them.

2015 Eira dos Mouros, Riberiro Blanco  $15
Treixadura
A lively white from Galacia in the northwest of Spain.  This Treixadura  is fresh, vivid and bright with notes of exotic fruits and beautiful minerality. It has lovely purity of fruit and a spicy bite on the finish.

2006 Lopez de Heredia, Rioja, Viña Gravonia  $25
Viura
The Gravonia come from 45-year-old Viura vines in poor and stony soil. It has aged 4 years in barrel and 6 years in bottle before release.  The wine is complex, nutty and truly unique with notes of petrol, beeswax and chamomile.

2013 Castell del Remei , Gotim Bru Costers del Segre  $14
45% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 8% Syrah
Castell del Remei was built in 1780 in Penelles (Costers del Segre) and was the first Catalan winery to sell its “aged wine” on the market.  The wine has complex aromas of red fruit preserves with hints of toffee, sweet spices and toasted notes.  It has a long finish with notes of dried fruit ad lingering tannins.

2008 Lopez de Heredia,  Viña Cubillo Crainza $23
65% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacho, 5% Mazuelo, 5% Graciano
From the vineyard Viña Cubillas, whose vines average 40 years of age.  The soil is from the tertiary age and is a mixture of clay and limestone. The wine is aged for three years, being racked twice per year before bottling.  It then rests in bottle until they think it is ready for release. The palate is tight but well sculpted and the tannins will surely mellow further with time, allowing the beguiling mixture of fruit and savory notes to rise from the depths.  For any other winery this would be a Gran Reserva, for Lopez de Heredia it is labeled Crianza.

2012 Hnos Perez Pascuas, Vina Pedrosa  Crianza $30
Tempranillo
Hnos Perez Pascuas began in 1980, when three brothers, Benjamín, Manuel and Adolfo Pérez Pascuas, Started making wine out of the vineyards owned by their father, Mauro,  The Vina Pedrosa spends 18 months in barrel and then 6 months in the bottle.  A more modern styled wine it is a meaty, sumptuous and characterful wine with abundant fruit, and solid layers of tannin and toasted oak.

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, December 4th we’re having our Annual Champagne Tasting where we’ll be pouring the most interesting Champagnes that we’ve tasted this season.  These wines jumped out of the glass at us as we were trying quite a few bubbles. The tasting starts at 5:30pm.  We’ll have some appetizers to go with and still get you home for Sunday dinner.  The cost is s $25 (plus tax).  Space is limited so contact us if you want to attend.

Tribaut–Schloesser,  Brut Origine  $38
40% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Meunier
A low dosage blend that sits for 3 years on its lees and then blended with 15% of back vintages .  The Tribaut has aromas of dry fruit, apples, biscuits and apricots.

Bourdaire Gallois Brut  $43
100% Meunier
The aromas of this wine jump from the glass, cocoa, toasty notes and raspberry fruit with lemon peel and citrus curd flavors. The base wine for this is 2012 with 2011 blended to complete the package.

Coquillette Carte d’ Ort Brut 1er  $55
66% Pinot Noir, 34% Chardonnay
This fresh and creamy Champagne offers notes of honey graham cracker dust, toast, tangerine blossom, orange, lemon drop and crisp apple.  The extremely fine bubbles give it a delicacy and elegant taste.

2002 Moutard  Millesime $54
Chardonnay
Champagne Moutard’s cellar books date back to the 17th century.  All the grapes for the vintage champagne come from family-owned vineyards giving great control over the finished wine. The prolonged ageing on the lees create a very special champagne full of fennel thyme, honey and biscuit notes, and a fine, structured palate and a pleasing herbal finish.

Gaston Chiquet Cuvee de Reserve $55
1/3 each Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, & Chardonnay
The base wine for the reserve is 84% 2004 vintage, with the balance being 2001.  That is a lot of lees contact for the money.  Firm and yeasty, with toast and malt accents, ripe pears, peaches, hazelnuts and dried flowers come together beautifully in the glass. It naturally shows a little more oxidative character owing to the extended lees aging for a portion of the wine, but that just makes it more complex and interesting.

2006 Pierre Paillard, Grand Cru, Brut Millesime $60
50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay
Pierre Paillard is a small grower with eleven hectares of vines, all located in Grand Cru Bouzy. The winery has been in the family for eight generations. The 2006 is just released. It has complex aromas of ripe brie, lemon peel, yeasty toast and a creamy mouthfeel.

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 nice long weekend here at Madrona Wine as we digest our turkey.

Today we are having our Red Friday Sale.
Skip the Malls and shopping frenzy at the big box stores.  Relax.  We’ll have a couple of red wine specials open to help digest that turkey.   Enjoy the afternoon off and swing by the shop for a taste.

2013 Les Terrasses d’Eole Ventoux  $10
Grenache, Syrah
From a small gravity powered winery in Provence,  this Ventoux is full dark fruit, violets, and minerals with indulgent flavors of blackberries, violets, and anise and earthy undertones.  Was $12 now $10

2012 Albino Rocca Rosso di Rocca  $13
80% Nebbiolo, 10% Barbera and 10% Cab Franc
Aromas of black cherry, licorice, menthol, graphite and black pepper. The rosso is at once sweet and energetic, with black cherry and licorice flavors accented by violet and pepper.  Was $18 now $13

Saturday we are getting all Bubbly.
The forecast for the weekend is all sparkling — at least for our wine tastings.  Saturday we are pouring all bubbles to get in the mood for the holidays.  The corks start popping at 2pm and we’ll pour as long as the bubbles last so don’t be late.

Bodegas Cruzat, Reserve Valle de Uco, Mendoz, Argentina $18
60% Pinot Noir 40% Chardonnay
Sourced from their estate grown vines at 4,600 feet elevation, the Cruzant is aged 18 months on lees and 24 in bottle in bottle before release.  The Brut Natural has no sugar added.  It is redolent of citrus, tropical fruits, jasmine, elder and linden flowers, fully blended with the aromas of fermentation and yeast lysis and a crisp freshness.

Gruet, Blanc de Noirs $16
Pinot noir
This New Mexico Méthode Champenoise is aged for a minimum of two-years, it is full of berry aroma with toasty notes and a creamy texture. Half bottles 375ml — $12

Antica Franca Brut Franciacorta DOCG  $25
90% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Nero
Franciacorta is to Italy what Champagne is to France.  Its calcareous soils produce complex mineraled wines.  The Antica Fratta is blended out of a library of base wines and then aged 2 years in bottle. It is an elegantly fresh, vivacious and full wine characterized by pleasing aromas of fresh fruit, wild blossoms and subtle bread crust.  Big Bottles, 1.5 liter — $55

Alain Bailly Grande Reserve Brut Champagne $28
60% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay
Sixth generation growers, Bailly’s estate consists of 12 hectares composed of eighty vineyard plots. The Grande Reserve has a golden tint, fine mousse, very full bouquet mingles toast, figs, fresh bread, and structured vinous aromas full of richness.

2014 Borgo Maragliano, Moscato di’Asti La Caliera  $15
A full-bodied, robust and velvety Moscato d’Asti. The intense aroma carries a fragrance of candied fruit, acacia flowers and a typical musky but delicate bouquet. Its scent of “violet” is quite unique and it is only 5% alcohol by volume so you can drink it for breakfast.

Sunday Is Cider Sunday.  And we’ll be pouring two dry ciders. Perfect for starting (or ending) all those holiday dinners and buffets.

Loisel Gosne Breton Cider $10
A bone-dry cider made with a blend of cider apples selected for their drying skin tannins.

Crossfire Crisp Harvest Cider $5
Out of California comes this dry apple cider with an artisan style.

And More Bubbles!!

Sunday, December 4th we’re having our annual Champagne Tasting where we’ll be pouring the most interesting Champagnes that we’ve tasted this season.  It starts at 5:30pm and costs $25 (plus tax).  Space is limited so contact us if you want to attend.  More info coming soon.

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 coming. (It’s on Thursday this year.) And this weekend at Madrona Wine we are gearing up for the Big Feast with a full line up of wines to match a groaning table.

Saturday, we’re opening some wines that can handle all the diversity and cornucopia of flavors that is Thanksgiving.  They even make the relatives more agreeable. 
2014 Haden Fig Pinot Gris
2014 Claude Lafond La Grande Piece
Jaillance, Cremant de Bordeaux, Cuvée de l’Abbaye Brut Rose 
2015 Evesham Wood, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
2013 Domaine Des Ronze,  Beaujolais-Villages
2015 Dominio Basconcillos,  Vigna Magna,  Ribera del Duero 6 Meses

Sunday, we’re tasting the Loire wines of Saget la Pierrèier, These wines are all good candidates for the big meal. A representative from the winery will be here from 1-4 (but the wines will be open all day).

2014 Domaine de la Perriere Sancere  $25
Sauvignon Blanc
Racy notes of lemon zest, straw and chamomile lead to an echo of lightly muddled peach of the finish. It is a mouthful of fruitiness and minerality neatly combined with acidity.

2015 Saget la Perriere Rosé  $14
Pinot Noir
A Languedoc all Pinot Rosé. Aromas of rose petal, grenadine and berry fruits.  Supple, light, fresh attack on the palate. Lovely sweetness on the finish gently lifted by fresh aromas of raspberry.

2015 Saget la Petit Perriere  $14
Pinot Noir
A delightful and refreshing pinot, with red berry fruit and a hint of tannins and oak.

2014 Saget Marie de Beauregard Chinon  $17
Cabernet Franc
Marie de Beauregard Chinon is garnet red with ruby highlights and a lovely intensity of color. On the nose, the wine has aromas of coffee and sweet pepper with a hint of camphor mixed with vanilla. On the palate, aromas of undergrowth mixed with musk and blueberry. Solid structure with silky smooth tannins.

For those of you who like to put things off until the last minute, we’ll be open Tuesday and Wednesday, Noon to 7pm; Thanksgiving Day, 11am to 3 pm (don’t feel sorry for him, this is Mark’s way of getting out of cooking; and open again on Friday, Noon to 7 (Red Friday for those who prefer a glass of wine to going to the malls); plus our usual hours Saturday and Sunday.

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.

This Saturday we are prepping for a feast and opening some wines that can handle all the diversity and cornucopia of flavors that is Thanksgiving.  They even make the relatives more agreeable. 
 
2014 Haden Fig Pinot Gris $19
Haden Fig is owned and run by Erin Nuccio who also merged with Evesham Wood in in 2010.  Both wineries emphasize minimal intervention in the winemaking.  This Oregon Pinot Gris is rich and layered from dry farmed grapes. It is Organic, Biodynamic, Sustainable and delicious.
 
2014 Claude Lafond La Grande Piece $13
Pinot Gris
From a single vineyard in the Loire, the Pinot Gris is left on its skins during its fermentation and the light pink of the grape transfers to the wine.  Light berry fruit and light apples notes with some herbal underpinnings. Was $20 now $13 
 
Jaillance, Cremant de Bordeaux, Cuvée de l’Abbaye Brut Rose  $14
100% Merlot
Jallance’s cellars at Pain de Sucre are built on a series of one-time quarries, hewn directly out of the rock, which ensures stability of temperature ideal for making sparkling wines.  Their Brut Rosé is vinified by the traditional method and sees 18 months of cellar ageing.  This wine has aromas of red fruit (raspberry and redcurrant) and a fresh hint of menthol. It has a creamy mousse. Flavors carry forward from the bouquet, with added persistent strawberry and a hint of vanilla on the finish.
 
2015 Evesham Wood, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $21
A blend of Illahe, Mahonia, Jubilee and Sojourner vineyards make up this dry farmed Pinot Noir.  This vintage of the WV blend shows a bright nose with cherry, earthy mushroom and a slight creamy/silkiness that’s balanced by juicy acid.   It is a great value in Oregon Pinot and always a shop favorite.

2013 Domaine Des Ronze,  Beaujolais-Villages $16
From a naturally farmed  vineyard of old vines on the edge of the Morgon appellation, Domaine Des Ronze has been run by the same family for 6 generations.  The Beaujolais is dominated by ripe red fruits is structured, layering tannins and intense fruitiness in harmony. The fruit has a pure, direct line of final acidity. 
 
2015 Dominio Basconcillos,  Vigna Magna,  Ribera del Duero 6 Meses  $19
Tempranillo
A new estate in the northern part of Ribera del Duero whose undulating and sloping terrain offers varied soil types (chalk, sand, clay, loam) and diversity of terroir within the contiguous property.  The farming is organic.  The state of the art bodega, is efficiently designed to obtain maximum quality.  Their 2015 is a powerful yet elegant wine with the ripeness of the fruit being tempered by grip by soft tannins layers of oak spice and fruit.

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.

Despite the warm weather it has been a harsh week in Madrona.  This weekend it looks like the rain is back..  Time to zip up that Gore-tex, and shake out the umbrella and come with us as we taste our way through some Côtes du Rhône.

Saturday we have a Full Rhône line up that shows the diversity of the region.
2015 Domaine Montmartel, Côtes du Rhône Blanc
2014 Marrenon, Doria Luberon Blanc
2013 Domaine Notre Dame de Pallières, Rasteau
2013 The Domaine de Fayolle, Crozes Hemitage
2012 Domaine Pignan Chateauneuf du Pape

Sunday we’ll be pouring a pair of Côtes du Rhnes from Famille Sadel as well as one of our favorite value Bordeaux.

2014 Famille Sadel, Cotes du Rhone Blanc  $15
60% Grenache Blanc, 25% Clairette, 15% Viognier
A nose of fresh and delicious scents of exotic fruits and white peaches. Well-balanced on the palate with nice acidity and delicate flavors of pineapple delivering a long and refreshing finish.

2014 Famille Sadel, Cotes du Rhone Rouge  $15
80% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre
The vineyards are  not far from the Dentelles de Montmirail with vines are planted on stony hillsides and terraces with pebbly soil. This outstanding 2014 has a concentrated scent of old vines offering a combination of raspberry and blackberry aromas. The flavor is rich, round, and well balanced providing a long and smooth finish.

2012 Maison Givas, Montagne Saint Emilion  $18
60% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot
This St. Emilion satellite drinks way above its price.  Blackcurrant, cherry, and raspberry notes combine with cedar and vanilla undertones, smooth tannins and good finish. Great by itself or with cheese, red/white meats, rich pasta and vegetable dishes.

Our Sunday evening Burgunday Tasting has been Canceled until some time when the Seahawks aren’t playing with the pigskin.

Starting this week we will be open on Tuesdays noon to 7pm until New Years.

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.