Sunday we are pouring two red wines that may come in handy later in the week or later in the year. Both are marked down a little to sweeten the deal. Come have a taste.

2009 Larochette Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes    $14
Pinot Noir
Nice and full for an unassuming Bourgogne. It drinks really well after a bit of air. A delicious Pinot Noir who is balanced with a sweet beginning and a mineral finish. There are notes of black and sour cherries along with a hint of mushrooms. Was $18 now $14

2009 Ismael Arroyo Ribera del Dureo “Mesoneros”    $14
Tempranillo
From Ribero del Duero, this big Tempranillo has had time to soften up. Its smoothness will make your taste buds think they’ve been put to bed with silk sheets. Oak aged in chalk tunnels hundreds of feet underground. Full, dark and rich. Was $20 now $14

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 have beautiful Autumnal weather this weekend here in Madrona with preparations being made for next Thursday.  But while you get ready for Thanksgiving remember that you might need some wine for this weekend as well.  As usual we have a full line up.

Saturday we are pouring a flight of wines to match the Big Feast rounded up from near and far.
2014 Barons, Sauvignon Blanc  $15
2014 Quail’s Gate Chenin Blanc  $18
2013 Evesham Wood, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir  $21
2006 Bodegas Riojanas, Monte Real Rioja Reserva   $20
2013 The Seventy Five Wine Company, Cabernet Sauvignon  $21
That kicks off at 2pm

Sunday we continue with a couple of reds at a good price to take to Thanksgiving or drink that night.
2009 Larochette Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes          $14
Nice and full for an unassuming Pinot Noir.  It drinks really well after a bit of air.  A delicious Pinot Noir who is balanced with a sweet beginning and a mineral finish.  There are notes of black and sour cherries along with a hint of mushrooms.  Was $18 now $14 
2009 Ismael Arroyo Ribera del Dureo “Mesoneros”        $14
From Ribero del Duero, this big Tempranillo has had time to soften up.  Its smoothness will make your taste buds think they’ve been put to bed with silk sheets. Oak aged in chalk tunnels hundreds of feet underground. Full, dark and rich. Was $20 now $14

Also, we will be open on Thanksgiving from 11 to 3pm for those last minute wine needs.

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 whether yours is the traditional menu or an eccentric set of courses, it is grand day to gather with friends, family and other good folk and revel in the richness of the season.  This Saturday we’ll be pouring some great choices to accompany your meal no matter the menu.  Come have a sip.
 
2014 Barons, Sauvignon Blanc  $15
From winemaker Matt Loso’s current project, the Barons edges towards the melon and ripe fig side of Sauvignon Blanc. It starts bright and crisp on the attack with a lemon verbena note, and turns rich and mouth filling on the mid-palate with flavors of citrus peel, kiwi and warm lemon tartlets.  It’s refreshing & mouthwatering.
 
2014 Quail’s Gate Chenin Blanc  $18
This Canadian Okanagan Valley winery has been at it on their estate for 25 years.  This year’s Chenin Blanc opens with aromatic white flowers intermingled with vivid citrus and tropical papaya. Dry and medium bodied on the palate, this wine has great texture and is typically bright and juicy with notes of gooseberries, lemon and zesty grapefruit.
 
2013 Evesham Wood, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir  $21
From one of our steady favoirite Oregon wineries, Evesham Wood harvests this WV Pinot from several dry-farmed and sustainably cultivated vineyards in Northern Willamette Valley. Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, fermented in small lots, and aged in French oak (10% new) for 10 months before bottling. The winery describes the profile as “Bright and crunchy with cranberry, red cherry and cinnamon with a bit of firmness on finish.”
 
2006 Bodegas Riojanas, Monte Real Rioja Reserva   $20
Tempranillo
Bodegas Riojanas was founded in Rioja Alta in 1890, making it one of the oldest producers of this famous region. Rioja Alta is well known for its altitude and limestone-tinged soils, which gives the wines from the sometimes burly Tempranillo grape a lithe grace and a sense of minerality. This wine was aged for two and a half years in barrel before undergoing another year of aging in bottle, giving this lovely 2006 subtle depth and soft maturity. There’s a hint of earth and chocolate in the bouquet, along with black cherry, leather and vanilla. Lush, earthy dark plum, tobacco and cedar flavors are complemented by savory notes of leather and spice. Was $30 now $20
 
2013 The Seventy Five Wine Company, Cabernet Sauvignon  $21
Made by Tuck Beckstoffer out of St. Helena, the 75 has dense aromas of ripe burnt early season cherries and scorched earth, classic notes of sweet black cherry, cassis and black raspberry, beautifully integrated tannins and lingering finish.

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.

The French invasion of Madrona continues with these two interesting festive Frenchies. Come see what sun and soil does in French hands.

2009 Le Gravillas Sablet     $13
80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
A supple smooth wine with a classic Rhone profile. Coming into its own with a bit of age. Was $13 now $11

2011 Bergon Petit Verdot    $11
The Bergon family have been producing wine since 1905 in the Languedoc region of South France. A bit of an odd ball variety in this region, this Petit Verdot is beautifully elegant and expressive with a complex finish. Red berries, figs and pepper on the nose and a full mouth feel.
13% alcohol by volume. Was $15 now $11

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 soggy weekend here in Madrona and we’ll be sopping up a full flight of wines to take the edge off the wet weather.  Grab your umbrella and come join us.

Saturday we are thinking ahead to Thanksgiving and featuring some wines to accompany that big Fall Feast. It is a wide selection with something for everybody. From California Chardonnay, to French Beaujolais, to Buty & the Beast.

Sunday, we’ll be pouring two French reds for Autumn sipping, both with a bit of markdown.

2009 Le Gravillas Sablet       $13
80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
A supple smooth wine with a classic Rhone profile.  Coming into its own with a bit of age. Was $13 now $11

2011 Bergon, Petit Verdot    $11
A bit of an odd ball variety in the Languedoc, this Petit Verdot is beautifully elegant and expressive with a complex finish. Red berries, figs and pepper on the nose and a full mouth feel. Was $15 now $11

Sunday Evening at 5:30
We still have a couple of spots available for our Older Piedmont Tasting.  For a mere $20 you can join us as we travel back in time and try some perfectly aged Barolo and Barbaresco.  Let us know if you wish to attend.
2010 Rivetto, Barbaresco -Cè Vanin   $32
2006 Scarzello Barolo $45
2005 Tenuta Sella Lessona, San Sebastiano allo Zoppa  $50
2001 Damilano, Riserva 2001 $82
1999 Scarpa La Selva de Moirano, Dolcetto  $23
This tasting is by reservation only, so pop us an email or jingle our phone to put yourself on the list.

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.

Fall is the season of rich meals.  The cold descends and we want fuller meals and bolder wines.  The season is crowned with the king of big meals Thanksgiving.  This Saturday we’ll be pouring a lineup of wine meant to match such rich and varied fare.  Grab a plate and come join us.
 
2014 Lioco, Sonoma Chardonnay $23
The Lioco Chard comes from four vineyards in the Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast, fermented and aged mostly in stainless steel & neutral oak.  The wine’s elastic texture is lively with brisk acidity, leaning from pear fruit and tangerine toward savory flavors and a touch of smoky minerality. It closes on a stony note, with very good clarity and lingering spiciness.
 
2014 Domaine Dupeubles, Beaujolais Rosé $15
Domaine Dupeuble has been running almost continuously since 1512. Today it is comprised of one hundred hectares, about forty percent of which is vineyard. Advocates of the lutte raisonnée approach to vineyard work, they tend their vines without the use of any chemicals or synthetic fertilizers. The grapes are harvested manually and vinified completely without SO2. The wines are not chaptalized, filtered, or degassed and only natural yeasts are used for the fermentation.  The rosé according to the Google translation “Dress salmon with raspberry nuances with many tears.  A fruity nose spawning and reveals aromas of gooseberry and white flowers.  Bouches fresh, drinkable, light and round.”
 
2013 Domaine Dupeubles, Beaujolais Rouge $15
Dupeubles drinks as well as many village level Beaujolais and make you never want to taste Nouveau again.  “Its super concentrated body is engorged with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, cinnamon, cherry pit, violets, petunias, red currants, black currants and graham crackers? There is there, one might say, there. Multi-layered layers of sublime simplicity, a blood-boiling aftertaste, this is a palate hummer.”– Kermit Lynch
 
2012 Maison Ambroise, Bourgogne Rouge $20
Sourced from vineyards in Nuits-St-Georges the Ambroise Bourgogne is crisp, bright and just a bit earthy,.  There is plenty of fruit on the nose: redcurrant, raspberry leaf and a touch of bergamot, while the palate is clean and fresh with chewy tannins and a rustic, summer fruit finish. This is a solid, decent Pinot.
 
2012 Buty, BEAST Wildebeest Red $23
41% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Franc, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 6% Mourvèdre
BEAST is the alter ego of Buty winery in Walla Walla.  The 2012 was aged for 21 months in older oak barrels.  The Syrah gives dark berry jam notes & spice character, the Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc add structure to the BEAST, with Malbec contributing lovely floral and red berry notes, and a dash of Mourvèdre adding complexity. Throughout, firm tannins, alluring aromatics and a creamy texture underscore this wine’s purity and power.

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.

Some wines are made to drink right away, others take a bit more patience and time to develop their style and grace.  Sadly, quite often by the time they do they are no longer available.  Nebbiolo is definitely one of the grapes that gets better with age.  This Sunday evening we’ll be charting that development.  Tasting some examples back through time, from the great but young 2010 vintage to the amazing 2001, with a few stops in between.  Space for this tasting is limited so contact us (just reply to this email) to reserve your space.  We start at 5:30 on Sunday, have a few snacks to go with the wines and you can still get home for Sunday dinner.

1999 Scarpa La Selva de Moirano    $23
Dolcetto
Scarpa recently released a bit of this 1999 single vineyard Dolcetto and it is amazing how it has developed. The tannic structure is elegant, with lots of classic Dolcetto black tea and floral in the nose, the acidity is still holding in there and the fruit is bright and lively.  11 bottles available.

2010 Rivetto, Barbaresco -Cè Vanin            $32
Nebbiolo
This shows an intriguing bouquet of violet and truffle, with hints of meat juices thrown in for good measure. The palate is long and linear, delivering ripe berry, mint and peppery notes. The tannins are still tight and need a few more years to soften. – Wine Enthusiast.   12 bottles available

2007 Casetta, Nebbiolo d’Alba Rivere        $21
Baby Barbaresco!  The Rivere from Alba sees 2 years in oak and 6 in bottle before release.  The 2007 has the right amount of cellar age as well.  It is drinking great.  Aromas of flowers and wild fruit.  The palate is full-bodied with noble elegance and silky pleasant tannins.

2005 Tenuta Sella Lessona, San Sebastiano allo Zoppa  $50
This Nebbiolo comes from Lessona, in northern Piedmont. This tiny appellation (just 6.5 hectares) is located just to the west of Gattinara in the foothills of the nearby Alps.  The San Sebastiano comes from 45 year old vines.  It is produced traditionally, with extended aging in large old barrels for several years.  It has developed nicely in the bottle with pretty notes of dried cherries, flowers, tar and licorice.  36 bottles available.

2001 Damilano, Riserva 2001            $82
A library release, this Barrolo has been sitting in bottle at the winery since 2004.  It made Wine Spectators top 100 list in 2005.  Right now the wine is showing great aromatics and a very supple balance body with a long finish.  “Surprisingly deep ruby for its age. Quite subtle, savory. Richer and more developed on the palate…lots and lots of length.” — Jance Robinson in 2011

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.

The Italian invasion of Madrona continues with these two interesting Southern Italians. Come check them out all day Sunday.

2014 Menhir Negroamaro    ($9)
A big shouldered southern Italian red with full fruit and bitter undertones.
13% alcohol by volume

2011 Fondo Filara Syrah    ($10)
A Sicilian Syrah, this wine bears the characteristic scents of jam and spices, with a full-bodied, velvety smooth and lingering taste.
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.

We are rustling like falling leaves at Madrona Wine with three events swirling around this weekend.  Come help us rake it all up. 

Saturday we’re pouring some regional specialties from Italy. 
DOC — Denominazione di Origine Controllata (controlled designation of origin), and DOCG — Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (controlled and guaranteed designation of origin) designations require that the wines follow the standards and traditions of where they are from.  And we have some from more obscure regions like Cesanese del Piglio and Castelli di Jesi and some famous ones like Franciacorta (Italy’s equivalent to Champagne) and Barolo.  The cork on the Franciacorta pops at 2.

Sunday we are pouring two more wins from the south of Italy.

2014 Menhir Negroamaro    $9
A big shouldered southern Italian red with full fruit and bitter undertones.

2011 Fondo Filara Syrah      $10
A Sicilian Syrah, this wine bears the characteristic scents of jam and spices, with a full-bodied, velvety smooth and lingering taste.

Also on Sunday we are having the Artist Reception for our new show.  Regional Influences – Original Pastel Paintings by Barbara Noonan.  The works looks great on our walls and Barbra will be on hand from 3 to 5.

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 featuring wines from some of Italy’s most and least explored vineyards.  These wines are brought to us (and the rest of Seattle) by Gianpietro Ottolini.  GP manages to source some great wines from his native country, whether it is from more obscure regions like Cesanese del Piglio and Castelli di Jesi or just great values from Franciacorta, Alba and Barolo.  Obscure or famous we think you’ll find something to like.   Come give them a try.

2014 Cantina Filodivino, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC $14
From the Marche, Filodivino’s Verdicchio comes from an organically farmed vineyard of 30-40 year old vines.  The wine has aromas of acacia blossom, chamomile and peach.  Delicate citrus and mineral notes tag along a generous mouthfeel that finishes with a subtle savory touch.

Antica Fratta, Brut Franciacorta DOCG $25
90% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Nero
In the rolling foot his of the Alps, Franciacorta is to Italy what Champagne is to France.  The best bubbles come from there with the calcareous soils producing 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.

2012 Terenzi, Cesanese del Piglio, Velobra DOCG $14
95% Cesanese, 5% Sangiovese
From Lazio, Velobra is a single vineyard planted in 1960 with the local grape Cesanese.  The wine has notes of black pepper, wild flowers, red berries and forest floor aromatics with mineral and plum undertones.

2012 Terre Del Barolo, Nebbiolo di Alba DOC $13
Terre del Barolo is a collective winery located in the heart of Barolo sourcing fruit from its 400 members.  As a result they can produce some quality Nebbiolo at an amazing price.  The Nebbiolo di Alba ages for 12 months in large Slavonian Oak barrels.  The wine has the characteristic aromas of leather, rose petals, cherry and forest floor.  The wine has medium-firm tannins and a lingering spicy finish.

2010 Bricco Giubellini, Barolo DOCG $37
This Barolo comes from a 1.778 h78 acre Estate located at 1700feet on one of the highest hills of Montorte d’Alba.  The wine ages 24 months in French barrels and the rests for 6 months in stainless before bottling.  After bottling it is aged for another year before release.  The Giubellini is packed with cherry, spice, rose, and leather notes.  It is powerful and generous with succulent fruit and balsamic undertones and a complex lingering finish.  Drink it now or lay it down and watch it improve with age.

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.