As an addition to our Saturday Eco-Spanish tasting, we are proud to present two more good deals from Spain. We’ll have them open all day, from 11am to 5pm. Stop by for a taste.

2011 Vina Costeira Ribeiro Blanc ($9)
50% Trexeiadura, 20% Albaranio, 10% Torrontes, 10% Godello, 10% Palomino
Aromas of orange and mineral are uncomplicated and friendly. It feels pure and offers good flow, with apple, lime, mineral, white pepper and anise flavors. Fruity, dry and composed on the finish. Was $12 now $9
11.5% alcohol by volume

2012 Pazo de Eguren Terra de Castillia ($11)
Tempranillo
An in expensive Spanish wine that takes itself seriouly enough to put it in a wooden box. Pagos de Eguren has a very attractive nose of ripe red and black fruit and a lot of vanilla. The taste is very pleasant, has lots of ripe fruit and is nicely rounded.
Sustainable

Saturday we’re pouring a lineup of Spanish wines with an ecological conscience. These wineries all practice responsible viniculture and are ecologically farmed and either mostly organic or certified organic.  Either way, they are lip-smacking delicious.  Swing by and give them a try.

2013 Carballal Sete Cepas Albariño $17
Produced from its younger vineyards, tended with natural fertilizer, untilled, hand harvested grapes, ecologically farmed and organic whenever possible, with treatments used only when absolutely necessary. The wine has a nice bracing acidity, with tropical and stone fruits notes. It is a fine match for fish or shellfish.

2013 Bodegas Vegalfaro, Rebel.lia, Utiel-Requena $12
Equal parts Bobal, Tempranillo and Garnacha Tintorea (Alicante Bouchet)
A rebel with a mission, the Rebel.lia is an intense red with an expressive nose bursting with red and black fruits, smoky herbs, baking spices, chocolate and clove. It is loaded with fresh fruit on the pallet than finishes with wonderfully balanced acidity and a smooth with a nice long finish. Certified organic.

2013 Biurko Gorri, Rioja Alta Joven  $10
Temparnillo
From the Basque part of Rioja, Biurko Gorri tends vineyards and olive groves certified organic since 1998. The Llorens family stands out for its commitment to combining modern winemaking methods with sustainable viticulture to bring out the true character of tempranillo, and that includes avoiding new oak. The Biurko Joven has aromas of forest red and black fruits (blackberries and strawberries) combined with slight mineral nuances.

2010 Biurko Gorri, Rioja Alta Crianza $15
80% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano
Biurko’s Crianza is aged for 12 months in barrel.  Black raspberry, cocoa powder and violet aromas work with savory scents of thyme & sage along with a layer of stealth minerality. A core of fruit drives the palate with sultry, smooth flavors that crawl through the mouth. The finish is polished, regal and gracefully rich. Certified organic

2010 Bodegas Canopy, Tres Patas  $22
80% Garnacha, 20% Syrah
The 2010 Tres Patas is produced with the Garnacha fruit from five different vineyards in the village Real de San Vicente in the Gredos zone close to Madrid.  The Grenache comes from 40 year old head-trained vineyards on siliceous soils that are ecologically farmed.  “The nose comes through as very ripe, with notes of damsons, roasted sunflower and sesame seeds. The palate is medium-bodied, with some grainy tannins, good acidity and a slightly drying finish. It should show better with more bottle aging, even though it’s approachable now.”  WA

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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

New Year’s Eve is approaching and at Madrona Wine we’re sipping our way into it. 

Today (Sunday)  from 11 to 5, Mark will be pouring two wines to toast the passing of 2014.

2012 Stephen Vincent Chardonnay  $13
A toasty, but not overly buttery California Chardonnay.

2008 Grand Caumont, Corbières, Impatience  $16
45% Syrah, 45% Old-Vine Carrignan, 10% Granache
Now why do they call it impatience when the current release is 2008. Intense & powerful with black berry fruits, violet & pepper aromas dominated by dark berry fruit flavors, this wine is well balanced & structured with good length & a lingering finish.

New Year’s Week Schedule:
We’re open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 7
Closed New Year’s Day
And then back open on Friday, January 2nd.

Stop in and pick up some bubbles to say goodbye to 2014 and don’t forget a nice bottle for New Year’s Day dinner.

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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

Come sample a couple of new arrivals to the shop. A lovely California Chardonnay and an older French Beauty. We are pouring all day, from 11-5. Stop on by.

2012 Stephen Vincent Chardonnay ($13)
A toasty, but not overly buttery California Chardonnay.

2008 Grand Caumont Impatience ($16)
45% Syrah, 45% Old-Vine Carrignan, 10% Granache
Corbières
Now why do they call it impatience when the current release is 2008. Intense & powerful with black berry fruits, violet & pepper aromas dominated by dark berry fruit flavors, this wine is well balanced & structured with good length & a 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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

The End is Near!!  2014 that is.  2015 is on its way and to help with the transition we’ve lined up some bell ringing wines to pour on Saturday.  No auld lang syne here.  These are new acquaintances to welcome the New Year.  Stop in and have a sip.
 
Moutard Grande Reserve Champ Persin Brut  $39
Chardonnay
A Blanc de Blancs from a single vineyard in Côte des Bar just under 2 hectares in size. The wine ages more than three years in Moutard’s caves.  The wine has aromas of apple, peach, and guava.  The palate is wonderfully focused with tight lemony fruit and a creamy mouthwatering acidity.
 
2009 Gerard Fiou Le Grand Roe Sancerre  $22
Sauvignon Blanc
Fiou is a 24 acres, family estate with organically farmed 60 years old vines grown on Silex soil which the Sauv. Blanc loves.  Part of the wine is vinified in “cement” tanks and another part in new oak barrels.  The wine is matured on its fine lees, regularly suspended by “bâtonnage” for 10 months.  It has a very expressive bouquet of tropical fruit with a surprising texture driven by a complex minerality and a refreshing citrusy finish.  Was $30 now $22
 
2011 Domaine Notre Dame des Pallières, Gigondas $19
75% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 10% Cinsault
Notre Dame des Pallières is a family estate where the old vines go deep in the chalky-clayey subsoil.  An elegant nose of black fruit is followed by a remarkable palate of blackcurrant, thyme, licorice and tobacco character. It finishes bright and long, with very good focus and lingering florality.
 
2010 Leaf & Vine Haystack Peak Cabernet  $22
This small California winery run by wine maker Tim Keith that focuses on small production site specific, single varietal wines.  The Haystack Peak Napa Cabernet stands up with its fancy neighbors. The wine ages in 100% French Oak (50% new) and is bottled unfiltered and unrefined.  Only 6 barrels were produced.  The wine shows Aromas of spice, Cigar box and earth along with white pepper, black cherry, a sweet structure and a dry lingering finish.
 
Bodegas Dios Baco, Oxford 1970  $15  — 500ml
Pedro Ximénez
Oxford 1970 is Dios Baco’s younger Pedro Ximénez Sherry.  To concentrate flavors and sugar content, the Pedro Ximenez grapes are spread out on straw mats to dehydrate. Just before the grapes become raisins, the fruit is pressed and the wine is made then resulting wine is aged in a 35 year old Solera.  The wine is thick and intense, full of raisins and dried prunes with hints of coffee and sticky toffee.

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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

Come celebrate the shortest daylight of 2014 with a couple of wines that will perk up your dark evening.

2013 Fidelitas/Charlie Hoppes M100 Viognier $18
A full bodied Viognier from Fidelitas’ Charlie Hoppes who has more fingers in more pies of Washington wine than you can count on two hands.

2010 Muga Rioja Reserva $25
70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo & Graciano.
A traditional styled Rioja, aged for 6 months in wooden vats before spending 2 years in 60% new French and American oak. Rich layered fruit that is smooth-textured and concentrated.

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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

The days are short, the nights are long and the Solstice is upon us.  It is a good time for rich, full bodied wines that will keep the dark at bay.  This Saturday we’re pouring a full line up of Big Bold Wines to help survive the dark and celebrate the return of the light.  Join us.

Gruet, Blanc de Noir  $16
Pinot Noir
From the town of Truth or Consequence, New Mexico comes this American classic.  The Blanc de Noir is made Méthode Champenoise & aged for a minimum of two-years.  It has berry aromas with toasty notes, a creamy texture and an explosive juicy flavor of raspberry.

2013 Baer Shard  $20
Chardonnay
Baer makes full bodied Washington wines from their Woodinville winery including their Shard from the Stillwater Creek vineyard.  The 2013 was whole-cluster pressed and fermented and aged in 75-gallon stainless steel barrels, sur lie, with no oak contact and no malolactic fermentation. The result is refreshing and bright with notes of crisp Golden Delicious apple and Bosc pear, punctuated by zesty lemon rind.

2011 Bodegas Caro, Amancaya Gran Reserva $20
70% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
From Domaines Barons de Rothschild and Catena family, Amancaya presents a harmonious balance between the Argentine and Bordeaux styles.  The word Amacaya is the native Indian name of a flower found at high altitudes in the Andes in the Mendoza area.  The wine ages 12 months in oak barrels (20% new).  It shows inviting aromas of dark berry, and cassis with a streak of eucalyptus and sweet spices. The wine is full-bodied with a mouth-filling richness with enough acidity to support the ripeness.

2012 Underground Wine Project, Devil’s Playground.  $33
90% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Syrah
A collaboration between Mark Ryan Winery and Sleight of Hand Cellars, the Devil’s Playground is big and bold, with full bodied, chewy tannins, while still retaining a silky smoothness. A hedonistic, pure pleasure style with 100% new oak & 24 months aging.

2008 Real Companhia Velha, Royal Oporto Late Bottle Vintage  $21
On the 10th September 1756, The Real Companhia Velha was founded by Royal Charter of The King D. José I.  Formed by the most important farmers of the Upper Douro and the Good Men of the City of Oporto, the Company was entrusted with the task of “sustaining the cultivation of vines, conserving the production of them in their natural pureness, in benefit of Agriculture, Trade and Public Health.. In 1781 the Company presented its Portos to the Imperial lips of Catherine of Russia, through large shipments freighted for the purpose.  Today, 233 years later, their LVB can grace your lips.  Sweet black compote spiked with shavings of black peppercorn make this a complex Late Bottled Port with approachable tannins and an herbal, eucalyptus edge.

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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

Sunday we are looking ahead to the holidays and sampling a Spanish Verdego (great with the salad course) and a bold California Zinfandel from Amador County that would pair well with that standing rib roast.

2011 Ermita Veracruz Verdejo ($10)
A quality Verdejo at a petite price. Aromas of basil & passion fruit preceed waves of tangerine, grapefruit and star fruit complemented by refreshing grassy, herbal notes and zesty acidity. Was $14 now $10
13% alcohol by volume

2010 Renwood Grandpere Zinfandel ($25)
An Estate Zin (maybe THE Estate Zin from Renwood) with their copyrighted old-vine clone Zin. “A rich mix of black current, cedar, exotic spices, tobacco, plum, and cherry pie typified by its’ juicy freshness with excellent structure, and longevity that will age well.”

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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.