Saturday is the last day of the Tour de France and by the time we open we’ll know who crossed the line first.  At 2pm we’ll be celebrating some winners of a different kind with a tasting of French wines that endure the test.  One sip and you’ll want to finish the bottle. 
 
2012 Domaine Trotereau Quincy $19
Sauvignon Blanc
Quincy was the second recognized appellation in France, second only to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Southwest of Sancerre, this relatively small appellation of 200 hectares has sandy, silex-ridden topsoil with an undercurrent of pink limestone.  Sauvignon ripens fully here while retaining a very interesting aromatic profile, with violet and lavender notes along with full fruity citrus.  The Trotereau gives a lot of Sancerre a run for the money.
 
2013 Triennes Rosé $16
Mostly Cinsault with some Grenache, Syrah and Merlot
Triennes is a reference to Triennia, the festival for Bacchus, which was held every three years during Roman times.  The winery was started by two Burgundians, Jacques Seysses and Aubert de Villaine, joined by a Parisian friend, Michel Macaux, who wanted to develop the potential of Provence wine.  The Treinnes Rosé has a bouquet of strawberries and white flowers with hints of vanilla and smooth full fruited mouthfeel.
 
2012 St Germain, Rouge de Savoie, Vieilles Vignes  $17
Gamay
This non-Beaujolais Gamay comes from old vines in the Savoy.  It has wonderful savory aromas, a bit of a saltiness in the mouth from the limestone, and pretty good grip in the mouth with a bit of tannin as well to balance the red fruit.  It is a great summer red that can be served slightly cool.
 
2011 Château L’Ermitage Rouge  $10
40% Shiraz, 40% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache.
L’Ermitage’s rouge has a modern feel. On the nose there are plum, blueberry and cassis notes along with a little cinnamon. It is spicy and ripe on the palate and finishes with supple tannins.
 
2010  Triennes, Saint Auguste  $18
Syrah, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot
Saint Auguste is Triennes’ flagship wine, coming from a selection of their best cuvées.  The wine is rich with alluring aromas of ripe black cherries, nutmeg and clove.  The palate is full of life with plenty of structure.  Drink it now or watch it develop over the next ten to fifteen years.

Join us on Saturday as we do a bit of the Tour de France with two side trips into Spain and Italy.  It is a great line up of Old World wines that have come our way at solid prices.  Stop in and have a sip with us.

2009 Château de la Bigotière, Muscadet Sur Maine  $11
Melon de Bourgogne
Chateau de la Bigotière located in the the Loire Valley, is made up of 54 hectares, cultivated by the same family for three generations. The wine has floral aromas, and a distinctive sur Maine character. It shows a lot of body due to the ripe year, but it still has enough crispness to make it good with the standard shellfish.
 
2013 Torre Gajo Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie  $11 ltr.
A Pinot Grigio from a growers’ cooperative in a big bottle, the Torre Gajo is a great value with good body and crisp spicy fruit.
 
2013 Cave de Loire, Les Caprices d’Ines Rosé d’Anjou, $12
Grolleau
Grolleau is derived from the French word grolle, “crow” for the deep black berries of the grape. It is commonly made into rosé wine in Anjou. Les Caprices has a beautiful dress with pink highlights. The palate is frank and flavors already present in the nose grow in a balance of sweetness and freshness. Tasting is extended by a good length.
 
2012 Bodegas Isidro Milagro, 5 Oros Rioja, Vendimia Seleccionada  $12
Garnacha
From 25 to 50 year old vines in Rioja, this Grenache has bold, dark cherry flavors with spicy tannins and hints of chocolate.
 
2010 Château Franc Grâce-Dieu,  Saint Emilion Grande Cru  $29
70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc
Situated beside Château Figeac and 2 kilometers from Chateau Cheval Blanc, Franc Grâce-Dieu benefits from a complex soil of brown sand, clay and rich iron deposits. This “privileged” terroir produces well-structured and well balanced wines with pronounced red-fruit aromas, leaving a velvety mouth feel with a cashmere-like silkiness. It is a rich and complex Bordeaux with a lot of leathery & mineral nuance.

Today Madrona Wine Merchants we are celebrating the World Cup Final with the Madrona Wine Cup Final – its Germany vs Argentina. Whichever sells the most is the winner! Come vote with your pocketbook.

Representing Germany we have:

2010 Lenz Moser Grüner Veltliner    ($10)
Austria
Light with spicy overtones.
12% alcohol by volume

And representing Argentina:

2012 Altos las Hormigas Colinia las Liebres    ($8)
Bonarda
Mendoza Region
Bright raspberry fruit flavors. Rich and tasty. Take this bunny home with you.

As a bonus round, from 3-5pm we are having an artist’s Reception for Shirley Rudolph’s new show Wine and Roses.

How cool can you get? With the air-conditioning on, we know cool.

July 14^th is Bastille Day — commemorating the start of the French Revolution.  To celebrate we’ve rounded up a rabble of rosés crisp and fresh enough to quell any monarchy.   Stop by on Saturday and take some home to the stockade.

Dopff & Irion, Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rosé   $18
Pinot Noir
A sparkling rosé from one of our favorite Alsace winemakers, the Brut Rosé is a light pink with tinges of orange. The bouquet is full of red berry fruit with a lively, round and elegant palate with pleasant, long-lasting aromas.

2013 Bieler Pere Et Fils, Rosé Provence   $10
55% Syrah, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Grenache, 3% Cinsault, 2% Rolle
This rich, deeply colored rosé from 5 hillside vineyards of Coteaux d’Aix en combines the rich flavors of a red wine with the refreshing qualities of a white. The Bieler Rosé is cranberry-red in color with aromas of raspberry, cherry, strawberry and a distinct minerality. The finish is long and refreshing.

2013 Château D`Or Et De Gueules, Les Cimels Rosé  $13
40% Mourvèdre, 40% Cinsault, 10% Syrah, 10% Grenache
Another outstanding Nimes pink the Les Cimels has a light gooseberry color. Its elegant nose combines harmonious aromas of fresh fruit.  The mouth is all together crunchy, full, long and complex.  The description sounds better in French but you get the idea.

2013 Domaine Sainte-Eugénie Corbières Rosé   $10
80% Cinsault, 10% Grenache, 10% Syrah
This Cinsault heavy rosé comes from 30-50 years old vines.  It has an attractive raspberry-pink color. And displays fresh raspberry notes with a slight touch of mineral and dried herbs with a dry finish.

2012 Secco Italian Bubbles Brut Rose , IGT Veneto  $12
80% Raboso Piave, 20% Pinot Noir
After we storm the Bastille we head down to Italy to finish with some more bubbles.
Like kids in a candy store, this unusual blend from Prosecco country is a
combined effort from Charles Smith and two Venetian sisters, Ginevra and Olivia
Casa.  The wine has a brilliant color, with notes of rich strawberry and Italian
cherry along with subtle biscotti and a hint of red vines and Necco Wafer.

This Sunday it is Madrona vs. France as we try a lovely white and a red in the World Wine Cup competition.

Stop by this Sunday for our French Sippers from 11-5. These two guys just arrived in our shop and I’m excited to try them. Come join me.

2011 Perrier Chignin Bergeron    ($12)
Roussanne
A Rousanne from Savoie with notes of apricots and violets. Was $20 now $12

2013 Domaine de Thulon Beaujolais Villages    ($10)
Gamay
A clean and mineraled gamay with good cherry fruit.
12.5% alcohol by volume

“Sky rockets in flight. Afternoon delight.” That’s what we have for you today – An afternoon of delights for the Fourth of July.

Today we will be sampling a recent California arrival:

2011 Trim Cabernet Sauvignon ($12)
A good solid California Cabernet that delivers a lot for the money. Not Napa, but a good everyday drinker.

Today is the perfect day for Wine Club Members to pick up their July selections.

 Dragon’s Head Farm on Vashon Island is home to over 1,500 cider fruit trees and is named for the dragon who guards the apples of immortality in the Garden of Hesperides.   Each fall they harvest our apples and pears and along with others from small family orchards in Chelan, Wenatchee, Mount Vernon and Hood River They collect the juice for their ciders.  The cider press is up and running for about three months every fall with each variety pressed at the peak of ripeness.  The juice is separately collected into tanks and fermented into hard cider.  Spring brings blending.  Some apples contribute a bite of acidity, some contribute high levels of sugar, some contribute beautiful aromas, and each apple has its own unique flavor profile. The artistry of cider making is finding the perfect balance of these characteristics to create a blend, or occasionally recognize the balance of an individual apple which allows it to stand alone as a single varietal cider.  In early summer the ciders are bottled and ready to drink.  This Saturday we’ll be pouring them.  Come give them a try.
 
Pipin Cider $15  .
The Pippin Cider is from Newtown Pippin apples, one of the oldest American apple varieties.  A favorite of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, the Newtown Pippin apple has an exceptional balance of flavors to make a bright and delicious single varietal hard cider. Aromas of Green Apple, honeydew melon and clover.  Flavors of white flowers, tart green apples and lemon zest finish.
 
Wild Fermented Cider  $15 
The Wild Fermented Cider uses the natural yeasts present on the apples. The apples are Jonagold, Melrose, & Stayman Winesap. The Aromas are apple, pear, black current and a hint of banana with flavors of crisp pear, mild spice and a lingering citrus finish.
 
Manchurian Cider $15
The Manchurian Cider is made from a blend of Jonagold, Jonathan, Winter Banana, Baldwin and Spartan apples, topped by the unique characteristics of the Manchurian Crabapple. This petite yet bold apple imparts flavor and dimension to cider on a scale much larger than its size predicts.  The cider has aromas of tropical fruit, woody resins and light floral notes.  The flavors are blood orange, tangerine, tart apple and pear.  
 
Pear Cider  $18
The Pear Cider is made from a blend of very unique seedling pears found on Vashon Island and Bittersweet and Jonagold apples. Subtle sweetness meets balanced tannins in a sparkling cider perfect for celebrations. The aroma is grassy with prominent notes of pear and nutmeg.  The flavors are of dry pear, melon, kiwi and currents.  Only 90 cases made.