Today at 2 we’re tasting perfection with a lineup of wines that come from their ideal locations.

Sunday we’ll be pouring bargain bubbles and a new rich red.  Stop in.

Varichon & Clerc Privilège Blanc de Blanc    ($9)
Made from a mixture of Chardonnay, Chenin, Ugni Blanc and Colombard grapes in the méthode traditionnelle, this brut blanc de blancs has aromas of buttered toast and pears .While the wine is good the lables are messed up. Was $14 now $9
12% alcohol by volume

2011 La Celestiere VDP Vaucluse    ($12)
Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Alicante.
Blended from over 50-years-old vines on clay/lime stone soil, the surface is peppered with pebbles. Manual harvest . Raised 100% in concrete tanks. A full dark Rhone style wine from a CNDP maker.

Folks have generation looking for the best place to grow different grapes.  Sangiovese does better in Tuscany that anywhere else.  Merlot is a unique character in Bordeaux.  Tempranillo reaches it’s peak in Rioja.  This Saturday we’re pouring some less usual wines that have also found their perfect place in the world.  We’ll be showing Jaquèrre, Siegerrebe, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc and Mourvedre from the places that those grapes grow best.  Come see what you think.

2011 Jean Perrier Apremont Jacquère $13
Jacquère is a white grape that is widely planted in the Savoy region of Eastern France along the Swiss border.  The Savoy landscape is distinctly alpine. Between lakes and mountains, the Savoy vineyards hang from slopes or clutch at hillsides in little islands that produce their special growth.  Perrier’s Apremont is a nice dry herbal wine with a full round body.  It matches perfectly with cheese fondue and other food of the region.

2011 Ansellmann, Siegerrebe Spätlese $16
Siegerrebe is a hybred cross between Madeleine Angevine and Gewürztraminer. The vine is suited to colder climates as bud-burst is late and fruit ripening is very early  It easily reaches a high must weight which is unusual in cooler climates.  Ansellmann’s Spätlese shows how well the grape does in the Paltz.  The wine is very aromatic with elegant, floral and fruity fragrances reminiscent of roses, mango, passion fruit and apricot. The taste is round, rich with a mild acidity and a long finish.

2011 Tabalí Reserve Carménère  $14
Carménère was originally planted in Bordeaux and used as a blending grape to help balance out the Merlot and Cabernet.  But it wasn’t until it was transplanted to Chile that it came into its own right.  Tabalí’s Reserva has a complex nose with spices, black fruit and chocolate, and a mouthful of smooth tannins.

2011 Les Villaises Saumur Champigny $13
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is one of the common Bordeaux blending grapes, but it didn’t find its own limelight until sometime in the 17th century when Cardinal Richeliueu transported cuttings of the vine to the Loire Valley. The Les Villaises has notes of ripe cherry with a hint of violets, caramel and an earthy mineralness.

2010 Domaine Sorin, Bandol Rouge $25
Mourvèdre 85%, Syrah 10%, Carignan 5% 
Mourvèdre is the backup grape in the Rhone Valley, rarely exceeding 20% of the blend.  It also grows in Spain under the name of Monastrell.  But in Provence the grape comes alive finding a balance between full tannins, wild game and earthy notes and soft red fruit.

2011 Terre di Gioja Pinot Nero    ($14)
Della Venezie
The Armani family viticultural origins date back to the 17th century. Terre di Gioia is the family’s newest initiative which sources their grapes from specific vineyards in “Vallagarina”, the area that connects Trentino, the Veneto, and South Tyrol. This line of wines are “vini di tavola”; table wine from agricultral regions, meant to be pleasurable, affordable reflections of the places where the vines sink their roots. A North Italian Pinot Noir with a lighter body, clean cherry fruit and smooth lingering finish. 12.5% alcohol by volume

2011 Cormòns Merlot    ($11)
Venezia Guilia
A vine of French origins, it was imported in 1880 from Gironde (Bordeaux) to Friuli, where it has found an ideal habitat, it has adapted without problems to the climate, it has developed with vigour and fertility, so much so that it has become the most widespread after the Tocai Friuliano. A northern Italian Merlot with good dry fruit and spicy notes. 13% alcohol by volume

And from 2-4pm we will be having an artist reception with Genevieve G. Tremblay.

South Africa is about as far as you can get from Madrona, but this Saturday you can go there.  We’ll be pouring some wines that show South Africa’s great value and fine complexity.  Whether it is the ten dollar Pinotage or the world class Rubicon, you won’t want to miss it.

2012 La Capra, Chenin Blanc  $10
La Capra is a project of the Fairview winery using a selection of younger trellised and older bush vines from their estate in Paarl. This Chenin is fermented in stainless steel. The palate is well-balanced with clean, refreshing acidity whilst showing good mouth feel and texture.

2011 La Capra, Pinotage  $10
Pinotage is the unique South African varietal which is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault.   The La Capra ages in older French and American barrels for 10-12 months. The wine has notes of perfumed plums on the nose leading to ripe berries on the palate with a gentle texture and refreshing fruit acidity. Soft tannins and a hint of spice linger on the finish.

2011 La Capra Malbec  $10
This Malbec is grown on the lower slopes of Paarl Mountain. The wine was pressed off the skins early and matures 12 months in older French barrels. The wine has sweet blackcurrant on the nose.  Hints of violet follow through to the palate which is juicy and spicy. Flavors of cherry and currant linger on the finish.

2010 Essay Wines Shiraz  $10
Shiraz 87%, Cinsault 6%, Mourvèdre 6%, Viognier 1%
From Stellenbosch, the Essay Shiraz is a medium-bodied red wine with an expressive nose and a soft, lush mouth-feel. The Shiraz and Cinsault combine to give ripe plum cherry fruit on the palate with a touch of pepper spice. Mourvèdre adds complexity with savory and dark fruit aromas. The Viognier adds softness and intriguing floral notes. 

2007 Meerlust Estate Rubicon  $30
74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc
Meerlust Estate in Stellenbosch has been in the Myburgh family since 1756. In the summertime, ocean breezes and evening mists roll in from the coast to cool the vineyards. The grapes ripen slowly, thus achieving full, concentrated varietal flavors. The Rubicon is the estate’s flagship wine.  The wine has an expressive nose with violets, ripe plum, cedar wood and intense spiciness. The 2007 is still young and intense, promising further maturation potential. The palate is full bodied, structured but packed with fresh dark fruit and rounded, linear tannins.  It will continue to develop for a number of more years.

With fall on it’s way – time to break out those dessert wines! We’ve found some bargains to ease you into the season. Come taste them with us.

2006 Anselmann Gewurztraminer Spätlese    ($14)
Pfaltz
About as old school German as you can get. The wine has a beautifull golden color with medium sweetness and a FAT body. Fully developed with spicy complexity. Almost dessert wine, but more like dessert itself. Drink with fatty cheese or paté. Was $25, now $14 10% alcohol by volume.

2009 Chateau Saint Sauveur Cuvée des Moines

Muscat de Beaumes de Venise    ($18)
A sweet but not heavy dessert wine from the Rhone. Was $28, now $18

This Saturday we are featuring some classic Italian wines from a new local importer.
The wines are vibrant, the prices are great, and there are a couple of stars in the lineup.  We’ll also have a new olive oil for you to try.  Importer Fulvio Longo will be here to show his wines and tell you more.  Don’t miss it.

2012 Vigneti Zabu, Grillo $11
Vigneti Zabù is a fairly young winery set up 5 years ago in the town of Sambuca di Sicilia by the local wine growers association.  The vineyards are situated in the hills above Lake Arancio.  Grillo is local Sicilian varietal and the Zabu is dry and refreshing with notes of crushed herbs and citrus
blossoms.

2011 Corbinelli Rosso Toscana  $9
90% Sangiovese, 10% Trebbiano
The Azienda Agricola Corbinelli was founded in the 1600’s. Over the years the property and land has grown to its present size of 20 hectares, 11 hectares are cultivated as vineyards and 4 as olive groves on Chianti’s lovely rolling hills. Their Rosso is an old school style Tuscan red where they blend a bit of white grapes (Trebbiano) in with the Sangiovese.  It has a lighter body, nice fresh fruit, and a touch of old world charm.

2011 Terre di Sava, Luccarelli, Primitivo di Puglia  $12
Terre di Sava started in 2008.  In the Salentine countryside, around Sava, you find Primitivo, a precursor to Zinfandel, with some vines over 100 hundred years old. While the vines for the Luccarelli aren’t that old they are full of blackcherry, plum and spice aromas, a dry, medium body, and ripe black fruit flavors.

2006 F.lli Casetta, Barbaresco  $30
Nebbiolo
The Casetta family has been vine growing and wine making since 1725, and still to this day it is a family estate.  The vineyards are spread out amongst the Langa and Roero, where they are farmed using natural and environmentally friendly techniques.  This sturdy Barbaresco from a great vintage is starting to open up, showing tobacco, tea, & olive notes.  The wine is austere but velvety, with a long finish.

2007 La Casella, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Reserva  $35
La Casella was formed in 1974 from several vineyard sites surrounding Montepulciano by Alfio Carpini embracing organic and natural farming methods. Techniques such as rigorous pruning and particularly careful attention to detail during the harvest make all the difference once in
the bottle. The wines are rustic and designed to age beautifully.  Only Brunello can rival Montepulciano for superior Sangiovese.  This is an outstanding wine.

Bonoito Extra Virgin Olive Oil,  750ml  $12

Valle dell ‘Acate is located among the sinuous hills of the Dirillo valley in south-eastern Sicily.  The estate covers over 100 hectares with soil, locally known as “Milaro,” characterized by a particular substrate of calcareous sandstone, interleaved with packets of clay that allow the vines to produce high quality grapes.  It is run by a 6th generation wine making family, committed to the continuation and valorization of the ancient wine growing tradition of the province.  Stop by after work this Thursday and try their great wines.  

Francesco Ferreri, one of the owners and President of the Consorzio del Cerasuolo di Vittoria, will be here to talk about his wines and the region.  He’s come all the way from Sicily.  Don’t miss the chance to meet him. 

Valle dell ‘Acate’s, Case Ibidini wines are made from single varietal estate grapes are intended for more casual consumption.  These wines provide a purity and authenticity reflective of the philosophy of the estate.   

We’ll be showing the, 2011 Insolia and the 2011 Nero d’Avola (both $13 a bottle)

We’ll also have their more contemplative:

2011 Zagra  $18
60% Grillo, 40% Insolia
The Zagra shows aromas of white flowers of citrus fruit, wild rose.  It is fresh and dry, with a balanced acidity.

2011 Il Frappato $19
Aged 6 months in steel tank, and then 3 Months in the bottle, the Il Frappato is fragrant, fresh and bursting out with intense notes of bilberry, blackberry, and raspberry.  It is light but persistent; with small black and red fruit that coats the tongue. 

2009 Cerasuolo di Vitoria $26
Nero d’Avola 70%, Frappato 30%
The flagship wine of Valle dell ‘Acate, the Cerasuolo di Vitoria is aged in a combination of the steel tank and barrique for 12 months, and then for a minimum 9 months in the bottle before release.  It has scents of mature blackberry and raspberry with notes of soft spices like liquorice and cacao.  The flavors are soft and velvety. The tannins are balanced.

Sunday we’ll be pouring two fantastic whites wines that have come to us at exceptional prices. Both have some age on them and are fully developed. You could have cellared them yourself for six years but you don’t have to. Both have very limited availability. Both are marked down 35% to 50%. Think there is something wrong and they can’t be any good. Come try them.

2006 Chateau de Béru,        $18
Vaucopin Chablis 1er
Chardonnay
From a single vineyard of 30 year old premiere cru vines, on a steep limestone hill that plowed by horse and worked by hand. The 2006 is a fully developed Burgundy, rich, great body and integrated mineral notes. Was $36 now $18

2007 Anselmann Riesling, Spãtlese $15
Pfaltz
Clean notes of peaches, apricots and grapefruit on the nose. On the palate, its slightly sweet center is very well balanced by a fine backbone of acidity, and a long and refreshing finish. Was $23 now $15

Portugal, best known for its Port wines, also makes a wide variety of other wines ranging from the fresh and crisp to the rich and robust. This Saturday will be pouring just a slice of the wines from the country starting with Vinho Verde in the far north to the steep slopes of the Douro valley and on to newer Alentejo region further south. Come have a taste and see where your tastes land.

Dalila, Vinho Verde $8
A blend of local grape varieties native to the far north of the country, the wine has a light spritz a nice floral aroma along with a touch of herbs and citrus. The wine is a big hit in summer but can be very enjoyable all year round.

2011 Esporao Verdelho $14
Herdade do Esporão is one of the premier wineries of the Alentejo region. Their Verdelho (the same grape as the Spanish Verdejo) has vibrant aroma with tropical fruit and limey citric notes. The palate is fresh and minerally, with a long and persistent finish.

2011 Esporão Alandra Red     $9
Moreto, Castelão, Trincadeira.
Esporão’s easy drinking red is made of a blend of three indigenous varietals. It has youthful fruit aromatics and light floral notes.

2004 Alves de Sousa Tinta Cao $13 (originally priced at $26) 
100% Tinto Cao
The Douro region is best known for port wine, but serious maker produce some fantastic dry red wines as well. Domingos Alves de Sousa produces his wines, according to a family tradition begun by his grandfather, which is today also taken up by his children. Domingos was voted “Producer of the Year”, by the Portuguese Wine Magazine Revista de Vinhos in 1999 and 2007. He is the only person to have won this award twice. Tinta Cão has been grown primarily in the Douro since the sixteenth century. The vine produces very low yields which has led it close to extinction despite the high quality of wine that it can produce. Sousa’s is a wild, untamed wine from a traditional old Douro Valley variety with plentiful fruit, firm crunchy tannins, leather and spice complexity, meaty fruit and superb freshness. Today we get it at a bit of a deal.

Quinta dos Murcas, Ten Year Tawny $30
Tinta Amarela, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca , Tinto Cão.
Quinta dos Murças, located not far from the town of Régua, dates as far back as 1714, It benefits from a unique landscape of steep slopes, terraces, vertically-trained vines, streams, vineyards and olive groves, This Tawny is fermented in the traditional granite legates with foot treading and is aged in used oak pipes of 700 liters for an average period of 10 years.  It is complex and nutty with notes of fig, hazelnut and vanilla.