This weekend we are bringing together some new faces and some old friends from the Côte du Rhône for a little tasting. Join us and try a fine selection of spicy rouge, flavorful blanc, and crisp rosé that are a perfect match for our summer weather. We’ve even imported a genuine Frenchman for the occasion. Come rendezvous at the wine shop and refresh yourself.

2011 in fine, Rosé $11
80% Grenache, 20% Cinsault
In Fine is the baby project from Raphael Trouiller, rising star of the Ventoux Domaine de Cascavel. This small biodynamic sustainably farmed estate sits nestled in the shadow of Mt Ventoux allowing the grapes to slowly ripen. The rosé is new to the shop. Come check it out with us.
 
2009 Ogier, Heritages Blanc $13
Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Viognier
This Rhone Blanc from a noted Chateau Neuf producer offers an ample and round body with aromas of white peach, and pears.
 
2009 Ted the Mule, Cote de Ventoux $11
Syrah, Grenache
A little play on words, Ted the Mule is a bit stubborn and thick but ultimately delicious smoky and earthy Rhone Red.
 
2010 Ogier, Heritages Rouge $13
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
A good value spicy Rhône with lots of earthy fruit.
 
2008 Domaine des Florets, Gigondas Tradition $26
Grenache 80%, Syrah 10%, Mourvèdre 5%, Cinsault 5%,
From an eight acre biodynamic estate, the Forlets Tradition comes from older vines with an average age of 60 years. The harvest is picked and sorted by hand at prime maturity. It is a blend of the 4 typical grape of the Gigondas appellation. Grenache brings the strength, fat and softness, the Syrah brings elegance and fruit, the Mourvèdre brings the backbone and the Cinsault the sweetness.

This Saturday we have a great line up of wines from Bordeaux, the Loire, and South Africa. And while the combination may seem a bit odd on paper, the flavors will tell you otherwise. All these wines drink better than their modest prices.
 
2010 Domaine le Portail, Cheverny – $11
Sauvignon Blanc 80%, Chardonnay 20%
From a small family run estate, this unusual blend from the Loire Valley is a great fresh white wine. The Chardonnay gives this wine a fruity lift and body while the Sauvignon lends citrusy backbone and minerality. It is a shop favorite and if you haven’t tried it you won’t want to miss this opportunity.
 
2011 Domaine de la Garenne, Sancerre Blanc – $20
Sauvignon Blanc
The Classic white of the Loire, the Garenne combines two vineyard sites, Caillottes and Terre Blanches. This Sancerre has a good volume of citrus and white fruit. The finish is clean and dry, elegant minerality.
 
2009 Chateau Barrabaque, Fronsac – $14
70% Merlot, 25% Cab Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Great example of right bank wine from the fine 2009 vintage, drinks like a wine twice its price.
 
2005 Chateau Marsau, Cotes de Franc – $18
100% Merlot
This is a classically structured Merlot based Bordeaux that is just hitting its stride and drinking great right now. A great deal on an aged wine for those who don’t have a cellar.
 
2007 UGABA from Anwilka Stellenbosch, South Africa – $20
63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 17% Syrah
A joint project from some heavy hitters from Bordeaux and Stellenbosch, the Ugaba is a big lush red with loads of black licorice, currants, smoky bacon and black tea notes.

Come cool off on Saturday and sample some wines that are perfect for the warm weather. We have a large lineup of refreshing wines from near and far that match long sunny evenings, easy conviviality and a wide range of foods and flavors. Stop in and give them a try, and if it gets too hot we’ll turn on our new air conditioner. How exotic can you get for Seattle?

Dopff & Irion, Cremant d’Alsace Brut $14
50% Pinot Blanc, 50% Auxerrois
Dopff & Irion is a complex glass of bubbles at a great price. It has lots of toasty, creamy, yeasty notes along with apple and citrus fruit flavors.
 
2011 Grande Cassagne Costières de Nîmes Rosé$10
45% Grenache, 45% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre.
This Southern French wine has pleasant aromas of strawberries, raspberries, along with its dry, clean and crisp ripe fruit flavors.
 
2010 Marques de Caceres, Rioja Blanco $9
Viura
From sunny Spain the Caceres Blanco has a lively bouquet combining pears and mineral notes with a discreet depth of grapefruit. Well-integrated fruit flavors awaken the palate with their refreshing vivacity. It goes with Tapas and a whole lot more.
 
2011 Adelsheim, Pinot Gris $14
This esteemed Oregon estate farms with sustainable farming practices. Their Pinot Gris is full of crisp, bright flavors, with hints of papaya, apples and pears and a gentle creaminess that lends a rich, mouthfilling texture and long finish. It is great with mildly spicy foods (such as ceviche), not so mildly spicy Thai cuisine.
 
2010 Vina Gormaz, Ribera del Duero, Tempranillo $12
This unoaked Spanish classic has deep wild berry aromas and mouth-filling flavor and length provided by the old Tempranillo vines. The tannins are balanced by the textural richness and juicy fruit. It is tasty and easy to drink by itself or along with roasted vegetables, a wide range of snacks and dips not to mention barbeque chicken.
 
2010 Château de Campuget, Costières de Nîmes Rouge $10
30% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 15% Carignan, 15% Cinsault
A good easy drinking wine from the South of France, the Campuget is light and fruity, easy drinking and very enjoyable. The wine is clean and fresh with herb and mineral notes up front, backed by a modest core of red currant and cherry fruit. It’s lightly crisp, but with good drive. Give it a sip.

This Saturday we’ll be featuring the wines of Gilbert Cellars. Gilbert is an excellent example of grape growers who expand out and start making their own wines. Their wines show both good quality and good value. Their main vineyards are on the Wahluke Slope including Doc Stewart Estate, one of the older Washington vineyards with the grapes planted in the 1970’s. Meg Gilbert will be here to talk about her family’s wines.
 
2011 Rosé of Mourvedre $13
In the tradition of the great rosés of Bandol and Provence, this 100% Mourvedre Rosé of was cold fermented to retain its delicate rose petal aromatics and bright fruit character. The wine gives off a complex and distinct aroma of citrus peel, melon, spring strawberry, and coriander. The palate is fresh and full, with balanced acidity and a lingering finish.
 
2011 Unoaked Chardonnay $18
This Chardonnay from the Columbia Valley embraces its time in stainless steel tank, expressing pure aromas of lemon and lily. The palate is wonderfully bright but not without substance, bright, crisp, aromatic, and fun.
 
2009 Allobroges $20
37% Grenache, 29% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, 14% Counoise.
In the days of the Roman Empire, the Allobroges were a Celtic people living in the Rhone Valley of France who received acclaim for their dark, rich red wines made from the Allobrogica vine. Their winemaking tradition has continued in the Rhone Valley for over two millennia and inspired this wine today. It spent 21 months in 21% new oak barrels (80% French & 20% American). This is a bright, medium bodied wine with lots of complex berry flavors. Perfect for pairing with a wide range of foods.
 
2009 Left Bank Red $20
53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot, 9% Malbec.
Left Bank was named after the “Left Bank” of Bordeaux which this delicious blend is styled after. The Doc Stewart Vineyard is also perched on the Left Bank of the Columbia River. The wine is dark and full of well structured, lip-smacking tannins.

The wines of Burgundy are all about place with each little parcel of vineyard being divided and sub divided to make very specific wines.   Here Pinot and Chardonnay find their most nuanced expression.  Saturday we’ll be pairing up a few solid examples of Burgundy with some Oregon counterparts. It’s not a fight to the finish, but a good chance to compare the differences and find what turf suits your palate.
 
2009 Walnut City WineWorks, Chardonnay $18
Walnut City WineWorks is run by two partners who manage over 200 acres of grape for different wineries and vineyards. Out of a handful of these vineyards they pull grapes to make their own wine. The wine for the 2009 comes from Courting Hill vineyard. The wine is barrel fermented and has a bright acidity and minerality, a rounded mid palate of lemon curd, lemon peel and sweet saline.

2010 Albert Bichot Chablis Domaine Long-Depaquit $23
Albert Bichot is a large family run winery that owns 4 large estates in Burgundy and buys grapes from many others. Domaine Long-Depaquit is their estate in Chablis where they produce this fine Chardonnay. The wine has a very pure nose, typical of Chablis, with notes of white flowers and flint that open up to almond notes and mineral precision.
 
2010 Albert Bichot, Bourgogne Rouge, Vielles Vignes $16
This Pinot is a blend of different vineyards form the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits from 25 to 35 year old vines. The wine shows aromas of blackcurrant, redcurrant and plum, the mouthfeel is fleshy and well-balanced with discreet woody notes and a pleasant finish.
 
2010 Evesham Wood Vineyard, Eola-Amity Pinot Noir $26
Evesham Wood makes their wines from low-yield non-irrigated vineyards using minimal intervention in the winemaking process. The Eola-Amity Pinot is a selection of the top 16 barrels from within the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. 8 barrels come from Hidden Rocks Vineyard, and 8 from Eola Springs Vineyard to make 400 cases of this reserve wine. The 2010 vintage shines here with bright cherry fruit and clarity. 
 
2009 Domaine Michel Sarrazin et Fils, Maranges $31
The Sarrazin brothers inherited the wine bug and their estate in Jambles from their father who encouraged his sons to explore the limits of winemaking beyond the town’s small borders. Their Maranges is a seriously delicious red Burgundy with both grace and heft. The wine’s aromatics show sassy notes of cinnamon and clove mixed with bass notes of licorice with hints of dried roses and plenty of black pepper. More spice and saturated red and black fruits dominate the mouth, with a stunningly silky mouth feel and good freshness.

This Tuesday we’re having a special tasting of wines from Castillo de Feliciana a new winery in Walla Walla that takes inspiration from their Spanish roots and are dedicated to the enjoyment of the simple pleasures of life. Kara Castillo will be here to talk about the wine and her family’s project. Take a break and come join us.

2011 Pinot Grigio                $16
95% Pinot Grigio, Upland Vineyard 5% Chardonnay, Wallula Vineyard
A fresh pour of this wine brings aromatics of ripe pear, granny smith apple, and layered notes of tropical pineapple. On the palate, the wine is characterized by a light body, crisp acidity, with complementing flavors of citrus zest and pear.

2011 Tempranillo Rosé             $18
100% Tempranillo, Rosebud Vineyard, Wahluke Slope
This Rosé was made in the traditional style with 18 hours of skin contact. The berries were then taken to the basket press for gentle extraction. Complex aromas of cherry blossom, stone fruits, strawberry, and citrus zest entice the olfactory senses. A full-bodied mouthfeel sets the stage for an array of fruit flavors including strawberry rhubarb and peach. The flavors linger in a lasting finish.

Tempranillo- Non-Vintage         $18
100% Tempranillo, Rosebud Vineyard, Whaluke Slope
Tempranillo is the noble grape of Spain. It has spread throughout the world and feels right in the arid region of the Pacific Northwest. This Tempranillo has notes of raspberry jam that mix with spicy notes of black pepper. On the palate notes of mocha are balanced with fresh acidity, bold tannins, and a mouth coating finish.

2009 Miercoles                $20
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot
90% Cockburn Vineyard, Walla Walla 10% Phinny Hill, Horse Heaven Hills
This dinner wine brings the refreshing nose of red fruits and vanilla. An aroma similar to standing in a strawberry field develops as the wine opens in the glass. Upon tasting, a round supple feel is balanced with a crisp acidity that fades with mellow intensity.

2009 Malbec                $38
90% Malbec 10% Cabernet Sauvignon Phinny Hill Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills
The 2009 Malbec offers intrigue with a deep violet color, an inviting aroma filled with the bouquet of blackberry, chocolate, cassis, and laced with a hint of tobacco. On the palate, a full body is completed with soft tannins that intermingle with dark fruit, oak, and spice.

It is Garage Sale Saturday here in Madrona with lots of people parting with treasures and lots of others scouring the neighborhood for jewels and bargains. We’ve been doing a little local treasure hunting ourselves, so after you have exhausted the sales stop by the shop and refresh yourself with the great local wines we’ll have open for tasting. It is a sure thing that you’ll find something treasures among them.
 
Pick up a map to the garage sales at the shop on Friday afternoon, or at Café Verite. And be sure to hit the whole block sale at 29^th & Pike Saturday morning.
 
2011 Northwest Wine Academy Rosé $10
51% Nebbiolo, 15% Cinsault, 11% Cabernet Franc
The NW wine Academy is made in the wine making program at South Seattle Community College. The grapes for this refreshing rosé mainly come from Gilbert Vineyards on Waluke Slope. The wine has a good balance between soft fruit notes, herbal undertones and good acidity.
 
2010 Cedergreen Cellars Sauvignon Blanc $14
This unoaked Sauv. Blanc from Kevin Cedergreen is in the full bodied New Zealand style, a little grassy with lots of ripe fruit. It is great food wine that pairs well with Caesar Salad, grilled fish, spicy foods and of course scallops.
 
2010 J. Scott Cellars Roussanne $18
72% Oregon and 28% Washington.
This cross border blend of Roussanne has pretty aromatics, lots of dry fruit and citrus flavors and is rich in the mouth. It is unoaked and undergoes no malolactic fermentation. It is also a favorite at St Clouds.
 
2008 J.Scott Cellars Syrah $19
J. Scott located in Eugene pulls fruit from both Washington and Oregon to make his wines. The grapes for his Syrah come from Oregon’s Rogue Valley, a warmer micro climate than the Willamette. The wine is spicy and full bodied and drinks much better than its unassuming price.
 
2009 Angel Vine Zinfandel $19
Angel Vines Estate vineyard is located in Oregon’s Eola-Amity hills and of course is planted in Pinot Noir, but they source grapes of a darker nature out of Washington. Their 2009 Zinfandel comes for Stonetree Vineyard on Waluke Slope.   The wine has good round blackberry fruit and a supple spicy body.

Can’t make the tastings, but still want to explore new and unique wines? Consider joining our wine club, Madrona Wines Monthly. Each month we put together a diverse assortment of wines for our club members. It doesn’t get any easier to find something new. Check out our website for more details.

Southern France has so many things we love in wine — independent family run estates, distinct terroir, abundant grape varieties, and excellent quality for their price. The appellations of the Languedoc, Roussillon, and Provence are strung out like little jewels along the Mediterranean. Stop by on Saturday as we check out a few of these gems.
 
2010 Domaine des Cassagnoles, Cotes de Gasgogne $10
50% Colombard, 40% Ugni Blanc,10% Gros Manseng
Domaine des Cassagnoles is situated in the heart of the Gascony, where the Cardeillac family has produced wine for several centuries.Gilles Baumann and Janine Cardeillac took up residence at the family farm in 1974 and started making their own wine instead of using the grapes for Armagnac. The wine shows fresh lime, grapefruit and other citrus notes offered in a light-bodied, fresh, zesty style.
 
2010 Val de Salis, Viognier, Vin d’Pays d’oc $10
Viognier from 15 to 20 years old vines
Between the Corbières and Minervois, Val de Salis sits on an ancient wetlands amidst the hills and mountains of the Languedoc, cut off from the sea during the uplift that raised the Pyrenees. This brackish lake, with its unpleasant and unhealthy climate, was drained under Louis XIV, at the end of the 17th C, and the land was steadily reclaimed and planted during the French Second Empire. Val de Salis has been in the Gau family for more than 100 years. The vineyards are flooded at the end of each winter, an ancestral technique which allows the vines to be grown on their own rootstock and uniquely protected from phylloxera. The wine has an intense and very complex nose of pineapple, lichees, peaches and apricots. Full-bodied and flavorful on the palate.
 
2009 Chateau D’Oupia, Minervois Tradition $12
60% Carignan (from 100 years old vineyards), 30% Syrah and 10% Grenache.
15 years ago André Iché switched from selling the wine from his terraced hillside vineyards in Minervios to négociants and turned to bottling it himself. Since then D’Ooupia has become a standard of value. The Tradition is aromatic, full and densely colored, with a long finish of dark fruits that are elegant and balanced. It drinks well young and can age up to 5-7 years.
 
L’Oustal, Blanc K 10 $17
100% Carignan from 100 year old vines
L’Oustal is a naturaly farmed estate in the Languedoc. The grapes for the K10 come from a blend of their vineyards in Minervois and St Chinian. “Toasted pecan and walnut; dark chocolate; ripe blackberry and cassis; and maritime saline and alkaline minerality combine for complex appeal and terrific value. I suspect this will be lovely for at least the next 3-4 years.” 90pts WA
 
2009 La Bastide Blanche, Bandol $28
Mourvedre, with a bit of Cinsault/Grenache
La Bastide Blanche is just outside of Castellet, a pretty village in Provence that has been a center of grape cultivation for millenia. The estate is run by the two Bronzo brothers who purchased the vineyards in 1972 Their Bandol shows intense black-fruit aromas and a rich spicy herby flavors along with deep earthy notes. Find out why Bandol is the King of the South.

Stop by after work on Thursday, as we have a special mid-week tasting with new local importer Barrique Imports. We’ve picked up a few of their wines and we’re taking this opportunity to show them off. We’ll have these delicious wines for you to try, plus some special appetizers from our friends at Locosho. Drop by and check it out.
 
2010 Château Chênaie, Cuvée Conviction, AOC Faugères $16
80% Roussanne, 20% Rolle
The Chabberts are a 5th generation wine growing family, their estate vineyard is located in the Southeast of Faugères, nestled in the schistous slopes of the foothills of the Montagne Noire in the Languedoc. The wine has aromas of flowers, apricot and a touch of honey on the end. The palate is fine round with a good balance and pleasant finish.
 
2010 Clos d’Espinous, Corbières $18
40% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 30% Syrah
A rough and rugged Old vine Carignan from a small estate in the foothills of the Pyrenees. The grapes are grown with environmentally sustainable methods and certified Agriculture Biologique, France’s equivalent of Organic certification. The wine has a smoky and deep red berry nose, with a mouthful of boysenberry and spice, with ripe tannins.
 
2008 Chateau Fontaynes Cahors Cuvèe Dorian$12
Malbec
This powerful 100% Malbec is grown on the ‘second’ and ‘third tier’ (some of the best terroir in Cahors) of the banks of the River Lot, where it winds its way past the medieval village. The wine has nice fruit up front and a big mouthfeel, and a lot more complexity than any Argentinian Malbec at this price.
 
2006 Domingo Molina, Malbec $20
From hand-harvested grapes from Yacochuya vineyards at 6,400 feet above sea level, this Malbec reflects the high altitude microclimate and the unique soil of the Cafayate region in Salta. The wine is an intense deep purple red wine, with good structure and balance, and a good example of how an Argentinian Malbec can develop if given a little time.