Portugal was for centuries best know abroad for its fortified Port wine, with their dry wines mainly being drunk at home, but in the past 20 years or so things have changed.  The Duro the traditional home to port wines is becoming known for its full dry reds wines.  The Alentejo whose landscape lazily unfolds among gentle slopes that host vineyards, corn fields, olive groves and cork is producing world class wine.  Join us on Saturday as we sample a few Portugal’s fine offerings.
 
2011 Herdade do Esporão, Arco de Esporão Branco  $11
Antão Vaz, Roupeiro, Viosinho
Esperão is one of th major wineries of the Alentejo making wines in a wide range of styles.  The Arco Branco, made from 3 indigenous varietals, is fresh and elegant aromas with notes of lime and grapefruit, with rich and intense flavors on a crisp palate, and a persistent finish.
 
2011 Herdade do Mouchão, Alentejo Dom Rafael Tinto  $15
Trincadeira with Alicante Bouschet and Aragonêz
Dom Rafael is the 2nd wine of the celebrated Herdade do Mouchão.  The Rafael is softer and more approachable in its youth.  It has a rich, dark, full spicy nose with complex lush fruit. The palate is savory and dark with good depth of fruit and some nice spicy structure and a savory finish.
 
2010 Van Zellers, Duro Tinto  $17
Rufete, Sousão, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Roriz, Toruiga Franca, Toruica Nacional.
Van Zellers was established in 1780 as a port house, but it wasn’t until 2006 that they began the production of Douro DOC wines.  Their Tinto with its plethora of port grapes is very aromatic, with ripe red fruit, and plum. It is a very elegant and delicate wine with soft tannins and final long fruity and striking.
 
2011 Herdade do Esporão, Quatro Castas   $22
Alicante Bouschet, Aragonês, Petit Verdot, Syrah
Made from a blend of 4 grapes the Quatro Castas has predominately red berries aromas associated with Aragones. It has a full body palate from Syrah with attractive texture from Alicante and great balance from Petit Verdot.
 
Henriques & Henriques, Medium Rich 5 Year Old Madeira  $20
Madeira is Portugal’s other fortified wine.  Its unique character comes for heating the wine and exposing it to some oxidation.  Henriques & Henriques is the only Madeira producer with estate vineyards.  Their medium rich 5 YO is a blend of Tinta Negra Mole and Bual. The nose is dominated by a dry walnut husk and almost straw like character with a hint of burnt brown sugar and chocolate coming through.  The Palate has a real sense of freshness about it, with plenty of tang, plenty of orange and a really intense caramel and toffee sweetness. this is luscious through the mid palate and into the fresh and tangy 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.

Continuing our mixed theme this weekend, we’ll be pouring these two from France. Stop on by, try, and buy.

2010 Claude Lafond Les Grande Vignes    ($15)
Pinot Noir
A lighter aromatic Pinot for a small estate in the Loire. Lots of rose petal, pie cherry and citrus peel.
Was $19 now $15.
12.5% by volume

2012 Cave de Rasteau
Cotes du Rhone     ($11)
70% Grenache, 20% Carignan, 10% Cinsault
With no Syrah in this CDR, the wine ends up showing off its fruit more and has some lovely perfume notes.

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.

This weekend the Seahawks will try and win the Super Bowl for the second year in a row.  In preparation we have assembled a team of local wines that defiantly have game.  Saturday afternoon we’ll have them open for tasting and letting them show their stuff.  Come join us and pick your own winners.
 
2012 Saviah Cellars “The Jack” White  $12
Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Marsanne
Saviah Cellars in Walla Walla produces some big Walla Walla AVA wines that come with bigger prices. “The Jack” line of wines, named after Saviah’s husband Jack, is sourced from Columbia Valley Fruit, and comes in at an affordable price.   This white has notes of pear and apple fruit on the nose, nice body, and refreshing acidity.
 
2012 Ross Andrew, Meadow Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley  $15
Ross Andrew Mickel runs his winery out of Woodinville, sourcing his grapes from Eastern Washington and this Pinot Noir out of the Willamette Valley in Oregon.  The Meadow is an expressive Pinot, trading on finesse rather than brawn with notes of rose petal and light cherry.  Its 14 months of aging in 2nd use barrels gives it a bit of earthy toast.
 
2011 Saviah Cellars “The Jack” Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon  $15
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot,2% Cabernet Franc
the Jack Cab gives out a lot of wine for the money.  Collected from a number of different vineyards, the wine ages in 40% new oak.  Classic aromas of mint, black cherry, cassis and barrel spice are present in spades.   It has delicious flavors, beautiful balance, and a long smooth finish. 
 
2011 Corvus Cellars, “Cuvee” Columbia Valley  $22
Corvus  takes its name from Apollo’s raven in mythology, who suffers from eternal thirst.  The wine is estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from Corvus Vineyard on Red Mountain and Merlot from Les Collines vineyard in Walla Walla. This deep hued wine opens up with black cherry, tar, tobacco and plum and evolves to a defined mid-plate with allspice, roasted marshmallow and cocoa distinctions. Our Cuvee delivers a full and rich mouth feel along with a clean finish. The wine over delivers and is a tremendous value.
 
2012 Amavi Cellars, Walla Walla Syrah  $28
98% Syrah, 2% Grenache
Amavi’s wines are 100% Estate. 100% Sustainable. 100% Walla Walla. Their estate consists of parts of Pepper Bridge, Les Collines, Seven Hills and Goff Vineyards with 45 acres in production.  The wine has notes of dusty violet, blueberry, caramelized fig, black cherry, smoked herb-encrusted meat, and olive brine, but maybe not in that order.  It has a richly textured mid- to back-palate, and a gripping minerality.

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.

Continuing our French theme this weekend, we’ll be pouring these two from France. Stop on by, try, and buy.

2012 Cave de Rasteau Cotes du Rhone Blanc    ($11)
60% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 10% Bourboulenc
A Rhone white with aromas of citrus and white-fleshed fruit and notes of flowers, almonds and menthol in a nice structure both full and fresh. 13% alcohol by volume

 
2012 Roc de Levrault Bordeaux ($10)
60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
A sturdy little Bordeaux from a 3rd generation wine making family in Entre deux Mers. Dark plummy fruit.
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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

It is no secret that Madrona Wine favors small growers and wine makers, but it isn’t just cheering the underdog.  Smaller producers use hand harvested grapes.  They pay attention to individual lots.  And as a result, if they do it right, they can use less chemicals and preservatives in their wine, making it fresher and more distinct and lively.  Saturday we’re pouring a few wines from small producers bought to us by Petit Monde, a new local importer.  Cyril Frechier, long time sommelier for Rovers and Café Campagne will be back in the neighborhood pouring the wines.  It’s a small world.
 
2013 Dominique Andiran,” Vain de Ru”, Vin de France $15
95% Colombard, 5% Ugni Blanc
Dominique makes Gascon wines in a natural way, utilizing organic farming principles and minimal intervention. Andiran likes to say his winemaking philosophy is “vineyard first, second and third and I like to stay out of the way in the winery because I am basically lazy.” Dominique has embraced the natural wine movement, using only wild yeasts, not adding sulfur when at all possible and bottling without fining or filtration.  The wine has aromas of ripe nectarines, honeysuckle and pine needles and a trace of salinity followed by a nice palate of lemon curd and marmalade.
 
2013 Cave de la Bouquette, Sancerre $22.
Sauvignon Blanc
Cave de la Bouquette is a 5.5 hectare estate of 30-year-old vines on the sloping hills around Chavignol, and is one on t smallest producers in Sancere.  It is run by Thierry Veron who inherited it from his father.  The Savignon Blanc has a dry citrus body packed in a mineral wrapper.
 
2013 Domaine de la Biscarelle, Debut d une Histoire, Vin de France $17
90% Cinsault, 10% Grenache
Domaine de la Biscarelle is owned by a couple Jerome Grieco and his wife, Christelle in the the Côtes du Rhône, with vineyards in Orange and Châteauneuf du Pape. They farm their vineyards with minimal intervention.  The “beginning of a story” is a Côtes du Rhône turned on its head with more Cinsault than Grenache.   It has aromas of fresh red fruit and lively spice accents, thyme and pine mingle with this olfactory dance. Freshness and fruit expression combine on the palate.
 
2011 Chateau Mazeris , Canon Fronsac $23 
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc
Chateau Mazeris was built in 1769, and given as a dowry in 1805 to Jeanne-Modeste Couvrat, when she marries Jean-Baptiste Cournuaud.  Nine generations later the family still runs the farm.  Their Canon Fronsac is a nicely balanced Bordeaux with classic notes of graphite and leather to balance the dark fruit.
 
2011 Domaine de l’Hermas, Terrasses du Larzac $27
60% Syrah, 40% Mourvedre
Run by Matthieu Torquebiau, Domaine de l’Hermas in the Languedoc makes just one white and one red wine.  His red has a large percentage of Mourvedre and is deeply knitted and full with notes of red and black fruit and, menthol, thyme, and small fine tannins.

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.

Continuing our Italian theme this weekend, we’ll be pouring these two from Italy. Stop on by, try, and buy.

2013 Marchesi di Gresy
Langhe Savignon ($14)
From vineyards situated in Barbaresco and Treiso, this lees aged Sauvignon Blanc has crisp sharp limey acidity over creamy fruit of apple and pears.
Was $21 now $14

2012 Lucchetti
Lacrima di Morro d’ Alba ($13)
From the Marche region of Italy, this Lacrima di Morro has a big floral quality and a little salinity from the salt air of the Adriatic Sea. Distinct and delicious.

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.

It looks like Seattle is welcoming Greenbay with a good dose of dampness. But for the home team we’ll be pouring some great Italian wines to shake off the winter chill.

Saturday starting at 2 we’ll have five wines open from some of Italy’s small, traditional producers. Come in and stock up for game day.

Sunday we’ll be pouring two more delicious Italians.

2013 Marchesi di Gresy Langhe Savignon  ($14)
From vineyards situated in Barbaresco and Treiso, this lees aged Sauvignon Blanc has crisp sharp limey acidity over creamy fruit of apple and pears.

2012 Lucchetti Lacrima di Morro d’ Alba  ($13)
From the Marche region of Italy, this Lacrima di Morro has a big floral quality and a little salinity from the salt air of the Adriatic Sea.  Distinct and delicious.

Stop in before the game, at half time, or after to celebrate. They’ll be open all day from 11 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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.

Italy has long been comprised of family farms and small co-operatives. The wines are made using techniques passed down from generation to generation.  More recently, modern practices & equipment have blended in with the old ways leaving the character, but improving the quality.  Saturday we’ll be pouring a fine line up of these wines.  Join us for a taste.
 
2011 Sono Montenidoli Vernaccia di San Gimignano Tradizionale  $13
100% Vernaccia
In 1965 the property of Montenidoli (mountain of the little nests) had been abandoned and overgrown when Sergio Muratori and Elisabetta Fagiuoli arrived with their 9 children. Today, their 24 hectare estate of vineyards focuses on indigenous varietals using organic farming methods.   They use the old tradition of maceration with skins, waiting to press until fermentation begins.  The wine has aromas of herbs and almonds, rich flavor, and a dry, crisp finish.
 
2012 Tenuta di Corte Giacobbe Soave $13
100% Garganega
The Dal Cero family has been producing wine for over three generations.  Their Soave has delicate scents of flowers pear and apple notes and a vibrant, textured body with the characteristic final hint of almond. 
 
2013 Torre Gajo, Montepulciano $11
Tore Gajo is produced by a cooperative of growers located in Abruzzo. The wine has aromas of cherry and light spice with a palate of smooth, juicy red fruits and light earthiness on finish.
 
2013 Vinchio & Vaglio Serra “SetteFiglie” Nebbiolo Langhe  $17
Vinchio &Vaglio Serra was founded in 1959 by a small group of vineyard farmers whose vineyards are located on the steep slopes of the Alto Monferrato’s hills in Asti.  These farmers tend the vines with reduced use of pesticides & other chemicals, and focus on low yields and concentrated sugars. This Nebbiolo has scents of bright red berries, cherry & violets.  The palate is approachable & easy drinking with its medium body & bright fruity notes.
 
2010Tenimenti Andreucci Chianti Riserva “Costavecchia”  $20
100% Sangiovese
This small family winery has had vineyards in Tuscany for over 200 hundred years. The wine’s label honors the family’s legacy showing a bill of sale from Napoleon, who the Andreucci family supplied wine.  Their Reserva spends 27 months in oak before bottling.  It has aromas of sweet red fruits and wisteria and dry cherry, full fruit and a slightly tannic 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.