One of the intriguing things about wine is that a number of them (the ones we like) are unique to place.  This Saturday we’ll be showing off some unique wines from Argentina and Chile that are from nowhere else.  The grapes all originated elsewhere, but they have all found new homes in South America.  Come taste the distinctness.
 
2013 Cousino Macul, Isidora, Savignon Gris  $17
This is a unique white, one which is something of a specialty at Cousiño Macul. Chile’s oldest winery brought vine cuttings from the Graves region of Bordeaux in the mid-19th Century.  Philoxera later wiped out all The Sauvignon Gris in France, but the vine thrived in Chile’s Maipo Valley.  Sauvignon Gris is a relative to Sauvignon Blanc, but produces wines a little bit fatter, richer, with less tendency towards grassiness, with aromas of wildflowers, citrus and spice and showing more body and richer texture than its Sauvignon Blanc cousin.
 
2013 Tilia, Torrontes $10
This winery takes its name after the Tilia (Linden) tree commonly found throughout Argentina’s wine country, the flowers of which make an herbal tea.  Tilia is dedicated to sustainability practicing water conservation and reuse, minimal use of pesticides and organic fertilization.  The grapes for the Torrontes come from vineyards in Cafayate and Salta- North of Argentina.  It is a floral white with citrus and apricot flavors and clean acidity.
 
2012 Leyda Pinot Noir $16
Leyda winery discovered and developed the Leyda Valley viticultural region of Chile; pioneering its cool, coastal viticulture, including this expressive and fruit driven, cold climate style of Pinot Noir.  The wine showcases red fruit with spiciness and floral notes. In the mouth it is fruity, juicy and fresh, with good acidity. The tannins are soft, sweet and well rounded.
 
2013 ReNacer, Punto Final, Malbec Clasico $11
Bodega ReNacer is built around environmentally sustainability, being the first winery in Argentina to use solar energy and to offset carbon emissions and certify its Carbon Footprint.  The Punto Final comes in an eco-friendly bottle, with a lighter weight (15% less glass, reduced carbon emissions), and a recyclable carton case.  The fruit for the Punto Final comes from 50 year old vines in Uco Valley, Luján de Cuyo and Medrano.  The final point has lots of good plush fruit (blackberry, blueberry and cassis) and a touch of oak.
 
2011 ReNacer Enamore $29
Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, and Cabernet Franc
Enamore is a twist on the word Amarone.  It is made using the appasimento technique (drying the grapes to increase their concentration) Amarone style.  The Enamore offers supple aromas of ripe plums and blackberries, interlaced with aromas of dried figs and raisins, with notes of vanilla, cocoa, and sweet tobacco. These aromas carry through to the palate where they are joined by toasty oak and sweet cinnamon. This is a full-bodied wine, rich and complex, with finely grained tannins and a long, opulent 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.

While there are no complaints about the weather here, it is Summer in the Southern Hemisphere.  With that in mind, we’ll be tasting the wines of Le Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild from South Africa and South America.  Edmond was one of the Rothchilds who branched off and took his Bordeauxish ideas to the Southern end of the world.  Join us and try them today (Saturday) at 2.

And to celebrate our good weather, Sunday we’ll be pouring two fresh Rosés.

Oriol Rossell Cava Brut Rosé   ($15)
Made solely from a northern Spanish indigenous grape Trepa, the Rossell has aromas of crushed sour berries, musk and orange rind with a the yeasty richness.

2013 Château Virgile Costières-de-Nîmes Rosé     ($10)
90% Grenache, 10% Syrah
Chateau Virgile is a family-owned domaine in the Costières de Nîmes  The grapes are harvested overnight and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. That brings out bright, refreshing, crisp fruit flavors of strawberry, cherry and raspberry. Was $13, Now $10

And if that isn’t enough, Sunday is also the Artist Reception for our new show of Still Life Paintings by Dahny Reed.  Come meet the artist from 3 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.

 The Rothschild’s connection to wine dates to 1868 with the purchase of Château Lafite by James de Rothschild.  In 1973 Edmond de Rothschild, the great grandson of James, broke off on his own and purchased two “crus bourgeois” Château Clarke and Châteu Malmaison and founded Le Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild. Not content to stay in Bordeaux, La Compagnie started a joint venture with the Rupert family in South Africa at the foot of the magnificent Simonsberg Mountain. It also looked to Argentina and started Flechas de los Andes (named for the Rothschild family crest), in partnership with Laurent Dassault.  This Saturday we’re tasting the results of these alliances as well as tasting a few other wines of the Southern Hemisphere influenced by Bordeauxish ideas.  Come join us.
 
2014 La Motte Savignon Blanc $13
98% Sauvignon Blanc, 8% Semillion
La Motte is located in Franschhoek but pulls grapes for this blend from several of South Africas wine growing regions. The touch of Semillon gives a nod to Bordeaux.  The wine has crisp, herbaceous, citrus aromas, along with gooseberry and Granny Smith apple notes and steely finish.”
 
2012 Baron Edmond de Rothschild, Puntas de Flechas Malbec  $10
Flechas de los Andes is located at 1100 metres altitude in breathtaking foothills of the Andes. Here, the pebble and gravel-strewn alluvial terrain bears certain similarities to Bordeaux’s famed Graves appellation.  Their Malbec has a “Lovely focus of red and black fruits on the nose with lifted floral notes with excellent precision on the palate, sweet, velvety, rich fruit with underlying savory leather hints and minerality keeping everything fresh.”
 
2012 Rupert & Rothschild, Classique Red  $16
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot
Rupert & Rothschild partnership was formed in 1997 in the Western Cape of South Africa.  The Classique Red “has a crisp and lively bouquet with raspberry, wild strawberry and dried herbs. The palate is well balanced with ripe black fruit infused with bay leaf, white pepper and tobacco, demonstrating fine weight and precision from start to finish. This is an excellent South African Bordeaux blend.”– 92pts WA
 
2011 Viu Manet, ViBo Vinedo Centenario   $16
Viu Manet is one of the older wineries in Argentina.  “The 2011 ViBo Vinedo Centenario is a Cabernet-Malbec blend from centenary vines completed with a dash of Petit Verdot. It is a serious red blend, with structure and meat, well-oaked, but with freshness and stuffing to reach better balance in bottle. Drink 2015-2020”
 
2012 Baron Edmond de Rothschild, Flechas de los Andes Gran Corte  $30
60% Malbec, 30% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Franc
Bodega Flechas de los Andes is carved into the natural slope of the land and transfers the harvest by gravity.  The Gran Corte comes from best plots in the vineyard and a selection of the finest barrels. The wine has intense nose of earthy black fruit aromas & licorice. This rich & powerful wine is full bodied with firm tannins with flavors of plums, anise and black fruits are supported by spice & well integrated savory French oak on the very long & 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.

According to our good friends at WikiPedia, “As a very broad generalization, Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the blend in red wines produced in the Médoc and the rest of the left bank of the Gironde estuary. Typical top-quality Châteaux blends are 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot. This is typically referred to as the “Bordeaux Blend.” Merlot tends to predominate in Saint-Émilion, Pomerol and the other right bank appellations. These Right Bank blends from top-quality Châteaux are typically 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.” Come join us for another old-world, new-world comparison.

2011 Château Bellegrave Medoc    ($13)
60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc,
3% Petit Verdot
Aromas of licorice, coffee, and strawberry and cherry fruit. Medium-bodied with smooth tannis and tasty fruit.
13% alcohol by volume.

2011 Hightower Cellars Murray Cuvée    ($15)
64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot
The Murray has aromas of red berry fruits and cassis mingled with herbal notes. The cool vintage acidity makes this wine mouthwatering and juicy with a fruity mid-palate, finely textured tannins and toasty oak notes on the 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.

It looks to be a beautiful weekend in Madrona.  The sun is out, the air is fresh, and so is the wine.

Saturday we’re pouring new wines from France. Some are new arrivals to the shop and some are new vintages but all are super wines that you won’t want to miss.  The Silex is a fantastic white.  The Cave de Rasteau wines are great values. The Deux Albion is deep and rich, and the Terrebrune Bandol is classic. That starts at 2pm.

Sunday we pit the Old World versus New with two similar red blends.

2011 Château Bellegrave Medoc       ($13)
60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
Aromas of licorice, coffee, and strawberry and cherry fruit.  Medium-bodied with smooth tannins and tasty fruit.

2011 Hightower Cellars Murray Cuvée       ($15)
64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot
The Murray has  aromas of red berry fruits and cassis mingled with herbal notes.  The cool vintage acidity makes this wine mouthwatering and juicy with a fruity mid-palate, finely textured tannins and toasty oak notes on the finish.

Come enjoy the weather.

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 Saturday we’ll be showing off some new wines from France that we are very excited to pour.  Some are new arrivals to the shop and some are just new vintages but all are super wines that you won’t want to miss. The Silex is a fantastic white.  The Cave de Rasteau wines are great values. The Deux Albion is deep and rich, and the Terrebrune is classic.  Something for everybody.  Come join us.
 
2013 Domaine des Roy, Silex, Touraine  $13
Chenin & Pineau Menu
A unique Loire blend from Gabrielle Roy the current winemaker at Domaine des Roy.  This organic estate does everything by hand (from weeding to harvesting to winemaking) and it makes a difference.  The Silex has aromas of white fruit and mineral notes on a supple palate.  12% alcohol by volume.
 
2012 Cave de Rasteau, Cotes du Rhone Blanc $11
60% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 10% Bourboulenc
Cave de Rasteau, started in 1925, farms a large number of vineyards in the Rhone and makes a wide range of wines.  Their entry wines are a fantastic value.  The Blanc has 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 Cave de Rasteau, Côtes du Rhône Rouge $11
70% Grenache, 20% Carignan, 10% Cinsault
The partner to the Blanc, the CDR Rouge has no Syrah and as a result ends up showing off its fruit more and has some lovely perfume notes. 
 
2012 Chateau Saint Cosme, Les Deux Albion, Côtes du Rhône Rouge $22
Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Clairette
Saint Cosme is a king pin in both the north and south Rhône.  The grapes for the Deux Albion are co-fermented and mostly (80%) aged in concrete vats.  Its fruit is full of terroir and is deep and textured with notes of ginger bread, smoked ham, violets, and blackberry.
 
2009 Domaine de Terrebrune, Bandol Rouge  $40
85% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache, 5% Cinsault
In 1963, Georges Delille bought what would become Domaine de Terrebrune, just east of Bandol, framed by the Mediterranean and the mountain called Gros Cerveau (Big Brain), dotted with olive groves and scenic views—an idyllic spot. Georges spent ten years just renovating the property; he terraced hillsides, refashioned the masonry, replanted the vineyards and built a new cellar. In 1980, his son Reynald joined him after finishing winemaking school, and together they launched their first bottled vintage of Domaine de Terrebrune, which Reynald named in honor of the rich, brown soils they farm.  The 2009 has aromas of dried fruits, black tea, mineral, black pepper, rose, violets, thyme, smoky bacon all vie discreetly for attention. The palate is pure pleasure, with very fine tannins, gorgeous acidity and intense and persistent fruit.  Aging potential 30 years.  Organic.

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.

According to our good friends at WikiPedia, “Zinfandel (also known as Primitivo) is a variety of black-skinned wine grape. The variety is grown in over 10 percent of California vineyards. DNA fingerprinting has revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grapes Crljenak Kaštelanski and Tribidrag, as well as to the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in Apulia (the “heel” of Italy), where it was introduced in the 18th century. The grape found its way to the United States in the mid-19th century, where it became known by variations of the name “Zinfandel”, a name of uncertain origin.” Come join us for an old-world, new-world comparison.

Toschi Family Blend    ($9)
A juicy Zin heavy blend from the San Joaquin valley. No vintage and no pretentions. Just drinkable juice.
12.7% by volume

2012 Loggia de Franchi Primitivo    ($11)
A Puglia Zin precursor that is full and fruity without being cloying with notes of licorice and dark berries.
13% 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.

Greco, Malvasia, Gaglioppo, Teraldego and Cesanese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Primativo, Zinfandel — It’s just another weekend in Madrona and we are sipping a little wine as we ponder whether Spring is really here, or if Mother Nature is just teasing us.

Saturday we sipping a nice line up of wines from the height and breadth of Italy Starting at 2 and going as long as the bottles last.

Sunday we’ll be comparing Primativo to Zinfandel to see how the home team compares to its Puglia cousin.

Toschi Family Blend      ($9)
A juicy Zin heavy blend from the San Joaquin valley.  No vintage and no pretensions. Just drinkable juice.

2012 Loggia de Franchi Primitivo ($11)
A Puglia Zin precursor that is full and fruity without being cloying with notes of licorice and dark berries.

Stop in and give them a try.

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.