We like wines that have been aged and are at their peak when we pull the cork.  The problem is that unless you have a cellar and some patience that is hard to achieve.  Sure that young 2009 Barolo with a bit of decanting and a bit of air taste great, but not as good as it will 5 to 10 years from now.  So we looked around to see what Barolo we could get with a bit of age on it.  Sunday the 23^rd you can come taste the results.

We’ll  be pouring :
2006 Scarzello Barolo $45  (2.5 cases available)
2004 L’illuminata Barolo Tebavio $65  (7 cases available)
2001 Fantino Barolo Dardi  $55  (8 cases available)
1997 Borgogno Barolo Classico Riserva  $142  (3 cases available)
1995 Bovio Barolo Vigna Gaterra  $90   (13 bottles available)

Space is limited to 12 people and we are taking prepaid reservations.  Contact us to save a spot.  It will start right at 5 when the shop closes and we’ll have some appropriate appetizers to match the wines.

Supplies are limited on these wines and we’ll be offering a 10% discount on orders.  They make great presents.

In addition to our occasional paid tastings, 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. Our next paid specialty tasting will be Vintage Champagnes on Sunday, December 7^th at 5PM.

This Sunday we continue our weekend theme of everything French – well, OK, two things French. Stop in on this drizzly day for these two lovelies…

2013 Les Perles Pays de L’Herault    ($10)
Piquepoul
Laguedoc
Picpoul is the grape, known as “the Muscadet of the South” in France. The Les Perles, made by Jérôme Calmes in the Languedoc, is a Lip Stinger! Pale yellow color with green tints the Picpoul has fresh and fine aromas of grapefruit, exotic fruit and lime.
12.5% alcohol by volume

2011 Château De Cabriac Corbières    ($11)
Carignan
Old-vine Carignan done in cement tank the way God intended. Dark and chewy with lots of cherry fruit.

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.

Sunday, Mark will be pouring some lovely fresh Italian wines to wind up our Italian Weekend — all day from 11 to 5. Stop on in.

2012 Camene Terre Siciliane Bianco    ($9)
Grecanico and Insolia
A fragrant and inviting wine with fleshy melony roundness and almond toffee notes held together with a grapeskin grippiness with white pepper on the finish.
13% alcohol by volume

2010 Talamonti ModA’    ($10)
100% Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
A full, dark and chewy Montelpuciano. Lots of fruit and a little brooding herbaciousness.13% alcohol by volume

Italy never ceases to amaze us with its endless quality and variety.  This Saturday we’ve assembled yet another collection of rich, unique and delicious Italian wines.  Come have a taste and find some new favorites.  

2012 Tenuta di Corte Giacobbe, Soave  $13
Garganega
The Dal Cero family has been producing wine for over three generations, with vineyards in the Veneto and Tuscany regions.  Their Soave has delicate scents of flowers & fruits and strong pear and apple notes.  The body is rich with white fruit flavors and almond notes on the finish and a long, persistent aftertaste.
 
2009 Montenidoli Vinbrusco  $14
65% Trebbiano Gentile, 35% Malvasia Bianca
Montenidoli (mountain of the little nests) was abandoned and overgrown when Sergio Muratori and Elisabetta Fagiuoli arrived with their 9 children in 1965. Today, their 24 hectare estate of vineyards located in San Gimignano focuses on indigenous varietals using organic farming methods.  The vinbrusco is free run juice from the Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes.  It ferments in steel and ages on the lees to acquire body and softness.  It’s full round fruit and big mouthfeel set the white apart.  Was $20 Now $14

2011 Palazzo Malgara, Nerello Mascalese  $13
Nerello Mascalese is indigenous to the slopes of the Mount Etna in the northeastern part of the Sicily. Extremely aromatic Palazzo’s Mascalese has aromas of violets along with wild strawberry and raspberry flavors and dry and very elegant tannins.
 
2009 Azienda Agricola Nottola, Rosso di Montepulciano  $15
80% Prugnolo Gentile (Sangiovese) 15% Cannaiolo, 5% Mammolo
Located in the picturesque countryside of Montepulciano, Nottola was founded in 1992 and started making the traditional wines of the region at a great value.  Their Rosso has aromas of dark berry fruits with hints of violet and a smooth body with notes of dark fruits harmoniously balanced with soft tannin.

2009 Pelassa, San Pancrazio, Barbera d’Alba Superiore $20
Located in Montà d’ Alba, in the Roero area of Piedmont, Pelassa owns 12 hectares vineyards focusing on Arneis, Nebbiolo & Barbera. The San Pancrazio is a cru Barbera with an intense bouquet, delicate with hints of ripe forest fruits & dark black berries.  It is full-bodied & harmonious, balanced with tannins well blended in a generous and persistent body.  Dark, concentrated fruits linger through the finish.  The wine received 4 stars from Decanter.

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.

Fall has arrived with startling mix of weather changing moment to moment.  And with it comes a new container of wine from France carrying fantastic Rhône Reds from the 2012 vintage.  We’ll be pouring them Saturday starting at 2pm.  Grab the umbrella and come check them out.

Sunday, Mark will be pouring two more wines from the motherland. 

2011 Ravier, Chignin Bereran  $12
This full bodied Roussanne from the Savoie, is rich with a bit of herbaceousness.

2011 Château Bellegrave, Medoc  $13
35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 60% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc & 3% Petit Verdot
A new vintage of an old favorite,  the Bellegrave has aromas of licorice, coffee, and strawberry and cherry fruit.  Medium bodied with smooth tannins and tasty fruit.

They’ll be open all day,  11 to 5.

The 2012 vintage of Rhône reds are hitting our shores and shelves.  It is a big and forward vintage with some of the lesser Village wines flexing as much muscle as Châteaunuef and Gigondas.  It is a good year to find big wines at great value.  This Saturday we’ll be pouring a few of them.  Come taste for yourself.
 
2013 Le Perles, Vin d’Pays d’Oc Viognier$10
Before we dive in to the Rhône reds we are going to pour this crisp, value Viognier from the Languedoc.   Its ripe fruit is balanced by herbal aromatics.
 
2013 Domaine J. P. Lafond Tavel Rosé  $21
Grenache 60%, Cinsault 10%, Syrah 10%, Carigna 5% and with Clairette, Picpoul, Bourboulenc, Mourvèdre.
Pascal Lafond’s 65-hectare family-run estate is located in the rosé-only appellation of Tavel.  His Rosé is top of its class. “The predominating aromas are complex: red and white fruit associated with floral notes. With time, these fruity aromas will evolve toward more mellow notes with a touch of spice and stone fruits, and the color will take on amber tints. As of its first year, it disposes of all the necessary aromas to be appreciated, but it also has an exceptional ageing potential.”
 
2012 Domaine Olivier Hillaire Côtes-du-Rhône Vieilles Vignes  $18
80% Grenache and 20% Syrah
A rock-solid effort, the 2012 Cotes du Rhone Vieilles by Olivier Hillaire screams Southern Rhone on the nose, with plenty of spice, saddle leather and garrigue.  It has exceptional polish and grace to complement its bright red fruit flavors.  Its length and density belies its lowly appellation. Drink now-2018
 
2012 Domaine Boisson Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Cairanne $23
70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre
The grapes for Boisson’s Cairanne come from a blend of 20 years old vines and some astonishing 110 years old vines. The result is a complex wine that marries freshness (from the younger, higher-cropping vines) with awesome concentration from the venerable old plants that produce just a tiny volume of extremely high-quality juice.  “Warm, inviting aromas combine with a fleshy, unctuous palate of mellow licorice, black pepper, star anise and prune to give a sinfully-good, memorable drinking experience. Luscious and satisfying.”
 
2012 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Côtes-du-Rhône $25
70%Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Cinsault
Usseglio’s Châteaunuef scored 95pts in 2012, but so far his Côtes-du-Rhône is under the radar.  Not for long we think.  The wine has predominate dark cherry notes with dried herbs, charcoal, pepper nose; tasty, dried herbs, charcoal, pepper, mineral palate; and a good 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.