How do you like your Grenache? French? Spanish? Straight? Blended? Come put a little Grenache in your life this Sunday.
2011 Viladellops Garnatxa ($13)
Grenacha
A Catalan Grenache that comes off more Rhône-like than Spanish. Medium bodied with nice aromatics and spice.
Organic
13% alcohol by volume
2011 Castelmaure Corbieres ($10) 40% Grenache, 40% Carignan, 20% Syrah
“A delicate wine oozing garrigue aromas. Open, creamy, ends long. Well balanced.” You got to love some people’s tasting notes.
13.5% alcohol by volume
Congratulations, we’ve made it through another Holiday Season and into 2014. That calls for a little relaxation and recovery. To help with the recovery we’ve lined up some great French wines for Saturday that deliver a lot but are easy on the bankcards. Saunter on in and have a sip.
2011 Lafond Reuilly, Rose La Grande Piece $14 was $22 100% Pinot Gris This Pinot Gris is left on its skins during its fermentation and the light pink of the grape transfers to the wine. Light berry fruit and light apples notes with some herbal underpinnings
2012 Magellan, le Fruit Defendu Blanc $13 60% Grenache Blanc, 40% Muscat Petit Grain This Languedoc estate makes exciting fresh wines full of character. “We always start our harvest with our plots of Muscat Petit Grain. It is a real pleasure, the first rays of sunshine in the vineyard, the gold and ripe grapes, the cellar full of exotic aromas when we press –Pleasures like that should be forbidden! –at the end we blend with some Grenache to keep a good freshness!”
2012 Magellan, le Fruit Defendu Rouge $13 90% Cinsault, 10% Grenache. From 6 hectares of 40 year old vines of Cinsault located on our sandstone soils parcels. They let the grape stand on its own. “All the “professionals” tell us you can’t do anything with Cinsault! So we decided to think differently, persuaded that with a good terroir, a great care in the vineyard and small yield, we can produce interesting wines with Cinsault”.
2010 Lauribert, Visan Les Truffieres Rouge $14 was $16 80% Syrah, 20% Grenache Domaine des Lauribert, in the Côte du Rhone Village of Visan, has been in the Sourdon family for the last five generations. The wine has a pleasing bouquet of mixed berries and white pepper. Its flavors are balanced between fruit, tannins and fresh acidity.
2009 Chateau Mayne-Vieil, Cuvee Alienor $23 Château Mayne-Vieil Cuvée Alienor is a selection of old Merlot vines planted on clay and gravel. The vineyard is grassed without leaves on one side-and green-harvested. While decreasing yields, this method provides better ventilation for the grapes. Maceration takes place in temperature controlled concrete vats for more than 4 weeks. Maturing lasts for twelve months in new oak wood barrels one third new. It is a full Bordeaux from a ripe year. The wine has berry aromas, leathery mineral notes and solid tannins.
Just a reminder that we will be open today (Monday the 30th) and tomorrow (Tuesday the 31st) for those last minute New Year’s Eve emergencies. Stock up on that bubbly while our selection is the greatest.
And while you are in, take a look at the new art show hanging – our shop has gone to the birds!
For the Birds! Featuring new wallpaper birds by Heidi Randall.
There will be an artist reception on Sunday, January 12th from 3-5pm.
New Year’s marks the end for somethings and the beginning for others. Saturday we’ll be tasting some close outs that are on their way out of the world along with some new things to ring in the year.
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. — We are open every day between now and New Year’s Eve and we’ll be toasting the whole time so come and see what’s pouring.
NV Le Cris des Roches Blanc de Blanc Brut $12 Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Chardonnay This Cry of the Rocks in made from Ugni Blanc, Colombard, and a little Chardonnay from the southwest and Languedoc. Secondary fermentation is done in closed vat. This was created specifically for the local importer so it comes in at a good price.
2009 Chateau Jolys, Jurancon Sec, Cuvée Pauline $15 Petit Manseng An intense and complex white from the Southwest of France. Flavors of honeysuckle, mango and Papaya, citrus and spice notes. Try and name them all. Great with crab Was $25 now $15
2006 Travignoli Chianti Rufina Reserva $13 Sangiovesse A full ripe rustic Rufina. This reserva comes at the price of a normale. Was $20 now $13
2011 Clos d’Espinous Corbières $11 40% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 30% Syrah The Espinous is a rough and rugged Old vine Carignan from a small estate in the foothills of the Pyrenees. The wine opens with a pronounced earthy barnyard aroma of old world funk followed by rich dark fruit. Organic Was $18 now $11
Bonoito 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil $12 –750ml Break out the baguettes! This olive oil sold out at our Classic Italian tasting in October. Unfiltered. 3 liters $40
Alvear Pedro Ximenez Vinegar $11 A very tasty vinegar made from a 10 year old solera of Pedro Ximenez. It is lighter and fruitier than balsalmic , but just as complex.
To celebrate the Holiday Season we are opening a very special bottle for tasting all day — 12pm until the bottle runs out. Stop in early to make sure you get a sample.
2010 Woodward Canyon Artist Series #19 ($50) Cabernet Sauvignon
A big and silky Cabernet from one of Washington’s primier wineries. Will develop and age nicely if you can hold on to it. A portion of the proceeds go to Children’s Hospital in Seattle.
Solstice is here, the days are getting longer, Christmas is coming and New Year’s is just around the corner. In order to keep up with the Holiday Festivity we’ll be open extra hours. And of course to pass the time we’ll be tasting an interesting bottle or two throughout the week. Stop in and see what’s open.
Saturday as we’ll be popping some exciting wines both local and afar from winemakers who are stretching their wings. We have new bubbles from a Chianti master, a Washington Zinfandel from Oregon, Two local wines from boys inspired by French Terroir, and a very, very old school Rhône (about as old school as you can get), AND you can do your Christmas shopping at the same time.
Fèlsina, Brut Metodo Classico Spumante $26 60% Sangiovese, 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay This classic Chianti producer branches out into bubbles with amazing success. The quality shows. The bouquet is emphatic floral and fruit notes of Golden Delicious apples and fresh-baked bread. The palate is crisp, full-flavored, and very well balanced with a fresh acidity hinting at aromatic tropical fruit.
2012 Maison Bleue, JaJa White $20 50% Marsanne, 23% Roussanne, 18% Grenache Blanc, 9% Picpoul Blanc Maison Bleue focuses on Rhône varietals expressed in Washington terroir. They use traditional techniques, gentle handling and a modest use of French oak blending a European sensibility with New World opulence. The Jaja white has aromas of tangerine, ripe peach, grapefruit, and Meyer lemon along with flavors of nectarine, pine nuts, pineapple with a touch of minerality.
2011 Robert Ramsey, Mason Red $20 45% Syrah, 19% Cinsaut, 16% Cab Sauvignon, 15% Mourvedre, 5% Counoise Bob likes to say he fell in love with a bottle of Cote Rotie when he was 21. His Mason’s red is a big wholloping blend of mostly Rhône varietals with lots of jammy fruit and dark lurking bass notes.
2011 Angel Vine, Columbia Valley Zinfandel $19 98% Zinfandel, 2% Petit Sirah This Oregon winery branches out from its Pinot and into Washington Zinfandel sourced from Horse Heaven Hills and Wahluke Slope. The wine has good round blackberry fruit and a supple spicy body.
2010 Château de Montfaucon, Vin de M. le Baron $50 Château de Montfaucon occupies an old 11th century tower just across the river from from Château Neuf du Pape. In 1995, after making wine for Henschke in Barossa and Vieux Telegraphe in Châteauneuf du Pape, Rodolphe de Pins took over the family estate and rebuilt the winery. The vines of the estate are up to 90 years old with an average age of 40 years. The wineis an homage to his great, great, grandfather, Baron Eugene de Montfaucon. It is made from 15 varietals – 9 red: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Alicante, Tempranillo, red Muscat, and 6 white: Viognier, Marsanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Picpoul, and Aubin. The grapes are picked in 2 groups, 1 week apart, and co-fermented, then racked straight into barrels after fermentation “as they did in the old days.” The wine, unique in its style, is all in finesse, fruit, flower and elegance with a big lush texture, long finish. The wine is a piece of history reincarnated in the modern day. It is not to be missed.
It isn’t just the holiday lights that are sparkling. Thursday evening the glasses will light up as we pop the corks on yet another round of bubbles. ‘Tis the Season, so stop on by and enjoy the effervescence of the holidays with these unique bubbles.
Maison Parigot, Cremant Bourgogne, Blanc de Blanc $20 90% Chardonnay, 10% Aligoté From Savigny-les-Beaune comes this blend of the two white grapes of Burgundy. The Chardonnay supplies the wine with the body and character, the Aligoté gives it crispness and vivacity. The Cremant has citrus aromas with buttery overtones along with brioche and mineral flavor.
Domaine Frank Peillot, Montagnieu Brut $20 Altesse, Mondeuse, Chardonnay Frank Peillot runs his 5th generation family farm in Bugey in the Savoie, where he makes this unique Méthode Champenoise sparkler. “Lemon, fresh apple, yellow plum, freshly milled grain, musky narcissus, and intimations of maritime breeze in the nose lead to a palate subtly creamy yet bright; generously juicy with apple and lemon. This finishes with a twang of lees, mineral, and citrus zest. The quality of mousse, incidentally, is reasonably fine. In short, you won’t find many more interesting non-Champagne sparklers than this, not to mention its offering excellent value.” –Wine Advocate
2011 Francois Pinon Non-Dose Vouvray $22 Chenin Blanc This very dry yet rich bottle of bubbly comes from the Loire. “Pinon’s Vouvray Brut offers nutty richness and smoky hints of evolving lees missing from its non-dose counterpart while preserving an at least equal measure of succulent pear and quince fruit, musky florality, as well as saline, alkaline, chalky mineral traces.” Wine Advocate
Etienne Chére, Champagne Brut Tradition $42 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier In the Valee de la Marne, Etienne Chéré vineyards have been passed down in the family since the late 1800’s. This is “Grower Champagne” with all the fruit being estate grown and the wine more distinctive. The Brut Tradition is well-structured and very expressive with a full body, and notes of vanilla, dried fruit, light herbs with full wiffs of smoky brulee.
There is a lot going on this weekend at Madrona Wine Merchants.
Today starting at 2pm we’re showing a great lineup of bold and festive Northwest wines for the HO-HO-HOlidays.
Sunday we’re tasting a couple of sweet treats to stuff your stockings.
2009 Heinz Eifel Beerenauslese $12 Silvaner –“Clear yellow gold with a slight green tinge, this 100% Silvaner wine shows aromas and flavors of ripe pear and peach and botrytis on a medium weight palate with a slight bitterness on the mid-palate that carries over to a lightly sweet finish.” IWS Was $16 now $12
2001 Tagaris Walker Port $10 This blend of Lemberger and Cabernet Franc is a tasty dessert wine that offers aromas and flavors of dark cherries, smooth berries and underlying chocolate. Was $20, now $10
And Sunday evening at 5:30 we are having our special Vintage Champagne tasting. Cost is $30 and we have 2 spots left. Contact us if you are interested in attending.
This Saturday we are pouring some special wines from Walla Walla and the Willamette that fit with the festive season. These wines are fit for gifts, gourmet dinners or just toasting the season.
2010 Sleight of Hand Cellars, Modern Wine Project Chardonnay $24 From the cooler 2010 vintage MWP’s Chardonnay was aged 22 months in mostly new French oak for, and has been in bottle for the last year, undisturbed and waiting. Full of ripe, tropical fruits, brioche, hazelnuts, and Meyer lemon, it has a wonderfully full, rich texture from the full ML treatment, yet maintains wonderful acidity to carry the finish.
2012 Patricia Green Pinot Noir Reserve $24 Patricia Green is known for her vineyard designated Oregon Pinots. But her multi-vineyard blend is the real deal and the real bargain. 2012 was a good year in the Willamette, amidst a number of challenging ones. The 2012 Reserve is fresh and mouthwatering with sweet black berry and cherry fruit flavors. There’s a bit of very appealing field herbs and earth in the mix and a smooth silky finish.
Turtulia Cellars, Redd Brand Grenache $15 This non-vintage Grenache is a berry cocktail of strawberries, raspberries, black current, with ginger spice, rhubarb and a smooth finish.
2012 Sleight of Hand, The Conjurer $30 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Cabernet Franc, 24% Merlot The 2012 Conjurer was aged for 11 months in 20% new French oak. It’s full-bodied and rich, with enough acidity to keep it bright and youthful. The wine is brimming with fresh red fruits, like cherries and pomegranate, and has an herbal note from the Cabernet Franc. The lush finish carries the fruit on forever with well-integrated, fine tannins.
2008 Rasa, QED Syrah $40 83% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre, 2% Viognier. Rasa Vineyards is the manifestation of a dream shared by two brothers, Pinto and Billo Naravane, avid wine enthusiasts and oenophiles who cashed in their day jobs and went pro. QED comes from the Latin “quod erat demonstrandum” or “to be demonstrated.” The QED demonstrates what they are trying to achieve. It has a seductive, complex bouquet with notes of grilled meats, blackberries, earth, herbes de provence, violet, and vanilla. The flavors are of blackberry, kirsch, white pepper, black truffle, earth, mineral, and smoked meats. Its voluptuous mouthfeel and cashmere textured tannins lead the palate to a resonating finish.
To ensure that we can provide you with the specific wine that you are looking for, please call or email us with your request. It’s important to note that the vintage and availability of wines can vary from year to year.
