We carried the Torre Gajo for some time until the distributor had a big gap in their shipping containers. But it is back in stock and we’ll be pouring the new arrival this Thursday. Stop in for a crisp sip.
2021 Torre Gajo, Pinot Grigio Della Venezie $15
Torre Gajo is produced by a cooperative of growers, They make this big bottle of Pinot Grigio from the Alto Adage. Good value, good body, and crisp spicy fruit. 12.5% alcohol by volume
1 liter
It is whole new year at the shop.
There is a new face these days at the shop. Patrick, Mark, & I are pleased to welcome Dave Guttman to our team. Dave has worked for a couple of our wine distributors as well as being an avid wine enthusiast. From his apartment on Capitol Hill he has toured the world one bottle at a time. Dave will be holding down the fort this weekend at the shop. Stop in and say hello.
We are also starting the new year with new show of paintings and drawings to grace our walls. Natural Things — Choses Naturelles by local artist Renée Simard. Come feast your eyes along with your palate.
And this weekend we will be tasting a new deal in a Spanish Reserva. Stop in and have a taste.
2013 Domino de la Abadesa Ribera del Duero Reserva $20
Old vine Tempranillo aged in barrel for 27 months and then 14 months in bottle. The wine exhibits intense and complex aromas of mature black fruits, balsamic vinegar, and a touch of spice. The wine is smooth and balanced on the palate with mature, well-developed tannins and a round mouthfeel. Was $30 Now $20
Stop in and have a taste.
2017 Elqui Wines ‘Limited Release’ Syrah $20
100% Syrah
A big Syrah form Chile, this wine offers hints of peat and graphite, and is quite aromatic and expressive. The aromas are dark, with black fruit and also some black olives. The palate is round and quite bold. It is juicy and satisfying, ripe and a little heady.
Was $30 Now $20
We have a little break in the rain today in Madrona. The sun feels good and gives us something to think about besides football. We are opening two Italian White wines to match the day and make halftime all the more pleasant. Come by and have a taste.
2019 Fattoria Svetoni Opera $10
100% Vermentino
Intense and persistent bouquet with notes of peach blossom, jasmine, and ripe white fruit. Well balanced and persistent that makes it fresh and pleasant.
Was $12 Now $10
2018 Gabbas Manzanile $15
Vermentino di Sardenga
A benchmark Vermentino from renowned Sardinian winemaker Giuseppe Gabbas. This elegant Mediterranean wine is smooth and well-rounded, with zesty fruit flavors. Notes of chamomile, apricots, dried herbs, almond are flanked by a lovely minerality.
Was $20 Now $15
Don’t bother with the linen closet. Check your wine rack and come stock up on these discounted white wines for the Winter season. We’ll be pouring them thorough the weekend, stop by and see what is open.
2019 Fattoria Svetoni Opera $10
100% Vermentino
Intense and persistent bouquet with notes of peach blossom, jasmine, and ripe white fruit. Well balanced and persistent that makes it fresh and pleasant.
Was $12 Now $10
2014 La Zorra Teso Blanco Sierra de Francia, $15
60% Palomino, 30% Rufete, 10% Moscatel
A unique Portugese “Orange Wine” — aged under a thin layer of flor for 5 months in 3-year-old French oak barrels — unfined and unfiltered. Aromas of grapefruit pith, jasmine, chamomile, and iodine, with a zesty mineral top note. Dry on the palate, offering incisive lime rind and orchard fruit flavors with complicating notes of green almond and bitter quinine. Wild stuff!
Was $23 now $15
2018 Teutonic Wine Co. Sprockets $15
Scheurebe, Huxelrebe, Pinot Noir
Sprockets is a field blend from the High Pass Vineyard that consists of medium bodied with rich aromatics of orange zest, apricot and capsaicin. The flavors continue through the palate with a very fruit finish.
Was $22 Now $15
2018 Gabbas Manzanile $15
Vermentino di Sardenga
A benchmark Vermentino from renowned Sardinian winemaker Giuseppe Gabbas. This elegant Mediterranean wine is smooth and well-rounded, with zesty fruit flavors. Notes of chamomile, apricots, dried herbs, almond are flanked by a lovely minerality.
Was $20 Now $15
2017 Graville Lacoste Graves Blanc $25 — 1500ml —
75% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Muscadelle
This Graves is distinguished by its high percentage of Sémillon. Lychee, citrus zest, petrol, lemongrass on the nose. Tangy acidity plus minerality, but with a surprising fullness on the palate. White grapefruit pith and lemon zest.
Was $35 now $25
We made it through New Years and it is back to business as usual, tasting wine and looking for value. Here is one we found this last week. We only got one case of it, but why not open a bottle and let you taste too. Stop by on Saturday and check it out.
2015 Barone Cornacchia, Vizzarro Colline Teramane $20
Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo
Cornacchia’s flagship wine named for the founder. Intense, complex and fine bouquet with hint of ripe red fruit, jam, black pepper. The flavor is round, persistent and balanced, harmonic, with velvety tannins. Organic
Was $35 now $20
We are counting out the end of 2022 and getting ready for the big 1 on Sunday. While we know we’ll need some bubbles on New Year’s Eve, we much more enjoy thinking about what we are going to drink with dinner on New Year’s Day. You have to start the year off right. In the mean time we’ll be tasting some good wines as we count the days.
Thursday
2019 Remo Farina Valpolicella Superiore Classico Ripasso $20
Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara
Partially rasined on the vines, the Ripasso has fragrance of pepper, fruit marmalade (cherries, prunes) and spices, licorice and ginger.
Friday
2019 Kila Cava $15
40% Xarel·lo, 40% Macabeu, 20% Parellada
Ripe orchard/pit fruit aromas are complemented by subtle herb and candied orange zest nuances. Broad and spicy on the palate, displaying pear nectar and honey flavors and a touch of fennel
Saturday
It is bound to be good. Just drop in and see what we have open.
We will be closed New Year’s Day and reopen on Wednesday January 4th as we resume our most of the year Wednesday-Sunday hours.
We’ve boxed up boxing day and are getting ready to welcome the new year, but before we get there let’s take a deep breath, relax and have a glass of wine. The next two days we’ll be tasting a couple of good mid-week refreshers. Stop in and have a sip.
Tuesday
2015 Gerard Bertrand, Art de Vivre Rouge $15
Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre
Oddly packaged in a ceramic bottle. The Vivre has some nice Balsamic notes that add a touch of class to the black cherry, red plum and wild raspberry notes of this juicy red, with savory touches of mineral and herb on the clean finish.
Was $20 Now $15
Wednesday
Flegenheimer Bros. ‘Out of the Park’ Sparkling Shiraz NV $12
96% Shiraz, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon
This sparkling Shiraz from Australia has a bouquet of rich berry fruits, dark cherries and soft lingering hints of integrated oak. On the palate bright juicy red fruits and sweet plum are balanced with silky tannins and a velvety smooth finish.
The ice has melted, the rains returned, and the streets to the wine shop are wide open. Madrona Wine will be open today from noon to 6pm today for those last-minute holiday needs. And we will be heading to the Burgundy section and opening a Pinot Noir to celebrate the day. Stop by, see which one we pick out and have a taste.
Happy Holidays,
Jim, Mark, & Patrick
Madrona Wine Merchants
Things are getting busy around here with the lords a leaping and the pipers piping. But it keeps them warm with the cold weather nipping at our nose. The other thing that keeps us warm is a sip of wine. We’ll have some open the next couple of days. Stop in and have a taste as well.
Thursday
2019 Château de Montfaucon, La Côte, Côte du Rhone $18
50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Carignan, 10% Cinsault, 5% Counoise
This Côtes du Rhône is full-bodied, tannic, with leather notes, herbal notes, cranberry notes.
Friday
2017 Franchetto, Valpolicella Ripasso $30
Corvina, Molinara, Rondinella
A rich and full Ripasso. Aromas of cured cherries, black pepper, spices and a palate packed with Bodacious summer fruit – black berries, cherries, vanilla, lush body and supple tannins.
