The temperatures have dropped back down this week, so we are opening an Aglianico from Southern Italy this Thursday to help warm us up. Swing by and have a sip.
2019 Macarico, Macarì Aglianico del Vulture $20
An earthy yet alluring display of crushed ashen stone, black raspberries, peppery herbs and animal musk aromas. Its soft, fleshy textures and ripe red fruits are motivated by juicy acidity, yet grippy tannins settle in toward the close.
Biodynamic
Mardi Gras has arrived and this weekend we are pouring a pair of French wines to get you ready for Fat Tuesday.
2017 Domaine Masson-Blondelet Pouilly-Sur-Loire “La Côte des Près” $15
100% Chasselas
Straightforward and refreshing, the Pouilly-Sur-Loire is lighter and more discreet than its big brother the Pouilly-Fumé. Light and soft, it reproduces the fresh and crispy aromas of the Chasselas grape. Fine and mineral finish.
Was $24 Now $15
2020 Chateau Le Roc Bordeaux Rouge $12
70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
The Landie family own the estate for 2 generations. This value rouge has notes of red fruit & vanilla. Well-balanced with silky tannins, this is a mouth-watering drink-now Bordeaux that punches well above its weight.
Get back in the swing of things. Ground Hog Day has passed and the rain has returned. Time for a good bottle of wine. Here’s what we’ll have open this weekend.
Saturday
2019 Hanna, Red Ranch Alexander Valley $20
Cabernet Sauvignon
Concentrated and well balanced, this classic-style Cabernet lets the savory, bay laurel and sage aspects of the grape variety come through, accenting focused black cherries on a moderately tannic but not heavy structure.
Was $35 Now $20
Sunday
Savian, Evento Rosé $10
100% Merlot
Veneto
This extra-dry Spumante strikes the eye for its hues of rose petals. Its bouquet is delicate and at the same time complex, with a light hint of walnut husk. Well-balanced in acidity and sugar contents, it reveals a particularly intense, harmonious, markedly lingering flavor. 11% alcohol by volume
Was $12 now $10
Artist’s Reception with Renée Simard
It is a busy weekend here at the wine shop as we wrap up January.
After a long dry spell we have two new Italian Olive Oils here at the shop. Life isn’t just about wine.
Petrizzelli Extra Virgin Olive Oil $20
The Petrizzelli is made exclusively from the Coratina Olive a very small, low yielding varietal that rewards those who have the patience to work with it. Cold pressed. Organic
2022 Poggio la Noce 100% Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil $30
Tuscany
A high-quality pure Extra Virgin Olive Oil with elegant aromas, cultivated and pressed directly at the estate, within hours of harvesting, using onsite press. Cold pressed. Organic
But of course a lot of it is about wine. Saturday we’ll be pouring:
2019 Alary La Grange Daniel $15
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Counoise, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
from a plethora of grapes grown on clay soils at the foot of the plateau of scrubland in Cairanne. Aromas are of red cherries and garrigue. The palate is mid weight or a little bigger with brambly red fruit, plums, milk chocolate, mineral and stone. This is very tasty with pleasant acidity and integrated tannins. Organic
With that many grapes how can you go wrong?
And then Sunday:
The artist reception for
Natural Things — Choses Naturelles
Renée Simard
3 to 5 pm
Come meet Renée and see the new show.
Natural things. On walks, the beauty I see in trees, fruits, bushes, mosses, new buds, or even, wilting flowers often stop me in my tracks. Images strike me and I can’t wait to put them on canvas. My eyes are attracted to colors and movements. My head is preoccupied by thoughts, sounds, and even smells. The world we live in provides endless opportunity for distraction and inspiration…
The oil paintings and silverpoint drawings I am honored to show here illustrate moments when I filter out stimuli. This series, titled Natural Things – Choses Naturelles, represents part of my artist’s relationship with nature.
White calla lilies, for example, are exasperating and aren’t white! Their leaves are green, yellowish at times, blueish green, often pure color with all its brightness. Depending on weather, time of day, surroundings, the lilies’ single petal (a spathe) shifts from grey to yellow to blue to green, even a touch of purple. These flowers make challenging models: simple, elegant, shapely. Fascinating! Did I mention that slugs love them too?
My Madrona garden’s calla lilies hold a special place in my heart for the sweet neighbor who shared rhizomes shortly after I moved here. I started sketching them years ago and I still discover new shapes. Feels like I am in the art studio attending a live model session with two-minute poses! Still life…not so still!
— Renée Simard
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
