Two wines from Calabria & Campania

We must be dreaming of a vacation.  After sipping Corsican red on Thursday and Friday, we decided be needed to open some wine from Southern Italy for the weekend.  We are going to open the bottles on Saturday and see how long they last.  Most likely Patrick will be pouring them on Sunday as well.

2020 Statti, Lamezia Rosso  $15
40% Gaglioppo, 40% Greco Nero, 20% Magliocco
From Calabria, this indigenous red blend evokes violet nuances, with small black fruit predominating, followed by hints of spices. Good structure with fine elegant tannins and a long persistent finish.

2019 Mastroberardino, Mastro Aglianico  $16
From Campania, the Mastro is fresh, youthful red has notes of strawberry, cherry, blackberry, and violet flowers. The palate is smooth, medium-bodied, with red fruits on the palate and a fruity finish.

Shop Hours
Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

We’re chasing away the grey with a little sip of red from Corsica.  Stop by the shop and have a taste.

2020 Santa Giulietta, Vin de Corse Rouge  $15
40% Niellucciu,35% Grenache, 25% Syrah
This Corsican red show notes of red fruits and spices on the nose. Round and smooth palate, dominated by flavors of ripe fruits. Soft and elegant finish.

Shop Hours
Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6

and they’re not scary at all.

Orange Wine for Halloween and the rest of the year.

While the kids are snatching up the candy stop into the shop and have a sip of Orange wine this weekend. 

Orange Wines are made by leaving white or blush grapes in contact with the juice after they are crushed.  Some only stay that way for a few days, others sit on the skins for several months.  The result is a different animal altogether with the astringent aspects of the skins playing off the fruit of the juice.  Hitting that in-between space of being fuller bodied than a white wine, but not overwhelming like a red wine, skin-contact wines can pair beautifully with appetizers with cheese, risotto, pasta, and light roasted meats.

We’ll be sampling two of these this weekend:

Saturday:
2021 Bonny Doon, Le Cigare Orange  $15
80% Grenache Blanc, 10% Grenache, 10% Orange Muscat
Doon’s long skin contact Orange Wine:  Aromas of fresh peaches, citrus, bergamot.  It has a textured and vibrant palate with peach, apricot and citrus peel.

Sunday:
2018 Klet Brda, Krasno  $20
40% Ribillo Gialla, 30% Malvasia, 30% Sauvigonnasse
Krasno is the highest village in Brda, with a long wine tradition and an abundance of excellent sites.  This Orange Wine sits sur lie for 6 months. The fresh and elegant white blend has an impressively mineral, full taste and delicate aromas of ripe white fruit, spices and wildflowers.

Happy Halloween!

Shop Hours
Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Madrona businesses will be handing out candy on Saturday the 29^th.  Bring your little goblins and have then come gobble up the neighborhood.  We just might have something ghoulish for the parents as well.

Get Ready for Halloween
The Day of the Dead is coming right up, but the wine of the dead has already arrived.  We have two wines from Vinos de los Muertos, a winery in New Mexico, on the shelf right now just waiting to be taken home for your Halloween party.

Vinos de los Muertos, Blanco Dulce Sweet White  $11
Moscato
From New Mexico a sweet, aromatic, white blend composed of Moscato. Lovely with flavors of light minerals, white flowers, honey, pears and nectarine. Refreshing & full of festive flavors!
11.0% alcohol by volume

Vinos de los Muertos, La Sangre Dry Red  $11
Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Ruby Red
New Mexico
A dry red blend composed primarily of Sangiovese, Zinfandel, and Ruby Red with notes of violets, cherries, fruit and spice. Lightly peppery with cherry accents and light leather.
12.5% alcohol by volume

Open for tasting this Thursday!
2018 Casas del Toqui, Reserva Carmenere (Barrel Series)  $15
Chile
Carmenere (a minor Bordeaux grape) thrives in Chile.  Aromas and flavors of roasted red pepper, grilled pumpkin, blackened pepita, and mole negro with a satiny, bright, fruity medium body and a smooth, medium-length finish revealing notes of mango and licorice with moderate oak flavor.

Shop Hours
Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

As we transition from smoke and sun to crisp air and showers, we’ll be opening a couple of bottles with Fall in mind.  Stop and have a taste.

Saturday is Saumur

2018 Domanine des Ormes, Saumur  $17
Cabernet Franc
The nose on this Saumur is beautifully complex, with notes of ripe blackberries, fresh underbrush, green bell pepper and truffles, with the freshness of ripe strawberries. On the mid-palate, the wine is like a bowl of berries, with a dark concentration of fruits, firm structure and silky-soft tannins with a finish that is as long as the Loire River itself.

The Tears of Christ on Sunday

2015 Vini Iovine, Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio  $14
80% Piedirosso, 20% Aglianico
A southern Italian red from the hillsides of the Volcano.   This lighter red has red berry, vinous aromas. It is dry, harmonic, and velvety on the palate.
Was $19; Now $14

Shop Hours
Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Come decide for yourself.

We were poking around the back room and found what we thought was more of the 2017 vintage of this our great little Burgundy “value” was in fact instead form the quite good 2014 vintage.  While this was never meant to be a long-aging cellar wine, the question arises, “How does it taste?”  Today you can find out for yourself.  We will have a bottle open for tasting for the curious of mind.  Brave the smoke and come check it out.

2014 Chanson Pere & Fils Bourgogne Rouge  $15
Pinot Noir
Super “everyday” Burgundy   Aromas of ripe berries (raspberries and cherries) mixed with licorice. Well-structured. Deep and tight texture. Well-integrated tannins.
Was $22 Now $15

Older reviews:
Ripe, yet fresh, restrained and silky red Burgundy from a high-quality vintage.

This wine is fresh, crisp with acidity and an attractive zingy character. It has a lift and brightness along with hints of yellow fruits and a touch of spice. 2016 Wine Enthusiast

Shop Hours
Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Here are two things that we are excited about this weekend.

First: Mark & I are happy to welcome Patrick Tefft to our team at Madrona Wine.  Patrick lives in the neighborhood, has frequented our shop pretty much from the time we opened, and knows a thing or two about a good glass of wine.  He’ll be holding down the fort on the weekends at the shop.  Stop in and say hi.

Second:  We have returned to having a bottle open to sample as you browse the shop.  While we aren’t back quite yet to our pre-covid Saturday events, it is nice to be able to offer a taste of some of the new things that have arrived at the store.  This Saturday it’s a great deal on an old-vine Beaujolais.  A perfect match to our smokey Fall weather.

2019 Henry Fessy, Beaujolais Villages Vieilles Vignes  $13
This old vine Gamay shows raspberry, red-apple, licorice and mushroom aromas. It’s medium-bodied with sleek tannins, bright acidity and earthy undertones.

Shop Hours
Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Thursday requires a good Tuscan red.

2021 Martoccia, Poggio Apricale  $18
Sangiovese Grosso
Poggio Apricale is the everyday offering from high altitude Brunello producer, Luca Brunelli. This ripe, unoaked rosso supplies terrific “grip” for such a freshly-styled wine. Aromas of morello cherry, sage, blackberry fill the glass, along with a supple, approachable mid-palate.  Organic

Shop Hours
Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6pm

Washington wines are best known for their robust, juicy Cabs and their ripe, rich Chardonnays.  But here are 4 wines that break out of that box and make it to the playoffs (go Ms).  The whites are crisp and lively. The reds are deep and complex.  They are sure hits.

2021 Cor Cellars, AGO Coulmbia Gorge Sparkling  $25
88% Chardonnay | 12% Gewürztraminer
Fermented this wine in neutral oak. It is a distinct NW sparkler. It’s got the warmth of Lyle days, the freshness of the Gorge winds, and the texture of waves on the Columbia River.  Don’t wait until Thanksgiving to try this one.

2021 Cor Cellars, Alba Cor  $19
55% Pinot Gris, 45% Gewürztraminer
A blend of two traditionally Alsatian varietals into one Columbia Gorge wine from the Celilo vineyard. Co-fermented in a concrete tank, the Alba shows notes of peach, melon and honeysuckle accentuated by spicy notes of pear and lychee.

2017 Upsidedown, Wine Gold Drop Field Blend  $40
60% Mourvedre, 35% Grenache, 5% Syrah
Washington Bandol?  Gold Drop Field Blend shows red fruit aromas that meld with smoky undertones. The palate has a polished texture with freshness and verve. Medium body, fine tannins and delicate, berry and chocolate flavor at the end.

2019 Cadence, Bel Canto   $70
83% Carbenet Franc, 17% Merlot
The Flagship wine from Cadence’s Cara Mia Vineyard.  A big dose of Cab Franc smoothed out with a dollop of Merlot.  Blueberries and cherries mingle with savory herbs and minerals on a  gloriously rich nose.

Shop Hours
Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Barolo is never cheap but it doesn’t have to be extravagant.  Here are three Barolos that are new to our shelves hovering around the $40 price point.  All three are tasting great now once they get a bit of air and all three will just get better with a few years of age.  Come treat yourself to one of them or maybe all three.

2017 Ascheri, Barolo  $42
Nebbiolo
Rich and composite bouquet of sweet spices, dried flowers, leather and undergrowth.  The palate is well structured with elegant tannins and great balance and complexity.

2016 Brandini, Barolo La Morra  $42
Nebbiolo
This fragrant, focused red offers enticing scents of rose petal, camphor, botanical herb and woodland berry. It’s all about elegance and energy, featuring juicy wild strawberry, Marasca cherry and star anise set against polished tannins and fresh acidity.  Woman winemaker. Organic.   Arrives at the shop on Friday

2013 Casetta, Barolo  $40
Nebbiolo
Smoky with savory herbs and ripe red cherry fruit aromas on the nose. Savory, smoky red fruit and cherry nose. Smooth and juicy on the palate with rounded tannins.

Shop Hours
Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM