Fino

2016 Valdespalino Ojo de Gallo –Palomino Fino  $14  — 705ml
Citrus and peach with a steely and a salty edge.  Organic

To Albalá Fino 3 Fases Electrico  $14  —  375ml
Pedro Ximenez
When ordering Electrico in Córdoba one need only say “Shock Me!” (Dame un calambrazo). Pastry and brine notes from the flor yeast add complexity to the retained varietal personality. Naturally balanced and pure, this Fino is unmatched in its food pairing versatility.

Valdespino Inocente  $20  —  750ml
Inocente is one of the few Fino Sherries that still follows the tradition of fermentation in wood. The slow exposure to oxygen as it ages in barrels increases the wine’s aromatic complexity, the notes fanning out beyond salt and citrus toward herbs and smoke. It feels tense and firm, driven by electric acidity.

Manzinilla

Bodegas Jose Estevez La Bailaora  Manzanilla  $10  —  750ml
Fresh, young, still hints of Palomino fruit along with a maritime air and a little dry bitterness from the flor. Clean, fresh and a little short, but pleasant.  Was $14 now $10

2015 Valdespino Manzanilla Deliciosa en Rama  $12  —  375ml
Deliciosa En Rama is around 6 years of average age and made with grapes from the pago Miraflores. Its solera system consists of six criaderas and the solera stage. The En Rama version is said to maintain some energetic youthfulness while showing the complexity that comes with age. Only one bottling is made each year in spring.

Amontillado

Bodegas Grant Amontillado “La Garrocha”  $14  —  375ml
Cadiz
Bodegas Grant, located in the heart of the town of El Puerto de Santa María, has been owned by the same family since 1841. The Grant family are almacenistas who only recently began to estate bottle. Their label, La Garrocha, refers to a famous dance performed with a stick while on horseback. This Amontillado has spent nine years aging through the Solera system. The microclimate of the bodega produces a distinct flor that gives this sherry its unique characteristics. Made from 100% Palomino grapes, this is very floral with sweet nutty aromas. The palate is savory and dry with notes of walnuts, almonds and crystallized orange.

Gutierrez Colosia Amontillado  $15  —  375ml
In this dry sherry, you notice the Fino background. Maritime notes, some sea air, but also plenty of round notes like (salted) caramel, runny honey and almonds. Subtle notes of flor. Hints of dried apricot and a soft layer of polished oak. Surprisingly creamy, warm and nutty, with fairly low acidity and just a very soft tangy edge in the background. Hazelnuts and almonds. Hints of toffee. Hazelnuts, almonds and honey coated peanuts. A very light hint of olive brine in the end. Medium finish.

Bodegas César Florido Cruz del Mar Amontillado  $19  —  375ml
Aged under partial flor in solera for 8 years.  a Nutty and intense amontillado, with hints of roasted hazelnuts, salted caramel and an intoxicatingly dry finish that leaves mouthwatering acidity. Excellent for pairing alongside salty, umami-laden snacks.

Oloroso

Marqués de Poley Oloroso  $18  —  500ml
From soleras and reserve stocks approaching a century in age, this rich yet elegant dry Oloroso averages over ten years old and displays round, velvety texture and a long finish reminiscent of walnuts and hazelnuts. Non-fortified, the flavors remain consistent and pure throughout.

Pedro Ximenez

El Maestro Sierra Pedro Ximenez  $16  —  375ml
This Pedro Ximénez is aged for 15 years in the solera system. A great nose of exotic spices and almost red fruits combine with more classic caramel overtones. With great acidity the wine is light on its feet and almost refreshing.

Gutierrez Colosia Pedro Ximenez  $22  —  375ml
Rich and sweet, with lots of dates and raisins. Dried figs and candied fruits. Plum jam. Kind of a liquid walnut cake. Hints of honey-coated almonds. It also has the typical peppery/licorice sharpness. Vibrant and velvety, with a nice elegance despite its high sugar content. Molasses and treacle. Sticky toffee pudding. Dates and figs again. A slight acidity comes out towards the finish, with some peppery overtones.

1990 To Albalé Don PX Gran Reserva  $34  —  375ml
30 year old PX Sherry.  Very complicated flavors.   Licorice, maple, fig and exotic rooty aromas give this a nose similar to an Italian Amaro. A thick palate is a bit sticky, while this tastes of rooty spices, aged wood and chocolate. Amaro-like bitterness and rooty sweetness share the finish on this aged P.X..

Sherry Vinegar

Arvum Vinagre de Jerez Reserva  $11  — 8,5 oz
Pedro Ximenez
This sweet sherry vinegar is aged in oak cask following the traditional “criaderas and solera” system used for sherry wines. Its color is dark mahogany and its aromas are sweet and sour with pungent aromas of sherry vinegar smoothed by the addition of a small portion of Pedro Ximénez natural sweet wine.

A Few Sides (and there are plenty more accompaniments across the street at East Anchor)

Dequmana Natural Olive Mix with fine herbs  $7  —  7oz
Cured and blended with herbs from a traditional Adalucian recipie.

Matiz Garlic Allioli  $7  —  6.5 oz
All i Oli Garlic Spread is a garlic lover’s dream! Simple, all natural ingredients are combined in a traditional, eggless recipe that has been used in kitchens in the Catalan region of Spain for centuries.

Current Hours

Wednesday to Sunday
Noon to 6PM

This small estate, left bank Bordeaux was a great find for us this week.  It is very old school in style. It even still comes in a wooden 6 pk crate.  We have 42 bottles on hand at the shop and another 33 on order next week.  After that we’ll have to see how much more we can lay our hands on.

2016 Chateau Grand Lacaze, Medoc  $15
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot
Located in the Médoc, not far from Lesparre, Château Grand Lacaze cultivates 7 hectares of vineyards.  It is a classic Bordeaux with wonderful earthy notes of leather, basalt, ripe red fruit, and the faintest hint of funk.
Was $20 now $15

Our Current Hours

Wednesday to Sunday
Noon to 6PM

We are welcoming the New Year and the new administration with some new wines for the self.  4 more days until the Inauguration (don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Donald.)

2019 Evesham Wood, Blanc du Puits Sec, Eola-Amity Hills  $17
85% Pinot Gris, 15% Gewürztraminer
Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, co-fermented them in stainless steel.  The wine displays lots of spice and rose with hints of green apple and lime.  Organic

2018 Cà dei Frati, I Frati, Lugana  $19
Trebbiano
A complex, lees aged Trebbiano from older vines. It has concentrated but fresh perfume of white flowers, peaches and ripe lemons. On the palate it has excellent depth and balance, richness and a lovely crisp, lively finish.

2019 Quinta de Couselo, Turonia Albariño  $23
Aromas of citric and white fruit with floral notes, aromatic herbs and river pebbles. Fresh, intense and well balanced. White fruit flavors with a sensation of lemon drops and a minerality that leads to ocean salinity.

2019 Casata Monticello, Dolcetto d’Asti  $11
A good little value Dolcetto from the Sperone family, who have been engaged in wine production for 4 generations.  Not Cru by any means but a great everyday drinker with pure dolcetto character.

2018 Odfjell Armador, Valle de Maipo, Cabernet Sauvignon  $10
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot
Outstanding value from the winemaking team at Odfjell, such briary aromas of forest berries and cedary notes with fresh purple flowers here, too. The palate has good depth of fruit, in the purple-berry spectrum, and a fine web of fresh, juicy tannin.  Organic

2018 Château La Maroutine, Bordeaux Rouge  $11
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
The nose is attractive with cherry and strawberry notes that are supported by nice toasted notes. On the palate, the attack is smooth and round with nice soft tannins leaving the place for round, soft fruit.

2019 Château Haut Pourjac, Bordeaux Rouge  $13
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot
A cab heavy Bordeaux with full aromas of red and black fruit (cassis, blackcurrant). The palate is elegant and round with expressive structure and velvety tannins, a very well-balanced wine.

2018 La Cabotte, Côtes du Rhône Colline  $15
Grenache Syrah
The Coline uses Carignan and Cinsault to zing up the Grenache and Syrah, and Mourvedre to add stuffing.  Plenty of spice and earth are coated with sweet fruit. Blackberries and raspberries are in abundance, with some pepper. In the mouth it is rich and unctuous. Bright fruit with good acidity balance out this dark red wine. Bottled unfiltered.  Organic, biodynamic

2017 Domaine Alary, Côtes du Rhône La Gerbaude  $15
70% Grenache, 30% Syrah
This Rhone has intense aromas of herbs, spice, black fruit, plum and cassis. The palate carries over the black fruit, with a dense texture on the finish.

2018 Domaine de Fages, Cahors  $15
85 % Malbec , 15 % Merlot
Aromas of ripe blackberry, plum and red fruits flint and graphite. The palate is full round and balanced with lots of juicy cherry prune and mineral notes, a hint of clove with a long pleasant finish.  Organic

2015 Ashton Troy, Cabernet Sauvignon$18
Cabernet Sauvignon from the Columbia Valley AVA is rich and full-bodied, with an elegant tannin structure. It opens with aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and ripe plum and is followed by hints of spiciness and minerality.  Was $30 now $18

2017 Tornatore, Etna Rosso  $22
95% Nerello Mascalese, 5% Merello Cappuccio
The Tornatore has a bouquet that is tight and streamlined, with wild rose and forest fruit followed by crushed stone and tangy mountain herb.  There’s a salty note on the finish.

2018 Evesham Wood, Eola-Amity Hills Cuvée, Pinot Noir  $26
Even with the significant concentration of the 2018 vintage, the liveliness of  the Eola-Amity Hills comes through decisively in this year’s Eola-Amity Hills Cuvée. Bright and floral on the nose with an explosive mid-palate and seductive texture. Organic

Quinta da Romaneira, 10-year-old Tawny Port  $28
Pale brick red tawny color. In its complex aroma, the vibrant young fruit blends deliciously with the attractive and characteristic dry fruits aromas like nuts. Rich and smooth on the palate it has an elegant structure and a long finish.

Our Winter Hours

Wednesday to Sunday
Noon to 9PM

This time of year our distributors like to sweep out the warehouses and we to clean up on a few deals.  Some of these have a good stock others are very limited. Get them while they are here.

2017 Le Terre di Stefano Massone, Gavi  $12
Garganega
Stefano Massone is devoted solely to white winemaking, with vineyards located in the warmer southeastern part of the region in Gavi, where the Cortese grape achieves maximum ripeness.  The nose is delicate, but the persistent aroma of fruit and flowers makes it particularly elegant. Dry with a crisp acidity and a pleasant mineral flavor.  Was $15, now $12

2017 Thymiopoulos Apostolos, Alma White  $15
70% Xinomavro, 30% Malagouzia
A very different white made from a red grape (Xinomavro) and a white one (malagouzia).  The wine has lovely floral notes of Malagouzia but also “something different” as a result of the Xinomavro. The wine is medium bodied with medium to high acidity and a lingering finish.  Was $19 now $15

2011 Pascal Jolivet, Pouilly Fume  $15
Sauvignon Blanc
This SB has a bit of age on it which fills out the fruit core making it seem like a crass between Sancerre and Chenin Blanc.  It has aged beautifully.  Terroirs are blended: 50% limestone, 30% flint and 20% limestone clay.  Limestone brings minerality and finesse. Limestone-clay enhances fruit and richness. Flint provides structure and minerality.  Was $30 now $15

2016 Laurent Cognard, Montagny 1er Cru, Les Bassets  $38
Chardonnay
Montagny Les Bassets 1er Cru is the flagship wine of the domaine.A full, ripe wine, this is rich in white fruits, but balanced by bright acidity. Produced in a vineyard close to Buxy, it has a taut edge, plenty of honey and lemon flavors, and a touch of toast.  Was $45 now $38

Elsom Cellars, Adventure Uncorked Red  $12
67% Malbec, 22% Merlot, 11% Syrah
A non-vintage, Malbec based blend out of SODO.    Was $17 now $12

2017 Basel Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon  $15
Columbia Valley
This Cabernet delivers strong nuances of black cherry, stewed fruit, cola and black currant on the distinctive nose. The aromatic, jammy notes are supported well by hints of eucalyptus, mint and pencil shavings.  Was $30 now $15

2016 Finn Hill, Jolie Cabernet Sauvignon $18
Rosebud Vineyards,  Wahluke Slope
Another Washington Cab takes a big price drop  There’s richness and concentration from start to finish, opening with aromas of cherry cola, cinnamon bark, dusty lavender and menthol. Beautifully resolved cherry-skin tannins.  Was $30 now $18

2017 Brunelli Rosso di Montalcino  $20
Sangiovese Grosso
From vines planted in Galestro, clay loam soils at 350m elevation. 25 days maceration followed by 30 months of aging in 20HL oak casks.  Intense black cherry nose with lifted violet notes. Textured, rich body and good graphite toastiness. Great length.  Was $32 now $20

2015 Quinta da Romaneira Douro Tinto  $22
Touriga Nacional,  Touriga Franca
This powerful wine brings out both the structure and density of wines from the Alto Douro region. It has spice from wood aging, rich tannins and concentrated black fruits. It is a complex, partnering rich fruits with a dry core. The wine will age well.  Was $30, now $22

Our Current Hours

Wednesday to Sunday
Noon to 6PM

As we wrap up the end of 2020 here at Madrona Wine, we’d like to take a minute to thank all of you for your support and patronage in this very odd year.  We look forward to the point in 2021 when we are all vaccinated and can return to a more relaxed, more social way, of running a wine shop.  ‘Til then we will happily meet you at the door.

We’ll be open this week:

Tuesday & Wednesday Noon to 6pm
Thursday (New Year’s Eve) Noon to 5:30
Closed New Year’s day
Open Saturday & Sunday Noon to 6pm

Next week we will go back
to our non-holiday hours:

Wednesday to Sunday Noon to 6pm
Closed Monday & Tuesdays.

One last wine for 2020 arriving at the shop on New Year’s Eve.  We’re taking this as a good omen for 2021

Magic Door, La Cle de la Femme Champagne  $36
This Champagne is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. The grapes are grown in top vineyards sites in the Marne Valley. These vineyard sites are made of sedimentary soils of calcium, silica, and limestone which impart layers of minerality into the wine.  It is then left on the lees for 20 months.  It shows expressive aromas of apple and white pear along with more subtle notes of almond, buttered toast and baking spices.

Time is running out for 2020, but we just received a few more wines before 2021.

Moutard, Cuvee Prestige  $37
50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir
An elegant Champagne which has a delicate mousse with a lovely, fine and biscuity character. Aromas of dried fruits, brioche and candied citrus. On the palate, there are notes of peach and hazelnuts that linger long in the finish.  Aged 3 1/2 years.

2019 Soie d’Ivoire La Lisse $13
Chenin Blanc
This ripe yet crunchy fruit gives this wine it’s freshness, vigor and spine, at the same time it’s luscious texture which is further complemented and enriched from one third vinified and matured for nine months in seasoned French oak barrels.

2017 Leitz, Rüdesheimer Magdalenenkreuz Riesling  $15
From the Magdalenenkreuz where the soils are comprised of sandy loam—fatter and ideal for ripe expression; the riesling grown here is always textured, opulent and forward. Though the wine is of Spätlese quality it perceivably drinks more like a Kabinett.  375 ml  7.5% alcohol by volume

2015 Château Mont-Redon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc  $30
60% Grenache Blanc, 20% Clairette, 10% Roussanne, 5% Bourboulenc, 5% Picpoul
Crisp lemon flavors and white-blossom notes lend an invigorating feel to this fresh, fruity white wine. It’s light on its feet but silky and expansive on the palate. The finish is moderately long and just a hint warming.  Was $48 now $30

2018 Domaine Duseigneur, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Matteo  $38
80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
This CNDP boasts black fruits and lots of body that benefits from a decanting, the aromas of red fruits, leather and underbrush will continue to develop.  Organic

2018 J. L. Chave, Mon Coeur, Côtes du Rhône  $25
50% Syrah and 50% Grenache.
Smoke-accented cherry, dark berries and licorice on the perfumed nose, which takes on succulent floral and herb nuances with air. Smooth, concentrated and gently sweet, offering mineral- and spice-accented black raspberry, cherry and violet pastille flavors and a spicy jolt of cracked pepper. Finishes supple, sweet and quite long, with harmonious tannins and lingering florality.

2016 Finn Hill, Jolie Rosebud Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon  $18
Wahluke Slope
Another Washington Cab takes a big price drop  There’s richness and concentration from start to finish, opening with aromas of cherry cola, cinnamon bark, dusty lavender and menthol. Beautifully resolved cherry-skin tannins.  Was $30 now $18

Colosia, Sangre y Trabajadero Oloroso Sherry  $15
Palomino
A complex, decadent dry Oloroso that teases one into thinking it’s almost sweet but it’s dry. Roasted mixed nuts–Brazils and hazelnut–combine over a darkly dense palate that hints of salty, ocean tang. The finish is of mahogany caramel goes on and on.

Our Holiday Hours

Tuesday to Sunday
Noon to 6PM

Closed Friday, January 1st