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

Under pressure in the bottle, they lie and wait for their moment to escape and effervesce.  For some of them their day may come soon.

Splits (375 ml)

Just enough for a toast or before meal glass.

Ferrari, Sparkling Brut Rosé  $17
60% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay
Salmon pink in color. The bouquet is distinct and very refined, with the fresh fragrance of hawthorn flowers, red currants and wild strawberries. The taste is Dry, clean and elegant, with a delicate finish of sweet almonds. Perfect served as an aperitif or with lighter dishes, especially seafood.

Moutard, Brut Grande Cuvée  $20
Pinot Noir
The Grande Cuvee is aged for at least three years. The wine is complex and nuanced, with fine, intense bubbles. It has a seductive bouquet of pears, grilled almonds, mineral notes and apple pie followed by rich flavors of ripe stone fruits, honey and buttered toast and a remarkably ling, delicate finish.

Champu, Brut Tradition  $21
50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier
The very intense and slightly steely flavors of the Chardonnay blended with discrete notes of Pinot Noir give the wine an exquisite lightness and fruitiness. This Champagne presents a fruity and smooth nose of Pinot Meunier with typical notes of green apples and pears.

Pierre Paillard, Les Parcelles Bouzy Grand Cru  $31
60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Spicy orange zest and honeydew on the fragrant, mineral-accented nose. Dry and tightly focused, offering lively Meyer lemon and melon flavors and a deeper suggestion of nectarine. Finishes with building floral character and excellent tangy persistence, leaving bitter citrus zest and dusty mineral notes behind.  –

Canard Duchêne, Authentic Brut  $26
45% Pinot Noir, 35% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay
Authentic Brut epitomizes the Canard-Duchene style, where freshness and intensity bring together nobility and nature. A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the wine is characterized by fresh fruit aromas jostling with brioche notes. The fruit aromas carry through to the palate and intermingle with pastry notes.

Champagnes

Moutard, Brut Grande Cuvée  $32
Pinot Noir
The Grande Cuvee is aged for at least three years. The wine is complex and nuanced, with fine, intense bubbles. It has a seductive bouquet of pears, grilled almonds, mineral notes and apple pie followed by rich flavors of ripe stone fruits, honey and butttered toast and a remarkably long, delicate finish.
Magnum 1.5 liters  $72

Liebart Régnier, Les Sols Bruns  $36
60% Pinot Meunier, 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
Cellar aged for 3 years with a subtle nose with a predominance of apricot and yellow peach. Delicate menthol, biscuity fragrances add richness with a lively tension from the citrus, predominantly pomelo flavors, this full-bodied wine has a delicate tartness to get your juices flowing. It is multi-layered and full of character.  The dominance of Pinot Meunier means that its fruitiness is already enjoyable, pushing attractive citrus and fresh pineapple flavors forward.  Was $44 now $36

Pascal Ponson, 1er Cru Champagne  $40
80% Pinot Meunier, 10% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay
A small grower producer from Montagne de Reims.  The Brut has rich and creamy aromas of red and yellow apple, quince, lemon blossom, white mushroom, honeysuckle, hazelnut, and delicate purple flowers are woven around a strong core of mineral notes.

José Michel, Brut Tradition  $43
70% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay
The Brut is composed of reserve wines that are 5 or 6 years old. The wine has great toast on the nose, along with ripe but crisp lemon and some orange zest followed by a full-bodied mouthfeel and a long finish.

R.H. Coutier, Grand Cru Cuvée Tradition  $45
80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
This stunning Brut Tradition shows rich, leesy fruit obtained through extended bottle aging prior to disgorging. Quite vinous in texture, it is full and long with crisp apple fruit notes on the finish and showing some toasty notes in the nose. Very low dosage levels allow the great Ambonnay fruit to shine.

Boizel Brut Réserve  $48
55% Pinot Noir,30% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier
Liquorice aromatic notes with resonant plum and redapple.  Deep, exuberant, mouth-filling, vigorous and long, this is an exuberant, vinous Champagne with plenty of richly-textured aromatic lift.  97pts Decanter

Paul Dethune Grand Cru Brut Reserve  $50
70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay
A good price for a grand cru, the reserve is made up of older vintages. Its intense nose has aromas of underbrush, honeysuckle and bergamot. Its freshness and liveliness are combined with its creamy flavor and a delicate honey finish.

Durmont & Fils Solera Reserve Brut  $52
Chardonnay
This is made using the solera method. Dumont has dedicated one stainless steel tank that was first filled in 1991. He  has been adding to the tank every year, making it at present, a blend of approximately 20 vintages.  There is a lot going on here: apple, pear, peach, apricot, lemon, lime, orange, pineapple, kiwi, butter, cream and vanilla.  Organic

Wafflart-Anoniolli 1er Cru Blanc de Blanc  $56
Chardonnay
From the premier cru village of Sacy, in the Petit Montagne, comes an exceptional producer, Thierry Wafflart. Unlike typical Blanc de Blancs from the Cote de Blanc, this expression of Chardonnay balances the acidity with roundness and depth, revealing luscious complexity with hints of soft fruits and earthy aromas. This wine will upend your previous notions of Blanc de Blanc.

Jean Vesselle Oeil de Perdrix Rosé  $58
100% Pinot Noir
A grower Rosé Champagne from Bouzy.  Dried rose petals, orange zest, white pepper and mint give much of its high-toned aromatics, but there is plenty of depth to the fruit as well. Deceptively medium in body, the Oeil de Perdrix possesses striking finesse and exceptional overall balance. Oeil de Perdrix is an old-fashioned style of Blanc de Noirs with just a touch of color from a very short period of skin contact at pressing.

2013 José Michel Special Club Champagne  $80
50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Meunier
Rich, creamy and beautifully crafted, with nice toasty note, and lots of Peachy fruit.

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé  $85
40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier
A gorgeous rosé Champagne with sliced strawberries, orange peel and hints of cream and pie crust. Medium body, tight and integrated tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Tangy acidity. The texture shows a fine bead and lightness. Long and intense

Other Sparklers

Proa Cava Brut Méthode Traditionell  $13
40% Macabeo, 30% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada
Translucent pale yellow with foamy head effervescence. Nice composition with a quite dry profile, well-balanced and with a rather long refined taste. Pair with shellfish, appetizers and snacks, lean fish, cured meats, or just as an aperitif.

Domaine Saint Vincent Brut  $13
80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir
Made by Gruet,  the Domain Saint Vincent Brut is a soft yellow-gold, crisp and lively, with a nose of green apple and citrus mineral notes. This well balanced food-friendly sparkler offers bright, crisp acidity complemented by a touch of yeast on the delightfully long finish.

Achard-Vincent Brut Sparkling  $14
Clairette de Die
This brut bottling is a dry wine made exclusively from Clairette, crafted by the méthode traditionnelle that is also used in Champagne. With refreshing citrus and a hint of honeysuckle on the nose followed by a delicious-with-anything palate, this minerally sparkler ensures palate stimulation with every sip. Was $20 now $14

Marques de la Concordia Reserva Brut Nature Cava  $14
30% Chardonnay, 25% Macabeo, 20% Xarello, 25% Parellada
After 48 months (yes, 4 years!) in the bottle, this cava shows a brilliant pale yellow color with incredibly abundant bubbles. It boasts fruit notes as well as those notes coming from the prolonged ageing that give it an extraordinary complexity and the ‘creamy’ notes. The finish is long, elegant and complex.

Moutard Pet Mout  $14
Chardonnay
Petillant Naturel, aka “Pet Nat,” is a traditional method of producing sparkling wine where the wine is bottled prior to the completion of primary fermentation.  The bubble is fine, the aromas of citrus fruits, floral and mineral go very well with freshness and elegance in mouth in addition to an acidity which allows balance between aromatic power and softness.  Fun summer wine.  Organic

Delmas Blanquette de Limoux  $15
90% Mauzac, 10% Chenin
The Blanquette de Limoux is made from Mauzac, a traditional variety that gives body and aroma, with Chenin that reinforces the bouquet and adds freshness and finesse. The Delmas is a creamy-textured, full-bodied wine with a fine yeasty character, subtly fruity, with toasty green apple and lemon flavors.  Organic and Vegan

Vincenzo Toffoli Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG Extra Dry  $15
100% Prosecco
Vincenzo grew up working the vineyards until 1964 when he was able to buy some of them and start making his own wines. Now most of the work has passed on to his sons. Their Prosecco is clean and fresh with a nice sparkle.

German Gilabert Cava Brut Nature Reserva  $15
50% Macabeo, 30% Xarlelo, 20% Parellada
This Brut Nature is from an organic vineyard in the Alt Penedès, one of the highest altitude sites in Catalonia for Cava. The vines were planted 35 years ago on sandy and chalky soils.   There’s finesse as well—fine bubbles, delicate aromas of green and red apples and mineral notes. The wine’s acidity is crystalline and sharp, the flavors deep and focused on fresh lime.  Organic

Saint Just Crémant de Loire Brut  $22
80% Chenin, 20% Chardonnay
A rich Cremant with a  fruity nose followed by almond, quince, and pear on the palate. This finish has an elegant creamy texture with long flavors.

Antica Fratta Brut Franciacorta DOCG  $25
90% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Nero
Franciacorta is to Italy what Champagne is to France. The calcareous soils producing complex mineraled wines. The Antica Fratta is blended out of a library of base wines and then aged 2 years in bottle. It is an elegantly fresh, vivacious and full wine characterized by pleasing aromas of fresh fruit, wild blossoms and subtle bread crust.

Six Peaks Blanc de Noir Cuvée Brut  $30
Chelhalem Mountains
Quality Oregon bubbles at a reasonable price.  Made with 100% Pinot noir form our Laurel Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountain AVA. Aromatics consist of fresh baked bread, strawberry shortcake and rich cognac. Made in the traditional method, this brut sparkling wine was hand-riddled and recently disgorged.

Six Atmospheres Blanc de Blancs  $32
Chardonnay
Washington State Method Champenoise.  Crisp and delicious.