The forecast is for grey skies this weekend in Madrona, but here at the wine shop we have some sunny wines from Italy and France lined up to brighten the day if not the weather.  Come by and have a taste..

Saturday we have some easy going, great value wines from Italy.
2017 Terre del Bruno, Albore  $16
80% Vermentino, 20% Trebbiano
2015 Alcesti Edesia  $15
Grillo
2014 Pometti, Toscana Rosso   $15
Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
2015 Alcesti Admeto $15
Syrah
2014 Talamonti Tre Saggi  $21
Montepluciano

Sunday we move to the south of France with a Cinsault Rosé from the Languedoc and an Village level old-vine blend from the Rhone.
2018 Reserve de Marande Cinsault Rosé $10
From the Languedoc, the Marande is 100% Cinsault. It is fresh and fruity with raspberries, pears and cherries, a flowery light body, pleasant acidity, and a medium finish. 12% alcohol by volume
2016 Lauribert Carelette Valréas Côtes du Rhone Villages $12
70% Grenache, 30% Syrah
From old-vine vineyards on clay-limestone soil. The Carelette is a rich and well-balanced Rhone with woodland aromas and dry berry fruit and a spicy finish. Was $15 now $12

Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday, we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.

This Saturday we are featuring some easygoing Italian wines to match the good weather.  Come load up the picnic basket with these great value wines. They are fresh, lively and highly addictive.  Come get hooked.

2017 Terre del Bruno, Albore  $16
80% Vermentino, 20% Trebbiano
Made by Fattoria Pogni a 3rd generation family winery in in Florence, Terre del Bruno is dedicated to the founding grandfather.  This Tuscan white is  fresh, fruity, intense, floral bouquet; lively palate.
 
2015 Alcesti Edesia  $15
Grillo
A family run winery in Sicily Alscesti has 30 hectares of land that lie between Marsala, Mazara and Salemi, with altitudes ranging from 100 to 280 meters, express the typical Sicilian territory of vineyards inherited from their forefathers The Grillo has a strong bouquet of yellow fruits with delicate nuances of citrus fruits and herbs. It has great freshness and is tangy on the palate. a good body & bright citrus fruit flavors.  Organic

2014 Pometti, Toscana Rosso
Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
A tasty little Super Tuscan with rich cherry and beery flavors  mixed with some earth and coffee note.
 
2015 Alcesti Admeto $15
Syrah
This Sicilian Syrah has a rich and mellow bouquet and notes of wild berries in perfect harmony with spicy hints of black pepper and balsamic notes. It has a generous flavor, with a pleasant tannic, velvety and persistent sensation.

2014 Talamonti Tre Saggi  $21
Montepluciano
The Talamonti vineyard-estate comprises 32 hectares dedicated to the production of classic Abruzzo grapes, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo & Pecorino, as well as Merlot grapes currently used in a blend for their Kudos wine with the Montepulciano. Their Tre Saggi (“three wise men”) is a plush and rich, oak-driven Montepulciano. Dark chocolate, spice, clove and blackberry are presented in an incredibly soft and integrated fashion.

Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday, we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.

It is a busy summer weekend here in Madrona.  The schedule quickly fills up with BBQ s, picnics, parades amid the usual house chores and yard work and then the 4th of July is the corner.  One thing all these things have in common is that they go better with a good glass of wine.  Take a break this weekend and stop by the shop where we’ll be pouring a great line up of wines to smooth out your weekend and the week ahead.

And we are OPEN July 4th from Noon to 3:30 in case you are running behind getting ready for the holiday.  But First:

Saturday come feel the breeze from the Atlantic as we taste through wines from the Loire Valley.
2016 Pierre Henri, Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie, St. Fiarce   $12
Melon de Bourgone
2018 J. Mourat IGP Val de Loire Blanc “Collection”  $13
Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay
2018  Domaine du Salvard, Cheverny Rosé $17
65% Pinot Noir, 35% Gamay Noir
2018 J. Mourat IGP Val de Loire Rouge”Collection”   $13
40% Pinot Noir, 30% Cabernet Franc, 30% Negrette
2016 Domaine Nerleux, Samur Champigny Clos des Chatains  $18
Cabernet Franc

Sunday we are off to Veneto with three wines from Monte Tondo starting with a little frizzante and finishing with a red.
2016 Monte Tondo Frizzante  $10
Garganega
This Frizzante is 100% Garganega from certified organic vineyards, this one is zesty, spritzy, light, and airy. It offers up aromas and flavors of ripe apple, pear, lemon, white flowers, and just a touch of mineral. And all of those delicious aromas and flavors are delivered along a rush of tiny, gentle bubbles. Organic.
2016 Monte Tondo, Marta Soave  $13
Garganega
Monte Tondo’s second label of Soave but it’s still first rank. This Soave is bristling and clean, flinty and fragrant, with terrific notes of granite, citrus, green apple.
2016 Monte tondo, Marta Corvina  $13
Monte Tondo’s entry red is 100% Corvina. A transparent pomegranate hue in the glass, is redolent of pie cherries, rhubarb, orange peel, and dried rose petals. Bitter herbs and fine tannins join the wine’s chewy fruit to make this a most versatile and table-ready red wine.

Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday, we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.

This Saturday we are tasting our way through the Loire Valley. The vineyards of the Lore benefit from cooling breezes from the Atlantic Ocean.   These wines are crisp, fresh and a perfect match for summer.   As you know summer starts July 5th in Seattle.  Get ready.
 
2016 Pierre Henri, Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie, St Fiarce   $12
Melon de Bourgone
Named after Pierre-Henri Gadais whose family also owns Domaine Gadais, this is a bright, lively wine, rich with layers of ripe fruit, minerality and tight acidity. It is intense, with great fruitiness and a cool edge of final acidity.
 
2018 J. Mourat IGP Val de Loire Blanc “Collection”  $13
Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay
J. Mourat is located on the far south-west of the Loire Valley in the appellation Fiefs Vendéens. Their hillside vineyards see a combination of southern exposure and a sea breeze, with schist and volcanic soils rich in quartz, are farmed organically.  This is a fresh and satisfying white blend with flavors of green and red apple, white peach and preserved citrus–tasty, dry and distinctive.
 
2018  Domaine du Salvard, Cheverny Rosé $17
65% Pinot Noir, 35% Gamay Noir
Domaine du Salvard has been a working Domaine since 1898, through five hardworking generations of the Delaille family. Their forty-two hectares of vineyards are sustainably farmed in the sand, clay, and limestone plains of northeastern Touraine. Their Rosé is very pleasant and surprisingly complex with aromas of red berries and a distinct hint of lime.  On the palate it’s bright and tart, bone-dry with fresh acidity, red-berry flavors shifting subtly into an intriguing stony minerality that lasts into a very long, finish.
 
2018 J. Mourat IGP Val de Loire Rouge”Collection”   $13
40% Pinot Noir, 30% Cabernet Franc, 30% Negrette
This surprising red-blend packs a juicy cherry and sweet orange aroma. The fruit is ripe, sappy and jewel-bright: redcurrant and cranberry, with a pencil-graphite slender minerality that betrays the presence of Cabernet Franc –the brisk tannins jiving with energetic fruit.  The finish is neat, dry, snappy, like a gymnast finishing a perfect somersault in your mouth, and then a little line of herbs lingering on the tongue.
 
2016 Domaine Nerleux, Samur Champigny Clos des Chatains  $18
Cabernet Franc
Amélie Neau is the 9th generation of Domaine de Nerleux (Black Wolves in Old French) and she sublimates this superb heritage. Her Clos des Chatains shows a beautiful nose of black fruits, blueberry, elderberry, cherry with brandy. In the mouth there is lots of flavors of kirsch, elderberry and a slight bitterness.  A traditional style in a generous vintage, it is ready to drink now, but can evolve 5 to 7 years without worries.

Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday, we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.

It is officially summer in Seattle.  While some folks flee for vacation, we at Madrona Wine like to stick around, hang out and enjoy the long evenings and good weather. This weekend we are tasting a lineup of wines to help the hang.  Come see what’s open.

Saturday, we are sailing the Tyrrhenian Sea with wines from Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily.
2016 Sella & Mosca, La Cala Vermentino  $16
2018 Terra Nostra, Corsica Rose  $14
2017 Planeta Vittoria Frappato  $23
2016 Firriato, Trepani Chiaramonte Nero d’Avola $14
2015 Sella & Mosca, Canonnau di Sardnga Reserva $20 

Sunday we have a pair of wines from France, starting in the mid-lands of Touraine and ending up in Gaillac in the south. Perfect wines for the summer that is upon us.
2017 Paul Buisse Touraine   $10
100% Sauvigon Blanc
For a Touraine Sauvignon, this has rich and ripe tropical fruits as well as the necessary acidity. It is fruity, with a lightly zesty texture and a soft aftertaste.
2014 Domaine des Terrisses Gaillac Rouge   $14
50% Braucol, 30% Duras, 20% Syrah
A distinctive blend from the Southwest of France.  Expressive with aromas of dark berries, spice and peppers. On the palate the wine is rich and flavorful with a powerful acidity, firm tannins and a wonderful concentration of savory flavors balanced with bright fruit.

Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday, we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.

After our mini heat wave here in Madrona, things are back to usual.  Speaking of usual, we are going to have some great French Wines open for tasting this weekend at the wine shop.  Sometimes the same old same old is really perfect.

Saturday we are going all Organic:
2018 Château de Brézé, Clos de Midi $19
Chenin Blanc
2018 Domaine de la Graveirette, Ju de Vie Rose $12
60% Grenache, 40% Syrah
2018 La Bastide des Oliviers “Cuvée Classique” Rosé, $16
40% Cinsault, 30% Grenache, 15% Carignan, 15% Syrah
2017 Domaine Guillaume, Pinot Noir $18
2017 Domaine de la Graveirette, Côtes du Rhone $16
Grenache

Sunday, we catch a boat to Corsica.
2018 Vetriccie Ìle de Beauté Rosé  $10
40% Niellucciu, 30% Sciaccarella, 15% Grenache, 15% Merlot
A Corsican rosé with briny aromas, hint of fresh vanilla, fresh raspberry, cranberry with red and white currants notes. Crisp & fresh.
2016 Maestracci Clos Reginu  $15
35% Niellucciu, 30% Grencahe, 15% Sciaccerelu, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre
A complex blend from Corsica, lighter-bodied with smoky earthy undertones.

Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday, we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.

This Saturday we are going green with five organic wines for local importer Petit Monde.  All the wines are practicing organic, certified organic and/or biodynamic.  They are also all French and all delicious. 
 
2018 Château de Brézé, Clos de Midi $19
Chenin Blanc
From Saumur in the Loire region the Clos de Midi shows great acidity combined with a delicate, chalky texture.  It has aromas of honey, dried exotic fruits, herbal tea and sweet lemon. Although this wine is 100% Chenin Blanc, it bears the freshness of a young Sancerre, the soft richness of Chablis, but with the unmistakable charm of Chenin Blanc.
 
2018 Domaine de la Graveirette, Ju de Vie Rose. $12
60% Grenache, 40% Syrah
This Biodynamic winery is nestled between the towns of Orange, Avignon, and Carpentras with the Dentelles de Montmirail and Mont Ventoux to the east and the hills of Châteauneuf-du-Pape to the west.  Their fresh and full rosé is a big easy drinking crowd pleaser.
 
2018 La Bastide des Oliviers “Cuvée Classique” Rosé,  $16
40% Cinsault, 30% Grenache, 15% Carignan, 15% Syrah
The Mourlan family has organically farmed their 10 acres of vines certified by Ecocert since for two generations.  They built a modern cellar in 2000, equipped with thermoregulated steel tanks, allowing a perfect sanitary condition to make a sulfite free wine.  Their light rosé has true Provence style, dry and crisp with tangerine and citrus flavors that are powerful and elegant at the same time.
 
2017 Domaine Guillaume, Pinot Noir  $18
Vignoble Guillaume’s gorgeous, soil-driven 2017 Pinot Noir gleams a transparent garnet color from the bowl followed by aromas of earthy cranberries, geranium, rhubarb, and soft limestone minerals. Brisk acidity and savory tannins frame the wine’s crunchy core of red Pinot fruit, which transitions mid-palate to reveal fascinating suggestions of blood oranges, Earl Grey tea, and damp, calcareous earth. Fine tannins sneak in as the wine finishes crisp and crunchy, with layers of bright red berry and cherry fruit lifted by a persistent clay-limestone mineral undercurrent.
 
2017 Domaine de la Graveirette, Côtes du Rhone  $16
Grenache
A lot of wine for the money, Graveirette’s Côtes du Rhone is full and chewy, with firm tannins. It has lots of earth, meat, garrigue, pepper, and spice but also clean and pure with bright raspberry and black cherry fruit.  And it is biodynamic.

Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday, we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.