15-30 min watercolor sketches are an immensely satisfying way to pass the time and get to know a building, place, or test ideas. I enjoy the imperfect translation these paints make between objects, light, my eyes, my brain, my hands, the paints, the brush and the paper. Inspired by the drawings of friends and teachers Fred Birchman, Judith Swain, Bob Hull and Frank Harmon, I have learned to treasure the creation of these artifacts, and I believe much can be gained by just doing the work. Thanks for looking at them and I hope to make more.
It is a busy weekend here in Madrona. Saturday is the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby (or what we at Madrona Wine like to call “the run for the rosés) Sunday is Cinco de Mayo so get the sangria makings early. To celebrate all this we are pulling the corks on some great wines, so stop by the shop and join us.
Saturday is Spain. The bubbles pop at 2pm. Ramon Raventos, Cava $11 2017 Hiruzta, Guipucoa Txakolina Rosado $18 2010 Enate, Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon$ $17 2010 Bodegas Lan, Rioja Grande Reserva $25 2014 Cellers Unió, Roureda Llicorella Clàssic Priorat $25 50% Carignan, 25% Garnacha and 15% Merlot
Sunday we are pouring a pair of wines from two lesser-known wine regions around the Mediterranean with two lesser-known varietals. 2016 Jordanov, Rkaciteli $10 Macedonia A very old grape varietal originally from the Republic of Georgia, on the palate you find hints of spicy apricot, orange zest, honeysuckle, red apple and a hint of a sherry like quality. To finish it off you will find a slight salinity like an ocean breeze. 2015 Palama, Arcangelo Negroamaro $12 Since 1936, the Palamà family has been making wine on their small estate in southern Italy in Puglia. This wine is expressive, rich, and robust on the palate, with aromas of steeped plums, cracked pepper, blackberry confit, and cinnamon.
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 bold and beautiful wines from Spain starting with a crisp Cava and finishing with a dark and deep Priorat, along with a few delightful sips in between. Come on by the shop and have a taste.
Ramon Raventos, Cava $11 70% Xarel-lo, 20% Macabeo, 10% Grenache (Blanc de Noir) A delicate bead with aromas of citrus and fresh green apple. Soft and elegant on the palate with notes of pear and toasted almond.
2017 Hiruzta, Guipucoa Txakolina Rosado $18 60% Hondarrabi Beltza, 40% Hondarrabi Zuri This classic Basque Rosé is redcurrant-pink in color with rich aromas of red and black fruits, such as strawberries, blackberries and black currants, over a citrus background and fine vegetal notes. Very fresh in the mouth with a balanced acidity accentuated by a hint of carbonic gas, offering a pleasing palate and a long, aromatic finish.
2010 Enate, Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon$ $17 A red wine from Somontano, the Enate Reserva has a broad, complex range of aromas: berries (blackberry, redcurrant), balsamic notes (mint) and a subtly spicy background (vanilla, pepper, bay leaf). Its structured palate lines the mouth with high-quality tannins. A long finish in the mouth recalling toast and bright tobacco.
2010 Bodegas Lan, Rioja Grande Reserva $25 90% Tempranillo from a selection of the best grapes coming from 30-year-old, low yielding bush vines in the Rioja Alta and 10% Mazuelo. Lan’s GR is aged 24 months in American oak and French oak barrels, followed by a minimum of 36 months in the bottle. The wine has aromas of ripe red fruits combined with spicy notes from the aging in oak (vanilla, cinnamon, fennel, licorice root) and tertiary aromas (leather, cigar box) from its prolonged bottle ageing. Full bodied and round, its mouthfeel is elegant and very well balanced.
2014 Cellers Unió, Roureda Llicorella Clàssic Priorat $25 50% Carignan, 25% Garnacha, 15% Merlot Priorat’s steep slopes of licorella (brown and black slate) and quartzite soils, protection from the cold winds of the Siera de Monstant and a lack of water, leading to incredibly low vine yields, all work together to make the region’s wines unique. While similar blends could and are produced elsewhere, the mineral essence and unprecedented concentration of a Priorat wine is unmistakable. Unio’s Classic has drilling aromas of graphite and balsamic dark fruits. Roaring berry, chocolate and pepper flavors get brushed aside by the tannic roughness of the finish. Give this plenty of air before pouring; drink through 2024.
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.
We are spending the weekend in Italy here at Madrona Wine. We’ll be starting in the library and ending with some new releases. Swing by and taste with us.
Saturday we have some older vintages from Sant’ Elana in Friuli. These wines are amazing values. Come watch us turn back time. 2013 Sant’ Elena Klodic Pinot Grigio $15 2009 Cabernet Franc $22 2007 Sant’ Elena Cabernet Sauvignon $19 2001 Sant’ Elena Merlot $17 1997 Ros di Rol $23
Sunday we are pouring two new wines from 2017: a fresh Verdicchio from the Marche region, followed by the crowd-pleasing Octopus of Sicily. 2017 Sartarelli Classico $12 Verdicchio dei Castelli de Jesi Straw yellow color with intense greenish nuances. White peach, elder, hawthorn aromas. A well-structured wine, soft on the palate, the characteristic slightly bitter almond aftertaste (typical of this varietal). 2017 La Cantine di Indie Polpo Rosso $15 Nerello Mascalese A new vintage of this light Sicillian red, special bottling for a local importer. The red octopus is a tenatious wine with bright acidity, layered cherry flavor and lingering finish. Organic. 12.5% alcohol by volume
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.
Most wineries due to economics either design their wines to be drunk young or leave it to the buyer to cellar their wines until they reach their peak. Occasionally we come across a wine that has been cellared for us. This Saturday we have hit the motherload with the wines from Sant’ Elena. This 40-hectare estate is located in Friuli-Venezia Giula in the Gradisca d’Isonzo area, where vineyards span out over the highest slopes and lowest valleys. The winery grows some very non-Italian varietals of mostly older vines that only produce 1 bottle per plant. And they have a fantastic back stock of older vintages that have had time to develop. Come taste the wine from their cellar.
2013 Sant’ Elena Klodic $15
Pinot Grigio
Klodic is macerated for thirty-six hours to obtain deep color and then left on the lees for six months. A delicate and complex process usually not reserved for the variety This Pinot Grigio offers complex varietal fruit laced with perfumed aromatics. This tasty, soft-textured Pinot Grigio possesses excellent balance and poise. An Orange Wine at a great price.
13% alcohol by volume
2009 Cabernet Franc $22
Sant’ Elana has always had Cabernet Franc on the property but mainly blended it into other wines. Here is a beautiful example of what it can be by itself. The wine is vinified exactly the same as the other reds, in steel and then 24 months in neutral 20hl botte. The wine is a little more rustic or Friulian in style and more feminine and fruit friendly than the Cab Sauv.
2001 Sant’ Elena Merlot $17
A 17-year-old Merlot from Friuli that is far from giving up the ghost. The wine has smooth developed flavors and soft tannin.
13% alcohol by volume
2007 Sant’ Elena Cabernet Sauvignon $19
This well-aged Cab is showing great without the heavy-handed oak of Napa or Walla Walla. The strong ruby color introduces elegant aromas of red fruit jam and sweet spice. The mouth is full and long-standing with a fresh finish.
1997 Ròs di Rôl $23
The Ròs di Rôl is made from their best Merlot grapes. The wine has an incredibly intense reddish-purple hue. A rich and complex bouquet submerges the drinker with notes of cherry, cocoa and leather. The long and soothing finish completes the wine’s well-founded structure. It is 22 years old and just coming of age.
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 looks like we are due a very pretty weekend here in Madrona and we have some very pretty wines lined up to go with it. Come by the shop and have a taste.
Saturday we have Rich Burton of Locus Wines at the shop showing off his new releases at 2pm. 2018 Modo White: $13 60% Semillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc 2018 Locus Rosé $13 42% Grenache, 31% Mourvèdre, 27% Cinsault 2016 Modo Red: $13 38% Cinsault, 21% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, 14% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Locus Red: $21 58% Syrah, 23% Cinsault, 11% Mourvèdre, 8% Grenache 2016 Locus Sagemoor Barbera, Columbia Valley $35
Sunday is Easter and we’ll have two French Rosés open to sip on as you hunt for those Easter eggs. 2018 French Pool Toy $10 This playfully packaged wine (bottled in a plant PET fully recyclable bottle) is as serious as those other Côtes de Provence Rosé wines (well, maybe not) but it does have tart red fruit & a crisp refreshing flavor for the beach, park, boat, hike, hot tub. 12.5% alcohol by volume 2018 Figuiére Le Saint André Rosé $15 25% Syrah, 25% Cabernet Sauginon, 25% Grenache, 25% Cinsault Provence Rosé from La Londe-les-Maures, between Marseille and Nice, where the vineyards’ proximity to the sea lends freshness and soft minerality. Aromas and flavors of peach, orange skin and white flowers are accented by refreshing acidity and a salty minerality thanks to the influence of the sea. 13% alcohol by volume
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.
Rich Burton has been very busy. From the headquarters of Locus Wines, located down on Madrona Drive, he has coordinated all the picking, crushing, fermenting, aging, blending, and bottling that it takes to get a wine to our shop and ready for a glass. This Saturday Rich will be with us, showing off several of his new creations. Come join us and see the results.
2018 Modo White $13 60% Semillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc The Semillon comes from the Dineen Vineyard in the Rattlesnake Hills. The Sauvignon Blanc comes from Naches Heights. The wine has grassy aromas along with papaya and grapefruit. The mineral palate is full of Meyer lemon and pineapple.
2018 Locus Rosé $13 42% Grenache, 31% Mourvèdre, 27% Cinsault From 7 Mile Vineyard in the Rattlesnake hills, this crisp Washington rosé has aromas of white peach, lavender and Mandarin rrange. The fruit notes carry through on the palate along with herbal nuance. It is an easy spring sipper. Don’t wait for Summer!
2016 Modo Red $13 38% Cinsault, 21% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, 14% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon This kitchen sink blend from seven different vineyards is an easy matchup for most things in the kitchen pizza, burgers, chicken wings, left over pot roast or just Fritos and ranch dressing dip.
2015 Locus Red $21 58% Syrah, 23% Cinsault, 11% Mourvèdre, 8% Grenache The anchor grape in this Syrah heavy red comes from Conley and Strand vineyards in the Naches Heights AVA, blended some from Gamache vineyard. The rest of the blend comes from 7 Mile Vineyard. Rhone inspired, the Locus red has aromas of cedar, plum and eucalyptus. The palate is full of violet notes, plum, tea, and coffee. The finish is smooth and layered.
2016 Locus Sagemoor Barbera, Columbia Valley $35 A departure from their predominately French focus, with the Sagemoor Barbera Locus turns their thoughts to Italy while keeping their eyes on Washington fruit. On the nose: the wine shows notes of carnations, dried strawberry, anise, peppercorn. The palate is packed with cherries, tobacco, green pepper.
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.
One of our importers just picked up the wines of Giovanni Sordo in Piedmont. The winery has a good library of aged Barolos at prices that are quite reasonable. We have an opportunity to order from the cellar. Orders need to be in by April 19th. The wine will arrive in August. There is no minimum quantity and you can mix and match as you like.
The venerable house of Giovanni Sordo lies in the heart of Castiglione Falletto and has been producing traditional Barolo for just over 100 years. It’s a family-run winery now in the capable hands of Giorgio, Giovanni’s son, the third generation of the family. Everything here is sustainably farmed, and current holdings come out to 53 hectares in total. The family holds an insane collection of elite-level cru vineyard sites covering the townships of Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d’Alba, Monforte d’Alba, Barolo, Novello, La Morra, Verduno, Grinzane Cavour and Vezza d’Alba and they are the only existing Piedmontese winery that can boast offerings from eight different specific Crus.
Please contact us if you’d like to have us order some for you.
It maybe grey, but Madrona is a much better place to be this weekend than most of the rest of the country. And there are many tasty things to try at the shop this weekend so don’t miss it.
Saturday we are featuring our favorite organic single cultivar Olive Oil, along with 5 wines from Veneto, Campania, Molise and Tuscany Le Manzane, Prosecco Superiore DOCG. $19. Cantine Federiciane, Gragnano $19 2012 Tombacco, Biferno Rosso Riserva $14 2016 Tombacco, Aglianico del Beneventano $14 2012 Tenuta San Vito, Madiere $30
Sunday we are Sipping Ciders, specifically the cider region of Normandy with three very representative dry ciders. Manoir du Parc Brut Cider $8 A very crisp Normandy Cider made from 10 varietals of apples that are grown specifically for Cider. Good complexity and yeasty notes for a small price. 5% alcohol by volume Manoir du Parc Poire $8 A light-bodied pear cider with aromas of ripe pears and clean, refreshing flavor. 3% alcohol by volume Manoir du Parc Rosé Cider $8 This Rosé cider from Normandy is made with pink fleshed apples and is delicious by itself or with that weekend breakfast. 3% alcohol by volume
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 traveling the length of Italy from the north in Veneto to Campania in the south and several stops in between. We’ll also be dipping into our favorite organic olive oil. It’s a tasty traverse. Come along.
Le Manzane, Conegliano/Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG. $19. Glera Le Manzane is in the Morainic hills of Prealpi Trevigiane beteween Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, between 200 and 300 meters above sea level. The grapes are hand harvested. They undergo temperature-controlled fermentation on lees for 3 months giving it texture and structure. This cut above Prosecco received Two Becchiere from Gambero Rosso. It has a fine perlage, delicate fruity aroma with hints of bread crust, with floral nuance.
Cantine Federiciane, Gragnano $19 Aglianico, Piedirosso, Sciascinoso A deep sparkling red from Campania! Gragnano is gently frizzante (sparkling), low in alcohol, perfumed of violets, with a distinct taste of grapes and nuances of berries. It has a slightly sweet vein balanced by savory & bitter notes. The wine has notes of blackberry, plum, cherry, and a note of bitter lemon on the finish. 11% alcohol by volume
2012 Tombacco, Biferno Rosso Riserva $14 80% Montepulciano, 20% Aglianico Biferno is a tiny appellation in the center-south of Italy in Molise. The Riserva has appreciated after time spent aging in both barrel and bottle and the result is an aromatic and seductive wine with cherry and floral lift, but a deep, plum and licorice richness of fruit and silky texture, the tannins mellowed into a gentle, rounded wine. Let it sit in the glass a few minutes (or decant) before drinking
2016 Tombacco, Aglianico del Beneventano $14 From Campania in in Southern Italy, Tombacco’s Aglianico is big, rich, warming and smooth. Hints of cherry and red berries, with a marked vanilla and spicy note lead into an excellent mouth feel, elegant and warm, sapid and full bodied with some spice on the long finish.
2012 Tenuta San Vito, Madiere $30 60% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot Tenuta San Vito in picturesque Tuscany is set amongst groves of olive trees and the vineyards which they tend organically. The Madiere expresses rich, lingering aromas of wild, red berries and spice, harmoniously-balanced on the palate with flavors of strawberries, cherries and black currants. The wine has a round texture, a full body and velvety tannins. Organic
Petrizzelli Extra Virgin Olive Oil $18 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. Organic
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.
To ensure that we can provide you with the specific wine that you are looking for, please call or email us with your request. It’s important to note that the vintage and availability of wines can vary from year to year.
