It has bee a wet and cold week here in Madrona, but it looks like we get to dry out a bit this weekend.  Maybe if we are lucky we’ll even get a bit of sunshine.  Rain or shine we have some good wines to try this weekend at Madrona Wine so stretch those legs and stop on by the shop.

Saturday, it is all Bordeaux, one place but a lot of variety.
2015 Les Hauts de Bel Air, Bordeaux Blanc  $11
100% Sauvignon Blanc
2015 Château Trébiac, Graves Blanc  $15
100% Sémillon
2014 Les Hauts de Bel Air, Bordeaux Rouge  $11
70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet
2012 Château de la Nauve, St Emilion Rouge  $19
Merlot with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon.
2012 Château L’Argenteyre, Medoc Rouge  $21
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot

Sunday, we’re getting ready for Valentine’s Day (it’s Tuesday) with Bubbles for my Baby & Sweets for the Sweetheart with four wines to capture the heart.

Greut Brut   $16
New Mexico bubbles to promote domestic bliss. 12% alcohol by volume

2010 Anselmann Morio Musat  $10
A floral lighter German Muskat with a lot of fruity character without being overly sweet. Great with fruit and cheese.

Intorcia Moscato Vina Liquoroso  $12
A dessert Muscato from Sicily with nutty and toasty notes along with dried apricot fruit notes. 500 ml, Was $22 now $12

2006 Ordoñez Malaga  $12
The 2006 Seleccion Especial is stainless steel fermented and offers an alluring perfume of jasmine, honey, and tropical fruits. Medium-sweet, the wine is balanced by lively acidity. 375ml, Was $22 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.

Top Bordeaux are some of the most expensive wine in the world.  But besides these kingpins there are many that are great value.  This Saturday we’ll be focusing on the later of these.  We are pouring five great tasting wines that over deliver for the money.  Stop by the shop and taste them with us.
 
2015 Les Hauts de Bel Air, Bordeaux Blanc  $11
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Maison Sichel has their fingers all over Bordeaux.  Their Hauts de Bel Air is intensely aromatic, fresh with a combination of floral notes and tropical fruit (mango, passion fruit). 
 
2015 Château Trébiac, Graves Blanc  $15
100% Sémillon
Château de Trébiac lies on a gravel plateau south of Bordeaux. Its 23 year vines are sustainably farmed (Agriculture raisonnée). The wines aromas reveal white fruits and acacia aromas. In the mouth, there is a beautiful freshness. It is a fat wine with a certain minerality.
 
2014 Les Hauts de Bel Air, Bordeaux Rouge  $11
70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet
Made from 30 year old  vines, les Hauts de Bel Air Rouge is rich, round and supple on the palate.  Strawberry and blackcurrant dominate the spicy nuances and match the velvety tannins. 
 
2012 Château de la Nauve, St Emilion Rouge  $19
Merlot with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Saint-Emilion dominates the right bank of the Dordogne. Château de la Nauve has 10 heactares with 7 being St Emilion appellation, and 3 being Grand Cru.  The wine has a dense mulberry fruit character blending with notes of violets and cassis.  It is concentrated and ripe with a savory twist to the finish, and a high level of ripe but firm tannins which add structure to the whole.
 
2012 Château L’Argenteyre, Medoc Rouge  $21
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot
This Cab heavy blend from the Medoc is aged for 14 months in barrel (30% new wood)  The wine announces its strong personality by the youthfulness of its dress with the fiery violet reflections as by its bouquet where the red fruits are accompanied by beautiful woody notes. Very tasty and perfectly balanced, the palate is not in rest: a lot of matter and volume, beautiful tannins dense and powerful, and a long finish.

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’s a soggy Saturday and Sunday here in Madrona.  Here at the wine shop we are pouring some great wines to warm you up and drive away the dampness and the winter doldrums.

Saturday we have a full house of  Côtes du Rhônes to tempt the Palate and they are all a great value.
2015 Ferraton Père et Fils, Côtes du Rhône Blanc Samorens $14
2014 Domaine de Couron, Marsellan $10
2014 Ferraton Père et Fils, Côtes du Rhône Rouge Samorens  $14
2013 La Cassagnes de la Nerthe, Côtes du Rhône Villages  $22
2014 Ferraton Père et Fils,  Crozes Hermitage La Matiniere $23

Sunday we have two Soggy Super Bowl Sippers, a Washington Chardonnay and a Lodi Zin to quaff along with the big game (beer is so passé).

2015 Disruption Chardonnay $13
There is nothing disrupting about this full, smooth, unoaked Washington Chard.

2012 Scotto Old Vine Zinfandel $12
A easy drinking Lodi Zin with blackberry, cherry and spice flavors with mild oak accents and soft tannins for a smooth finish.

Grab that umbrella and stop on by.

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.

What can we say, we love Rhône wines.  The artful blending of Grenache and Syrah with the other local varietals yield endless variations of complexity and spice that match a wide range of foods.  They are also great values.  This weekend we are tasting Five wines from the Rhône.  All are organic, bio-dynamic, or sustainably farmed.  They are also delicious.
 
2015 Ferraton Père et Fils, Côtes du Rhône Blanc Samorens $14 
60% Grenache Blanc, 40% Clairette
Ferraton started after the war in 1946 and started collecting vineyards in the north & southern  Rhône valley.  In 1998, the vineyards were converted to organic viticulture, then certified, before embracing the culture of bio-dynamics. This Blanc has aromas of white flowers and white fruit.  The palate is nicely balanced.  Clairette brings the freshness and white Grenache body and softness.
 
2014 Domaine de Couron, Marsellan $10
This family-run estate lies in the tiny hamlet of Saint Marcel d’Ardeche where they tend their vineyards using sustainable farming techniques.  Marsellan is the result of a hybrid between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache.  It has aromas of black currants, wild herbs, loamy earth, tobacco leaf and background meatiness to go with a medium-bodied, nicely balanced profile on the palate.
 
2014 Ferraton Père et Fils, Côtes du Rhône Rouge Samorens  $14
80% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Cinsault
The Samorens Rouge comes from vineyards situated on the left bank of the Rhône with alluvial and gravelly soil.  It has aromas of ripe red fruit, spice notes and a nicely structured palate with firm and meaty tannins.
 
2013 La Cassagnes de la Nerthe, Côtes du Rhône Villages  $22
60% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, 5% Mourvèdre, 5% Carignan
Located in Serignan-du-Comtat, which is between Orange and Avignon, this 40+ year old vineyard combines all traditional grape varietals for the Southern Rhône Valley: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvédre, Carignan, and Cinsault. The vines are planted in soils deep in calcareous sandstones well sited on gently undulating slopes.  The vineyards are certified “organically grown”. On the nose the wine has intense red fruits with some black cherry notes.  The finish is long with notes of candied red fruit highlighted by sweet spices with a fresh, silky texture.
 
2014 Ferraton Père et Fils, Crozes Hermitage La Matiniere $23
100% Syrah.
The Ferraton vineyards in the districts of Mercurol and Beaumont-Monteux  in Crozes Hermitage have terraces of glacial alluvial deposits with a lot of round pebbles, stones and gravel.  The wine has a very aromatic attack with aromas of cherries, raspberries, blackcurrants.  The palate is round and smooth with long lingering tannins.

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.

Brawn is not always best, but in the case of our tasting this Saturday, there is plenty of muscle on show.  We gathered the wines from Molise, Puglia, Tuscany, Veneto and Lombardy.  Don’t look for wall flowers in this lot, just rich deep flavors to fill out the gloomy corners of January.  
 
2015 Terresacre, Falanghina  $22
Terresacre vineyards are located in the beautiful countryside of Montenero di Bisaccia, where the hills of the lower Molise are caressed by the sea breeze in a prime location that receives the beneficial influence of maritime climate.  Their beautiful Falanghina is elegant on the nose, with hints of tropical fruit, citrus fruits, and acacia flowers.
 
2012 Luccarelli, Negroamaro  $13
From Puglia, Luccarelli makes this workhorse Negroamaro that is full of blackberries, cherries with a touch of thyme, earth and bitter chocolate.
 
2013 Fattoria Uccelliera, Ginepraia  $23
70% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot
A Brunello producer in Montalcino, Uccelliera also makes this Super Tuscan blend.  It is a complex wine with layers of red fruit of Kirsch and currants and spicy notes of cinnamon and vanilla, long spicy aftertaste.
 
2007 Ca’ Salgari Amarone $39
Amarone is made from Corvina Veronese and, in lower proportion, Corvinone, Rondinella and Croatina grapes. In September, the grapes are harvested and placed in small wooden trays and left to dry for at least 4 months. During this period the grapes lose about 40% of their weight, developing larval forms of noble rot such as botrytis cinerea. The mold naturally contributes to the increase of glycerol concentration, giving the characteristic aroma to the wine with a bouquet of red flowers and fruitiness including notes of cocoa and vanilla.  The taste is warm and soft, lightly tannic with a pleasant finish of spirit-soaked cherries.
 
Cantina Quisello, Lambrusco $12
Lambrusco Ruberti Monovitigno
From Lombardy, Cantina di Quistello was formed in 1928 by a group of growers who wanted to make their own wine.  In their Lambrusco the bouquet features blackberry and red plum accompanied by floral notes of violets.  It is pleasantly soft on the palate with a slightly velvety closure.

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.

While yesterday’s events marked a change of the era, today’s march signals a bit of hope along with the dread. Amidst all the change, it is nice to have some stability.  We still have good wine to drink and we’ll be tasting some all weekend here, (don’t forget that the #2 bus runs straight from Seattle Center to Madrona Wine Merchants.)

Saturday we have a beautiful line up of Classic French wines to offer including an alluring Aligoté, tantalizing Tavel, beautiful Burgundy, rugged Rasteau and a compelling Cahor. 
2012 Christophe Buisson, Bourgogne Aligoté 
2014  Domaine Corne Loup, Tavel Rosé
2012 Regis Bouvier, Marsannay Rouge Clos du Roy 
2012 Famille Gonnet,  Rasteau, La Mado  
2012 Château De Mercuès, Cahors 

Sunday, the Red Octopus Returns as we taste the new vintage of  La Cantine di Indie Polpo Rosso along with a new Cattarratto from Sicily.

2015 Adamo Azienda Agricola, Cattarratto $13
Pale straw yellow color, good aromatic bouquet, with hints of herbs, floral and citrus notes. Fruity, with good acidity and a balanced softness, excellent taste structure.

2015 La Cantine di Indie Polpo Rosso  $14
Nerello Mascalese
This lighter, organic, Sicillian red, is special bottling for our  importer and has been a big shop favorite. The red octopus is a tenacious wine with bright acidity, layered cherry flavor and lingering finish. WE only get a small amount of the 2015 vintage so it won’t be around for long. 

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 pouring a lineup of classic French wines to help push away the January grey.  We have an alluring Aligoté, tantalizing Tavel, beautiful Burgundy, rugged Rasteau and a compelling Cahor.  It is enough to brighten any Saturday.  Come Join us.
 
2012 Christophe Buisson, Bourgogne Aligoté  $15
Bourgogne Aligoté is the appellation in Burgundy where the white wine is made from the other white grape of Burgundy. The Buisson has an exceptionally fresh and spicy nose of mostly pear and citrus scents leads to energetic and well- detailed middle weight flavors that terminate in a saline-inflected, clean, dry and utterly delicious finish.  Organic
 
2014  Domaine Corne Loup, Tavel Rosé $15
65% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, Clairette and Carignan.
From the Lafond family’s vineyard in Tavel.  “Corne Loup” refers to the name given to the place where someone, back in the old days, used to blow the horn (corne) in order to warn everyone if there was any sight of wolf (loup) coming in town.  It is a big full Tavel Rosé with aromas of strawberry and berry pie.  The wine is drinking better than ever with a bit of age on it.   Was $20 now $15

2012 Regis Bouvier, Marsannay Rouge Clos du Roy  $29
The winemaking history of Marsannay runs centuries deep, as far back to the 14th century when the Ducs of Bourgogne preferred Marsannay above other villages. Clos du Roy means “vineyard of the king” and its 40 year old vines grow on its sloped landscape .  The wine is aged in barrel for 12-16 months with 30% new oak.  It is a rich, full, earthy, red Burgundy.
 
2012 Famille Gonnet,  Rasteau, La Mado  $15
80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
Highly aromatic, and with lovely concentration of fruit on the palate, and a great price.

2012 Château De Mercuès, Cahors  $25
85% Malbec, 15% Merlot
Château de Mercuès sits on the gravely hillocks surrounding the communes of Caillac and Mercuès.  The particularity of Château de Mercuès is its vinicultural method, which was used in the last century before phylloxera – significantly increasing planting density.  Most plantations in the Cahors Appellation have average density of 4,000 vines per hectare, but at Château de Mercuès plantation density reaches 6,666 vines per hectare for half the vineyard, as high as for the great Medoc wines. This is particularly favorable for the Malbec grape, which has been grown in Cahors for more than 2,000 years. It reduces yield per stock and increases the quality of the wine, giving it very high concentration and ageing potential.  The wine is a big fully oaked Malbec that blends the old-world leather with a rich wine making style.

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 to be another cold but sunny weekend as we wait for next week’s warmth, (relatively) and rain to return.  At Madrona wines we have a few things lined up to keep you warm.

Saturday we have a full line up of new discount wines as our distributors clean up their warehouses.  There are some great values here and we’ll start pouring them at 11am so you can stop in before the Seahawks game if you want to stock up.
2012 Quintessence Pouilly Fume Was $22 now $12
2012 Quintessence Chinon  Was $20 now $12
2013 Ollivier Hillaire, Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes  Was $20 now $17
2011 Mantellassi,  Punton del Sorbo Was $21 now $13
2007 Bacalhôa,  Sò  Was $20, Now $15

Sunday, all day we are featuring two organic wines from Piedmont.

2014 Popolo di Indie Bianco del Popolo  $11
100% Cortese
A declassified Gavi, made by Terre di Mate for Indie wines. It’s round, fresh and fun.

2015 Popolo di Indie Vino Rosso $13
45% Nebbiolo, 35% Barbera, 20% Dolcetto
The Barbera brings the acidity and bright fruit, the Nebbiolo brings the tannins and the aromatics, and the Dolcetto brings the softness and rounds out the blend. Good Piedmont juice at a great price.

And Sunday is the Artist Reception for our new show Elements of Landscape Drawing by Suzanne Brooker.  Stop by from 3 to 5 pm and check out the show and hang out with the artist.

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.

January is a month where our distributors like to push the broom around the warehouse and clean up a bit, sweeping up odds and ends and offering them at good prices to get them out the door.  When they clean up, we clean up.  This Saturday we are pouring five such wines at prices that are hard to pass up.  Come give them a try.  We’ll be pouring them before and after the Seahawks Game, so there is no excuse.
 
2012 Quintessence Pouilly Fume  $12
Sauvignon Blanc
From the Loire , this crisp Sauv Blanc has aromas of white flowers and citrus blossoms as well as a round and creamy body with a touch of smokiness.  Was $22 now $12

2012 Quintessence Chinon  $12
Cabernet Franc
This wine shows aromas of freshly picked ripe black plums, blackberry, pencil shavings and wet earth. On the palate, it has dense flavors of crushed black fruits with hints of earth and graphite. It is well structured and very food friendly with a nice finish.  Was $20 now $12

2013 Ollivier Hillaire, Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes  $17
60% Grenache, 40% Syrah
Old vine grapes from just across the river from Chateauneuf with intense fruit mixed with spicy flavors , fine tannins, and a very beautiful aromatic persistence.   Was $20 now $17

2011 Mantellassi,  Punton del Sorbo $13
Cabernet Sauvignon
This Tuscan Cabernet is aged for 12 months in barrel.  Its rich aromas features black current & cassis.  It is rich and concentrated on the palate with a hint of mint on the finish.  Was $21 now $13

2007 Bacalhôa,  Sò  $15
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional is the most recognized Portuguese grape variety but not often associated with this part of the country (Terras do Sado) which is close to Lisbon in the foothills of the Arrábida range.  The wine has deep rich flavors of dark fruit and smooth supple tannins.  Was $20, Now $15

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.