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.

2016 is quickly slipping away, but there are plenty more wines to try before New Years.  We’ll be open until 6pm on New Year’s Eve and we have some fun things to taste between now and then.  Stop in and grab something for Midnight or a nice dinner on the first day of 2017.  (We’ll be closed Monday and Tuesday and then start back next Wednesday with our regular schedule.)

Friday, December 30th

2013 Avignonesi, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, DOCG  $33
Sangiovese
“There’s loads of Sangiovese character here, from the earthy, tobacco-scented beginning to the cherry, leather and earth flavors, all underlined by stiff, chalky tannins. Rustic yet soulful.”
 
Saturday, December 31st

Alain Bailly Grande Reserve Brut  $28
60% Pinot Miunier, 25% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay
Serzy-et-Prin  Marne
Sixth-generation growers, Bailly’s estate consists of 12 hectares composed of eighty vineyard plots. The Grande Reserve has a golden tint, fine mousse, very full bouquet mingles toast, figs, fresh bread, and structured vinous aromas full of richness.
Was $30, Now $28

2014 Pascal Bouchard Chablis Le Classique  $15
Chardonnay
Soft, crisp and fresh, this light wine has some tangy fruit as well as bright citrus. A slight texture and attractive final acidity are enhanced at the end by a juicy apple character.  Was $24 now $15

2014 Sparkman Wilderness  $20
A dark Rhone style blend out of Woodinville.  There are lots of layers to this smooth, rich 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.

Holiday Wines this Week

We have made it to Christmas and Hanukkah but we still have the countdown to New Years with plenty of time to celebrate.  We’ll be pouring something fun everyday!  Stop in and have a sip.

Tuesday, December 27^th

2014 Double Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon  $20
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Syrah, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, 2% Malbec
A full rich Horse Heaven Hills red blend.  Good value Washington wine.

Wednesday, December 28^th

2011 Gallety Cotes du Vivarais $15
50% Grenache, 50% Syrah
From the Ardèche region of the Rhone, This wine comes from very old Grenache and Syrah vines, average of 50 years old that give the wine extra layers of wild berry fruit tinged with thyme and garrigue flavors, deep concentration, power and complexity.  Biodynamic. Was $26 now $15

Thursday, December 29^th

2010Pasquale Pelissero, Bricco San Giuliano Barbaresco  $30
Nebbiolo
A family estate, single-vineyard Barbaresco that comes from an 8-hectare parcel at about 400 meters above sea level and is aged mostly in large botte.   Plum, cherry, licorice and leather notes on a broad frame. Tight and dense, with a lingering, fresh finish and dusty tannins.
 
Friday, December 30^th

2013 Avignonesi, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, DOCG  $33
Sangiovese
“There’s loads of Sangiovese character here, from the earthy, tobacco-scented beginning to the cherry, leather and earth flavors, all underlined by stiff, chalky tannins. Rustic yet soulful.”
 
Saturday, December 31^st

Alain Bailly Grande Reserve Brut  $28
60% Pinot Miunier, 25% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay
Serzy-et-Prin  MarneSixth-generation growers, Bailly’s estate consists of 12 hectares composed of eighty vineyard plots. The Grande Reserve has a golden tint, fine mousse, very full  bouquet mingles toast, figs, fresh bread, and structured vinous aromas full of richness.  Was $30, Now $28

2014 Pascal Bouchard Chablis Le Classique  $15
Chardonnay
Soft, crisp and fresh, this light wine has some tangy fruit as well as bright citrus. A slight texture and attractive final acidity are enhanced at the end by a juicy apple character.  Was $24 now $15

2014 Sparkman Wilderness  $20
A dark Rhone style blend out of Woodinville.  There are lots of layers to this smooth, rich 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.