Rain or shine this Sunday we’re pouring a couple of new vintages of old favorites. We’ll be sampling a Corsican white along with a lighter Lanquedoc red from Herault. Add a stop at Madrona Wine Merchants to your Sunday schedule! All day from 11 to 5.

2015 Vetriccie Ile de Beaute blanc    ($10)
50% Vermentino, 50% Chardonnay
A Corsican Blanc with aromas of floral citrus, and mineral notes and full but crisp body. 12% alcohol by volume

2013 Magellan, le Fruit Defendu Rouge    ($10)
90% Cinsault, 10% Grenache
From 6 hectares of 40-year-old vines of Cinsault located on our sandstone soils parcels. They let the grape speak for itself. Clean cherry and plum fruit along with a bit of spice and a touch of smokiness. 12.5% alcohol by volume
Was $13 now $10

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.

The breeze is blowing the clouds on and out this weekend.  Here at Madrona Wine we’ll be pulling the corks at 2PM on some new thing that have recently blown into the shop.

Saturday we’re showing off some Fresh French wines from a new local importer.  
2012 Domaine Thierry Mosny, Montlouis sur Loire, Les Graviers Sec  (Chenin Blanc)
2013 Domaine Changarnier, Monthélie Blanc  (Chardonnay)
2015 Bernard Magrez,  Bleu de Mer Rosé  (70% Grenache, 30% Cinsault)
2011 Couly Dutheil,  Baronnie Madeleine, Chinon  (Cabernet Franc)
2007 Croix Espérance, Lussac Saint Emilion  (Merlot)

Sunday we stay in France with two new wines suited to summer.

2015 Vetriccie Ile de Beaute blanc  $10
50% Vermentino, 50% Chardonnay
This Corsican Blanc has aromas of floral citrus, and mineral notes and full but crisp body. 12% alcohol by volume

2013 Magellan, le Fruit Defendu Rouge $10
90% Cinsault, 10% Grenache
From 6 hectares of 40-year-old vines of Cinsault located on our sandstone soils parcels. This light-styled red is great for a barbecue with clean cherry and plum fruit along with a bit of spice and a touch of smokiness. 12.5% alcohol by volume
Was $13 now $10

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.

Sunday Sippers

June 5^th

11am —5pm

The French government offered to buy a round for the house so we took them up on it. Stop by on Sunday and join the fun as we pour six wines from the Languedoc showcasing the variety of the region. And from 1 to 4 we’ll have a Languedocesse expert here to answer all your questions.

J. Laurens Cremant de Linoux $17
60% Chardonnay, 30% Chenin Blanc, 5% Mauzac, 5% Pinot Noir
The Laurens has zingy lemon-lime flavors which evolve into fuller pineapple and citrus, and light, cardamom-like spice. Its rich yeasty character adds breadth and weight. 12% alcohol by volume.

2014 Mas de Daumas Gassac, Picpoul de Pinet $17
Gassac’s Picpoul is from five hectares of organically grown vines near the oyster beds on the Mediterranean Sea. The influence of limestone soils and Mediterranean Sea breezes is evident in the wine. Briny mineral notes in both the nose and mouth provide the perfect pairing for fish and shellfish. The palate is dominated by melon and citrus flavors and a crisp, zesty acidity that keeps you coming back for more. The weight and fruit concentration make this a more ample wine than most Picpouls.

2015 Château Jouclary, Cabardès Rosé $12
Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Cinsault
The Cabardès appellation is located just outside the medieval walled city of Carcassonne. One of France’s newest A.O.C.’s, it was established in 1998. Its climatic influences come from both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and both “Atlantique” (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc) and “Mediterranean” (Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault) must be used in the wine. This is a crisp & refreshing rosé, the nose is full of fresh fruit, & the palate offers strawberry & raspberry flavors.

2014 Somail, Le un de Plume, Minervios $14
80% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah
Baby Bandol? Pretty close. This Mourvedre heavy red has lots of dark black fruit and spicy notes with a silky texture and full tannin finish.

2011 Chateau du Grand Caumont, Corbières $12
45% Carignan, 40% Syrah, 15% Grenache.
The Château du Grand Caumont, in the heart of the Corbières, produces wines from a terroir, know-how, a winemaking family for 3 generations. Intense & powerful with black berry fruits, violet & pepper aromas. The palate is dominated by dark berry fruit flavors; this wine is well balanced & structured with good length & a lingering finish.

2013 Château Massiac, Minervois $18
75% Syrah, 25% Carignan
The flagship wine from the Chateau. “Enticing notes of juniper, rosemary and thyme as well as the savory flavors of wild berries and a hint of the ‘animal'”.

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.

ANIMALE resides in a small carefully organized cellar in the deep upper Ballard; there Matt Gubitosa crafts his wines.  We have long been fans of ANIMALE wines, and this Saturday Matt’s will be showing off his newly released 2013s.  All the wines were aged in a combination of all old/neutral oak and stainless steel to showcase the inherent varietal qualities and the distinctiveness of the cool-climate growing sites and the cooler-weather vintage.  The wines have balanced, food-friendly acidity and modest alcohol and are never subjected to the horrors of fining or filtration. Stop in at 2 and have a taste.
 
2013 Cabernet Franc, Yakima Valley  $25
90% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot
From ANIMALE’s 1/2-acre of vines near Sunnyside, this Cab Franc is a medium- to full-bodied wine with aromas of strawberry and raspberry, flavors of red currant, cherry pie, with hints of slate.  Alc. 13.6%, 44 cases produced
 
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley  $26
81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot
From old-vine (1990) fruit at the Crawford Vineyard in Prosser The Cab Sauvignon is full-bodied with complex aromas and flavors of cherry and pimento, with notes of eucalyptus, root beer, mushrooms, mixed herbs and ample tannins that make for an age-worthy wine.  Alc. 13.5%, 24 cases produced
 
2013 Petit Verdot, Columbia Valley  $26
From the “Doc Stewart” vineyard, near Mattawa, the Petit Verdot is  concentrated and full-bodied with perfume-like aromas of raspberry with exotic hints of sumac, menthol and citrus fruit along wtih flavors of cassis and plums with hints of wet stone.  Lay it down and watch it evolve.  Alc. 13.1%, 21 cases produced
 
2013 Reserve Petite Sirah, Yakima Valley  $26
From ANIMALE’s 1-acre of vines near Sunnyside the Petite Sirah is full-bodied with  aromas of fresh blackberries, with suggestions of grapefruit, cranberry, mixed herbs and flowers.  It is luscious and rich on the palate, with flavors of plums, Moreno cherry, and Italian prunes.  Alc. 13.4%, 54 cases produced
 
2012 Dolcetto – Columbia Valley  $25
We’ll also be revisiting the 2012 Dolcetto from Gilbert’s 24k vineyard on Wahluke Slope.  The Dolcetto has complex and spicy aromas of blackberry and freshly-ground peppercorns, with hints of anise, blackcurrant, cola, and wisps of violets and sweet smoke. It’s a zesty, medium-bodied wine with flavors of fresh berries and a soft but lingering finish.  Alc. 14.4%, 22 cases produced

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

May 29th 11-5pm

Rain or shine this Sunday we’re pouring a couple of odd balls – an Italian White with an odd label, and a Bulgarian Red with an odd bottle – but the juice in both is great!

All day from 11 to 5.

2015 Collefrisio Pecorino    ($13)
A fuller-bodied Pecorino with subtle tannins and great fruit, topped with tea and peach aromas.

2013 Yambol Mavrud    ($11)
A tannin-packed red from Bulgaria with smoky note and dark cherry flavors.

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 Memorial Day Weekend here in Madrona and there is plenty going on for those of us who don’t head out camping.

Saturday at 9am there is a Big Garage Sale at 29th & Pike with plenty of everything imaginable going at ridiculous prices.  Collections of every kind are being pared down and parted with. Baskets, Records, CDs, books knickknacks and oddities for everyone. Swing by a scoop up some deals.

After the Garage Sale ends at 1pm we’ll be ready for some refreshment and we’ll be pouring some fresh Alpine wines from Abbazia di Novacella.  The monks have been making wine here for 850 years and have their chops down. 
2014 Grüner Veltliner
2014 Pinot Grigio (Ruländer)
2014 Kerner Praepostius
2013 Pinot Nero (Blauburgunder)
2014 Lagrein

Sunday we’ll have two new arrivals from far away open to taste.  While the packaging might be a bit different, the wines are both delicious.

2015 Collefrisio Pecorino $13
From Abruzzo this full-bodied Pecorino has subtle tannins and great fruit, topped with tea and peach aromas.

2013 Yambol, Mavrud  $11
Mavrud is a tannin-packed red grape from Bulgaria, with smoky note and dark cherry flavors.

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.

The Augustinian monastery of Neustift is located in the northern-most winegrowing region on the southern side of the Alps where the mineral-rich soils, the high elevation and the cool climate make wines with intense aromas and flavor as well as crisp mouth-watering acidity.   The long drawn-out ripening period extending well into the autumn is crucial to making growing Kerner, Pinot Grigio and Veltliner.  The monastery also owns vineyards in the warm central region of South Tyrol which supply their red grapes including the full-bodied, savory Lagrein and a dry distinct Pinot Noir.   The winery couples 850 years of winemaking experience with state-of-the-art winemaking technology.   Stop by on Saturday as we taste these distinct and delicious wines.
 
2014 Grüner Veltliner $18
Vivid green herb and pepper nose with lots of intensity; concentrated, ripe, full and delicately aromatic on the palate with a subtle herby lift; long with a hint of spice on the finish.
 
2014 Pinot Grigio (Ruländer) $18
Attractive aroma of citrus fruits, peach and honeydew melon; medium rich, fruity and direct on the palate with orchard fruit flavors and tangy acidity on the finish.
 
2014 Kerner Praepostius  $23
Praepostius or Pontif select is made from a selection of the better plots and barrels of  Kerner.  The wine has strong aromas of apple, aromatic herbs and tropical fruits. With full minerality and almost salty on the palate, it is very eloquent in its deep, mouth filling finish.
 
2013 Pinot Nero (Blauburgunder) $20
The Blauburgunder is a stylish and elegant Pinot Noir rather than full-bodied and muscular. The wine has a fresh, fruity nose, aromatic, supple and luscious with hints of red currants and damsons, velvety tannins and a discreet whiff of oak spice.
 
2014 Lagrein $18
Intensely deep in color, almost black tinged with purple. Very open on the nose with concentrated aromas of violets, blackberries and black cherries all meshed with savory flavors, coffee and dark chocolate; supple youthful tannins and superb length.

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.

Rain or shine we’re still going to pour a Lirac rosé along with a heartier red from Saint-Chinian. Pouring all day from 11 to 5.

2013 Chateau Coujan Saint Chinian    ($11)
40% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre,
25% Syrah, 10% Cinsault
A great price for a Saint Chinian red. The Coujan has right combination of earth, spice and dark fruit.
13% alcohol by volume

2014 Pélaquié Lirac Rosé    ($11)
60% Grenache, 20% Syrah,
20% Cinsault
The Lirac rosé all grace and elegance fruit flavors offer a gown subtly mixed with raspberry highlights.
Was $15 now $11

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.