In honor of Easter we have wines open from both hemispheres – a lovely “peep-friendly” German Muskat and a lighter “ham-friendly” Argentine Bonarda. Come check them out all day (well, 11am-5pm) Sunday.

2010 Anselmann Morio Muskat    ($10)
A floral lighter German Muskat with a lot of fruity character without being overly sweet. Great with fruit and cheese.
10.5 % alcohol by volume

2013 Altos las Hormigas
Colinia las Liebres    ($8)
Bonarda
Mendoza Region
Bright raspberry fruit flavors. Rich and tasty. Take this bunny home with you.

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 Corsini estate was founded in 1995 by Loredana Addari and Nicola Argamante, a couple with a passion for the countryside and a love for great wines.  Their small 10 hectares estate in Monforte d’Alba, in the heart of the Langhe hills, was the perfect place for them to put their Viticulture and Oenology degrees to work.  Monforte d’Alba is the southernmost commune of Barolo known for sturdy, muscular wines due to the sandstone clay found in the soils here. The Corsini wines walk a nice line between the traditionalists and modernists.  Their wines are indicative of the place, but still are accessible and highly drinkable even at a young age.  All the grapes are sustainably farmed.  The wines are also minimally sulfured and not usually fined or filtered. This Saturday we have the treat of pouring a lineup of their wines.  Come have a taste.
 
2014 Langhe Bianco   $14
50% Arneis, 30% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Chardonnay
This unique white blend from the Langhe immediately impresses with an engaging array of apple, pear and gooseberry aromas and a bright palate of layered fruit and crisp acidity. 
 
2014 Dolcetto  $14
Dolcetto d’Alba is a wine that is characterized by its fragrance and freshness: it has a ruby-red color with hues of violet, with a fresh, very fruity fragrance and a totally dry, rich and harmonious flavor that leaves a lingering aroma of tangy almond enhanced by the tannins.”
 
2014 Barbera d’Alba   $16
The 2014 Corsini Babera is fantastic.  It jumps from the glass with loads of ripe plum, bright acidity and rich earthy undertones that keep your palate guessing.

2011 Langhe Nebbiolo  $20
The 2011 Langhe Nebbiolo is from two different vineyard sites—one is within the Barolo appellation and the other is just outside the appellation limits. This wine has red fruits, pretty florals and spicy aromatics dominate the nose while the palate is well-structured with a nice fruitiness through the middle. The palate has a light hit of blood orange in addition to minerals and a forest floor note.  The wine is charming but sturdy and doesn’t not shy away from bold flavors.
 
2011 Barolo Bussia  $40
Corsini’s Bussiavineyard covers 1.1 hectares of 30 to 50 year old vines.  The wine ages for 30 months in a mix of new 1^st and 2^nd year barrels developing its character.  It has ruby red color with garnet to orange overtones. The Bussia open with a rush of fresh aromas of candied cherries, plums, strawberries and raspberries along with darker tones of hazelnuts, licorice, with herbs, cinnamon and vanilla. The ripe, solid palate offers black cherry, tobacco and espresso alongside gripping, dry tannins that leave you wanting more.

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 usually have two bottles open for you to try on Sunday – this Sunday we’ve got two bottles in one! The Mighty March Magnum. And it’s Organic to boot.

Massimo de Gregorio
Nero Terre Siciliane    ($25)
70% Nero d’Avola, 30% Syrah
Made by Marchesi de Gregorio in northwest Sicily, Belice Valley. The Nero is full and dark without being too fruity or over ripe (its only 13%). And a great deal at what works out to be $12.50 a bottle. Organic.
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.

Spring arrives this weekend and here at Madrona Wine we are ready to welcome it.  Sunny or Showers we’ve got some good wines to try.  Stop in and enjoy the change of season.

Saturday we’ll be trying a selection of French wines that cover all the bases.
2013 Kuentz-Bas, Alsace Blanc
2015 Domaine Croix Belle Rosé 
2013 Laurent Gauthier, Grands Cras, Morgon
2009 Chateau La Vielle Cure, La Sacristie de la Ville Cure Fronsac
2011 Domaine Grand Veneur, Lirac Clos de Sixte

Sunday, we are cracking open a big bottle of a big Nero d’Avola blend.
Massimo de Gregorio, Nero  $25– 1.5liter
70% Nero d’Avola, 30% Syrah
Made by Marchesi de Gregorio in northwest Sicily, Belice Valley. The Nero is full and dark without being too fruity or over ripe (its only 13%). And a great deal at what works out to be $12.50 a bottle, and it is organic to boot.  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.

This Saturday we are covering the some of the classic terroir driven wines of France — from the cool climate of Alsace to the warm vineyards of the Rhône and the Languedoc.  Come traipse & taste the country with us.
 
2013 Kuentz-Bas, Alsace Blanc $12
60% Sylvaner, 20% Muscat, 20% Auxerrois
The domaine as we know it today was forged through a marriage that joined the Kuentz and Bas families in 1895. Nestled in the town of Husseren-les-Châteaux, it sits at one of the highest points in Alsace, and the vineyards stretch out from the village over an area of ten hectares.   It is a dry but floral Alsatian blend that combines honeysuckle, peach and apricot flavors. Biodynamic
 
2015 Domaine Croix Belle Rosé  $10
50% Syrah, 50% Grenache
A crisp rosé from the South of France in the Languedoc region Cotes de Thongue. This lively, fruity rose has an intense nose of rose petals and pear drop candies, with a ripe juicy fruit and crisp acidity in the mouth.
 
2013 Laurent Gauthier, Grands Cras, Morgon $18
Gamay
Morgon is considered the most ‘masculine’ of the Grand Cras. This Beaujolais supports that theory. An old vine cru gamy at a great price, the Gauthier has aromas of red cherry, strawberry, black pepper, cinnamon, violets, vanilla and cedar. It is a feast for the nose.  The palate delivers a little tartness with cranberry and black earth.  It is medium bodied with grippy, dry tannins on the finish.
 
2009 Chateau La Vielle Cure, La Sacristie de la Ville Cure $18
74% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 4%Cabernet Sauvignon
La Sacristie is the Second wine of this Fronsac Chateau produced from the younger vines of the estate.  It showcases rich aromas of figs, plum, and a touch of coffee with slight firm tannins and a fresh and spicy finish.
 
2011 Domaine Grand Veneur, Lirac Clos de Sixte $30
50% Grenache noir, 35% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre
The vineyards of Lirac face those of Chateauneuf du Pape on the opposite side of the Rhône river, with similar soil on sides.  Owned and farmed by Alain Jaume, the Clos de Sixte vineyard uses certified organic practices. On the nose, aromas of red and black ripe fruit (kirsch and wild Blackberry) are dominant. The mouth is full, with aromas of blackcurrant liquor and spice. Tannins are both harmonious and elegant thanks to the fleshy of the wine. The end display hints of licorice and vanilla, which give to the wine length and complexity.

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.

Wines from sunny climes hopefully to be matched by sunny spring weather. This Sunday we’ll be tasting an old-vine Grenache from Spain and a Frappato from Sicily. Stop in and give them a try and let us know what you think.

2014 Nicosia Frappato    ($10)
Created from an ancient grape variety typical of southeastern Sicily, this wine is distinctive for its pleasantly fragrant bouquet of fresh red fruits, raspberries and blueberries, while its taste is both lively and soft.
12.5% alcohol by volume

2010 Castillo de Daroca Selection Especial    ($9)
Old Vine Grenache
A great little Spanish value. Dusty earth texture and smokey black currants & blueberry fruits along with well-knit 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.

Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend and at Madrona Wine we will be using that extra hour of sunlight in the evening to toast the coming of Spring.

Saturday we have an outstanding tasting of Italian Wines slated to start at 2pm.  It is not often we get to show off a Brunello.
2014 Tenuta Nera, La Novella 
2014 Filodivino, Lacrima di Morro
2014 Terre Nere, Etna Rosso
2011 Tenuta Fanti, Sassomagno, Sant Antimo
2010 Tenuta Fanti,  Brunello di Montalcino Vallocchio

Sunday we spring forward with two great everyday reds for the longer evenings.

2014 Nicosia, Frappato $10
Created from an ancient grape variety typical of southeastern Sicily, this wine is distinctive for its pleasantly fragrant bouquet of fresh red fruits, raspberries and blueberries, while its taste is both lively and soft.

2010 Castillo de Daroca, Selection Especial $9
Old Vine Grenache
A great little Spanish value. Dusty earth texture and smoky black currants and blueberry fruits along with well-knit tannins.

Breeze by the shop and check them out.

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.