Importer Louis/Dressner works with growers who practice winemaking using organic viticulture, wild yeasts, hand harvesting the fruit, minimal chaptalization, light use of SO2 and no filtration.  This is fine winemaking at its purest, most fundamental level.  They are also wines that are not only complex but fun, and a great pleasure to drink.  Join us this Saturday as we taste through some of the wines from their French winemakers.
 
2013 Jean-Paul Brun, Terres Dorees Cremant de Bourgogne, Charme Extra Brut $21
Chardonnay
Paul Brun is known for his Beaujolais, but he also makes this very dry Sparkler from Burgundy.  The wine is a yeasty, refined Cremant with very chalky bubbles and aromas of green apples, pear, and lemon zest.
 
2013 Francios Cazin, Cour-Cheverny Blanc $17
100% Romorantin
Romorantin was once quite widely grown in the Loire, but has now retreated to the Cour-Cheverny AOC in the Loire valley, amounting to only about 119 acres split between 30 wineries.   Francois Cazin’s  is bone-dry with pronounced minerality, honeysuckle, green apple and lime
 
2015 Jean-Paul Brun, Terres Dorees Rosé l’Folie $15
Gamay
The Rosé d’Folie is fermented in tank with no carbonic maceration.  It is fresh and vibrant with raspberry on the palate and a nice lingering finish.
 
2014 Domaine de la Pépière, VdP Rouge ‘Cuvee Granit’ $17
50% Cabernet Franc, rest Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cot (Malbec)
This unusual blend from the Loire is grown on Granite soils and are thinned to increase the concentration of the fruit with the older Cabernet Franc vines help bring structure and richness to this wine. The Granit is crisp, with black fruit and violet notes and lots of mouth-cleansing acidity.
 
2013 Eric Texier, Saint Julien en St. Alban, Côtes du Rhone $23
100% Serine (Syrah)
Syrah specialist Texier makes this wine from Serine, a clone of Syrah, in Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Albanin in Ardèche which lies between the north and the South Rhone in both grapes and geography.  The wine has intensely perfumed aromas of black and blue fruits, licorice, violet and black pepper along with soft forest floor and a crunchy forward attack. It offers juicy cassis and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of smokiness. And it closes with strong spicy tannins and bright mineral-driven persistence.

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.