This weekend we traipse the vineyards of France, tasting the terroir as we go.  The wines on Saturday come from Petit Monde, a local distributor which focuses on small, sustainable, organic and more natural producers.  What’s that all mean?  Come find out.
 
Château Breze, Cremant de Loire $19
75% Chenin Blanc, 25% Chardonnay
Château de Breze, an enormous medieval castle that overlooks Saumur, one of the Loire’s most scenic towns, has produced wine since the 15th century. The Château’s crisp, chalky sparkler is made in the Champagne method with organic winemaking methods, indigenous yeasts, and 24 months of aging on the lees.  The bead is surprisingly fine and pure, and the nose and palate practically ring with fresh fruits, mineral and golden strawberries!
 
Florence Loisel Cidre Brut  $10
From Brittany France, this crisp dry cider has notes of heirloom, crab, & green apples, lemon, stone fruit, pineapple, and mineral.
 
2017 Domaine Couet  $15
Sauvignon Blanc
Couet’s Coteaux-du-Giennois comes from clay, limestone soils and flint, clay soil in the Loire. The nose opens immediately on beautiful exotic fragrances (passion fruit, grapefruit). The mouth is a model of balance: the size, quickness and length give it an elegance and remarkable harmony.
 
2015 Château Lafond Canon Fronsac $18
While nowadays neighboring St. Émilion gets all the press, there was a time in the 18th century when Canon-Fronsac was the most sought-after Bordeaux region. Although it is no longer poured at the court of Versailles, wineries like Château Lafond are still making full bodied wines with balance. This Fronsac has notes of ripe cherry, plum and blackberry flavors with an underlying tannic structure.
 
2017 Olivier Pithon, Mon P’tit Pithon  $16
33% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 34% Mourvèdre
This 9-hectare estate is situated in the village of Calce in the Roussillon The vines are grown strictly according to biodynamic principles.  Named after Olivier`s son, My Little Pithon is a wine made from young vines, with garrigue character. The wine has rich red fruit on the palate alongside an elegant minerality.

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.