Bordeaux needs no introduction. The home of Cabernet and Merlot in France has been an obsession for several centuries. Like Burgundy, the vineyards have been ranked and classed for pedigree. Unlike Burgundy, the production is bountiful. And while the prices of the first growths have long ago gone through the roof, there is plenty of quality affordable wine to be had. Join us this Saturday as we try a small cross section of these wonderful wines.
2012 Grand Bateau, Bordeaux Blanc $12
80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Semillon
From well-known Bordeaux producer Château Beychevelle, this sustainably grown blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc shows citrus and herbal characters with a touch of oak and mineral backbone and a modest 12.5% alcohol.
2010 Château D’Arvigny, Haut Médoc $15
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
D’Avigny is the second wine of Chateau Beaumont. It is characterized by supple; silky, feminine structure with mellow tannins. The wine has aromas of ripe fruits and a smooth depth of flavor, along with dry mineraled tannins.
2009 Château Lyonnat, Lussac Saint-Emilion $24
85% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc
A long standing family estate, Lyonnat has 79 acres in this satellite of St. Emilion with several parcels of old vines. The wine sees 18 months in new oak barrels. It is a classic right bank Bordeaux with good aging potential. Notes of cedar wood, roasted herbs, loamy earth and soil undertones in addition to abundant black cherry and black currant fruit jump from the glass of this medium to full-bodied, earthy style of wine. The palate is powerful and smooth, with very elegant and blended tannins.
2010 La Serene de Giscours, Margaux $47
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
La Sirene is the second label of the third growth house Giscours. The wine has woodland aromas, red and black fruit, chocolate notes and a beautifully structured palate with a long finish. It is delicious to drink now but it will improve in the cellar.
2004 Chartreuse de Coutet, Sauternes $20
75% Semillon, 23% Sauvignon, 2% Muscadelle
In 2004, warm and dry weather from mid-August to the end of September enabled the crop to reach optimum maturity. The botrytis took a long time to set in and, as a result, the harvest took 32 days and required numerous passages through the vineyard. The wine shows “notes of white and yellow fruits (pear, peach, and cherry plum) mixed with beeswax and crystallized quince. On the palate, one can detect a marriage of elegant, ‘old alcohol,’ fruit brandy, notes of spices and dried fruits… a very aromatic, well-integrated blend giving a small yet quite pleasant complexity, with finesse and a savory impression. The finish, with a small touch of caramel-toffee, lingers on an aromatic expression rather than power, giving this vintage a lot of charm.”
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. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.