Sometimes you just have to go back to basics.  This Saturday we’ll be pouring a solid line up of basic French wines that offer a solid foundation for any meal.
 
2012 Le Petit Xavier Blanc   $12
50% Sauvignon, 30% Picpoul, 20% Grenache Blanc
Blended from grapes from the Languedoc and the Rhone and designed to be “Fruit, flowers, spices & foremost fun”. The blanc offers notes of citrus, tropical fruit, and floral white flowers with a fresh palate.  Normally $17 now $12
 
2014 L’Opaline, Provence Rosé  $14
65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Cinsault
From vineyards at nearly 1,200 feet  this Provence Rosé benefits from warm days and cool nights that produce full but aromatic wine.  The L’Opaline has fresh red berry flavors accented by dried red fruits, mineral overtones, and a crisp, dry, and elegant finish.  12.5% alcohol by volume
 
2011 Domaine de Venes, Minervois  $12
80% Syrah, 20% Cinsault
Frantz Venes’ family has owned the estate for 300 years and his Domus Maximus is one of the top wines of the region.  This more down to earth Minervois has lots of dark plum, smoke and garrique that float off this juicy Southern French red.  Organic
 
2012 Château Le Grand Moulin Bordeaux $13
70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc
Château Le Grand Moulin is located in Saint Aubin de Blaye in Bordeaux. The wine has aromas of ripe, almost candied fruits, harmoniously combined with roasted and wooden notes. It is a soft mellow Bordeaux with elegant and melted tannins. 
 
2010 Xavier, Gigondas,  $35
100% Grenache
Xavier Vignon, is an oenologist for a large number of Châteauneuf du Pape estates, including Raymond Usseglio, La Gardine, Jerome Quiot, Beaurenard, La Nerthe, Mont Redon, Marcoux, and Grand Veneur.  In 2002 he decided to start making his own wine from purchased grapes from his many contacts and has had great results.   “A sleeper of the vintage, the blockbuster 2010 Gigondas is a spectacular effort from this appellation. Fashioned from 100% Grenache (somewhat unusual), it exhibits a deep ruby/purple color in addition to copious amounts of concentrated red and black fruits intermixed with hints of wet rocks and spice.” 92-94+ points — The Wine Advocate

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.