One of our favorite words, Bordeaux offers some of the best values in France as well as some of the best quality. This Saturday we are showing off a bit of both. We’ll be tasting several everyday drinkers as well as a couple wines more worthy of serious attention. All of them have pricing that is down to earth.
2014 Château Lestrille Capmartine, Entre Deux Mers $11
85% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Muscadelle
A crisp every day white from Entre Deux Mers , the Lestrille is zesty with bold citric fruits, pink grapefruit, and a lovely creamy texture.
2011 Château Senilhac la Prade, Haut Medoc $11
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
Château Senilhac is a small estate not far from Saint Estephe, which dates back to the 19th century, belonging since 1938 to the Grassin family. The wine is a soft, supple, fruit-forward styled Haut-Médoc with berries, soft tannins and low acidity.
2011 Château Lyonnat, Lussac St. Emilion $14
85% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc
A long standing family estate, Lyonnat has 79 acres in this satellite of St. Emilion The wine sees 18 months in new oak barrels. It is a classic right bank Bordeaux with good aging potential. Notes of cedar and loam in addition to abundant black cherry and black currant fruit and very elegant and blended tannins. Was $18 Now $14
2008 Château Lanessan Haut Medoc $28
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
The Lanessan vineyard has belonged to the Bouteiller family since the 18th century. Adjoining the AOC Saint-Julien, the vineyard is 45 hectares of 40-year-old vines. We have been lucky to carry several of their older vintages. The 2008 has expressive aromas of ripe, candied cherry, licorice and fresh tobacco. The body seems firm at first but flesh out with marvelous fruit with good richness.
2010 Château Cantemerle, Les Allées, Haut Medoc $27
87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot
Les Allées is the second label of this 5th growth Chateau. Cantemerle has 94 hectares of vineyards, planted with Cab Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (30%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Petit Verdot (4%). The 2010 is drinking great and ready now. It has wonderful fruit intensity with currants and blueberries on the nose and palate. The body is full with firm tannins and a fresh finish.
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.