Saturday we are celebrating Bastille Day with a lineup of liberating French wine. Stop by to commemorate the revolution or just get ready for Sunday’s World Cup Match against Croatia.
2016 Domaine Jean Vullien, Jacqère $14
Domaine Jean Vullien is run by Jean and his two sons in the Combe de Savoie where they work 69 acres of hillside vines. Though the Vulliens have been making wine for over 40 years, the family is perhaps best known as a leader in the vine nursery business, providing young vines to growers throughout France. Their 100% Jacquère is grown on soils of dark Jurassic limestone and black marl with a pebbly topsoil layer of scree. The wine is light, mineral and brightly acidic with notes of alpine flowers and citrus. Enjoy with fondue or mountain cheeses.
2016 Domaine Vigneau Chevreau, Vouvray sec Cuvee Silex $22
Chenin Blanc
Located in the heart of the Vouvray, this family run winery has grown with five generations, thus steadily expanding from 5 to 33 acres. In 1995 they switched to Bio-dynamic farming practices. This crisp Vouvray has a mineral character, along with a fruity undertone. The wine has aromas of apple, pear and citrus fruit; ample and round on the palate, and slightly off-dry, but the sweetness is balanced by its natural acidity.
2017 Château de Pampelon Cotes de Provence Rosé $20
Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Tibouren
This 17th century Château borders the Riviera beach of the same name near Saint Tropez. The estate has been in the Gasquet-Pascaud family since 1840, when it was purchased by Gasquet ancestor André Folco, treasurer for Napoléon III. The current proprietor of this beautiful 400-acre Domaine is Edgar Pascaud, and his daughter Marie directs the winemaking. In addition to the classic rosé of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, Pampelonne also uses Tibouren in the blend. This ancient Greek variety, now unique to this area of France, is valued for the aromatic intensity it lends to some of Provence’s finest rosés. Young strawberries, apricot, and hints of nectarine on the nose are met with minerality and white stone fruit on the palate. Perfectly crisp and balanced with zippy acidity that will last ’til sunset.
2017 Domaine du Prieurè, Hautes Cotes du Beaune $19
The vineyards for Prieuré’s Hautes Cotes are located on the east facing wooded slopes above the famous villages of Pommard, Volnay and Meursault, with iron rich soils, which gives them some of the character and elegance of the grander village wines grown on the slopes below. Generally aged for a shorter time in barrel, this makes them more approachable and easier drinking when young. The Hautes cotes has fresh red fruit aromas, and a firm flavor, accentuated by good acidity and very present tannins. It is a great value Burgundy.
2016 Domaine Jean Vullien, Mondeuse “St Jean de la Porte” $16
Vullien’s St-Jean de la Porte is made from 100% Mondeuse grown on the dark Jurassic limestone and black marl soils of Savoie. The grapes come from 16 acres of sustainably farmed vines. All grapes are de-stemmed and after fermentation the wine is aged in 100% French oak barrels for 12 months. The resultant wine is wonderfully complex with bright floral and spice notes to compliment the fresh red and black fruit flavors.
Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2pm until the bottles run out and on Sunday we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5pm.