MEET OWNER BRUNO LABOUCARIE SATURDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2010 at WHOLE FOODS @ 4 pm. Special pricing for this event: $5.00 LIMITED TO 25 VIPS email us at getfinewine@gmail.com to confirm   Event sponsors: Whole Foods and Kermit Lynch Imports      DOMAINE DE FONTSAINTE CORBIERES ROUGE, 2007  [was $17.99 / SALE $15.99]            On a recent trip through the Languedoc  region of southern France,  Dixon Brooks, wine manager for Kermit Lynch Imports office in  Burgundy,  visited Domaine de Fontsainte. The winery was started in 1971 by Yves Laboucarié. Since 1995, his son Bruno has been managing this property in the appellation of Corbières, near the town  of Boutenac, a quaint hamlet surrounded by low hills dotted with tall parasol pines on gravelly slopes exposed to the warm Midi sun.    Corbières is the largest appellation in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southern France. This dramatic grape growing area is the largest  producer of wine on Earth, making an astounding two billion bottles per year!        To farmers, the vastly different landscape and soils means different micro-climates and  different ways of winemaking. Visitors notice the areas surprising variety of landscapes. The southern areas along the coastal Mediterranean area offers broad  sandy beaches. A few miles inland, the terrain changes along a plain to more furtile soils with lush vegetation. As you continue north into the high country, the land becomes dramatically dry, stark and rocky with soaring hills.  Amazingly, all of these changes of terrain  occur within just one hour’s drive.      Domaine de Fontsainte is also patchwork of diversity.  There are more than 150 different parcels on this 150 acre estate. Each allows Bruno Laboucariés to maximize the affinities between soil type, micro-climate and grape variety. This combination is what Bruno believe makes great terroir driven wines. The winery is situated next to a large pine forest that protects the vines from the persistent wind.   Ancient coins found here prove the Romans were on the land over 2,000 years ago, perhaps drawn to the natural spring on the estate. The winery is named in honor of this spring and it means "fountains of the saints." History is certainly important to the family. This property is home to one of the oldest carignan vineyards found on the planet with vines being just over 100 years of age.   Sadly, Bruno Laboucariés grandfather died in 2009 at the age of 102.5 years. He was only one year younger than many of the vines in their vineyard they call "La Demoiselle."  Dixon was introduced to him about a month before he died. He was asleep in a chair in their dining room, dressed to the nines, when Bruno took Dixon into the house to meet him.  Bruno woke him up by clapping loudly and shouting “Papie.”  According to Dixon, his great joy at this stage in life was joining the family at the lunch table every day and sharing a glass of their wine.      La Demoiselle vineyards with 100+ year old carignan plantings      Domaine de Fontsainte Corbieres Rouge, 2007 The silica-clay-limestone soil is gritty and that seems to  create a somewhat dusty, angular mouthfeel on many of  the Corbieres wines .  Fontsainte rouge is a rustic blend of 60% carignan, 30% grenache  and 10% syrah. The wine is wonderfully approachable now, offering  bright  cherry flavors, black fruits, coco powder and touch of licorice. Overall, it's just a wonderful example of  true old world earthiness and texture.         Hope springs eternal is a fitting phrase to this winery and the memory of Bruno's grandfather.     Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never is, but always to be blest: The soul, uneasy and confin'd from home, Rests and expatiates in a life to come. Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man, Epistle I, 1733            THE WINE SHOPPE 2109 ABBOTT MARTIN ROAD NASHVILLE, TN 37215 615.297.5220   at GREEN HILLS    please, drink different!                                   "we beg you"     Read previous daily wine picks by clicking here                          http://www.ourdailywine.com/PastD   eals.Aspx

FEBRUARY 6, 2010 ~ Saturday, 4:00-5:30 pm                $5           SOLD OUT! x 2

@ WHOLE FOODS Salud! Cooking School

WINEMAKER MEET & GREET ~ Join us for a special Saturday afternoon wine tasting honoring Bruno Laboucarié of Domaine de Fontsainte. We will taste three wines from this stellar vintner from the beautiful town of Boutenac, in the Corbieres area of Southern France. Included is the Fontsainte rouge blend, the spectacular gris de gris dry rose and the most exceptional "La Demoiselle" single vineyard carignan (red grape) from 100+ year old vines.  ONLY 25 GUESTS. $5. 4:00-5:30, February 6. RSVP @ getfinewine@gmail.com.

FEBRUARY 10, 2010 ~ Wednesday, 5:00 - 5:45 pm      FREE!

@ THE WINE SHOPPE AT GREEN HILLS

MEET/BOTTLE SIGNING  Jenne Lee Bonaccorsi, owner/assistant winemaker of this exceptional Santa Barbara winery! Available for your cellar ~ signed! Note: not a tasting!

2007 Bonaccorsi Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir  ($55...signed $45)

2006 Bonaccorsi Nielson Vineyard Pinot Noir   ($55...signed $45)

2007 Bonaccorsi Sanford and Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir   ($55...signed $45)

2006 Bonaccorsi Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah   ($50...signed $43)

2006 Bonaccorsi Larner Vineyard Syrah  ($50...signed $43)

FEBRUARY 10, 2010 ~ Wednesday, 6:00 - 8:00 pm       FREE by reservation only!

@ BISTRO 360

Meet Guy Sarton dy Jonchay, managing director and winemaker of J. Vidal-Fleury winery located in the Rhone Valley region of France. Guy has an extensive repertoire in international winemaking. Wines selected are Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2008, Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2007, Côtes du Ventoux 2007, Vacqueyras 2007, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2006, Châteauneuf-du-Pape "Eccusone" and Muscat Beaumes de Venise 2007. WOW!

FEBRUARY 17, 2010 ~  Wednesday, 6:00-7:30 pm        $10

@ WHOLE FOODS Salud! Mezzanine

The return of our WEEKLY WINE WEDNESDAY WINE SOCIALS! Come taste seven wines that we have chosen as the weeks top daily picks on www.ourdailywine.com!

FEBRUARY 18,  2010  ~  Thursday, 6:30 - 8:30 pm          $44  each class

FEBRUARY 22,  2010  ~  Monday,   6:30 - 8:30 pm         

@ WHOLE FOODS Salud! Cooking School   

BEST DEAL:  [VIP SPECIAL $69 for two class series]

INTRODUCTION TO ITALIAN WINES

The wines of Italy can offer a challenge to any wine lover, first because of the dramatic differences posed by the various soils and climates of the many regions and then because of the astounding variety of grapes, each with its own character and its own story. This class will familiarize students with the essentials of Italian wine, including the effects of geography on wine production and the Italian wine classification system. Students will be guided through the diverse wine country traditionally known as Enotria­­­­ - "The Land of Wine," tasting glorious wine selections from north to south.

FEBRUARY 24, 2010 ~ 6:00 pm                       SOLD OUT!

@ MAD PLATTER RESTAURANT in Germantown

Frederick Wildman Imports Wine Dinner featuring an array of terrific French wines.

FEBRUARY 24, 2010 ~ Wednesday, 6:00 - 7:30 pm                      $10

@ WHOLE FOODS Salud! Cooking School

Weekly Wine Wednesday Wine Social ~ Ourdailywine.com Top seven picks for the week!

APRIL 1, 2010 ~

@ tayst! RESTAURANT           Time: tbd; Cost: tbd

Winemaker/owner Brian Terrizzi of Giornata Wines. This is a California winery that makes terrific Italian style wines. We gave their nebbiolo reserve a perfect 100 point score. Wines are organic! "REAL WINES from REAL PEOPLE series."