Friday, March 23, 2012
Wine Wandering Wino: Old Faithful Edition
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Fri, Mar 23, 2012 at 7:28 AM
They have two in-store events coming up in the next two weeks. First up on Friday, March 30, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., they will be hosting a free in-store tasting with Nicole Rosalina from Cultivate Wines, the new project from Charles Banks of Terroir Capital. The project gives 10 percent of gross sales back to charities that it allows consumers to vote for through its website. Info on the wines is available on the Wine Shoppe’s website here.
Next they will have Steven Alexander from De Maison Selections in town on Tuesday, April 3, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., to host another free in-store tasting. De Maison specializes in amazing small-production Spanish wines. Here’s The Wine Shoppe’s write-up of the event:
"France is still the king of traditional European wine-craft, delivering the most majestic but slightly stuffy examples of old world wine, and Italy is the exciting, romantic teenager who can deliver poetic and mesmerizing bottles, but sometimes wrecks the family car while texting. So what to make of Spain?
Well, it turns out, Spain is the quiet dynamo of European wine, churning out a vast array of interesting, sultry wines that—unlike most of France and Italy—can deliver real value. We encourage you to join us for a wine dinner with De Maison Selections, who, in our opinion, has the finest and most exciting portfolio of Spanish wine in the United States.We've said it before, but we'll say it again: De Maison's portfolio is unmatched in delivering exciting, dynamic small-production wines that showcase the diversity and quality inherent in Spain's wine culture. This is an event not to miss, and is sure to change the way you think about, and certainly drink, Spanish wines."
Tennessee Performing Arts Center presents “The Art of Corsair Distillery” Thursday, April 5 at War Memorial Auditorium from 6-8 p.m. Admission to this next chapter of TPAC’s successful “Art of” series is only $30.
Andrew Webber, co-owner of Corsair Artisan Distillery, will lead the tasting where patrons will learn what to include in their home bar and how to make tasty cocktails. Included in the tasting will be: Vanilla Bean Vodka, Spiced Rum, Gin, Triple Smoke Whiskey, Red Absinthe, food pairings, and a few surprises.
For tickets, click here: p=9,5,1&ProductionID=2354&utm_source=mail2&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mail2_DedicatedCorsair&nsc=4367
BEST OF BURGUNDY WINE DINNER
On Friday, March 30 , the Palm Nashville is hosting a “Best of Burgundy” five course tasting wine dinner for $115 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity. The menu looks stupendous:
FIRST COURSE
Fifth Avenue Salad
roasted wild mushrooms, butternut squash and gnocchi croutons
tossed with greens and truffle oregano vinaigrette
Louis Jadot Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay
SECOND COURSE
Olive Oil Poached King Salmon
with brussels sprouts slaw and leek butter sauce
Louis Jadot Pinot Noir Bourgogne
THIRD COURSE
Rabbit Pappardelle
braised rabbit with fennel and herbs
tossed in a pommery mustard cream
Louis Latour Meursault Blanc, 2008
FOURTH COURSE
Roasted Lamb Shank
with pan jus and rosemary polenta
Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin, 2005
FIFTH COURSE
White Chocolate and Tuscan Bread Pudding
topped with orange anglaise and fresh berries
Simonnet-Febvre Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé
RSVP to Paige Dixon at pdixon@thepalm.com or (615) 742-3193
Woodland Wine Merchant invites you to their free in-store tasting this Saturday from 3-5 p.m. They’ll be rolling out four shades of spring:
A & M Quenard Vin de Savoie Les Abymes
White: Dry, super-crisp that really comes alive on the palate. Jacquere is an indigenous vareital from the alpine region of Savoie.
Chateau Sainte Eulalie Minervois Printemps d'Eulalie
Pink: This rose is on the richer side of the southern French dry offerings. Ripe strawberries, smooth tannins, light and pleasing finish.
La Fenetre Central Coast À Côté
Red: Pinot Noir from a few select vineyards in Monterrey, Paso Robles and around. Bright red fruits set off by a darker, spicier finish.
Vina Maquis Colchagua Valley Carménère
Purple: A long, dry summer with hot temps gave way to a darkly rich wine with loads of density and peppery concentration.
Over on the west side, Grace’s Plaza Wine and Spirits will also be popping open some nice bottles at their tasting bar on Saturday, March 24 from 4 to 6 p.m. Here’s what they’ll be serving along with comments from the shop:
Oyster Bay 2011 Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is a hot commodity around here. We probably sell as much Nobilo, Lonely Cow and Starborough combined as any other genre of wine. Strange though how Oyster Bay seems to elude this category. Maybe it has to do with the fact that some clown wrote a very clownish review of the wine that managed to be the third most popular search result when you Google "Oyster Bay wine." He may have given 11 reasons to avoid this, but you only need one to make any sort of decision- just come in and taste it. With prime vineyard locations as well as a commitment to sustainability in the vineyard, Oyster Bay consistently delivers this delicious Sauvignon Blanc, characteristic of the region with its citrus, tropical and herbal tones, singing brightly with its fresh acidity.
$12.99/750ml
LaMadrid 2008 Cabernet Franc
Ok, so we've done this in a Saturday tasting once before, but it has been a while and good wines are always worth revisiting. If I remember correctly (and I do), this is one of the finest Cab Francs that I've ever tasted. In fact, besides the $150 Arietta H Block Cab Franc (which we'll have in our store very soon!!), the Lamadrid is actually the best and most varietally correct version of the grape that I've experienced. A solid backdrop of foresty fruit lays the foundation for a tsunami of spice and floral flavors. For these reasons, Cab Franc is often used in small quantities in blends- a 'spice grape' if you will. Standing alone, however, makes for a wonderful experience, especially if you find yourself getting bored with the same ol' Cabs.
$16.99/750ml
Midtown Wine and Spirits is hosting Left Coast Cellars Wines National Sales Manager Mark Pape for a portfolio tasting in their store 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 28. Left Coast is pretty new to the wine game, but I’ve sampled both their Latitude 45 and Cali Pinot Noir and they’re some really enjoyable reasonably priced wines. And for free at the tasting, you really can’t beat the price!
Grand Cru has tastings planned for both today and tomorrow at their store on Murphy Road. Tonight they’ll have Conte Riccati Prosecco, Festivo Malbec and Apaltagua Envero Carmeniere open for sampling. Prosecco on a Friday? Don’t mind if I do. Tomorrow’s tasting wines will be X Wine Red Blend, Grechetto "G" and Maryhill Riesling. Stop in for a sample.
Brinkmann's Wine and Spirits in Cool Springs is hosting a free scotch tasting today. They’ll be tasting:
Chieftain's Isle of Jura 15yr
Chieftain's Glenburgie 13 yr
Isle of Skye 12yr
Kilchoman
Unleash your inner Don Draper and drop by for a wee dram.
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