LA JOLLA — Michel Malecot, founder and owner of The French Gourmet, has been buying and collecting wines for years, and with New Year’s just around the corner, he’s taking the opportunity to pull a few sparkling gems from his refrigerated repertoire and share them with the public. On Monday, Dec. 27, at 5 p.m., Malecot will hold a holiday champagne and sparkling wine tasting at his wine boutique, located at 960 Turquoise Street. For a $30 cover, guests of the event will get to enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvre — including fine cheeses, pâté, tray-passed appetizers and a boneless coq au vin and mashed potatoes station — and Malecot will share some of his favorite bubbly. For those who have yet to buy a special New Year’s bottle or the perfect gift for a certain party host, The French Gourmet will also be marking down some of its overstocked bottles of champagne for the holidays. A few bubbly beverages guest will get a taste of — Gosset Brut Excellence NV, Iron Horse Classic Vintage Brut 2004, Laurent Perrier Brut, Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 2005 and Taittinger Cuvée Prestige. After building an award-winning reputation for its catering, bakery and restaurant, The French Gourmet added a retail wine boutique to its menu of services about three years ago, and Malecot has since turned his passion into success. “For me, this is not about the money,” said Malecot. “This is what I love to do.”