Claude Val Vendanges Vin De Pays D’oc (2006)

It is a cold Sunday night in Michigan. We are sitting here with a glass of wine, Enya on the Bose, Trigger on my lap, a pot of homemade soup on the stove and a loaf of bread in the oven. Does life get any better? Even in the deep, dark Michigan cold, I feel happy and cozy and blessed!

Tom chose this Claude Val Vendanges Vin de Pays d’Oc 2006 tonight. I think it is fabulous. We think we bought this on a trip up North to see my folks — at a place called “The Blue Goat” in Traverse City. Wow, yummy. I really, really like this one. In the glass, it is not our usual blackish red, but rather a pale purple. On the nose is the scent of cloves and honeysuckle. On the palate, I taste peaches, strawberries and roses. The feel is round in the mouth with structured tannins.

If we don’t finish this tonight, it will definitely be what I choose to have tomorrow! Cheers!

Solar de Estraunza Crianza (2004)

Tom selected this Solar de Estraunza Crianza 2004 from Spain for our Thursday, December evening. I am home late tonight because this was a teaching night for me. We are awaiting a big snow storm — the reports say a storm warning with snow arriving at 4:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. tomorrow. Fun, fun, fun!

We purchased this wine when we were up north visiting my parents in Traverse City. We had stopped in a wine shop called “The Blue Goat” and purchased a variety of red wines. This was one of them.

This is yummy. This Crianzas is a vibrant-flavored and easy to drink. The flavors are vanilla, spice, cherry and black dirt.

Our son, Tommy, just came home with a new CD that he recorded with his band, “The Ben Daniels Band.” We are listening and it is very good!