christmas – Mel's Mosaic

There is a joke in my family about the Grateful Dead because of a Santa mistake that happened years ago. So anytime we see anything related to the band, we tend to get it. Normally it has to do with those cute little dancing bears. Well, now life is getting so much better! My Christmas present from my aunt and uncle was Grateful Dead wine. I’ll take that. The name is ‘Steal Your Face’ and it’s a blend (85% Syrah, 15% Petite Sirah) from Mendocino County. Great table wine, perfect for any dinner.

Got a box of three. One was enjoyed over Christmas with the family, one stayed with the (immediate) family and one came home with me and is still waiting a bit to be enjoyed. Have to pick the right people to share it with. Who should I tell the story behind the bottle with?

Also, the place that distributes this is Wines that Rock — they have various other wines from well known bands. Pretty fun and great gift ideas.

The snow ‘storm’ in DC brought a government shutdown. This was the first time I’ve ever been able to actually have a paid snow day! So, come 1pm, the snow was gone, the sun was out. What did that mean? Time to go (Christmas) shopping. I only had the intention of finishing off getting gifts for those on my list but when I went to the mecca of grocery, kitchen gadget, wine and beer store, things changed. After some discussion with the beer man and other shoppers of the current offerings, New Belgium’s (new) Frambozen came up. Nobody had actually had it for several years. The name itself screams raspberry then the description lures you into a brown ale. You can’t leave that poor thing sitting on the shelf! Had some a bit later. Very nice, smooth, nice hint of the fruit, but not overwhelming. Pick some up for a friend, yourself, or to take to a party to celebrate the season. Happy Holidays!