Well, I can't believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone. Black Friday has passed with no threatening calls from the credit card company - and I see Christmas lights starting to pop up around the neighborhood. Cold is in the air and the forecast is more of the same. I guess that means that we should start thinking about Christmas. And what better way to start than thinking about the holiday than plan the succulent main course for our Christmas dinner.

Contributed by Marshall Goldman of Pocket Wine Assistant

I love finding wine brands that are loaded with quality in every wine from top to bottom. I have been a fan of Sparky and Sarah Marquis since the Marquis-Phillips brand hit the scenes in the US in the mid-90s. During the first few years, with Robert Parker's lavish reviews and the low prices, you could barely buy a bottle of their wines in Atlanta due to the low allocations in the wine stores here. There was a genuine Marquis-rush.

Contributed by Marshall Goldman of Pocket Wine Assistant

I was asked on our Facebook page if it is OK to freeze leftover wine to store it for later use. She also asked if it was OK to pour the contents into a plastic water bottle for later use. After I picked myself off the floor from consideration of this apparent blasphemy I wanted to truly think through the implications and to give this reader sound advice. 

A wine friend and influential shop owner in the Atlanta area recently commented that he felt that Turley Zins do not hold up with time, even with a moderate amount of aging (2-3 years). So, putting his beliefs to the test was a priority for me - after all, those who have read my previous blogs know of my propensity as a Zinfandel lover.

There's a corked wine being served in Congress that I feel compelled to bring to your attention. Thank you to Mike Officer from Carlisle Vineyards for bringing this to my attention and allowing me to reproduce his words. Do you value your right to purchase wine directly from wineries and have it shipped to your home or place of work? Do you value your rights as a consumer? And do you value State's rights? If you take no action, it is very likely that our Congress will back up and drive off with your rights - rather than having your wine delivered to your door.

My wife and I have enjoyed the company of the same couple for 2-3 wine dinners per year for the past 10 years. Last night was another wonderful time spent together. While we enjoyed of our old stand-bys, we also tried some new recipes and wines - and the combinations were delightful. I wanted to share the evening with our cyber-friends.

What do you plan to serve this Valentine's Day...and is it worthy of the Saint this day was named after?  Please respond and let us know.

To Age or Not to Age...