Feeling completely frazzled, she stepped in the door. The first thing she noticed was the calming strains of Kenny Burrell’s guitar playing ‘Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good to You.’ James was in the kitchen, and Laura’s two felines were ensconced on the couch digesting an overly substantial meal. Looking around, she saw no signs of the disorder in which she’d left the house that morning.

“There you are,” said James. “I thought I’d drive over and make you dinner this evening. Remember, I’ve not seen your bedroom yet,” he added seductively, handing her a glass of wine as she put down her book bag and purse on the console table that stood by the couch. She tasted the chilled wine, feeling disoriented. It was a dry yet fragrant rosé. “Is this a Tavel?” she asked. He inclined his head in affirmation as she leaned against the kitchen island and surveyed the living room, which had a suspiciously Jamesian state of camera-ready order. There was even a vase of fresh flowers on the coffee table. She took another long sip of the wine.

Tavels are my favorite rosés, and I especially love this one for its intense, pure strawberry bouquet and flavor. It has a strikingly gemlike ruby color, and the flavor is bright, but clean and dry. This is another rosé with hefty alcohol content, at 14.5%. Drinking it on an empty stomach before dinner, the buzz was instantaneous. It’s a bit pricey at $19.00 but worth the indulgence.

The extract explains how I feel when I come home to a lovely bottle of Tavel, a jazz soundtrack and a Beautiful Man. It’s from New York Groove, Book 2 of my James and Laura trilogy.

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