Just the other day we saw an obese infant shoot an arrow at a disembodied heart; after we called the police, we realized Valentine’s Day was upon us. With that in mind, we have some Valentine wine suggestions with an eye toward rectifying disparate dispositions and choosing the right wine at the right time.
Because you drink craft beer and I drink fine wine: Gaston Chiquet Cuvèe Tradition Premier Cru Fancy farmer fizz is the way to go here. Known as “grower Champagne” (The people who bottle the wine also grow the grapes.), the wine has typically been in production by the same family for many generations. One we like is Gaston Chiquet Cuvèe Tradition Premier Cru, which has a high concentration of the pinot meunier grape, lending it an earthy element that appeals to the beer drinker. Available at Grapevine Wines & Cheese.
Because you drink fine wine and I drink Cosmos: Chateau Pradeaux Rosé OK, this one might be slanted towards the wine drinker, but good luck finding someone who doesn’t enjoy the pink perfection of Chateaux Pradeaux Rosé. Reserving rosé for warm weather is a thing of the past; many Provençal rosés are genuinely complex and structured, so there’s no need to abandon them after August. Nowhere is this truer than wines with the Bandol appellation. The color of this rosé makes a Cosmo drinker feel safe; the palate (spicy lavender, strawberry, nectarine, clementine, high acid and dry as a bone) could change your life. Available at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton.
Because the first bottle shouldn’t be the last bottle: Leitz Rüdesheimer Magdalenenkreuz Spätlese 2010 and Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg “Schmitt” 2012 Riesling to the rescue! In the U.S., German rieslings tend to hover around 7 to 10 percent ABV. If you are staying in and cooking, start out with a bottle of Leitz Rüdesheimer Magdalenenkreutz Spätlese 2010 (8.5 percent ABV) to quaff while you prep and chat. With dinner, pour the Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg “Schmitt” 2012 (8.5 percent ABV), a stunning wine made from a single vineyard plot in the Mosel region of Germany. Since riesling pairs well with pretty much everything, you don’t have to worry whether it will work with your meal. Available at The Wine Merchant.
Because you’re in the mood: François Pinon Silex Noir 2011 This is a sexy, guaranteed-to-please wine. This 100 percent chenin blanc from Vouvray in the French Loire Valley offers just a kiss of residual sugar. Pinon’s Silex Noir is a tingling, oh-so-silky glass of excitement with juicy white pit and berry fruit notes combined with firm, refreshing acidity. Available at Parker’s Table.
This article appears in February 2014.