Posted by Robert Whitley on February 3, 2010 at 9:22 AM
Vino for Valentines!
I make several Valentine's Day wine suggestions in this week's Creators Syndicate Wine Talk column. I have focused on wines that I believe fit the occasion, and in a broad range of prices. You might note that I have eschewed high-end Champagne.
You don't need me to explain a bottle of Dom will impress your date. Besides, I am well aware that profligate spending on wine is a big no-no in this economy.
From my column:
These are the times that try men's souls. Truly, for Valentine's Day is upon us and there is a general call to arms. Only a fool — or a newbie in the ways of love — would show up without a bottle of something!
Ah, but what something? That is the question. There are only two good options, which I will spell out for the Budweiser crowd. One is something bubbly, and it better not be beer. The other is something sweet, all the more impressive if accompanied by a box of chocolates.
That's the easy part. Making sense of the vast array of sparkling and sweet wines available at the corner wine shop is another matter. You get to pick your own poison, but you shouldn't be handed a blindfold and a cigarette and shoved down the Champagne aisle on your own. Any mistakes you make are likely to be very expensive!
No need for that; sparkling wines come in a range of styles and prices. A word of caution on the bubbly, however, since a number of voices will advocate serving Champagne with chocolate. This is seldom a glorious match, for it is nearly impossible to find a Champagne or sparkling wine that is sweet enough to cope with the intensity of a decadent chocolate truffle.
That's when a truly sweet wine, such as Port, might come in handy. There are some fairly sweet sparkling styles, such as Italy's famed Asti Spumante or demi-sec Champagnges from France, but these tend to work better with cookies and pastries than rich chocolates, which overwhelm most sparkling wines. The exception might be Brachetto d'Acqui from northern Italy's Piedmont region.
Without further ado, my Valentine's Day wine suggestions. You need not settle for these alone. A good wine merchant who might not have the specific wine recommended would likely be able to produce a comparable substitute, and in matters of love, a spirit of adventure can often turn to your advantage.
Dutton Goldfield, Russian River Valley (California) Syrah Cherry Ridge Vineyard 2007 ($35)
Cool-climate Syrah is right in my wheelhouse. I find the firm structure an appealing dimension, and the notes of white pepper provided added sex appeal. The Cherry Ridge Vineyard is close to the Pacific Ocean in one of the coldest spots in Sonoma County, but with south facing slopes that make it possible to ripen grapes. This vintage delivers layers of black cherry and blueberry fruit, with savory undertones and the telltale white pepper nuance that is often found in Syrah from marginal growing regions. This is a superb food wine, but likely won't hit its stride until 2012 or so.
Winemaker Interview: Philip Laffer & Bernard Hickin, Jacob's Creek Sep 22, 2009
Jacob's Creek has enjoyed huge acceptance throughout the United States largely because it delivers exceptional quality at a reasonable price. What's more, the dry rieslings are some of the finest being made in Australia today, and the shiraz and cabernet are among the most elegant produced in the Barossa Valley. The men behind the Jacob's Creek success, winemakers Philip Laffer and Bernard Hickin, took time out from a whirlwind tour of California to drop in on Robert for a long chat about the doings Down Under.
American Wine: Beyond the Golden State Aug 20, 2008
Napa and Sonoma are two famous-named wine regions -- but there are many wine regions across the US that may surprise you. States like Michigan and Arizona, not traditionally associated with wine, are now home to budding vineyards. We'll take a virtual road trip and hear about the wineries worth a late-summer trek.
Lambert Bridge Crosses the Rubicon Linda Murphy A former winemaker colleague of mine was fond of saying, 'Northing happens quickly in the wine business except mistakes.' Lambert Bridge Winery in the Dry Creek Valley of northwestern Sonoma County is proof of that - not because of any mistakes it might have made, but because the producer demonstrates just how long it can take to turn a moribund winery into one bursting with life and success.
Robert Mondavi's Enduring Legacy Ed McCarthy It is difficult to imagine that one man could have had so great an impact on such a huge wine region as California. But Robert Mondavi almost single-handedly placed California, particularly Napa Valley, on the world's fine-wine map. California's wine history can be looked upon as BM and AM, Before Mondavi and After Mondavi, with the dividing line occurring in 1966.
Return to Roots Mary Ewing-Mulligan Some wineries come out with new wines, line extensions or new brands as a normal matter of business. However, for a winery such as Shafer Vineyards--a fairly small (32,000 cases), family-owned estate winery--I imagine that a new wine is a big step, especially when that winery already enjoys a respected reputation from critics and connoisseurs. The new wine, in this case One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon, now in its third vintage, has mighty big shoes to fill.
I make several Valentine's Day wine suggestions in this week's 
No need for that; sparkling wines come in a range of styles and prices. A word of caution on the bubbly, however, since a number of voices will advocate serving Champagne with chocolate. This is seldom a glorious match, for it is nearly impossible to find a Champagne or sparkling wine that is sweet enough to cope with the intensity of a decadent chocolate truffle.
Winemaker Interview: Philip Laffer & Bernard Hickin, Jacob's Creek
Byron 2006 Nielson Vineyard Historic Vines Chardonnay
American Wine: Beyond the Golden State
Return to Roots
