Valentine's Day: Special Wines to Share With a Special Someone

It makes consciousness that vino is simply a cardinal constituent successful each things romantic. From vineyard to vessel to glass, vino is passionateness materialized—a existent labour of emotion and a celebratory symbol. And portion there’s nary uncertainty that you tin find a perfectly good vino astatine conscionable astir immoderate retailer these days, these peculiar offerings are thing special, to beryllium shared with your idiosyncratic special. This Valentine’s Day, forgo the mean and take the extraordinary.  

2017 Frank Family Brut Rosé ($55): Legend claims that Marilyn Monroe utilized to sojourn Frank Family’s historical Larkmead winery astatine slightest erstwhile annually to get her capable of bubbles. One sip of this elegant wine, and you’ll recognize the allure. This Brut Rosé is 100% Pinot Noir; its equilibrium betwixt richness and acidity makes it a cleanable pairing for a romanticist meal implicit oysters oregon baked brie. Light coral pinkish successful the glass, the lush palate offers strawberries laced with citrus effect and a interaction of almond that convenes successful a refreshing minerality that lingers. 

2018 Gamble Family Vineyards ‘Heart Block’ Sauvignon Blanc ($95): Inspired by his travels to France arsenic a young man, Tom Gamble, proprietor of Gamble Family Vineyards, planted Sauvignon Blanc vines astatine his property vineyard successful Yountville, calling it the Heart Block. This blend of Musque and Preston clones make a creamy palate that winemaker Jim Close calls “layered, focused, analyzable & refreshing.” Stunning aromas of lime, citrus zest, Bosque pear and chromatic suckle complement notes of almond blossoms and toasted brioche. This vino boasts intimate flavors of Meyer lemon, greenish pome and achromatic grapefruit with a interaction of flinty minerality. When opening a vessel of Heart Block, you people stock successful the winemaker’s emotion of the varietal.

2020 Alma Rosa El Jabali Pinot Noir ($72): Alma Rosa’s El Jabali vineyard successful the Sta. Rita Hills AVA is unsocial owed to the adjacent transverse upland range, divers soils and marine influences. Samra Morris, California’s archetypal Bosnian American winemaker, is known for producing vineyard expressive wines and this 1 is nary exception. This wine's ruby reddish color, analyzable aromatics, beardown notes of reddish fruit, herbs, and agleam acidity are definite to impressment your loved 1 connected Valentine’s Day.

2019 Cuvaison Brut Rosé, Méthode Champenoise ($60): Who tin defy the airy pinkish hue of this lovey sparkling wine? The softness and agleam reddish effect tones travel from Pinot Noir, and the operation and magnitude travel from Chardonnay. Notes of chaotic strawberry, crisp watermelon, grapefruit and raspberry harvester to make complexity and depth. Go debased and brace with popcorn, oregon spell precocious with a rich, creamy risotto.

2019 J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon ($100): The inaugural 2013 vintage of this vino debuted successful 2017 successful grant of J. Lohr laminitis Jerry Lohr’s 80th birthday. Since then, each vintage has represented the pinnacle of the J. Lohr portfolio. This benchmark vino is aged for 20 months successful 100% caller French oak from 4 coopers cautiously selected for the winery’s signature program. Silky and heavy successful color, this is simply a sumptuous wine—perfect for pairing with a savory Valentine’s Day dinner. 

Fulldraw FD2 2018 ($55): Paso Robles-based Fulldraw is the passionateness task of husband-and-wife duo Connor and Rebecca McMahon. The FD2, a blend of Grenache and Syrah, is simply a existent look of the estate’s limestone soils, cooling maritime influences, and utmost exposures typical of the Willow Creek District AVA. The 2018 vintage is simply a seamless reddish blend, afloat of lavish flavors—an elegant, analyzable vino for an elegant day.

Main representation by Terry Vlisidis/Unsplash. Alma Rosa representation by Fran Miller. Other images courtesy of each winery.