As we get set for Valentine's Day, we got the lowdown on the proper romantic wine in all price ranges from Jordan Salcito - Wine Director at Crown in New York City. Here are some of her selections to help you make the perfect choice for your Valentine's Day:
DESSERT WINE:
Perrone "Bigaro" Moscato/Brachetto - slightly sweet, slightly pink and bubbly - They are pouring this at Crown for dessert. This wine is readily available and only $20.00 a bottle.
CHAMPAGNES:
- Paul Bara Bouzy Grand Rosé Brut NV - dense, packed with complexity, 100% Grand Cru fruit, 100% Pinot Noir from the village of Bouzy in Montagne de Reims. This Champagne is priced at an awesome value of $50.00 a bottle.
- Pommery "Rosé Apanage" - a baby "Cuvée Louise" Rosé, and one of Jordan's new favorites. This wine is a blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay from primarily Grand Cru fruit. It is excellent at this price-point and a bottle that nearly every table orders a second. For $100.00 a bottle, this is an excellent mid-priced Champagne.
- Krug Rosé MV (DP 1996 would be a fine choice, too). This is a Champagne you splurge on, at $250.00 a bottle for Krug, DP Rose '96 is much harder to find.
WINES:
- Bellus "Girasole," Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot, Montalcino, Italy 2007 This wine is an awesome value at only $19.99 a bottle.
- Chacra "Trienta - y -Dos," Pinot Noir, Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina 2009 (Made by Piero Incisa della Rochetta, whose grandfather started Sassicaia. Treinta-y-dos refers to the fact that the vines were planted in 1932 - Piero discovered the abandoned vineyard). This is considered a mid-priced wine and goes for $150.00 a bottle.
If you're looking for "splurge" wines, Jordan recommends either:
- Domaine Dujac, Chambolle-Musigny "les Gruencheres," Burgundy, France 2002 (or 1991) which goes for $250.00 a bottle, or
- Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne-Romanée "Clos du Château," Burgundy, France 2009 which is $100.00 a bottle - but hard to find.
