Valentine’s day is just around the corner and xtraWine flies to France to explore the country’s wine regions, we coulnd’t resist and looked for five great wines to gift for your other half or yourself.
xtraWine is always ready to offer best tips. What wine for Valentine’s Day?
1. Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes 0,375L 2019
Awards: Wine Spectator: 97; James Suckling: 96; Decanter 94
This white Sauvignon produced in the dreamy wine region Bourdeaux is often overlooked but offers a great balance of acidity and fruitiness. The bouquet is amazingly suble, with hints of dried fruit, spice and flowers.
Our impression?
The palate is always very silky, and often sumptuous. This fine wine has a strong, but never overbearing character, with great elegance and poise. It always mantains a balance between sugar and acidity (sweetness and freshness). A touch of bitterness can also contribute to the overall harmony.
What can we pair it with?
Just get it with a lovely box of chocolate and it will be more than enough!
2. Poggio al Tesoro Solosole Vermentino
Awards: xtraWine: 92
This Vermentino from Tuscany is a great value and offers a refreshing taste with notes of citrus and minerals.
In a never-ending cycle of change and rediscovery, fragrant scents that caress the fruit also remind one of Mediterranean scrub, meadow flowers, and spices. To say the least, romantic!
Warm and rich on the palate, with imposing acidity that builds over time to provide a luscious and gratifying texture. Therefore, as the wine ages, its complexity and depth will improve, keeping it novel and unpredictable for many years to come. Like an ideal love story!
Perfect Pairing
Excellent with raw fish dishes, Livorno-style mullet, Lake Garda sardines, and numerous elegant tempura specialties. Ideal companion to both sea and lake fish. It goes well with soft cheeses like Doppia Panna and Tuscan Pecorino towards the end of a meal. The chef at Villa Della Torre Allegrini suggests serving it with a risotto made with green pepper, creamed leeks, and lime-infused olive oil.
3. Domaine Pierre Overnoy Arbois Pupillin Blanc 2015
From the remote wine region Jura, this wine embeds all the unique characteristics of the calcareous terroir. The vineyards from which the wine is produced are about 50 years old on average.
The Domaine Pierre Overnoy Arbois Pupillin Blanc 2015 is a bright and crisp white wine. It has a complex mineral and citrus character, with a long finish.
It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day, pair it with a seafood dish such as grilled scallops or a creamy fish dish like risotto.
4. Braida Barbera d’Asti Bricco della Bigotta 2018
Awards: Robert Parker: 93
Braida Barbera d’Asti Bricco della Bigotta 2018 is a delicious red wine from the Piedmont region of Italy that is perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Barbera grapes are known for their rich and full-bodied characteristics, and Braida’s Bricco della Bigotta is no exception. The 2018 vintage is a particularly outstanding one, with a deep ruby color and aromas of dark fruit, such as black cherry and blackberry, as well as a hint of spice. On the palate, it has a balanced acidity and medium tannins, making it a great wine to pair with food.
Perfect Pairing
When it comes to pairing wine with food, it’s important to consider the flavors and textures of both the wine and the food. Barbera wines, like Braida Barbera d’Asti Bricco della Bigotta 2018, are known to have a high acidity and a medium body. This makes them ideal to pair with rich, hearty, and flavorful dishes. For Valentine’s Day, a romantic dinner with your significant other is the perfect occasion to enjoy this wine.
One of the best pairings for Braida Barbera d’Asti Bricco della Bigotta 2018 is a classic Italian dish such as pasta Bolognese.
In fact, the acidity of the wine cuts through the richness of the meat sauce, while the tannins in the wine help to soften the acidity in the tomatoes. The result is a perfect balance of flavors, with the wine and food complementing each other perfectly.
However, if you are not a big fan of pasta or your date wants to avoid carbs do not despair!
Another great pairing for this wine is a hearty meat dish such as a grilled steak. The bold and rich flavors of the wine complement the flavors of the meat, while the tannins in the wine help to soften the fat in the steak. The acidity in the wine also helps to cleanse the palate, making it a perfect match for a rich and flavorful meal.
Nevertheless, we know that there is a great chance you are a vegetarian.
Therefore, for a vegetarian option, you can pair the Braida Barbera d’Asti Bricco della Bigotta 2018 with a mushroom risotto. The earthy flavors of the mushrooms complement the dark fruit flavors in the wine, while the acidity in the wine helps to balance out the creaminess of the risotto.
In addition, you can also pair this wine with a cheese platter, particularly with gorgonzola or blue cheese, the wine’s acidity and tannins will balance the creaminess and saltiness of the cheese.
No matter what you choose to pair with Braida Barbera d’Asti Bricco della Bigotta 2018, it’s sure to be a delicious and memorable experience.
5. Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon Champagne Vintage Millesime 2012
We left the best for last. This one is not necessarily under-rated but it is delicious, great and very refined. We will not add any awards because the Moet & Chandon needs very little introduction!
The Dom Perignon Vintage Millesime 2012 is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, and it’s aged for a minimum of eight years before being released. The result is a champagne that is rich and complex, with notes of white fruit, citrus, and a hint of toastiness. On the palate, it has a creamy texture and a long, persistent finish.
Perfect Pairing
When it comes to pairing food with champagne, it’s important to consider the flavors and textures of both the food and the wine. The Dom Perignon Vintage Millesime 2012 is a versatile champagne that pairs well with a variety of dishes. For Valentine’s Day, a romantic dinner with your significant other is the perfect occasion to enjoy this wine.
One of the best pairings for Dom Perignon Vintage Millesime 2012 is seafood dishes such as oysters, scallops or lobster. The acidity in the champagne helps to cut through the richness of the seafood, while the bubbles help to refresh the palate.
Another great pairing for this champagne is a creamy risotto or pasta dish, such as a mushroom risotto. The creamy texture of the risotto complements the creamy texture of the champagne, while the earthy flavors of the mushrooms complement the flavors of the wine.
For a meat dish, you can pair the Dom Perignon Vintage Millesime 2012 with a roasted chicken or duck. The rich and complex flavors of the wine complement the flavors of the meat, while the acidity in the wine helps to cut through the richness of the poultry.
And for a sweet ending, you can pair the champagne with a classic dessert such as crème brûlée or a fruit tart. The acidity in the champagne helps to balance out the sweetness of the dessert, while the bubbles help to refresh the palate.
No matter what you choose to pair these amazing wines with,they will sure be a delicious and memorable experience.
