TO YOU, WITH LOVE
Give the wine lover in your life something to swoon over this Valentine’s Day,
“Love you a bunch” Rosé Roses by Sugarfina, $10.95 for a small cube at select Sugarfina stores
Sugarfina is doing some really clever things with sugar, wine and gelatin. But what tops my list for Valentine’s Day are these Rosé Roses made with Whispering Angel rosé from Provence, France. These grown-up gummies come in a posh little acrylic cube, are labelled with a ready-made love note and taste pretty heavenly. Satisfyingly sweet, yes, but the flavour is more suggestive than aggressive — calling to mind rhubarb and berries with just enough racy acidity to keep you coming back for more. And pink roses have traditionally been associated with affection and admiration rather than purely romantic love, making these sweets suitable for your significant other (SO) or your NSA, FWB, or BFF — FYI.
NV Fresita Sparkling Wine with Strawberries, Chile (LCBO 383901 $14.95 in stores and online)
If strawberries and sparkling wine strikes you (or your valentine) as a sexy idea, this is the bottle for you. It’s infused with so many ripe, hand-picked strawberries, a fine pulp settles in the glass as you drink it. And its succulent sweet-tart flavour captures the spirit of a summer day — all sunlit and pure tasting. Who doesn’t love that feeling this time of year as record-breaking snowfalls blanket Ontario? As well as the articulate strawberry character on the nose and palate, the wine hints of mixed citrus and candied cherry. And it’s well-balanced — so doesn’t cloy on the finish. A bottle of Fresita with a box of really good chocolate makes a brilliant Valentine’s Day pressie. Score: 93
NV Chandon Sparkling Rosé, California (Vintages 405555 $34.95 in stores and online)
Released Feb. 2 in Vintages, this blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier makes a stylish gift because it drinks like Champagne at a fraction of the price. It shines pale rose-gold, exudes delicate aromas of warm butter croissants slathered with redcurrant and raspberry jam and offers a silkycrisp attack that’s dry and immediately captivating. Understated flavours of lemon curd, sun-warmed violet and butter pastry saturate the palate. Then, a whisper of raspberry emerges on the finish. Delicious on its own, but goes gloriously well with smoked salmon. Score: 92+
XO Organic Cognac from the Distillerie Du Peyrat, France (LCBO 517839 $153.40 in stores and online)
For less than the average dinner tab for two on Valentine’s Day, you could give this bottle of fine XO Cognac. Cognac is of course a blend of eaux de vie, wines distilled into brandy from southwest France, aged in oak for varying lengths of time. And the youngest Cognac in this XO is 12 years old. The fragrance is complex and alluring with orange peel and pumpkin pie spices, dark rum and brown sugar, maraschino cherry and vanilla bean, dark chocolate and roasted walnut — and so much more. The entry is smooth with flavours that mirror the fragrance and resonate on the finish for ages. Riveting. And XO is a grade above VS and VSOP — so pretty top notch, just like your valentine. Score: 92
2015 Tawse Growers Blend Pinot Noir, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario (Vintages Essential 130989 $25.95 in stores and online)
If you fancy giving something red and silky on Valentine’s Day, give this local Pinot Noir. From its see-through ruby colour to its slow, languid aromas of raspberries, blackcurrant and white pepper, it’s sure to make your valentine’s heart skip a beat. Mouthwateringly juicy yet elegant, it suggests a cool crush of dark berries threaded with violet and cranberry with a sleek mouthfeel. A pleasure to drink, especially with a bit of country pâté on toasted bread. Score: 89+