Liquid Fire Starters
 
Thoughtful Wines for an Unforgettable Valentine’s

By Warren Rojas

Award-winning wine writer Natalie MacLean
offers the perfect wine line-up for a romantic
Valentine’s Day. Courtesy of Marc Fowler

Forget the musical greeting cards. Skip the gaudy jewelry. Forego the overpriced floral bouquets.

I’m going on record that Valentine’s should be all about sharing.

A candle-lit meal. Some furtive glances. Perhaps a few stolen hours spent huddled beneath a woolly blanket while old school crooners fill the air with jazzy boy-meets-girl ballads.

To help us take back this most romantic of nights, we asked celebrated wine writer Natalie MacLean to recommend some choice bottles to make any intimate encounter even more memorable. Because when it comes down to it, we are firm believers in the tenet that no one should drink alone …

The Icebreaker
(First date)
2005 Château Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Chardonnay ($18)

MacLean describes this West Coast white as “lovely, rich and voluptuous,” pointing out the prominent peaches and pears on the nose. “It’s oaky and butter-flavored but not overly so,” she states. “Just the kind of restraint you want to show on a first date.” According to MacLean, this one’s a slam dunk with buttery lobster dishes.

The Romance-reviver
(Amping up that quiet dinner)
2005 Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz ($25)

A fan of famed Australian winemaker Jim Barry, MacLean notes that, even though Barry passed away in 2004, his children are carrying on the proud family tradition by turning out exemplary wines. “This is a whopper of a wine with full-bodied black fruit aromas and flavors,” she says, and suggests pairing the spicy number with robust meats like steak or bison.

Endless Love
(Celebrating the one you’re with)
2003 Domaine Parent Pommard La Croix Blanche ($48)

According to MacLean, this Burgundian pinot noir is all about bottled romance, splashing notes of “floral, dark chocolate, black tea and plum” across the palate and delivering a moderately dry finish. She says to look for aromas of “dark red berries and plums” on the nose and recommends pouring it alongside a mushroom risotto or roast leg of lamb.

The Nightcap
(A “sexy” send-off to a wonderful evening)
Quinta Do Noval Tawny Reserve Port ($20)

For a post-dinner pour, MacLean likes this traditional Portuguese port, estimating that its five-year blending process helps build the dreamy aromas of “almonds, hazelnut and caramel” inhaled in every glass. So much sweetness requires a worthwhile foil, which is why MacLean suggests keeping mature blue cheeses handy for late-night snacking.

For more insights from award-winning author Natalie MacLean—her best-selling book, “Red, White and Drunk All Over” is now available in paperback—visit www.nataliemaclean.com. To experiment with her custom wine and food matcher, click www.nataliemaclean.com/matcher

Courtesy of Chateau Ste. Michelle Wines (Chardonnay); Courtesy of Jim Barry Wines (Shiraz); Courtesy of Quinta do Noval (Port)

(February 2008)