It is doubtful whether any of the original Saint Valentines (there were multiple martyrs by that name in early Christendom) would recognize the modern holiday that has emerged bearing their name. Over a thousand years passed between the martyrdom of Valentine of Rome (269 CE) and the first historical association of Valentine’s Day with romantic love (a poem by Chaucer in 1382 CE), but even Chaucer could not have imagined the commercialized lovefest that marks February 14th in the modern era.
While flowers are still an excellent choice for a Valentine’s Day gift, we think wine is an even better option. It is made with passion, and shares the ephemeral nature of even the sturdiest loves among mere mortals. It is held, cherished, savored, and then it is gone. Rather than the usual rosé recommendations (which are no less delicious for being overplayed) we’ve collected some alternative ways to drink on theme for Valentine’s Day.
Chateau Calon Ségur
Imagine owning not one, but two of Bordeaux’s First Growth estates, yet still choosing as your true love a third property – a mere Third Growth in the northern reaches of Saint-Estèphe. Such are the caprices of love, and so chose Nicolas-Alexandre, Marquis de Ségur. He famously said, “I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon Ségur.” The label of the Grand Vin at Calon Ségur is still adorned with a heart, in honor of the Marquis’s undying love for this historic property.
Love sees no faults, but it does still play favorites. Look for the following, outstanding vintages of Calon Ségur: 1982, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2016.
Podere le Ripi Brunello di Montalcino “Amore e Magia”
“Love and Magic” – is there any more concise description of the Tuscan countryside? As every wine lover knows, these Instagram-worthy hills produce more than just photo-ops. Love often leads one in unexpected directions, defying tradition and convention much like Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers. At Podere le Ripi you’ll find none of the stuffy tradition of the past, but instead a strong sense of community. Francesco Illy wanted to create a winery that felt more like a commune. His biodynamic approach attracted a young, enthusiastic crowd of like-minded workers who continue to make honest, delicious wines without a hint of pomp and circumstance.
See if you feel the magic, and maybe even the love: Podere le Ripi Brunello di Montalcino “Amore e Magia”
Vilmart & Cie. Coeur de Cuvée
You knew we had to throw at least one Champagne into the mix. At Vilmart, a passion for Champagne’s vineyards is at the heart of the enterprise. Old vines (60+ years, rare in Champagne), organic farming, and low yields all contribute to the incredible concentration of flavor produced by this overachieving grower-producer. “Coeur de Cuvée” has a double meaning – the heart of the first pressing (i.e. the best-quality juice), and the more broadly the “heart of the vintage”, symbolizing the passionate approach to viticulture and vinification that go into the production of so beautiful a wine.
The heart has its reasons, which reason knows not: Vilmart & Cie. Coeur de Cuvée
Dugat-Py Gevrey-Chambertin Cuvee Coeur de Roy Très Vieilles Vignes
Not the heart of a king, that would be “Coeur de Roi”. No, this phenomenal red Burgundy for cellar aging is named after the family that so loved the parcels from which it is made that many of the vines have survived over 115 years. Love sometimes takes the form of tireless dedication, and the Roy family’s dedication to these village-level parcels of Gevrey-Chambertin shows what that sort of love can accomplish over multiple generations. This may be a village wine, but the vines that make it have seen two world wars and countless ups and downs in the global wine market. Their story is fascinating, and it doesn’t need words to be told – only a decade or two in the cellar and a ready glass.
Love is not in what you say, but in what you do: Dugat-Py Gevrey-Chambertin Cuvee Coeur de Roy Tres Vieilles Vignes
J.L. Chave Sélection Côtes-du-Rhône Mon Coeur
When considering an all-consuming, passionate love for one’s wine region, Jean-Louis Chave has to be near the top of the all-time list. He brought well-deserved fame to his family estate in Hermitage, but still felt the wines of the Rhône should reach a wider audience that couldn’t afford the soaring prices of the grand Hermitage Rouge and Blanc. Leveraging the close relationships with outstanding growers he had built over his career, Chave started a négociant label in 1993 – J.L. Chave Sélection. “My heart”, his Côtes-du-Rhône, is a love letter to the Rhône Valley, as passionate a wine as you could ever hope to taste.
What is love? ‘Tis not hereafter; Present mirth hath present laughter: J.L. Chave Sélection Côtes-du-Rhône Mon Coeur