The 8 Best Valentine’s Day Wines in 2023

• BUBBLES •

1. Champagne Deutz, Amour de Deutz 2010

Origin: Aÿ, Champagne, France
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Price: $174.00
ABV: 12%

Champagne Deutz was founded in 1838 in Aÿ, France, by two Germans – William Deutz and Pierre-Hubert Geldermann. Both founders believed that the quality of the vineyards was key to making great Champagne and so they acquired top quality plots in the region early on. The combination of their technical prowess, their marketing skills and will to succeed allowed them to expand rapidly and to establish their wine internationally. Today, Champagne Deutz continues to flourish, making an excellent line-up of wines.

One of their most prestigious wines is “Amour de Deutz,” named after the bronze cherub statue (un Amour in French) seated graciously in a stone shell, greeting visitors as they enter the gates to Champagne Deutz.

This Champagne shows very fine and steady effervescence. It is a rich, vivacious Champagne, unfolding aromas of white flowers, peach and ripe citrus zest. On the palate, delicate flavors of nectarine, apricot, nougat, juicy acids and a mineral texture are evolving in a lingering finish.

> For more information, visit the Champagne Deutz official website.

2. Champagne Boizel Rosé

Origin: Epernay, France
Varietal: 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay
Price: $63.00
ABV: 12%

In 1834 the Boizel House was established in Épernay, the heart of Champagne, by a family passionate about the wines of the region. Intimate knowledge of the Champagne region, passed on through the generations and access to grapes from the finest cru sites, are the essential elements behind the Boizels’ elegant portfolio.

This wine shows a bright pink color. It opens up with a fine bouquet of raspberries and strawberries. The palate reveals more ripe red berries, lemon zest, spices and an elegant minerality.

> For more information, visit the Champagne Boizel official website.

• RED WINES •

3. My Favorite Neighbor, Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Origin: San Luis Obispo, California
Varietal: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Syrah, 4% Petite Sirah, 4% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot
Price: $50.00
ABV: 14.4%

What started as an homage to Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure Winery and his Bordeaux roots became an obsession. Sourced from exceptional vineyard sites around Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo and south to Edna Valley, this wine is cultivated meticulously by the farmers who have become My Favorite Neighbors. With their dedication to the land, they are able to craft a world-class wine without any shortcuts or compromises.

The wine shows a deep, saturated red color. The nose bursts with aromas of dark berries, cigar box and a light dose of vanilla. The palate delivers a return of the aromas complemented by a creamy chocolate sensation that gives the wine a well-balanced mouthfeel and carries it down the road.

> For more information, visit My Favorite Neighbor official website.

4. Aperture 2020 Bordeaux Red Blend

Origin: Sonoma County, California
Varietals: 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Malbec, 28% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc
Price: $60.00
ABV: 14.5%

Aperture Cellars owns seven vineyards in Sonoma County, California. The Aperture one spreads over thirty-two acres. Viticulturist Phil Freese, who helped shape the vineyards for Opus One and Robert Mondavi’s To-Kalon holdings in Oakville, came out of retirement to apply his vision to Aperture Cellars and ensured that the right vines were planted in the soils best suited for them.

With the name of the winery, winemaker Jesse Katz is paying homage to his father, who was a photographer. The aperture, which is a part of a camera lens, permits a photographer to change the amount of light he can work with.

This wine was aged eighteen months in 45% new oak sixty- and seventy-gallon French oak barrels. The smaller inclusion of Cabernet Franc balances the almost equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Merlot, resulting in a distinctive and elegant Bordeaux blend. The wine shows a deep ruby-purple and will benefit with cellaring.

> For more information, visit Aperture Cellars official website.

5. Château Lassègue, Saint-Émilion 2018

Origin: Bordeaux, France
Varietals: 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $60.00
ABV: 14.5%

Located on the famous Côte de Saint-Émilion, Château Lassègue presents wines crafted by sixth and seventh generation winemakers Pierre and Nicolas Seillan. Lassègue is created using Pierre Seillan’s “Micro-Cru” philosophy, which allows them to respond to specific soil characteristics across the many parcels (crus) identified on the 18^th century estate. Using this method, the Seillans tend to the vineyards, harvest and vinify block by block ensuring all aspects are customized to each cru’s specific needs.

Château Lassègue’s exceptional focus on detail and care extends to its aging regimen, too. The Seillan family selects oak trees from a number of forests in France, including Vosges, Fontainebleau and Ardennes, among many others. Just as a vine’s location changes the characteristics of the grapes, so does the location of trees in a specific area in France. The grain of the wood, porosity, perfume and flavor influence the wine inside the oak barrel. Once the barrels are made at the cooperage and arrive at the Château, each vinified cru is paired with a barrel from a specific forest. The goal is never to overwhelm the wine with oak, but to ensure it is able to age in an environment most suited to highlighting its unique characteristics from the terroir in which it was born.

The 2018 Lassègue has a deep garnet color. The bouquet shows notes of cassis and violet. The palate reveals lots of red and black fruit, and silky tannins evolving in a long, complex finish.

> For more information, visit the Château Lassègue official website.

6. Col d’Orcia, Brunello di Montalcino 2017

Origin: Montalcino, Italy
Varietal: 100% Brunello (Sangiovese Grosso)
Price: $55.00
ABV: 14.5%

Col d’Orcia is situated on the outskirts of the medieval hilltop village of Montalcino, in Tuscany’s Siena province. The estate has a rich winemaking history dating back to the 14th century. Winemaking was already an established agricultural pursuit in Tuscany, when centuries earlier, the region was occupied by the Etruscan civilization, who planted grape vines. The estate is currently owned and managed by Count Francesco Marone Cinzano. Under his leadership, plantings have expanded exponentially at Col d’Orcia and the estate has been transformed into an organic farm with biodynamic practices.

The wine has a deep crimson color with a nose revealing cherry, fresh herbs, rose petals and a hint of tobacco. The full-bodied palate features dried cherry, spice box and fine but present tannins.

> For more information, visit Col d’Orcia official website.

• WHITE WINES •

7. Lucienne, Lone Oak Vineyard, Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands 2019

Origin: Monterey County, CA
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Price: $40.00
ABV: 14%

The 146-acre certified sustainable Lone Oak Vineyard sits at the northern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands where it is cooled by ocean breezes from the Monterey Bay. Morning fog lingers here while the wind picks up in the afternoon, making for a long, cool growing season that allows grapes to slowly develop flavor and concentration. With gentle, east-facing slopes and elevations between 180 and 500 feet, the vineyard’s ancient alluvial soils assure excellent drainage.

The wine carries aromas of chamomile, lychee, ripe citrus and lemon zest with a touch of vanilla. The palate is refined, with elegant notes of ripe stone fruit, citrus, medium acidity and a touch of oak at the end.

> For more information, visit the Lucienne official website.

• ROSÉ •

8. Vermut Flores, Rosé Vermouth, Uruguay

Origin: Canelones, Uruguay
Varietal: 100% Tannat
Price: $19.00
ABV: 16%

Vermut Flores is crafted and infused in small batches; the vermouth is made from Tannat grapes grown in the Canelones province of Uruguay. The vermouth is then infused with a unique selection of 27 botanicals and four flowers: elderberry, chamomile, rose, and hops.

The result is a vermouth with a light rosé color, complex aromas of spices and floral notes. The taste is lightly sweet and well-balanced. This wine can be served over ice, with tonic water, or as a spritz with sparkling wine and a slice of orange. A perfect aperitif for Valentine’s.

> For more information, visit Vermut Flores official website.