With Valentine’s Day coming up, people might want some wine suggestions. In this column, I am recommending wines at various price levels:
Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne Rose ($31.49 reduced to $30.49 this month)
If want to have a sparkling wine to celebrate Valentine’s Day but find Champagne too expensive, try Cremant de Bourgogne. This wine uses the same method of producing sparkling wines as Champagne but at about half the price of Champagne.
Louis Bouillot was founded in 1877 and this wine is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay grapes aged 12 months on lees in the bottle.
This means the wine has spent a full year in the bottle, resting on the leftover yeast particles (called "lees") from fermentation.
You will get raspberry and red currant flavours with a citrus finish from the Cremant de Bourgogne.
Laughing Stock 2020 Portfolio ($56.99) & Laughing Stock 2022 Viognier ($28.99)
Laughing Stock Vineyards was founded in 2003 by David and Cynthia Enns, who were originally in the financial industry.
Their flagship wine, Portfolio, is a blend of 43-per-cent Merlot, 35-per-cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 16-per-cent Cabernet Franc, three-per-cent Malbec and three-per-cent Petit Verdot grapes.
The bottle has a spiral design which features the ticker tape of stock prices on the date of bottling of the wine. The wine is aged for 20 months in French oak barrels with 40-per-cent new French oak and 60-per-cent second-fill French oak.
You will get black plums, olives, licorice and figs on the aftertaste. It will drink well with a few hours of aeration but you can also age it for another five years.
Their Viognier is probably one of the best B.C. value white wines. You will get peach, apple and pear flavours with a citrusy aftertaste. The wine has enough acidity and weight to pair well with food.
Casa Ferreirinha Planalto Duoro Blanco Reserva ($15.99 reduced to $14.99 this month)
Looking for something unique and different?
Portugal not only produces wonderful Port wine but also red and white still wines. This wine is a blend of 20-per-cent Viosinho, 20-per-cent Malaysia Fina, 15-per-cent Gouveio, 15-per-cent Arinto, 15-per-cent Códega, 10-per-cent Rabigato and five-per-cent Moscatel grapes.
What is produced is a white wine with tropical fruit, citrus and floral notes along with great acidity that will pair nicely with salads and seafood.
Gehringer Brothers 2022 Private Reserve Dry Riesling ($17.99 reduced to $14.99 this month)
How about an affordable B.C. white wine?
This wine is less sweet compared to most B.C. Rieslings and will exhibit good acidity with peach, apple and tropical fruit flavours.
It is great with fish or chicken dishes.
Domaine Des Billards 2020 Saint Amour ($31.99)
What wine is more fitting for Valentine’s Day than a wine from the Beaujolais region in France of Saint-Amour?
Sales of these wines tend to be higher in February as there is a novelty factor. The wine is made with the Gamay grape and is light with spiced berries and minerality.
Chateau Pesquie 2022 Terrasses AOC Ventoux ($21.99)
For a hardier option, this Southern Rhone wine is a blend of 60-per-cent Grenache and 40-per-cent Syrah grapes.
You will get a medium-bodied wine with dark berry, floral and spicy elements.
Please note that if you purchase these wines before Feb. 15, you will save the GST on the price of the wines.
Until next time, happy drinking!
Tony Kwan is a Richmond News columnist. Lawyer by day, and a food and wine lover by night. Kwan is an epicurean who writes about wine, food and enjoying all that life has to offer.
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