Valentines Day Wines

Valentines Day. That special holiday is upon us.We also know there is nothing more meaningful than a romantic toast with the one you love. So, it is important that you choose that special wine for this occasion. Well, we  found special Valentines Day wines from TheWashington Post.com with the assistance from a sommelier.

★★★Exceptional  ★Excellent ★Very Good
Prices are approximate. Check Winesearcher.com to verify availability, or ask a favorite wine store to order through a distributor.
Here are Valentine’s Day wine recommendations. Some are from the sommeliers I interviewed for my accompanying column, and some are from my own tastings.
— Dave McIntyre

Duval-Leroy Brut
★★¹/₂

Champagne, France, $45
This perennial value was better than ever when I tasted it recently, brilliantly showing the tart red-fruit flavors of pinot noir and pinot meunier and the fleshiness of chardonnay.
Prestige in the District and Maryland; Virginia Imports in Virginia: Available in the District at Cairo Wine & Liquor, Pearson’s. Available in Maryland at Cork 57 Beer and Wine in Bethesda; Dawson’s Market in Rockville; Graul’s Wine & Spirits, North Charles Fine Wine & Spirits and the Wine Source in Baltimore; Wine Cellars of Annapolis. Available in Virginia at Arrowine and Curious Grape in Arlington, Ashburn Wine Shop, Balducci’s and Chain Bridge Cellars in McLean, Cork & Fork in Gainesville, Out of Site Wines and Vienna Vintner in Vienna, Planet Wine & Gourmet and Unwined in Alexandria, various locations of Trader Joe’s and Wegmans, Virginia Fine Wines in Springfield, Whole Foods Market (Alexandria and Vienna), Wine Styles in Dumfries; on the list at Euro Bistro in Herndon, Willow in Arlington.

Simonnet-Febvre Brut Rosé Cremant de Bourgogne
★★
Burgundy, France, $20
This producer, based in Chablis in northern Burgundy, is one of my favorites for value-oriented chardonnay and sparkling wines. The Brut Rosé shines with cherry and strawberry flavors. Its razor-sharp balance complements food and makes you ready for more.
M Touton Selection: Available in the District at Best in Liquors, Central Liquors, Congress Market, Connecticut Avenue Wine & Liquor, PanMar Wine & Liquor, Rodman’s, Sherry’s Fine Wine & Spirits, U Street Mini Mart, Watergate Wine & Beverage; on the list at Windows Cafe. Available in Maryland at Bethesda Co-Op in Cabin John, the Bottle Shop in Potomac, Bradley Food & Beverage and Georgetown Square Wine and Beer in Bethesda, Franklin Liquors in Ijamsville, Old Farm Liquors in Frederick, Rodman’s in White Flint, Silesia Liquors in Fort Washington; on the list at Bistro Provence in Bethesda.

Gruet Brut Rosé
★¹/₂
New Mexico, $19
Gruet’s sparkling wines from New Mexico are an American treasure: top-notch fizz with real champagne character at an affordable price. The rosé is a good for a romantic interlude, and the entire lineup is worth exploring.
Country Vintner: Available in the District at Ace Beverage, Pearson’s, Rodman’s, Wagshal’s Market, Whole Foods Market P Street, Yes! Organic Market. Available in Maryland at Finewine.com in Gaithersburg, Georgetown Square Wine and Beer in Bethesda, Pine Orchard Wine in Ellicott City. Available in Virginia at Grape + Bean in Alexandria, Grateful Red Wine & Gift Shop in Arlington, Total Wine & More in McLean and Springfield, Whole Foods Market Fair Lakes.

Annalisa Moscato d’Asti
★¹/₂
Piedmont, Italy, $12
Bright, fruity, bubbly and sweet. What you don’t finish for dessert could go nicely with blueberry pancakes for brunch.
Country Vintner: Available in the District at Circle Wine & Liquor, Lion’s Fine Wine & Spirits, Whole Foods Market P Street. Available in Maryland at Georgetown Square Wine and Beer in Bethesda, Franklin Liquors in Ijamsville, I.M. Wine in Fulton, the Perfect Pour in Elkridge. Available in Virginia at Slaters Market in Alexandria, Total Wine & More (Alexandria, McLean, Springfield), Wine House in Fairfax.

Loredan Gasparini Casa Bianca Prosecco Rosé
★¹/₂

Veneto, Italy, $11
This budget sparkler is a nice scene-setter: Its bubbles help set the mood, and the pink color, from 15 percent pinot noir in the blend, will sparkle in the candlelight.
Dionysus: Available in the District at Cleveland Park Wine and Spirits, A Litteri, Wagshal’s Market, Whole Foods Market (P Street, Tenleytown). Available in Maryland at Balducci’s and Bradley Food & Beverage in Bethesda, Urban Cellars in Baltimore, Sav-On Liquors in Reisterstown, Eastport Liquors in Annapolis. Available in Virginia at Balducci’s (McLean and Alexandria), the Italian Store in Arlington, Whole Foods Market (Alexandria, Tysons Corner, Reston), Unwined (Alexandria and Belleview).

The impressive list of wines should get you started shopping so that you can create that perfect romantic toast on Valentines Day.Thank you to  The Washington Post.com and Dave McIntyre for this useful information.  If you would like to contact us with any questions or feedback you can reach us by email.

Thank you for visiting!

Joseph A Jones & The WellLife Team

Summer Wines

         Summer is here. That means you want to enjoy light fruity wines that accompany light fresh summer foods so it is imperative that you have a vast selection  of summer wines to choose from. That is why we have a list of summer wines from slate.com that you can use for your special summer meals. Here is their findings.

Here are eight good wines for beaches and barbecues:

Domaine Tempier Rosé 2004, $28 (France)
Egregiously overpriced, but thoroughly delicious to drink, especially if someone else is buying. Like biting into a peach, right down to the pit—there's no mistaking the predominant flavor here. Rich and spicy, with considerable heft. Yet more evidence that 2004 was a great vintage for rosés.


Commanderie de Peyrassol Rosé 2004, $15 (France)
Many 2004 rosés are unusually deep in color; this one is an exceedingly pale salmon-pink. Very peachy nose, and fairly smoky, too. Tart stone fruit flavors in the mouth, with good structure and a nice, spicy bite. Find a pool, find some lobster salad, drink this wine.


Bodegas Muga Rioja Rosado 2004, $10 (Spain)
Spain also did well with rosés in 2004, and the Muga rosé is particularly sublime. It has peach and candied-apple aromas, along with a distinctly yeasty note. Very mellow, but with good acidity and an underlying verve about it. A screaming steal for the price.


Dupeuble Beaujolais 2003, $10 (France)
Dupeuble is always cheap and always good. This one is light-bodied, with tart cherry flavors and tangy acidity. An hour in the fridge will make it even more refreshing. The ideal picnic wine.


Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet 2003, $9 (France)
A nice blast of lemon, chalk, green apples, and crushed rocks greets the nose. Not as crisp as Muscadets typically are, but 2003 was an atypically hot vintage, which can make for fuller wines. Still, the citrus flavors and acidity are pleasantly bracing.



Charles Joguet Chinon Cuvée Terroir 2002, $17 (France)
Joguet remains the undisputed king of Chinon, the best appellation for red wines in the Loire Valley. The Cuvée Terroir is Joguet's most basic bottling, and the 2002 is terrific. Medium-bodied and classically Chinon, with cranberry and tobacco notes and a slightly dusty texture. Great with grilled meats; transcendent with chevre from the Loire.


Leeuwin Art Series Riesling 2003, $17 (Australia)
Crisp lemon and lime flavors in the mouth, with a slight tropical note. Bone dry and pleasantly austere, with brisk acidity and excellent concentration. A true summertime Riesling; save the German and Alsatian Rieslings for when the leaves start to fall.


Rosenblum Zinfandel Vintners Cuvée XXVII, $9 (United States)
As cheap cookout wines go, this remains one of the best. Ripe, spicy, and slightly unruly raspberry flavors—in other words, classic Zinfandel—with decent structure and a meaty texture. True barbecue fluid here.


Now you have the perfect wine to match the perfect summer meal. If you would like to contact us with any questions or feedback you can reach us by  email.

Thank you for visiting!

Joseph A Jones & The WellLife Team