Wines with captivating aromas and flavors are delightful selections that have special appeal on Valentine’s Day. Over the last few weeks, I sampled more than a hundred wines across a broad range of grapes, styles and prices. Here are my favorites in different price categories:
$10s-20s
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAmkDEC@?8mv@?K2=6K qJ2DD ?@?\G:?E286 $96CCJ “}64E2C[ !65C@ ):>6?6K[Q $A2:? Wbfd >=j S`fXik^DEC@?8m %9:D >65:F>\DH66E 56DD6CE H:?6 :D 9:89=J A=62D:?8[ 6DA64:2==J 8:G6? :ED >@56DE AC:46] s66A 3C@H? :? 4@=@C[ :E :D DEC@?8 H:E9 2EEC24E:G6 4@>A=6I:EJ]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8msCJ rC66< a_ab uF>6 q=2?4 �$@?@>2 r@F?EJ� WSa`Xik^DEC@?8m %96 C@3FDE ?@D6 @7 E9:D 7:?6 3FJ =625D E@ H6==\32=2?465 7CF:E[ 6I46==6?E 4@>A=6I:EJ 2?5 G6CJ 8@@5 :?E68C2E:@?[ 2D H6== 2D A@=:D9[ A6CD@?2=:EJ 2?5 =6?8E9]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mw625 w:89 a_ab r92C5@??2J �$@?@>2 r@F?EJ� WSacXik^DEC@?8m p 3:E =:89E E@ 6J6 2?5 ?@D6[ 3FE @E96CH:D6 2EEC24E:G6 H:E9 DEC6?8E9[ C67:?6>6?E 2?5 A=62D:?8 492C24E6C 6IE6?5:?8 E9C@F89@FE 2 =@?8 7:?:D9]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr=:?6 a_aa +:?72?56= “t:89E $AFC[ sCJ rC66< '2==6J� WSadXik^DEC@?8m !FCA=6\E:?865 4@=@C 2?5 DEC@?8 ?@D6 =625 E@ 2AA62=:?8 7CF:E[ 4@>A=6I:EJ 2?5 7@CH2C5?6DD @? E96 A2=2E6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ms@>2:?6 q@FDBF6E a_a` r236C?6E $2FG:8?@? “vC2?[ ~C82?:4 vC2A6D[ vF2=E2==2CJ[ %FAF?82E@[ '2==6 56 &4@[ |6?5@K2[ pC86?E:?2� WSadXik^DEC@?8m "F:E6 2 3FJ H:E9 @FEDE2?5:?8 AFCA=6 4@=@C[ DEC@?8 ?@D6 2?5 :?E68C2E:@?[ DEC6?8E9 2?5 C67:?6>6?E E9C@F89 2? 6IE6?565 7:?:D9]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mw625 w:89 a_ab !:?@E }@:C �$@?@>2 r@F?EJ� WSaeXik^DEC@?8m t?;@J 7@CH2C5?6DD @? E96 A2=2E6 H:E9 7F==\:D9 3@5J 2?5 DEC@?8 7CF:E A2:C65 H:E9 G6CJ 8@@5 32=2?46[ 4@>A=6I:EJ[ 2?5 =6?8E9]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$492C776?36C86C ?@?\G:?E286 rC6>2?E “|6?5@4:?@ r@F?EJ� WSaeXik^DEC@?8m %9:D 2EEC24E:G6 DA2C<=:?8 H:?6 762EFC6D J6==@H\8@=5 4@=@C 7@C6E6==:?8 DEC6?8E9 2?5 A=62D:?8 7CF:E[ 2D H6== 2D 4C:DA?6DD[ 4@>A=6I:EJ 2?5 A6CD@?2=:EJ E9C@F89 2 ?@E23=6 7:?:D9]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp55:E:@?2= 8@@5 3FJDik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|:8F6= %@CC6Dk^DEC@?8m a_aa r2C>6?6C6 “p?5:42[ '2==6 56= |2F=6[ r9:=6� WS`dX[ kDEC@?8m%@FC?@?k^DEC@?8m W3J |:4926= r92A@FE:6CX a_`h $9:C2K “|2E9:=52[ ':4E@C:2[ pFDEC2=:2� WSa_X[ 2?5 kDEC@?8m|FCA9J\v@@56k^DEC@?8m a_a` +:?72?56= “{:2C’D s:46[ $@?@>2 r@F?EJ� WSa`X]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8mSb_D\c_Dk^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8ms@>2:?6 q@FDBF6E a_a` r236C?6E $2FG:8?@? “p>6C:[ $:?8=6 ':?6J2C5[ vF2=E2==2CJ[ |6?5@K2[ pC86?E:?2� WSbeXik^DEC@?8m q62FE:7F=[ 566A\AFCA=6 4@=@C =625D E@ 6I46==6?46 @? E96 A2=2E6 H:E9 DEC6?8E9[ 7CF:E[ 32=2?46 2?5 >@C6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ms@>2:?6 p?56CD@? a_a` r92C5@??2J “p?56CD@? '2==6J� WSc_Xik^DEC@?8m ~FEDE2?5:?8[ 6DA64:2==J :? E6C>D @7 3@5J[ 4@>A=6I:EJ[ :?E68C2E:@?[ A6CD@?2=:EJ 2?5 =6?8E9]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvFDE a_aa $JC29 �!6E2=F>2 v2A[ $@?@>2 r@F?EJ� WScdXik^DEC@?8m s66A AFCA=6 9F6 42E496D E96 6J6[ H9:=6 4@>A=6I:EJ 42AEFC6D E96 ?@D6 2?5 ;@:?D 3@=5 7=2G@CD[ 962GJ 3@5J[ DEC@?8 7CF:E 2?5 7:?6 32=2?46 @? E96 A2=2E6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%6?FE2 5: pC46?@ a_`h r9:2?E: r=2DD:4@ �#6D6CG2[ xE2=J� WScdXik^DEC@?8m xED 3C@25 6I46==6?46 :D 6DA64:2==J 2AA2C6?E E@ E96 6J6 2?5 E2DE6 3F5D[ H:E9 E96 =2EE6C 2AAC64:2E:?8 DEC6?8E9[ 5:>6?D:@?2=:EJ[ :?E68C2E:@?[ A6CD@?2=:EJ 2?5 =6?8E9]k^Am
Textbook 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon “Pey Family Reserve, Napa Valley�
Courtesy
kAmkDEC@?8m%6IE3@@< a_a` r236C?6E $2FG:8?@? �!6J u2>:=J #6D6CG6[ }2A2 '2==6J� WSceXik^DEC@?8m %9:D 7:?6 r236C?6E AC6D6?ED 362FE:7F= AFCA=6\E:?865 4@=@C =625:?8 E@ G:E2=:EJ[ 7CF:E[ 4@>A=6I:EJ[ C67:?6>6?E 2?5 >@C6[ 2== 6IE6?5:?8 E9C@F89 2 =:?86C:?8 7:?:D9]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mq6?K:86C a_ab r92C5@??2J �!62C q=@4<[ $2?8:24@>@ ':?6J2C5[ {@D r2C?6C@D� WScgXik^DEC@?8m p>@?8 E96 36DE r92C5@??2JD x’G6 E2DE65 C646?E=J[ E92?<D E@ 9:89=J A=62D:?8 DEC6?8E9 2?5 7CF:E[ 2=@?8 H:E9 6I46AE:@?2= 32=2?46[ 4@>A=6I:EJ[ A@=:D9 2?5 >@C6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mt>6C:EFD a_`h !:?@E }@:C �(6D=6J’D #6D6CG6[ w2==36C8 #2?49[ #FDD:2? #:G6C '2==6J� WScgXik^DEC@?8m %9:D 7:?6 !:?@E }@:C :?4C62D6D :? BF2=:EJ 7C@> 6J6 E@ ?@D6 E@ :>AC6DD:G6 DEC6?8E9[ 3@5J[ 7CF:E 2?5 =:?86C:?8 =6?8E9 @? E96 A2=2E6]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8mSd_D\e_Dk^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8msFE496C rC@DD:?8 a_a` r92C5@??2J “r96?@H6E9 ':?6J2C5[ #FDD:2? #:G6C '2==6J� WSd_Xik^DEC@?8m qC@25=J 2AA62=:?8[ 6DA64:2==J H:E9 6I46==6?E :?E6?D:EJ[ 4@>A=6I:EJ[ :?E68C2E:@?[ A@=:D9 2?5 A6CD@?2=:EJ 244@>A2?:65 3J DEC@?8 7CF:E 2?5 >65:F>\=:89E @2<]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#2>’D v2E6 a_a` !:?@E }@:C �$@?@>2 r@2DE� WSdaXik^DEC@?8m pEEC24E:G6 E@ E96 6J6 2?5 ?@D6 2?5 @FEDE2?5:?8 @? E96 A2=2E6 H:E9 DEC6?8E9[ 3@5J 2?5 7@CH2C5 3FE 7:?6=J 32=2?465 7CF:E[ 2=@?8 H:E9 6?828:?8 5:>6?D:@?2=:EJ[ C67:?6>6?E 2?5 =6?8E9]k^Am
DaVero 2019 Primitivo “Treborce Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley�
Courtesy
kAmkDEC@?8ms2'6C@ a_`h !C:>:E:G@ �%C63@C46 ':?6J2C5[ sCJ rC66< '2==6J� WSddXik^DEC@?8m !C:>:E:G@ :D 4@?D:56C65 D:>:=2C[ :7 ?@E :56?E:42=[ E@ +:?72?56=[ 2?5 E9:D G6CJ 8@@5 E@ 6I46==6?E 6I2>A=6 92D 7:?6 :?E68C2E:@?[ 566A 4@=@C[ C@F?565 3@5J[ 7@CH2C5 7CF:E 2?5 ?@E23=6 4@>A=6I:EJ[ 2== 42CC:65 E9C@F89 2? 6IE6?565 7:?:D9]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$E28D� {62A a_a` r236C?6E $2FG:8?@? “}2A2 '2==6J� WSedXik^DEC@?8m t?;@J>6?E 368:?D H:E9 52C<[ AFCA=6\E:?865 9F6 2?5 4@?E:?F6D H:E9 2AA62=:?8 DEC6?8E9[ 7F== E@ 962GJ 3@5J[ DEC@?8 3FE 362FE:7F==J 32=2?465 7CF:E 2?5 255:E:@?2= A=62D:?8 BF2=:E:6D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8muFCE96C 7:?6 49@:46Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8msFEE@? v@=57:6=5k^DEC@?8m a_aa !:?@E }@:C “sFEE@? #2?49[ #FDD:2? #:G6C '2==6J� WSd_X[ kDEC@?8m$EF9=>F==6Ck^DEC@?8m a_a` r236C?6E $2FG:8?@? “p=6I2?56C '2==6J� WSd_X[ kDEC@?8ms2'6C@k^DEC@?8m a_`f r2C:8?2?@ �%6DE2 u2>:=J ':?6J2C5[ |6?5@4:?@� WSddX[ kDEC@?8m|6CC:2>k^DEC@?8m a_a` |6C=@E �(:?524C6 ':?6J2C5[ #FDD:2? #:G6C '2==6J� WSdeX[ kDEC@?8mr2E6?2 p=E2k^DEC@?8m a_a_ |2=364 “w:DE@C:4 #@HD[ |6?5@K2[ pC86?E:?2� WSe_X[ kDEC@?8m|6CCJ t5H2C5Dk^DEC@?8m a_a` !:?@E }@:C �$@?@>2 r@2DE� WSe_X 2?5 kDEC@?8ms2G:D qJ?F>k^DEC@?8m a_aa !:?@E }@:C “sFEE@? #2?49[ #FDD:2? #:G6C '2==6J� WSedX]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8mSf_DZk^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8mr92E62F $E6] |:496==6 a_a_ C65 3=6?5 “pCE:DE $6C:6D[ r@=F>3:2 '2==6J� WSf_Xik^DEC@?8m %9:D 9:89=J :>AC6DD:G6 H:?6 5@>:?2E65 3J |6C=@E 2?5 r236C?6E $2FG:8?@? 6IAC6DD6D 3C@25 6I46==6?46 H:E9 DEC6?8E9[ 3@5J 2?5 7CF:E 4F=>:?2E:?8 :? =@?8\=:?86C:?8 =6?8E9] |@C6@G6C[ :E 4@>6 :? 2 362FE:7F= 3@EE=6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!C:56 |@F?E2:? a_aa |6C=@E “}2A2 r@F?EJ� WSfaXik^DEC@?8m tI46=D @? E96 A2=2E6 H:E9 C@F?565 3@5J[ 4C:DA G:E2=:EJ[ G6CJ 2EEC24E:G6 7CF:E[ 7:?6 32=2?46[ ?@E23=6 C67:?6>6?E 2?5 2? 6IE6?565 7:?:D9]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mq6?K:86C a_a` r236C?6E $2FG:8?@? �%9C66 q=@4<D[ $@?@>2 '2==6J� WSfbXik^DEC@?8m pEEC24E:G6 AFCA=6 9F6 2?5 DEC@?8[ 4@>A=6I ?@D6 AC6D286 8C62E A=62DFC6 H:E9 DEC6?8E9[ 6I46==6?E=J 32=2?465 7CF:E 2?5 6BF2==J 2AA62=:?8 :?E68C2E:@?[ A@=:D9 2?5 A6CD@?2=:EJ]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!C:56 |@F?E2:? a_aa r236C?6E $2FG:8?@? “}2A2 2?5 $@?@>2 r@F?E:6D� WSgdXik^DEC@?8m u62EFC6D @FEDE2?5:?8 566A AFCA=6 4@=@C E92E =625D E@ 2>A=6 DEC6?8E9[ C@F?565 3@5J[ DEC@?8 7CF:E 2?5 =@?8\=:?86C:?8 =6?8E9]k^Am
Merry Edwards 2021 Pinot Noir “Meredith Estate, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County�
Courtesy
kAmkDEC@?8m|6CCJ t5H2C5D a_a` !:?@E }@:C “|6C65:E9 tDE2E6[ #FDD:2? #:G6C '2==6J[ $@?@>2 r@F?EJ� WSh_Xik^DEC@?8m tJ6\42E49:?8 4@=@C A@CE6?5D :?E6?D:EJ[ 7F== 3@5J[ DEC@?8 7CF:E[ :>AC6DD:G6 32=2?46 2?5 >@C6[ 2== 4F=>:?2E:?8 :? 2 362FE:7F==J AC@=@?865 7:?:D9]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#@656C6C a_`h DA2C<=:?8 H:?6 “w6C:E286[ qCFE #@D6[ p?56CD@? '2==6J� WS``dXik^DEC@?8m v@=56? 9F6 AC64656D 2EEC24E:G6 7@CH2C5?6DD[ C@F?565 3@5J 2?5 3C@25 6I46==6?46 :? 4@>A=6I:EJ[ :?E68C2E:@?[ C67:?6>6?E 2?5 =6?8E9]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(9:E692== {2?6 a_`h r236C?6E $2FG:8?@? “{6@?2C5:?: ':?6J2C5[ $E] w6=6?2[ }2A2 '2==6J� WS`adXik^DEC@?8m q62FEJ E@ E96 6J6 2?5 6I46==6?46 @? E96 A2=2E6 C6DF=E :? 2 DFA6C3 H:?6 :? H9:49 DEC6?8E9[ 7CF:E 2?5 4@>A=6I:EJ AC@5F46 9:89=J 2AA62=:?8 A6CD@?2=:EJ 6IE6?5:?8 E9C@F89@FE 2 =@?8\=:?86C:?8 7:?:D9]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~E96C 6I46==6?E D6=64E:@?Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mw2CE7@C5 r@FCEk^DEC@?8m a_aa r92C5@??2J �$E@?6 r@E6 ':?6J2C5[ $@?@>2 r@2DE� WSf_Xj kDEC@?8mz6==6C tDE2E6k^DEC@?8m a_a` $JC29 �#@E:6[ !6E2=F>2 v2A[ $@?@>2 r@F?EJ� WSf_Xj kDEC@?8m#@5?6J $EC@?8k^DEC@?8m a_`h r236C?6E $2FG:8?@? “p=6I2?56C’D rC@H? ':?6J2C5[ p=6I2?56C '2==6J� WSh_X]k^Am
kAmk6>mr@?E24E 2 =@42= =:BF@C DE@C6 E@ 56E6C>:?6 2G2:=23:=:EJ @7 H:?6D J@F H:D9 E@ AFC492D6] p=E6C?2E:G6=J[ E96 H:?6D D9@F=5 36 2G2:=23=6 @?=:?6] y@9? 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i2KA:?6H:?6oJ29@@]4@>Qm2KA:?6H:?6oJ29@@]4@>k^2mk^6>mk^Am
