Winebits 372: Valentine’s Day wine 2015
by Wine Curmudgeon Posted On
A look at Valentine’s Day wine suggestions from around the Internet, because the Wine Curmudgeon doesn’t want to do it himself, given this is The Holiday That Must Not be Named:
? From a supermarket: HEB, the Texas grocery store chain that is one of the largest independents in the country, focuses on sweet and cute, including chocolate-flavored wine. I’m not sure there is anything here I would recommend, but the Wine Curmudgeon is not the target demographic for this post. Also note how the post uses descriptors that focus on sweet, like candied fruit. Anyone who wants to know why sweet red wine has become such a cash cow need only look here.
? From a wine magazine: Decanter, the British equivalent of the Wine Spectator, sticks to sparkling wine, but includes cava and Prosecco, including “10 great value Cavas” and English sparkling wine. The point here is not whether these wines are available in the U.S., but that the editors understand not everyone wants to spend $200 on a bottle of Champagne. Would that wine magazines in this country took the same approach. My favorite pick? The Jansz sparkling from Tasmania, about $20, which I drank on New Year’s as part of my Champagne boycott.
? From a financial news website: The Street runs a lot of wine-related items; why is anyone’s guess. But most of it is solid information, and its choice of 11 Valentine’s Day wines is more of the same. The 11 wines are mostly white, mostly quality (though not always easy to find), and mostly around $40. Having said that, the Marcel LaPierre from Morgon in Beaujolais, about $30, is an impressive recommendation.
you might consider a Korbel review. It is widely available in supermarkets, Costco, Sam’s etc. I recently had their Blanc de Noirs, which, for $11, was really lovely.
I have thought about doing the Korbel, Gary, but every time I buy it, it’s flat. Guess I need to find a better grocery store, where the inventory moves more frequently.
The other day I noticed Target has a boxed Malbec in a cardboard cube – sounds crazy but this Malbec rocks!
It’s not overly fruity or jammy like the majority of reds carried in box stores. Rather balanced and airy, with some layers of tannins to ground it.
Price is around $19 for perhaps the equivalent of around 3 bottles, or so?
Target’s Cube wines are notoriously inconsistent, even for boxed wine — which is notoriously inconsistent. The last time I tasted it, it didn’t incline me to taste it again, but now I have a reason to do so.