Thinking of a good bottle for this special weekend? Here are four picks from a chief sommelier.
It’s Valentine’s day just around the corner. If you’re still not looking to venture out and prefer a good meal and bottle at home, here are a few suggestions from Winery.ph managing director and chief sommelier Christopher Urbano. A few of the main keys for V-Day, it seems, are a good mouthfeel and the drink’s adaptability to any meal.
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Dom Pérignon Vintage Champagne P1 Blanc 2010 (P11,290)
If you are looking for a wine that is guaranteed to impress, then Dom Perignon is the no-nonsense option. This was the Champagne of choice for Princess Diana and Prince Charles at their wedding. Everything from how it smells to how it tastes is luxurious—it’s fresh with tropical fruit, orange zest, florals, and brioche but is creamy in the mouth.
This is a wine that you could very well enjoy on its own over some intimate conversation and good music, or you could also pair it with a board of nutty, aged cheese.
You can order here.
Spottswoode Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 (P18,180)
If you plan on cooking up a juicy ribeye or wagyu steak for date night, then the classic pairing will always be a great Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley is a good place to look, and Spottswoode Estate is one of the most iconic wineries there. In fact, it was already around for almost a century when other rock star wineries were just starting out in the 1960s and 70s.
They’ve had time to master their craft, and you can taste it in the 2017 vintage. This Cabernet Sauvignon shines when you give it two hours to decant, and it has this fantastic energy lifting its complex palate. You get dark fruits, plum, cinnamon, and cocoa.
Domaine Jacques Carillon Puligny Montrachet Blanc 2017 (P6,775)
If more decadent dishes like foie gras, oysters, lobster, or truffle pasta are on the menu for Valentine’s, then you’ll need a wine that can take these flavors even higher. You can’t go wrong with a bottle from Burgundy: it’s one of the greatest white wine regions in the world and the origin of Chardonnay.
Puligny Montrachet is considered the closest to perfect expression of the grape. The Carillon family has been making wine since the 16th century. In this take, you get notes of citrus, hints of herbs and vanilla with a fine, gentle mouthfeel.
You can order here.
Veuve Clicquot La Grand Dame Rosé 2006 (P18,590)
If you’re marking a truly special occasion and want to go all out with romance, then nothing will express it the way Champagne house Veuve Clicquot’s signature La Grande Dame Rosé can. The 2006 vintage is silky but crisp on the tongue, and it’s full of delicate red fruits, candied ginger, and toast.
The real show-stopper is the finish, however: it really coats your palate, and the flavors just linger for so long. And because it’s also rosé, you can have it with nearly anything, and it will be a good, elevated match, be it a steak or a kebab, or scampi and lobster.
You can order here.
Banner Photo by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash
