Published NZ Herald Sat 13 Feb 2016
So you’re gunning to get into the good-books with your valentine tomorrow. You’ve bought flowers, heaping wads of the best chocolate you can find, you’ve even bought a snazzy card and poured your heart out to her with a handwritten message inside (remember handwriting?) Complete the equation with excellent wine.
Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut NV $75 
It’s a given that if you want champagne with cool-factor then Clicquot is the way to go. Think aromas of lemon shortbread, bread crust and nutty, biscuit-like loveliness alongside subtle flavours of baked apple, oatcake and creamy, yeasty characters on the finish. Classic and classy.
Invivo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $19
You won’t be disappointed with this crunchy, clean, passionfruit-packed sauvignon, in fact the minute you try it you’ll probably want to race down to the supermarket to grab a second bottle. Signature grassy notes, capsicum zingy juicy white nectarine, white pepper complexity and juicy length of flavour, make this a fresh, zesty sip.
Kalex Alex Kaufman Waipara Valley Chardonnay 2013 $37
This is a juicy, tropical, racy chardonnay replete with rockmelon, peach, ripe grapefruit and punchy pepper and layers of toasty spices make this a wine that really rocks. A splash of mandarin, creamy, nutty notes and a long, mealy finish has me wanting a second glass pronto! Superb stuff from our southern climes.
