Liquid Gifts
I’ve grown bored giving my girlfriend flowers and chocolates for Valentine’s Day. Any thoughts on a liquid alternative?
While I’m no Dr. Phil, I can pretty much guarantee that if your significant other reads this question — and recognizes you as the one who wrote me — you won’t have to worry about what to get her this time next year. She’s going to be with anyone other than you my friend, smelling roses and popping bonbons.
Since you’ve asked for my two cents I’m more than happy to oblige with one word: Champagne.
And I’m not talking a faux version from Spain or wherever, or a non-vintage, around $60 dollar version put under cork and crown in the Champagne region either. I’m talking a big gun, a bottle of memories somewhere around the $200-range with a name that both James Bond and Jay-Z would recognize.
If we’re on the same page here, in my mind you only have three choices: Moët & Chandon’s muscular Dom Pérignon (the passion juice Sean Connery’s Bond sipped in Goldfinger), Bollinger’s rich and nutty Grande Année (Daniel Craig’s 007 bubbly of choice) or Louis Roederer’s fresh and sophisticated Cristal (the rapper’s delight).
I know, it will put a dent in your bank account, but if she’s never thrown back a bottle of serious champers she’ll tell tales of her first time for years to come with you as her liquid hero.
If your budget is a tad more pedestrian pick her up a bottle of rosé for a little V-Day colour coordination. Though pink wines get pigeonholed as a warm weather back deck quaffers, they can be serious sippers that transcend the seasonal slight.
Richer versions from France’s Tavel and Provence regions are worlds away from the tutti frutti flavour profiles of many mainstream blush wines and make a nice combination with chocolate. That is, when you finally figure out that a little candy on Valentine’s Day is really dandy.