Chef Sommelier Alexandria Valentine's Day Case Special

Looking for an easy way to make Valentines Day Special?

Alexandria, our Top Sommelier and Chef has hand selected 12 different top wines for your special someone this Valentines Day. Why a whole case you may ask? Well, outside of the substantial discount, a case of wine is sure to bring a big surprise. Wine gets better with age, so there is no rush to finish it.

2013 Field of Stones Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough New Zealand

Marlborough NZ is the best wine-growing region for this specific varietal. The climate, soil and oceanic breeze provide ideal conditions for Sauvignon Blanc. This bottle is hand selected by the Winegrower John Forrest, and has a limited release. Perfect for your special someone on a sunny, crisp day.

Flavor notes - Lemon and grapefruit with a soft floral essence of elderflower, thyme and sage. On the palate, the wine has a crisp acidity with a stone minerality. It has some tropical guava and peach notes, as well.

Food Pairing- Delicate white fish in a lemon olive oil sauce topped with sundried tomatoes, along side roasted thyme and sage potatoes.

2012 Tobias Chardonnay, Potter Valley California

This winemaker's selection Chardonnay is just right for a true chardonnay lover. Potter valley is along the north coast of California, in the Mendocino region, just about two hours north of Napa Valley. The grapes are harvested from the family owned vineyards of the Tobias family.

Flavor Notes - Subtle oak aging provides soft notes of toasted nuts, melted butter and vanilla. The wine provides fresh fruit flavors of apple, ripe citrus and honeysuckle. On the palate the wine is crisp, with a lingering creamy soft citrus finish.

Food Pairing- A freshly tossed salad of mescaline greens, candied walnuts, diced green apple and dried cranberries with an apple cider vinaigrette, topped with seasoned roasted chicken or salmon.

2012 Principe Strozzi White Blend, Vernaccia Di San Gimignano Italy DOCG

This white wine blend is full of history and tradition. The grapes used are Trebbiano and Malvasia, grown on prime hillsides sites. The history of this vineyard and the family heritage behind it is absolutely amazing. The Strozzi family estate dates back to over 1000 years ago and is still owned and operated by the latest generation. The famous Mona Lisa, Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo, is even part of this historic family's ancestry.

Flavor Notes - On the nose, this wine has notes of apricot, sweet spices and some floral jasmine. Upon taste, the wine's floral and sweet spice notes speak up. There is some sea salt minerality and a medium finish of a fresh squeezed lemon.

Food Pairing- Rotisserie herb chicken over a bed of hand rolled orecchetti, with a lemon butter sauce and steamed haricot vert. This versatile light wine can be enjoyed with many dishes.

2012 Charles Smith Merlot, Columbia Valley Washington

This Charles Smith vinted and bottled wine is a modern take on a classic varietal. Silky, seductive Merlot is perfectly suited for a special romantic dinner or fancy dinner party. With several accolades, including back-to-back 'Winemaker of the Year' titles -- one from Food & Wine in 2009, the other from Seattle in 2010, Charles Smith sure is making an impression.

Tasting notes - Aromas of dark cherry, black plum, black currant and chocolate, underscored by smooth black fruit and a kiss of caramel and toast on the palate.

Food Pairing - This wine is goes down smooth and does not require food to fully enjoy. However, it is a perfect pairing for a crispy, fat rendered duck breast, cooked medium rare, in a rich plum sauce, accompanied by orange and butter glazed baby carrots.

2012 North Bank Spier Malbec, Western Cape South Africa

Spier Malbec is quite possibly my favorite bottle within this special Valentines Day case. Based off the label alone, the lock and key design is absolutely perfect for this romantic themed holiday. Spier is one of the oldest wine cellars in South Africa, established in the 1700's. Once you taste the wine you will understand why.

Tasting Notes - This powerful, full-bodied Malbec has aromas and tastes of a bonfire, with toasted oak and smokiness. Along with flavors of red berries and fresh cracked pepper, Spier truly is a complex wine that grows in flavor and aroma as you continue drinking it.

Food Pairing - Grilled rib-eye with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and a Stilton bleu cauliflower gratin. This wine is perfect for your cheese plate as well, pairing with goat cheese, triple cream and Stilton bleu cheese.

2012 The Prospector 49er Blend, California

The Prospector flawlessly blends Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Malbec and Syrah to create a bold fruit forward California blend. Reed Renaudin, the winemaker behind the creation of this delightful blend, has created a "cant miss out" bottle!

Tasting notes - Rich blackberry, black currant and black cherry aromas and flavors on the palate. Spicy notes of pepper, clove and anise make a rich warm finish. Due to American and French oak aging, there are round silky tannins.

Food pairing - This bold blend would be perfectly suited with a slow roasted, juicy leg of lamb or prime rib. Flavors of rosemary, clove, garlic and paprika are perfect seasonings for the meat.

2012 Alma Andina Malbec, Mendoza Argentina

Sourced from some of the highest vineyards in the Uco Valley, this Reserve Malbec is a wonderful every day drinking red. Argentina's abundant sunshine, with a balance of thrillingly cool nights and irrigation from fresh Andes snowmelt, nature truly helps to produce perfectly ripe grapes. The delicate work doesn't stop there. Aging in American and French oak barrels for six months provides the wine with a developed and mature quality.

Tasting Notes- Fresh, plump red cherries with hints of pencil shavings are very clear on the nose and on the palate. Alma Andina has high, round tannins, with flavors of cocoa powder, dark chocolate, vanilla and roasted coffee.

Food Pairing- A very food friendly wine, it pairs great with braised pork belly in a rich tomato sauce, as well as fresh ground chickpea hummus and flatbread.

2012 The Black Stump Durif Shiraz, South Eastern Austraila

This wine should be enjoyed when you're feeling a little mischievous! It's such a dark and luxurious wine, with its decorated awards and praise from International Wine Challenge and Decanter World Wine Awards, The Black Stump is just "what the doctor ordered" for your valentine!

Tasting Notes- The Black Stump sure does not stump your taste buds! This wine has wonderful aromas of earl grey tea and allspice. Upon tasting, the flavors of earl gray tea are all there, along with gooseberry, blackberry, orange and cardamom.

Food Pairing-Tea smoked salmon,with fire roasted peppers.

2012 Aluado Alicante Bouschet, Vinho Regional Lisboa Portugal

Aluado, meaning moonstruck or crazy, is perfect for the person that you're crazy about! Initially named due to it being the first single varietal Alicante Bouschet produced in Portugal, Aluado was just awarded an impressive 91 Points from Wine Enthusiast, with a "Best Buy" recommendation. Portugal is taking off with their quality of wines and is sure to be trending in 2014.

Tasting Notes- With the star-bright deep purple color, Aluado is brimming with flavor. Earthy mushroom and fall leaves notes, with anise, licorice and cardamom, balance for the ideal dinner wine. The tannins are soft, but present with a whisp of cherry and balsamic finish.

Food Pairing- So many great options for this wine! Grilled wild boar with balsamic marinated Portobello mushrooms and a wild rice blend is sure to be a faultless match.

2010 J-P Moueix Private Reserve Blend, Bordeaux France

This Merlot rich blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot is a perfect classic to have on hand.

Tasting Notes- Bordeaux is famous for having a distinguishable smoky "Cigar box" nose. Taste notes of raspberry, fresh clipped grass, and caramel, this wine has a fantastic long finish with medium soft tannins and is moderately acidic.