There's no harm in serving up vinous clichés, as long as they're good. These are: two pink Champagnes and two reds that will have your valentine swooning (if only for another glass). And they're good enough for every other day of the year too.
Berry Bros Grand Cru Rosé Brut Champagne, France
Utterly seductive but equally sophisticated pink Champagne with aromas of rose, pomegranate and raspberry, a fine mousse, billowing soft texture and delicate touches of brioche and apricot. The blend is 70:30 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, made for Berry’s by the family-owned house of Marguet in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay. Very good value.
£33, Berry Bros & Rudd
Me & Mr Jones 2015, Vin de France
This is the fruit of the ultimate wine love story. ‘Me’ is Katie Jones, who went to the south of France 20 years ago to work at the wine co-operative in Fitou. There she met vigneron Jean-Marc Astruc, but they didn’t rush into things. They finally tied the knot in 2015 after they’d both ditched the co-op, she, in 2008, to buy a vineyard and make her own wines under the Domaine Jones label and he to concentrate on his family estate, Domaine de Rebouls in 2015. Once they’d tied the knot, they made their first wine together using Grenache from ‘Mr Jones’s’ vineyard and Carignan from Katie’s. As for the wine, it is of course a heart-warming, supple red and one packed full of juicy, spicy fruit.
£15.99, or £11.99 angel price, Naked Wines
Dominique Piron Saint-Amour 2015, Beaujolais, France
Delightful Beaujolais from Saint-Amour, one of the ten, top-rated individual appellations (or crus) of Beaujolais. Vibrant sweet-plum fruit, satin-smooth texture and a mineral spice finish. Very food-friendly, although best to draw the line at oysters.
£12 (down from £14 until February 28), Marks & Spencer
Charles Heidsieck Rosé Réserve Champagne, France
Richly fruity, but elegant and complex rosé from one of the greatest, if slightly under the radar, Champagne houses. Red fruit, wheatmeal, brioche and hints of orange and ginger from 36% Pinot Noir (5–6% vinified as red wine), 36% Chardonnay and 28% Pinot Meunier. Reserve wines account for 20%.
£46.45–£63.50, TheDrinkShop.com, ChampagneDirect.co.uk, Berry Bros & Rudd, Harrods, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason.
If you want to go one better, head for the even finer, more complex Charles Heidsieck Vintage 2006 Rosé (£74–£92.36, The Wine Society, The Whisky Exchange, TheDrinkShop.com).