Some favorite red wines to go with those long-stemmed roses

As Anna sang, “Hello, young lovers, whoever you are. I hope your troubles are few.” Valentine’s Day, hooray!! Chez McD, VDay has a special significance as my wonderful wife Barbara’s birthday. Happy birthday to you and special Valentine Day’s best wishes to all readers. Busy, distracted or forgetful folks, there’s still time to make a plan. Don’t be fooled by Cupid’s arrival being on a winter Monday, normally a bit stagnant with limited options. Today’s ads show this Monday has many opportunities. I’m curious how many revelers decided on the weekend to celebrate, and how many hopeless romantics chose Monday.

Recently, I sampled three Napa Cabs from Chappellet. The Mountain Cuvee 2019, a recent release, 90 McD under $32, was a bit young but shows promise. At this price it is a steal. The 2017 Signature Cab 50th Anniversary around $60 was my pick of the litter, 92 McD. Blended with 8% Malbec, 10% Petit Verdot, it’s very dark purple with garnet highlights, loads of fruit, cherries, cassis, chocolate and barrel aromas of cigar box and pie spice. On the balanced palate, tannins are incorporating, cherry and currant continue with anise, cedar, espresso and nutmeg nuance. Finishes long and rich. May rival the 2014, 93 McD, when completely ready. As a treat, we had an ounce or so of Pritchard Hill 2013. RP 99’d it up to $250. 2018, the recent release, got 98 RP and $275. Pritchard Hill’s lowest score since 2011 is a 94 in 2017, selling now for $292. Go figure! Anyhow, the 2013 was excellent. Blended of 83% Cab, 8% Malbec, 6% Cab Franc and Petit Verdot, spent 22 months in new French oak, made to last 40 years but ready now. Still inky blue/purple, redolent of blueberry, cassis, raspberry with anise, cedar and violet back notes. On the rich, full-bodied, structured palate, dark fruits repeat with chocolate, roast coffee and oak-driven spice. These continue through a long finish. I’ve seen 2013 advertised under $240, one of the few top-flight aged Napa Cabs I recommend as good value. Choose a good store; some folks aren’t careful with storage. An indication of proper care is they are selling a wide selection of other aged wines. Going out on a limb, with the exception of RP, Chappellet is one of Napa’s best that is often underrated. You are safe with any level of their cabs. Variation from 94-99 points is vintage specific.

Those who enjoy well-made Pinot Noir can find good value in Sonoma. Martinelli’s Bella Vigna RRV are great value under $44, 2019 and ‘15, 93 points; 2018, 92 points; and 2017, 91. Don’t expect great price appreciation. Santa Maria Valley Santa Barbara County Cambria Julia’s Vineyard 2017 and 2019 both rate 90 McD plus 1 price point around $20. Those who are looking for an everyday PN won’t go wrong here. 2017 has dried cherry, strawberry and sage aromas, raspberry and thyme flavors with a long finish that has pleasing vanilla notes. 2019 offers pomegranate, dried cranberry and tart cherry aromas. On the medium-bodied palate, smooth tannins, pinot berry fruit, barrel spice and earthen notes. Long, clean, smooth finish extends the flavors. 2019 is already drinking well. The obscured-label panel pegged the ‘19 as a $35-$40 value. Santa Barbara endured a bunch of problems in 2020 with heat, drought, brushfires and smoke. That written, keep Cambria on your future list. A consistent 90-point, fairly priced product.

After finishing the entire paper, those curious concerning EVs should visit the interactive chart linked here: ev-database.org/cheatsheet/range-electric-car. It lists most EVs, and a quick click brings a page with most of each’s metrics. For those a bit shaky on metric symbols, a kilogram (kg) is 2.2 lbs. and a kilometer (km) = .6214 miles. Many of the one-page links show both metric and the imperial (USCS) system with which most in USA are familiar. This is an excellent tool. There may be a test. FYI, only three countries in the world officially use the USCS. Two are former British colonies Myanmar (Burma) and USA, plus Republic of Liberia, established by about 15,000 members of the American Colonization Society, former U.S. slaves and freeborn Black people. Oddly, Great Britain employs metric except for its money.