Connecticut Magazine

Wines the color of love set the mood for a Valentine’s Day to savor

By Renée Allen

Broc Cellars Love Red 2018

Chris Brockway, owner and winemaker at Broc Cellars, is completely transparent about the wines he creates, adopting a philosophy of little to no intervention during both the winegrowing and the winemaking processes. The “Love Wines” are meant to be more affordable options among Broc Cellars’ lengthy lineup that still represent the winemaker’s ideals. And if you’re planning a Valentine’s Day wedding, Love Wines can be purchased in convenient single-serving cans.

Broc Cellars Love Red is composed predominantly of the lesser-known native Spanish grape, carignan, supported by a soupçon of valdiguié and syrah. The clear glass bottle allows the candy-cherry red color to shine through, beautifully juxtaposed against the appealing black label art. Floral aromatics and a hint of spiciness are first to greet the nose, imbued with the subtle savor of dried clay. The attack is silky, with spice subsiding on the midpalate to make room for abundant blueberries and the heady scent of violets. Plums permeate the exceptionally crisp finish, where silkiness transforms on the tongue to a more textured feel. The experience resides somewhere between a pinot noir and a merlot, making this wine a versatile pairing partner for bold fish dishes like pan-seared mackerel with tomato salsa, as well as lighter meat-based meals, such as pork ragout gnocchi.