Raise a Glass: Wine Picks for Valentine's Day

Raise a Glass: Wine Picks for Valentine's Day February 10, 2009 Valentine's Day.  Whether you stay in or go out, this is a day for something really special, and we have a plan. First, make some homemade chocolate truffles.  We've used a recipe from Julia Child for the last 30 years and it hasn't failed yet..  Break-up 7 ounces of semisweet and 1 ounce of unsweetened baking chocolate.  Mix it with 6 Tbs of strong coffee.  Cover with plastic and zap it in the microwave for brief periods of time, stirring between zaps.  When it is melted, beat in one stick of unsalted butter (cut into small pieces).  Then add approximately ¾ cup of pulverized gingersnaps.  Chill the mixture.  Mix ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder with ¼ cup powered instant coffee in a wide dish.  Using a melonballer, scoop out balls of the chilled chocolate mixture and roll them in the powered cocoa.  Refrigerate in a covered container until time to serve. Now, go to your Trusty Wine Merchant and secure a bottle of Arnaud Margaine, Demi-Sec ? Premier Cru à Villers-Marmery champagne. This is wonderful growers champagne from a region near Reims.  It is made with chardonnay grapes and only about 5,000 cases are produced each year.   This is an exceptional champagne: a profusion of tiny bubbles, bright fruit, and ever so slightly sweet.  This is easily one of the best champagnes we've ever tasted.  Admittedly, this is a bit expensive at about $60, but surely the love of your life is worth it. So raise a glass, savor the flavor, and let a truffle melt in your mouth, then raise the glass again.  We'll be adding a kiss, too.  It is Valentine's Day after all.