Marry dessert wines with premium chocolates

To paraphrase the late, great soul singer Sam Cooke on Valentine's Day romance, we all just want Cupid to pull back his bow and let his arrow go straight to our lover's heart.

To help ensure Cupid's accuracy, we provide a little "guidance" with the tried-and-true package of flowers, chocolates and dessert wines.

For the flowers, rely on a creative professional florist to put together your sweetie's favorite blooms in an attractive arrangement. The safe bet of roses always work well, but trying more unconventional combinations of lilies, irises and lavender can be fun, too.

With chocolates, less can be more. Try presenting a variety of small quantities of premium chocolates from various producers. The intensity and depth of flavors in these less-common chocolate morsels work well to fire the imagination and ardor.

Try the following chocolates and dessert wine combinations:

White chocolate

El Rey "Icoa" White Chocolate, Venezuelan Single Bean Origin "Carenero Superior," Venezuela ($2.49 for 2.8 ounces at Market District stores): Made from carefully tended cacao beans grown in north-central Venezuela, this pure white chocolate bears the name of an Indian goddess said to have a pure "white" soul. The chocolate's creamy, milky texture delivers rich flavors and a slightly sweet but fine finish.

Pair it with 2004 Dogobo Vineyard "Mylitta" Tokaj "Noble Late Harvest," Hungary (Specialty 10185; $34.99 for 375 milliliters). Named after the Sumerian goddess of the moon and fertility, this marvelous nectar's burnished golden color offers intense pineapple, apricot and honey aromas opening to similar flavors delivered with fine finesse. The sweet but well-balanced finish has uplifting acidity. Highly recommended.

Milk chocolate

Santander, Colombian Single Origin Milk Chocolate, 36 percent cacao ($2.99 for 2.4 ounces at Market District stores): Made from cacao beans grown under fair-trade arrangements with small, independent Colombian farmers, this chocolate's light brown color offers creamy flavors of chocolate and vanilla with a sweet, but well balanced, finish.

Pair it with 2007 Quady Winery Elysium, California Black Muscat Dessert Wine, California (Specialty 10221, $20.49). Named after Greek mythology's name for paradise, this wine's beguiling purple color offers intense aromas of plums, cherries and rose blossoms. The sweet flavors of cherries and blackberries wrap around refreshing acidity and 15 percent alcohol through a well-balanced finish. Highly recommended.

Dark chocolate

Cafe-Tasse, Noir, Pepites de cacao, Brussels ($3.99 for 2.9 ounces at Market District stores): From one of Belgium's leading chocolatiers specializing in handmade fine chocolates, this dark brown confection contains 54 percent cacao for intense chocolate flavors laced with tiny nibs of cacao beans for a light crunchy texture. The slightly sweet finish has perfect balance and creaminess.

Pair it with Blandy's Alvada 5-year-old Madeira, Portugal (Specialty 11359; $19.99 for 500 milliliters). Made from grapes grown on the beautiful subtropical island of Madeira, this fortified wine's brown color offers aromas of caramel and honey. The rich caramel flavors with citrus notes have the classic Madeira tang of fresh acidity balancing a sweet, lingering finish and 19 percent alcohol. Recommended.

Extra dark chocolate

Valrhona, Le Noir Extra Amer, 85 percent cacao, France ($3.99 for 3.5 ounces at Market District stores): Made by one of France's leading chocolate producers situated in the lovely wine-growing town of Tain L'Hermitage along the majestic Rhone River, this extra-dark, slightly bitter chocolate offers the essence of cacao beans wrapped in a creamy texture and with just a hint of sweetness in the finish.

Pair it with N.V. Dutschke The Muscat, Australia (Specialty 10486; on sale $26.99 for 375 milliliters). Made from grapes nearly shriveled to raisins, this complex, rich wine's reddish brown color exudes potent aromas of orange blossoms and dried apricots leading to ultra-rich flavors of apricots, figs and honey with nutty notes. The sweet, yet refreshing, zesty finish lingers pleasantly. Fortification with neutral spirits provides an 18 percent alcohol level. Highly recommended.