This week, I am featuring two good wines with a third that is very unusual. The first two are terrific to pair with food and the third is best served all on its own. The red wine is nice served with chocolate, desserts and the other has chocolate already added.
Like I said at the beginning... it's unusual.
Chocolat Rouge (240929)
United States
$15.99
I recommend trying red wine with chocolate, especially a red that is big and bold, often because I think they can complement each other. But the thought of having chocolate in my wine kind of made my stomach churn.
That's why it took me some time to buy a new wine, or aperitif, we have on our shelves called Chocolat Rouge, which has dark chocolate added to the wine. This blend is from Modesto
California and a fairly new product of E & J Gallo.
The wine in this is a Proprietary blend and because of its weight, I believe it might be a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Merlot or Shiraz. Whatever is in the mix they're not telling us.
In the glass, this odd ball is dark red with a heaviness that must come from the chocolate.
There is a darkness to the colour but not as dark as you might expect from a wine that has dark chocolate added to it.
The aromas from this wine were really unexpected; you get the ripe berry and black fruit aromas along with those from a dark chocolate truffle. After smelling this wine my reluctance was replaced with curiosity and what a nice surprise. This apritif was darned delicious.
The flavours of the wine weren't lost to the chocolate but were in harmony with each other. Ripe berries and fruit along with just the right amount of dark chocolate blended perfectly. It really is like sipping red wine and eating a dark chocolate truffle.
Our sweetness code suggests that this wine is dry, but I did find some sweetness to it.
The balance of sweet and acidity is good and doesn't leave your mouth feeling coated, but there is something sweet about it.
For $15.99 a bottle you'll want to serve this as a dessert, and if you've found the red wine and chocolate pairing to your liking, then do yourself a favour and try this apritif.
Marisco The Ned
Sauvignon Blanc (16964)
New Zealand
$15.99
Born and raised in the Marlborough region of New Zealand, Brent Marris, was the first person from this area to get a degree in Oenology (or winemaking).
That happened in 1983 and since then he has been head winemaker at such notable wineries as Oyster Bay and Wither Hills where he was also the owner. Today, he is head winemaker and proprietor of a winery called The Ned, a property he purchased in 2003.
The vineyards are on the banks of the river Waihopai and on the slopes of a 909-metre mountain called The Ned. Marlborough is known for its Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noirs and so it wasn't a surprise when I
tasted the 2011 The Ned Sauvignon Blanc.
In the glass, this wine is yellow with some green highlights and on the nose it has some quite bold aromas. Gooseberry was the first thing I noticed but then some tropical fruit aromas emerged.
Pineapple and mango scents along with some herbaceous qualities appeared. In the mouth it is zesty and fresh with a finish that is long and refreshing with just a touch of sweetness on the tip of my tongue.
Grapefruit and gooseberry flavours give the zing and the tropical fruits bring that hint of sweetness. $15.99 is a good price for this Kiwi white wine that should pair with shellfish, lighter white fish or a spicy Asian dish.
Parson's Paddock
Cabernet Sauvignon (675371)
Australia
$14.99
Langhorne Creek of South
Australia is regarded as prime territory for Cabernet Sauvignon and seem evident in my last wine the Parson's Paddock 2010 Cabernet
Sauvignon.
The colour is purple like you might expect but with hints of red glints similar to the last red wine, but most of the similarities stopped there.
This Cabernet is more the fruit forward style you often expect from Australian wines. It has strong black fruit aromas with hints of cocoa and some sweet baking spice.
It has had some French oak aging and that is lightly apparent in its touch of toast.
On the palate, it is soft and gentle and not necessarily a food wine. This is very easy sipping with good balance and a pleasant finish.
This wine is worth its price of $14.99 and if you are serving it with food I would suggest beef pot roast, medium strong cheese or even with a chocolate
dessert.
Al Spoklie is a product consultant at the B.C. Signature Liquor Store, Pine Centre. The bracketed numbers are the product codes for the B.C.
liquor stores.
