Chocolate Box Shiraz 2009

Bottle of Chocolate Box
Shiraz 2009

Chocolate Box

Shiraz 2009

Varietal:  Shiraz

Barrosa Valley, Australia

16.00 USD

"Rich and ripe, bursting with cherry, floral and, yes, chocolate flavors, this is dark and dense as it drives through the long, deftly framed finish. Shows power, but ultimately comes off as graceful. Drink now through 2014. 4,800 cases made."  91 Points (Wine Spectator)

I can't think highly enough of this wine.  It was a complete surprise to me really.  It was recommended to me by Matt at the Vintage cellar and so I got it.  When I opened it and gave it its first sniff I was extremely disappointed.  There was so much heat on the nose that it drowned everything out and actually turned me off to it.  However, I let a glass of it sit for 30 minutes before picking it back up.  Initially the heat was still there but after a few minutes of swirling it around and giving it some good sniffs, the heat had completely disappeared!  It became soft and silky, full of rich dark cherry.  At first I did not get much chocolate but as the meal (Marie and I were having some sauteed chicken with onion, tomato and garlic and a variety of herbs and spices all with a red wine reduction (the chocolate box) and potatoes au gratin) went on the wine opened up more and more.  There was chocolate and not just one kind of chocolate.  At times it smelled and tasted like nestle powered stuff and others it was like hot chocolate and others it was a nice rich dark chocolate.  It was amazing.  It was full bodied and silky with enough tannic character to keep it from getting overly sweet.  It was like having cherries dipped in dark chocolate.  This is one I will tell everyone to get.