Grenache – Syrah – Mourvedre (GSM) are like The Rat Pack, in that while they’re all great on their own, when they come together, man, can they sing!  When reading the front of Chocolate Box, you might see the GSM, and be a little confused on the back when you read that it’s 59% Grenache, 25% Shiraz, and 16% Mataro.  Mataro you say?  Why yes, those loveable folks in Australia do occasionally call Mourvedre (or Monastrell), Mataro.  Just like calling Frank blue eyes though, this shouldn’t really do anything to detract from a wonderful Australian wine experience that was finished in French oak.

Sight:  A medium garnet body with hints of purple.  The edges show a little bit of orange.

Smell:  Currants and spice are the lead notes, followed by black tea, dark chocolate, and dried blueberries.  The fruit is concentrated, almost jammy.   There are hints of vanilla and powdered sugar, as well as touches of heat.

Sip:  The mouthfeel is rich, and completely dry.  Again, the slight heat from the nose perks up slightly here, and there is a brightness that boarders into bitterness.  The wine is a bit lean, with notes of underripe blueberry, raspberry, and boysenberry.  There are touches of black tea, leather, and tobacco.

Savor:  The ending is bitter, with an overbrewed tea and dried fruit element.  The finish is moderately tannic, in a coarse sort of way.  The finish lasts for a moderate period of time.

Chocolate Box seemed like it should be something wonderful, but isn’t quite playing with a full set of chocolates.  The combination of underripe fruit with spice accentuates from of the spice notes and tea like elements in the wine.  The weight of the body with the lack of sweetness to the fruit pushes the heaviness and acidity into a sort of bitter area that it has a hard time coming back from.  As much as I wanted to like Chocolate Box, it doesn’t deliver on the promises of cherries, chocolate, and vanilla.

Verdict:  Black Tea, Tobacco, Berries, Bitter
Rating: 63
Price: $11
Barossa Valley, Australia