Halloween is all about candy, so why not try some chocolate wine.  Now, chocolate wine doesn’t mean wine that has a hint of mocha from the aging or wood.  No, instead it means that some sort of chocolate or flavoring has been added.  Typically, this results in something that tastes remarkably like a tootsie roll.  Can Chocolate Lab break the cycle?

Sight:  A purple core with hints of red, a lot of chocolate brown.

Smell:   The nose has a solid mix of chocolate, varying between dark, milk, and hot chocolate.  There’s a grape note hanging out there, and maybe a peek of cherry.

Sip:  The body is sweet, but not cloyingly so.  There’s a solid weight from all the sugar, but the natural brightness isn’t lost in the process.  The flavors of chocolate come through like a tootsie roll, with a backup hint of cherry and concord grape.

Savor:  The ending retains a bit of the chocolate and a hint of the grape notes.

Chocolate Lab is so freaking cute, but less than adorable once it leaves a trail of tootsie rolls across your palate.  Chocolate is the predominate flavor here, so don’t be surprised by the artificial like nature of it.  The nice part here is the grape and cherry add a bit of dimension.  While Chocolate Lab isn’t my cup of tea, it’s far from the worst chocolate wine I’ve experienced.

Verdict:  Tootsie Roll, Chocolate, Grape, Cherry
Rating: N/A*
Price: $10
Hammondsport, New York

* – This is a wine product and therefore not rated.