Having covered cats and skeletons in our quest to find the perfect wine for Halloween, it seemed prudent to pick something a little more supernatural for the next wine.  Enter Monster Mash Red Blend 2013, a wine featuring a werewolf on the label, and a decent amount of attitude in their description.

Similar to the man that becomes a wolf at the full moon, Monster Mash Red Blend is a mix of zinfandel and petite sirah hailing from Lodi, California.  While this area is best known for its zinfandel, and frequently recommends pairing it with barbecue, it also grows petite sirah, a grape better known for its high ratio of skin (and therefore tannins) to fruit.  Can this little powerhouse of flavor help bolster the body of the beast in Monster Mash Red Blend?

Sight:  A firm moderate purple with a slightly red tint.

Smell:  Big berry flavors jump out with blueberries, blackberries, and raspberry all at front, Hints of dark chocolate, cigar, and subtle spicing join in.  There is also a hint of light mint.

Sip:  A medium to heavy body, with a beautiful smoothness that transcends into a elegance. There’s also a light sweetness that rounds it out. Berries are crazy forward again, boysenberry being first and foremost, but some raspberry and blueberry get in on the action.  Subtle spice hints in the background, but it doesn’t get past the fruit flavors.

Savor:  The ending is a little bit confused, still keeping big berry flavors, but lost in touches of spices, fighting for dominance, and a little bit of tannin.

Big and fruit flavors jump up out of Monster Mash Red Blend, and say hello like a happy dog.  While this is a fun wine, it’s not overly complex or deep.  For a party Monster Mash Red Blend is fun, but if you’re going to be looking for food and wine pairing combinations, this probably won’t be that much fun.

Verdict:  Boysenberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Slightly Sweet
Price: $8.99
Lodi, California