Our quest to find great Halloween wines continues with Rest In Peace Red Wine Blend, which features two skeletons trying to share one cup of wine.  We all know, of course, that there is nothing as truly scary as not being able to get your own glass of wine.

Skeleton labeling aside, the bottle promises aromas of boysenberry, leather and cigar tobacco, and flavors of raspberry jam, chocolate, and black pepper.  Unlike a skeleton, which is rather see through, the labeling gives no transparency to type of grape used.  It could be anything in there folks, but more importantly, is Rest In Peace Red Wine Blend 2012 good, regardless of what it is?

Sight: Brickish red with a hint of purple hanging in the core

Smell:  Black cherry is the predominant solid note coming first, but some cedar, leather, and a hint of spice.  The spice is really a precursor to some jammy notes of baked fruit, but there’s a bit of heat from the alcohol wafting up.  Light hints of cocoa and tobacco hide out as well.

Sip:  The body is moderate, and the texture is smooth, but a little bit angular.  There are hints of acidity that pierce the body, making it alive, but not quite pointy.  Flavor wise, it’s a little messy, there’s clearly red fruit, like strawberries and raspberries.  Some of it is a little jammy, but the flavors are muted.  There is some tobacco and smoke, but it’s really minimal, and red might be the best word for this wine.

Savor:  Slightly hot, and moderately tannic at the end.  Some of the raspberry notes pop out as muddled jammy flavors.

Rest In Peace Red Wine Blend is kind of just there.  Like a buried skeleton, it just lays there, and never quite gets interesting.  There are some texturally interesting notes, but again, mouthfeel without flavor is kind of dead.  If you have to have a skeleton on the bottle, 2012 Rest In Peace Red Wine Blend is willing to lay there.

Verdict:  Raspberry, Smooth, Hot, Light Spice
Price: $8.99
Buellton, California