Sometimes you have to buy the wine that comes in the ridiculous packing.  I didn’t make the rules, in fact, I merely am going by the advise of a wine teacher I once had (Hi Lorraine!) who suggested, ‘If you like the label on a wine, try it, you never know!’.  In the spirit of Halloween wines, Vampire Red Winemaker’s Blend seems like the perfect embodiment of this philosophy, given it comes in a completely impractical huge honking casket.  So, is the decoration worth it for your Halloween party, or are you better off picking up something that doesn’t require a gravedigger?

Fun fact about Vampire, they also make Dracula wines and True Blood wines (if you’re into that sort of thing!)!

Sight: Moderate purple core with a dull magenta-ish edge.

Smell:  Jammy blackberries, slightly macerated raspberries, a good amount of spice and a subtle touch of banana.  Slight black cherry.

Sip:  Moderate body, a subtle amount of banana comes through.  There’s a presence of stems as well, that give it a slight greenery.  The spice notes come through somewhat, but there’s a jammy sort of baked fruits like cherry or raspberry..  The spice gives a hint of cedar box and mocha.

Savor:  The ending is good, with plum skins, unripe black cherries, and notes of cigar.

The banana like notes in Vampire Red Winemaker’s Blend are significantly off putting in a red, and typically this could even be considered a fault in the wine.  Despite this, the character of the wine is generally nice but rather nondescript, leaving nothing for the drinker to sink their fangs into.  The red fruit is perhaps it’s greatest asset, have a stronger leaning toward raspberry and cherry than anything else.  Spices help, but they’re really not the forefront.  If you must choose a wine that comes in a casket, Vampire Red Winemaker’s Blend is for you, but there are other better choices out there.

Verdict:  Banana, Cherry, Raspberry, Slight Spice
Price: $9.99 (Oddly, $12.99 without the ridiculous casket)
Napa, California