Once I had OZV: Old Zin Vines at the Wine Bloggers Conference in Lodi, I knew it was a must for Halloween.  Sure, the deep, dark OZV label is great for being mysterious, but the slight sweetness in OZV should be a good pair for chocolate.

Sight:  A darker purple core with a of ruby edge

Smell:  A mixture of milk chocolate and jammy raspberries come together to form a raspberry hot chocolate like nose.  Hints of coffee and strawberry add depth with a little peak of toast.

Sip:  A sweet vanilla smoke note comes through right off the bat, and is immediately followed by a coffee and chai like spicing that drives deeper structure.  A light sweetness fades out to allow a drier element to take over, and add a bittersweet chocolate character to the flavor profile.  Deep jammy raspberries and plum skins add powerful texture and character to the taste.

Savor:  The ending has a delicious tannic structure with a firm backbone of smoke, powdered chocolate, and raspberries.  The finish goes for a good distance.

OZV: Old Zin Vines is deeply structured and flavored with lots of powerful fruit and oak.  The balance is well constructed, and would work for both drinking the wine on it’s own, and with food.  Thanks to the hint of sweetness, it might also go well with dark chocolate.  Overall, OZV: Old Zin Vines is a great choice with huge flavor, and lots of potential for both dessert and main dishes.

Verdict:  Powdered Cocoa, Jammy Raspberries, Smoke, Vanilla
Rating: 89
Price: $10
Lodi, California

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