Fine Wine Pairings with Artisan Chocolates

The Rotary Club of Blacksburg, Virginia put on "The Chocolate Festival," a fantastic fundraiser throughout downtown! One event was offered by Gourmet Pantry by Roya: "Fine Wine Pairings with artisan chocolates provided by "Gearharts Fine Chocolates." Gearharts Fine Chocolates is located in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Pairing #1

Name: La Marca

Variety: Prosecco

Country: Italy

Year: NV

Price: $15

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting Only)

Wine review: La Marca Prosecco is named for the La Marca Trevigiana zone, located in the heart of Italy's Prosecco region, where its grapes are grown. Founded more than 40 years ago, the La Marca winery joins tradition and innovation, ensuring the highest quality product.

My review: A nice prosecco, one I recommend. Notes of lemon grass, white peach, pineapple, and tropical fruits on the bouquet. On the palate was stone. At first, the carbonation felt unnatural, as if it was blasted with carbon dioxide in the bottle, but over a few minutes the wine relaxed, leaving a nice tingling sensation on the tongue.

Chocolate Pairing: Pistachio Toffee - Rich, buttery toffee loaded with roasted, lightly salted pistachios and bathed in our best bittersweet chocolate.

Chocolate Notes: Savory and salty

Pairing Notes: This is a great pairing, though of course sparkling wines tend to pair well with almost anything because of its tendencies to cleanse the palate. Sharp nuttiness comes with a release of salt minerals and levels the slight acidity of the wine.

Rating:

Full House

Pairing #2

Name: Alexander Valley Vineyards

Variety: "Temptation" Zinfandel

Country: California

Year: 2011

Price: $13

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting Only)

Wine review: This is a dark purple wine with aromas of red and black fruit, plum, black cherry and spice. There are ripe flavors of red cherry, black pepper, blackberry and wild strawberry highlighted by slight vanilla and black tea. This is a juicy wine with a fruity finish.

My review: Aromatic notes of tobacco, dark chocolate, leather, hint of rubber, black currant, and red raspberry. On the palate, earthy flavors of tobacco and blackberries with a slightly acidic body.

Chocolate Pairing: Dark Chocolate Caramel - Our Signature Caramel made with Rich Cocoa, a touch of Balsamic Vinegar and cracked Black Pepper. Coated in Dark Chocolate and finished with Smoked Sea Salt.

Chocolate Notes: Dense in flavor and light in texture. Lovely touch of sea salt giving way to shark dark flavors with hints of cracked pepper.

Pairing Notes: An interesting pairing that created a heightened sense of acidity, yet with a creamy feel. Earthy tones came through of oak and tobacco.

Rating:

Full House

Pairing #3

Name: Cockburns

Variety: Fine Ruby Porto

Country: California

Year: NV

Price: $12

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting Only)

Wine review: The cheeky, punch-packing ripe fruit of our Fine Ruby Port makes it the perfect Port for everyday, informal occasions. It’s versatile. We blend several young wines from a few different years to give our Fine Ruby the richness and the fresh fruit that you would expect of a zesty young Port. It is then matured for a few years in large vats, which gives it both its lovely softness and its ripe red fruits flavours. It also keeps the intense, deep purple colour of a nice and bright young Port.

My review: I personally am not a fan of port. Too sweet and too fruit-forward. Strongly aromatic of red fruits, sharp raspberries and red cherries. On the palate was a syrupy, viscous body holding some heat, tasting like cherry cough syrup. Low rating, but that's based on my palate. Many enjoy this port.

Chocolate Pairing: Criolla - Extra bittersweet (73.5%) Venezuelan single bean chocolate ganache with natural cacoa nibs, dipped in dark chocolate.

Chocolate Notes: Dark, bitter, crispy, powder notes

Pairing Notes: The pairing made the port more bearable for me, adding notes of leather and dense earthy flavors.

Rating:

Two Pair

Pairing #4

Name: Michael David Winery Inkblot

Variety: Cabernet Franc

Country: California

Year: 2013

Price: $35

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting Only)

Wine review: How can something with such spectacular inky black juice be this easy drinking? It offers black cherry on the mid-palate, and a bit of graphite on the finish with a touch of vanilla. It shows complex aromas of freshly crushed fruit (blackberry and plum), pepper and tobacco. Velvet-smooth tannins, dense and rich, this elixir fills every corner of the mouth with its decadence.

My review: Quite a nice Cabernet Franc! Aromas of black currant, cherries, dark chocolate, and hint of pomegranate. Dense, slightly dry body of dried cherries and leather.

Chocolate Pairing: Pod & Vine - Fine chocolates crafted with Barboursville Vineyards' Virginia Cabernet Franc, Plum Preserves, and Gearharts' signature Dark Chocolate Blend.

Chocolate Notes: Light, creamy, airy

Pairing Notes: Earthy flavors prevail with this pairing, creating flavor pops of coffee, plum, and red cherries, very nice!

Rating:

Four of a Kind