Apothic Red seems to be one of the most popular bargain wines out there. I constantly hear people rave over it. And so, the Apothic brand has been capitalizing on their success and expanding their line.
Apothic Dark is a special, seasonal release only available for a short time. Based on the label, one has to assume that Halloween is the season they’re targeting. There’s been a Halloween wine trend growing over the past few years. I wrote about another Halloween wine just a few weeks ago.
The label of this wine certainly sets the mood to goth. And in a way it conjures up thoughts of a Halloween store in a strip mall or perhaps a tattoo shop. There are things I love about the label, but at the same time it seems rather cliché. For what it is, they did a great job. Even when you cut the foil and get to the cork the dark theme continues with a black cork. Well played, Apothic.
The wine itself is dark… really, really dark, with heavy legs that cling to the glass. Intense chocolate, blueberry, blackberry and cedar aromas give this wine a powerful bouquet. It’s exotically spicy too. On the palate it’s rich, with jammy blackberry, blueberry, plum and chocolate flavors. And when I say it’s jammy, I mean it’s like a spoon full of jam. There’s nothing subtle about the flavors, they are rich. And the mouthfeel has a rich, velvety texture too. It is absolutely over the top. The winemakers clearly crafted this wine for richness. It’s a bit gaudy, but it’s fun. It’s not a refined, elegant wine, but I have a feeling a lot of people will love it. And while it’s not totally my cup of tea, I enjoyed it too.
Wine: Apothic Dark
Variety: Red blend
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 86
Price: $14.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.
Find Apothic Dark with Snooth
