Here’s where the tasting got fun!
This wine can be drunk either at room temperature (or whatever
temperature you prefer) or it can be mulled.
After I tasted the wine at room temperature, they warmed it for me. While it was warming up, I tried the 2008
Colonial Red. I then had the opportunity
to try it at the two temperatures side-by-side, so there will be 3 descriptions
about this wine.
Name: James River Cellars 2011 Chambourcin
Variety: Chambourcin
Region: Central Virginia
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $15
Shop Review: Reminiscent of a port.
A very luscious sweet red, so balanced that dry wine drinkers love it
too – perfect holiday treat. Try it
mulled (warmed). Great with chocolate.
My Review: The first time I tried this
wine, I had a couple semi-sweet chocolate chips beforehand. The wine is ruby in color and smelled of chocolate. I’m not exactly sure how to put my tasting
notes into words (and I think they speak for themselves), so I’ll copy them
exactly as I have them written: “sweet,
chocolate, luscious, wow!, well put together”
Mulled: If you don’t want to put the wine
directly in the microwave, you can simmer some in a crockpot for yourself or a
whole party! It had a surprisingly spicy
aroma in contrast to the sweetness of when it was room temperature. The flavors had the same surprising contrast. There was a spiciness to it and the air/heat
seems to move to the back of the mouth before the wine does.
Room
temperature (2nd time): Tasting this wine again, it really
shocks the palate. My mouth was like “What
the hell is this? There is no way this
is the same wine!” In a good way of
course. The sweetness is really
overpowering, so I would suggest you do room-temperature and then mulled if you
want to try this yourself!
After this experiment, I asked what other wines can
be warmed. Obviously, it is whatever
your prefer, but according to James River Cellars, Bordeaux reds can be heated
and its complexity will come out, as with flavors of cinnamon, clove and
orange.
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