What happens when a Flemish sommelier and a French winemaker put their heads together to come up with a new wine? You end up with Chocolate in a Bottle!
This one-of-a-kind sensory experience has been delighting Europeans for more than 10 years, but is relatively new in Australia, having arrived on our shores in mid-2024.
It’s essentially a French sparkling Blanc de Blancs ie. predominantly Chardonnay-based, made from grapes grown in the south of France that underwent traditional vinification.
But it’s been given an interesting twist by being infused with the essence of dark Belgian chocolate and hazelnut extract.
If this sounds like a wild idea, it’s not as crazy as it sounds, for many fine Chardonnays have an appealing nutty flavour. There’s a synergy here with the hazelnut notes.
The alcohol content of Chocolate in a Bottle is around 6.5%. The wine is best enjoyed chilled, at around 2 to 3 degrees C.
It’s an interesting exercise to see how the aromas and flavour evolve with each taste. When you first taste it, the chocolate is quite forward and the nose has a beautiful bouquet of hazelnut.
Second time around, the chocolate takes a step back and the fruit flavours of the Blanc de Blancs march straight to the front of the palate.
On the third taste, you’ll experience the wine in the same way that you will as you continue to drink it. It will be balanced and bright with lively acidity and delicate bubbles that invite you to fall head over heels for this special drop.
The wine is surprisingly versatile. You can enjoy it with appetizers, seafood (even oysters!), salty cheeses, baked ham, charcuterie, fruit and croissants.
Its subtle chocolate notes also make it an exceptional match for desserts, creating a harmonious match of flavours. Try it with tiramisu, Basque cheesecake or even just a bowl of strawberries.
Combining the richness of chocolate with the elegance of sparkling wine, it is luxurious, innovative and quite simply exquisite – a perfect celebratory drink.
Chocolate In A Bottle is available online for $74.95.
This is not a sponsored post but we were sent a sample bottle of this special wine.
