Port and dry red wines can match perfectly with chocolate, we discovered, and we’d like to share these terrific wines with you. To test Senior Contributor Mark Raymond’s recommendations, we bit into beautiful pieces of chocolate, then sipped. Superb! Also great wines for drinking sitting by the fire with friends. Tell your wine store the distributor for each of these wines is Frederick Wildman & Sons
1. Churchill’s Duoro Estates, 2012, at $18. Aged for nine months in new and old French oak. In the glass a deep garnet color with a violet hue, demonstrating complexity. The cherry aromas and touch of spice make it dance with chocolate. From Portugal.
2. Castillo Monaci Primitivo Salento, 2014, at $16. Aged in oak and stainless steel. In the glass, ripe plums and spice. From Puglia, Italy.
3. Churchill’s Port, Late Bottled Vintage, 2005, at $30. Aged in wood for four years, then bottle-aged. In the glass, deep violet and a graceful blend of fruit and structure. No syrupy sugar tones here- the vineyard wants to show off its quality grapes and elegant profile. We’re the beneficiaries at this affordable price point. From Portugal.
Photos: Alex Province
Claudine Weiner says
Faith,
I absolutely love you and your show companions. I miss your daily show, but guess I can live off of your archives for a while. I only discovered you about 2 years ago, and you certainly have influenced my LIFE in so many ways, food an important one of them. This chocolate episode is right up my ally. Thank you for the great wine pairing suggestions. I will be ordering chocolate and hunting down the wine suggestions in preparation for my husband’s birthday.
Please let me know where you might be having some public appearances. I live on the north Shore of long island and would be so honored to meet you. You really are inspiring and thank you so much for being you.
Faith Middleton says
Claudine,
What a lovely and generous thing to say. Very touched by your words. I’ll be interviewing Lidia Bastianich and Charlie Rose at separate engagements in Connecticut this month. I’m a new part-time resident on the North Shore and think it’s so beautiful — farms and vineyards on the water. i feel as if it’s Sonoma or Napa in the old days. Try the Reserve Chardonnay at One Woman Vineyard in Southold. It’s spectacular! Cheers, and thanks again, Faith