Tis the season for witches and goblins and ghosts and candy, candy, candy. Yes, it’s Halloween in Northeast Ohio. We can only hope that this year, the weather cooperates and all the costumes can be worn without the winter parkas. (We all remember those Halloweens!)
And as much as this holiday celebrates all things candy, for those of us above a certain age, there is another category of treats to partake in: Halloween themed wines. Today I’m going to tell you about one of my favorites.
This treat is called Wicked and it’s made by France’s Hob Nob Wines. I’m a big fan of Hob Nob Pinot Noir (Winey Tasting Notes: I REALLY Needed Some Hob Nob Pinot Noir), so I was excited last year to see that they were coming out with Wicked, a red blend (Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Pinot Noir). No tricks here: this blend does not disappoint.
Wicked (13%, 2012, France) is a gorgeous dark ruby red. The bouquet is dark 
stone fruit – mostly black cherry, a little plum and some sharp oak. It tasted of herbs (thyme) and dark fruit (tart cherry) and had a hint of earth in there for good measure. The warm finish was smooth, smooth, smooth mild tannins (and the cherry showed up again here too). Yay!! Another reason why red blends are quickly becoming some of my favorites. The best of the red varietals all together in one bottle!
This is a red that gives you enough heft to make you feel like you’re drinking a big red wine – but one that will warm you up, not dry you out. There is absolutely nothing “wicked” about it. It’s a great wine that will fit right in at any Halloween party. It would be “wicked” good with Hershey bars, by the way. And if you are of the mindset that handing out candy bars sounds like this: “One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me”, I suggest having a bottle opened and ready to go during trick or treat. You may even want to practice ahead of time, so get two bottles.
You’ll be able to find Wicked at stores all over Northeast Ohio and you’ll be able to find it for around $10 a bottle. Such a bargain! Plus, it leaves you more money to buy the really good chocolates. No one says you have to hand them out…everyone needs a secret stash!
Cheers!
Read my other wine reviews at The Winey Mom.
