Tasting- Apothic Dark

Picture of Apothic Dark

Name: Apothic Dark

Variety: Red Blend (doesn't say what grapes)

Region: Modesto, California

Country: United States

Year: 2016

Price: $9.98

Wine Critic Review: "Deep, saturated color and chocolate-covered cherry flavor make this wine a treat to drink, but don't expect a traditional dry dinner wine. It's turbocharged with sweetness and has a boisterous but agreeable personality." JIM GORDON

My Review: The color is incredibly rich and dark, such a dark purple red that it is almost black. As I let it breathe and swirl it in the glass, I am definitely picking up on some cherry notes. Possibly some blueberry as well. Maybe because I let it breathe, this one is smoother and more approachabel to me than the Apothic Red. I'm now picking up on some notes of possibly coffee, maybe a bit dark chocolate. Still a bit bitter, but not as tannic to me as Apothic Red. 

With Food: Since it claims to have hints of chocolate in it, I decided to try it with a bit of milk chocolate. I began to pick up on the hints of bitter dark chocolate as I drank. Overall I like this one better than the Apothic Red, it's smoother, less tannic, and to me more enjoyable. 

Tasting- Apothic Red

Picture of the Bottle

Name: Apothic Red

Variety: Red Blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot

Region: California

Country: United States of America

Year: 2017

Price: $9.98

Critic Review:  From Reverse Wine Snob: "The 2009 Apothic Red Winemaker’s Blend begins with aromas of plum and blackberry. Actually not just blackberry but really just a whole lot of berry flavor. What we have here is a certified “fruit bomb” and normally in this situation the fruit just overwhelms everything else, for better or for worse. That is decidedly not the case here; however, as this wine also exhibits many other interesting flavors. There are aromas of vanilla, spice, and maple. The wine tastes of juicy mixed berries for sure, but also cherry cola, brown sugar and then a little spice that gives way to a finish of lingering chocolate and maple syrup. A very intriguing wine that will take you through quite a trip of flavors. I also couldn’t help thinking this could pair really nicely with a bbq pizza. Cheers! "

My Review: Very dark red wine, almost black. Pretty tannic, left a bitter and burning feeling in the mouth. Got hints of dark fruits like maybe a dark cherry. Left a dry-mouth feel afterwords. 

With Food: Decided to try it with some pepperoni pizza spiced with Italian seasoning and garlic powder. After taking a bite and combining it with the wine, the feel of the wine changed slightly. It was a bit smoother, like the fats of the cheese and things were helping to cut through some of the tannins. Definitely still getting those darker fruits, and maybe a hint of vanilla? Hard to be sure, mostly I get the tannic component. Felt like a very dry wine to me. Didn't particularly care for it.