TN: Niepoort Chocolates & LBV 1995
Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 5:52 am
As I'm in the wine trade I get sent a load of samples of things that are new to the market, and just before Christmas I was sent some Niepoort Chocolates, made by Lago chocolates, who makes chocolate to pair with wine. I just popped them in my kitchen and forgot about them thinking 'I'll try them later'
Yesterday, I cracked open a bottle of Niepoort LBV 1995 and remembered that I had the chocolates, so I opened them up. I tried one on it's own and it was pretty rubbish - 78% cocoa solids with something called 'coffecrisps' and pepper. As far as I can see, they are bits of dried coffee bean ground up and put in the chocolate.
I then tried a chocolate with the port. I normally find Niepoort LBV quite boozy, hot and spicy, which I think is part of it's charm, but with the chocolate it dumbs all that down. There is no obvious alcohol, not much spice (despite the chocolate having pepper in them), but lots of soft, rich, stewing fruit flavours and only then do the spicy flavours - star anise and cloves - come through.
If you can get hold of these chocolates, give them a shot as it does show how the wine can be totally changed by a simple sweetie!
Anyone else tried them?
Peter
PS - I still prefer the LBV without the chocolate!
Yesterday, I cracked open a bottle of Niepoort LBV 1995 and remembered that I had the chocolates, so I opened them up. I tried one on it's own and it was pretty rubbish - 78% cocoa solids with something called 'coffecrisps' and pepper. As far as I can see, they are bits of dried coffee bean ground up and put in the chocolate.
I then tried a chocolate with the port. I normally find Niepoort LBV quite boozy, hot and spicy, which I think is part of it's charm, but with the chocolate it dumbs all that down. There is no obvious alcohol, not much spice (despite the chocolate having pepper in them), but lots of soft, rich, stewing fruit flavours and only then do the spicy flavours - star anise and cloves - come through.
If you can get hold of these chocolates, give them a shot as it does show how the wine can be totally changed by a simple sweetie!
Anyone else tried them?
Peter
PS - I still prefer the LBV without the chocolate!