Chocolate of the Day
Ranger Chocolate Co.
Oregon Wine Country Pinot Noir Chocolate Bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.125 oz. (32 g.) / 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in total bar
Calories: 174 calories (estim.) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order
Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Cheese Theme Week. Wine and cheese pair well. (See below for a suggested cheese pairing with today's bar.)
The Oregon Wine Country Pinot Noir Chocolate Bar from Ranger Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR) was part of the company's Oregon Adventure Series.
Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (faint sweet green, light caramel spice) and balanced, bright fruit (purple grape).
This well-tempered bar broke with a snap and had the taste and feel of a thoughtfully made dark chocolate. (It took "500 hours to make this chocolate..." and it shows.)
Tasting notes: deep, dark fudge-y chocolate; bright, tart-sweet red/purple wine grape fruit (with faint raisin and fig); and light spice and sweet floral green notes in the finish. There was a very faint, fleeting fruit astringency in the finish; but otherwise it was very smooth.
The dark chocolate was robust but smooth; and the pinot noir added fullness and fruit. The two tasted fully integrated and harmonized very nicely.
I enjoyed this chocolate with a small slice of manchego (Spanish sheep) cheese. I'd recommend this pairing.
Maker's description: "This bar infuses Adelsheim Vineyard's annual Pinot noir harvest directly into our chocolate making process--a wine and chocolate pairing like never before."
Ingredients: "organic cacao, organic sugar, cacao butter, Pinot noir grape, sea salt"
Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that uses gluten, egg, milk, tree nuts ingredients." ("Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Nut Free")
