Chocolate
/CHOK-lit/Rich, dark, cocoa-like flavor in full-bodied red wines.
Full Definition
Chocolate describes rich, cocoa-like flavors found in full-bodied red wines, often from warm climates or heavily toasted oak barrels. Dark chocolate notes are common in ripe Merlot, Shiraz, and Zinfandel. The character comes from various compounds including lactones and volatile phenols. Generally a positive descriptor.