Sexual Chocolate Red Blend

Sexual Chocolate Red Blend is a bold, Syrah-led California red wine bottled at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml format, blending fruit from Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Barbara Counties. The 2013 vintage earned Gold Medals at both the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the TEXSOM International Wine Awards, establishing its reputation as a serious over-performer in the California red blend category.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: California, USA  |  Style: Red Blend  |  Producer: SLO Down Wines

Production & Heritage

SLO Down Wines traces its origins to an unconventional beginning — a garage bootlegging operation that evolved into a legitimate winemaking venture. The Sexual Chocolate blend is composed of 70% Syrah, 20% Malbec, and 10% Zinfandel, with grapes sourced across three of California's most respected growing regions: Napa County, Sonoma County, and Santa Barbara County. The wine ages for 8 to 12 months in a combination of new and neutral American and French oak barrels, a regimen that builds complexity without overwhelming the fruit with wood influence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe boysenberry and huckleberry, followed by layers of potpourri and mocha vanilla cream. Dark, grapey fruit aromas carry smoky and earthy undertones that signal the wine's depth.

Taste: On the palate, the entry is rich and supple, delivering black currant preserve and chili-infused dark chocolate at mid-palate. Orange marmalade sweetness weaves through sweet cigar leaf and dried herb notes, while Zinfandel's spice lifts the blend. Tannins are grippy and dry, providing firm structure without harshness.

Finish: The finish is long and smoky, anchored by ripe dark cherry and lingering cocoa. Spicy, peppery notes from the Zinfandel component carry through to the close, leaving a warm, satisfying conclusion.

How to Drink Sexual Chocolate

This wine drinks best at slightly below room temperature, around 60–65°F, and benefits from 20 to 30 minutes of breathing time after opening. A generous pour into a large-bowled glass helps release the layered aromatics.

• Sangria Negra: The bold dark fruit and spice stand up to citrus and brandy without losing identity.
• Kalimotxo: The wine's inherent chocolatey richness pairs surprisingly well with cola in this Spanish classic.
• Red Wine Reduction (cooking): The concentrated berry and cocoa notes make an exceptional pan sauce for grilled meats.

Best For

• A date-night dinner alongside rich, savory dishes
• Gifting someone who gravitates toward bold, fruit-forward California reds
• Backyard barbecues where a crowd-pleasing red with personality is needed
• Introducing adventurous drinkers to multi-appellation California blends

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sexual Chocolate taste like? Sexual Chocolate delivers a rich, full-bodied profile dominated by dark berry preserves, chili-laced dark chocolate, and smoky oak, with grippy tannins and a spicy finish. It is vivid and fruit-forward but balanced by earthy, herbal complexity.

How does Sexual Chocolate compare to Michael David red blends? Both producers craft bold, fruit-driven California reds at approachable price points, and wine critics have drawn direct stylistic parallels between the two. Sexual Chocolate tends to lean heavier on smoky, chocolatey Syrah character, while Michael David blends like 7 Deadly Zins emphasize jammy Zinfandel fruit.

Is Sexual Chocolate good for sipping on its own? Yes — the wine's layered dark fruit, cocoa, and spice profile makes it highly enjoyable neat, particularly after a short period of aeration to open up its aromatic complexity.

Where is Sexual Chocolate made? Sexual Chocolate is produced by SLO Down Wines, a California-based operation that sources grapes from vineyards in Napa County, Sonoma County, and Santa Barbara County. The blending and aging take place in California.

What foods pair well with Sexual Chocolate? Smoked beef brisket complements the wine's smoky oak tones. Dark chocolate desserts echo its cocoa notes. Lamb chops with rosemary match its herbal undertones. Aged Gouda mirrors the richness and caramel depth. Mole-sauced dishes align with the chili-chocolate flavor thread running through the blend.

What sizes does Sexual Chocolate come in? Sexual Chocolate Red Blend is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Sexual Chocolate worth the price? Sexual Chocolate positions as a mid-range California red blend that consistently punches above its weight, as evidenced by multiple gold medal wins. For a multi-county blend aged in mixed new and neutral oak, it represents strong value within its tier.

Why Sexual Chocolate?

What separates this wine from the crowded field of California red blends starts with sourcing — drawing Syrah, Malbec, and Zinfandel from three distinct counties gives the winemakers at SLO Down a wide palette of fruit character to work with. The 8-to-12-month aging program in both American and French oak, using a mix of new and neutral barrels, adds structure and vanilla-mocha nuance without burying the fruit. Gold Medal recognition at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and TEXSOM International Wine Awards validates the approach. Born from an operation that literally started in a garage, Sexual Chocolate carries an outsider energy that matches its name — unconventional, unapologetic, and genuinely memorable in the glass.