Shale Ridge – Cherry Chocolate

Cider Profile:

Name: Shale Ridge – Cherry Chocolate
Sampled February 2021

Brand: Shale Ridge Estate Winery Type: Flavoured – Chocolate and Cherry Location of Brewing: Thedford, ON ABV: 7% Website Link: shaleridgewinery.com Ingredients: N/A Gluten Free:  Yes Sugar Content: N/A Size(s) available: 750ml (bottle) Availability: Shaler Ridge retail + online store Flavour: Cherry + chocolate Colour: Transparent rose gold Carbonation: Small, frequently streaming bubbles

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Cider Crate Tasting Notes:

Smell: Medium aroma. Maraschino cherry. Light floral. Mild milk chocolate and sweet apple.
Initial Taste: Light bite. Bright apple base. Moves to a candied, preserved cherry flavour. Rose note.
After Taste: Becomes more cherry forward. Light and balanced chocolate notes come through.
On ice: Slightly thinner mouthfeel. Less chocolate.

Additional Notes:  Shale Ridge’s Cherry Chocolate cider is very reminiscent of a cherry-filled milk chocolate you’ll find in a mixed box of chocolates you’d give to a loved one. With a very candied maraschino cherry, its there for most of the flavour journey. The apple base is light and bright, leaning sweeter but not sugary.  A lighter chocolate note comes in near the finish and does not dominate. A light mouthfeel makes this an easy drinking experience and a bit sultry as well. Perfect for Valentines Day, as Shale Ridge intended.

Rated on a scale of 1-5
Sweet – 3.5
Sour – 2
Crisp – 3.5
Dry – 2
Fruity – 3.5

Next recommendations:
More Sweet – County – Blood Orange
More Sour – Reinhart’s – Strawberry Hibiscus
More Dry – Banjo Cider – Rouge
More Crisp – Ernest – Rubee

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