Valentine's Day is right around the corner and Aldi is in full swing promoting seasonal items. As soon as I saw The Chocolate Cellar, I knew I had to try. The packaging is eye-catching, and I was intrigued by the dark chocolate flavor. Typically, I dislike super sweet wines and any sort of chocolate-flavored alcohol. But, because this was a Red Wine with natural dark chocolate flavors, I wanted to know how it tasted. For $8, this was worth the try.
Wow! As soon as you open it, you can smell the chocolate. As I spun it around the glass, the smell reminded me of tootsie-rolls. The description claims flavors of candied cherries and caramel. At first you taste the sweet red wine which is immediately followed by dark cherries. The flavor settles into chocolate with a hint of caramel. There are definitely many layers of flavor!
To me, this is my kind of dessert wine since it's not sickening sweet. I can't decide, however, if it tastes "natural". It would pair well with cheese and fruit, definitely not a meal wine. It's very different and not like any wine I've tried before. I was happy after one glass but didn't go back for more which is not a good sign. You have to be in the mood to keep drinking this. I did crave a small glass this evening but still couldn't finish my glass. For this reason, I rate this wine a 3/5. 

I will preface this first post, I am no wine connoisseur, but I love drinking wine. 
My interest and love for wine stemmed from my parents who cultivated the appeal (no puns intended). They often went wine-tasting, and my father took an interest in viticulture. We had a mini vineyard in our backyard growing up. I have many fond memories of harvesting grapes and making wine with my father.
In my three years of drinking age, I've enjoyed a range of wine prices and quality. This particular brand at Aldi is all the rage for it's insanely affordable cost. All the Winking Owl bottles are $2.95! This was my college go-to because, despite potentially sacrificing quality, I could still have a glass of wine at the end of the day. Now, I've almost tried them all. I plan to review each one, but I will reveal my favorite so far is the Shiraz and my least favorite is the Merlot.
Today, I'll be reviewing one I haven't tried: Winking Owl's Chardonnay.
Chardonnay is a white wine made from green-skinned grapes and adaptive to varying climates. Chardonnay has a range of light to full-bodied. Cooler climates relates to citrus notes, whereas warm climates produce sweeter, richer fruit flavors.
The bottle recommends you drink with roast chicken or fish. My family and I drank it alongside our homemade pizza. I definitely can see this going better with the recommended meals.
My family and I taste-tested the wine together before dinner and everyone had the same resounding it was okay. Not horrible, but not memorable. I definitely picked up on the pear and the oaky notes are very distinct, maybe a bit grassy. Acidity cut short the first sip which I thought was lovely. I had a glass with my meal but didn't see myself return to the bottle afterwards for more. No one else did either. 
If you are looking for a last minute wine to pair with your dinner - sure, grab this Chardonnay. But I wouldn't drink for the sake of drinking on its own. Let's give this a 3/5 corks.