The Dracula’s Blood Pinot Noir 
2009 is sourced from vineyards in the Dealu Maru grape growing area, just south of the Transylvania Alps, in Romania. This is a wine produced by Cramele Halewood a joint English/Romanian company and a couple of their 2009 Dealu Mare Pinot’s recently received 89 pts by Wine Enthusiast. It seems that Romania has the potential to produce some top notch Pinot’s. The Dracula’s Blood Pinot Noir is an under $10 wine that they hope you will impulse buy for Halloween and then gets you thinking that Romanian wine is now on your radar. The alcohol content is 13.5%.
The color is reasonably close to BLOOD RED. The nose is a little cherry, some mushroom, maybe a hit of barnyard, spearmint gum and oaky spice. This is a light side of medium, slightly watery Pinot Noir. It starts with strawberry and black cherry mixed with herbs, giving the fresh fruit a slight medicinal quality. This is a dry, European style Pinot Noir, no New World wine here. The flavors are subtle, but they have length, they keep motoring along. The mid palate adds a rough fine grit sandpaper edge from the tannins, it makes the Pinot interesting and adds an unexpected texture, along with some RC Cola and tart cranberry. This is not a “yummy” wine, but it does hold your interest. The finish is more feel, than taste and it lasts and lasts.
The Dracula’s BLOOD Pinot Noir is a wine that you would drink even if it wasn’t the favorite beverage of the Un-Dead. A light weight Pinot that would really pair well with the right food, nothing too heavy or too bold, maybe Thanksgiving turkey, but then the label might be a bit too much for a family holiday get together. But, if for one night, you might be Nosferatu, Bella and Edward or Louis and Lestat, Dracula’s BlOOD should be the libation of choice.
