Did I order a bottle of wine off the internet just because it had a picture of Eddie on it?
No, because I opened up an account on the Laithwaites site because the reviews of Iron Maiden Darkest Red were also terribly negative.
I was curious, so I took a look and saw that most people were complaining about the decorative cover and that Iron Maiden styling because it was paper. That was a poor way to judge a wine.
I can now reveal that the wine is pretty good! Also, I either imagined those negative reviews or didn’t notice the high stars despite the mutterings about the wrap because the Portuguese wine currently has 4.5/5 stars on the wine seller’s site. Looking at the date, I think a bunch of fans like me found the wine through the same ad campaign.
Crafted by the renowned Van Zeller family, this rich and fruity red wine hails from high-altitude vineyards in the Douro Valley. It matures in old Port barrels, resulting in a perfect balance of juicy berry flavours and warm spice. I’m not a wine expert, but I’m used to drinking spirits that age in Port barrels, and this red really did remind me a little of them with berries.
I also think I gave Iron Maiden’s wine every chance to impress, drinking my first two glasses with steak while The Number of the Beast blasted through my speaker group.
Laitwaites and the bottle say it’s 13.5% ABV, but the next day, despite the tannins found in red wine, I was fine in the morning. I had popped a hat on the bottle and finished the rest the next day.
When to enjoy Iron Maiden Darkest Red
Just open it.
People might have wanted some collectable bottles, but it was £13 for the wine and not £130. It’s not something you put in the wine cellar and crack open to impress Matt Mercer when it comes to GM you in person in 15 years. Laithwaites says it’s a collector’s item, and I think that’s a fumble.
I think I had the red wine on my minis and maps shelf for about a week before I finally gave in to temptation.
However, the wine is good enough to enjoy with friends. You can absolutely have this for a gaming night. The great thing about the paper wrap, which stays attached, is that it’ll collect any dribbles that escape down the neck and help protect any battle mats you have down on the table.
It’ll be a cracking wine for any Halloween party or horror movie marathon you have planned.
It is quite a full-bodied red, so it’s best with food.
Overall
Laithwaites mismanages expectations by describing this Iron Maiden-branded wine as a collector’s item. It’s not. It’s a paper wrapper, albeit a good one, around a cost-effective and pretty darn tasty red wine!
I recommend Iron Maiden Darkest Red as a buy-to-drink soon or as part of your Halloween prep.
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