At the risk of sounding like a famous Monty Python sketch, I'd like to say the kids of today don't know they're born.

When I was a lad, the Easter bunny would bring a solitary, basic chocolate egg. I was glad of it, despite the egg's modest proportions.

These days it seems most children are crushed under an avalanche of choccies come Easter Sunday.

I wouldn't thank you for syrupy sweet milk chocolate eggs anymore. I do like a few chunks of very dark, bitter chocolate, however, especially when paired with a suitable wine.

Try this clutch of seven. All would be cracking with high densities of cocoa solids. The first three wines will keep even milk chocolate munchers happy.

You only have to think of one of York's most famous chocolate exports to realise how well flavours of orange and chocolate combine. This is why the following two Aussie pudding wines are up to the job, both are sold as half-bottles.

Cranswick Estate Botrytis Semillon 2002 is the real amber nectar. Actually its colour is a little off-putting, so close your eyes as you sip this intensely sweet and zesty wine, full of marmalade tang. It's wine, Jim, but not as we know it.

Brown Brothers Late Harvested Orange Muscat and Flora 2003 is intense too but perhaps not as syrupy. Delicate orange fragrances and flavours abound, with a little ginger spice to finish.

Staying at the sweet end of the wine spectrum, Croft Indulgence Port is blended with chocolate in mind. Cocoa, raisin and jammy fruit flavours provide a sweet and bitter experience for the palate.

You don't have to stick with sweet wines, some dry reds can make suitable chocolate partners as well.

Another Australian offering, Seppelt Sparkling Shiraz 2002 is frothy, full flavoured and sumptuous. Velvety, dark, heady stuff, with ripe berries, black cherries, pepper and slightly sweet notes. It makes for a marvellous mouthful with dark chocolate.

Anakena Merlot Reserve 2003 is a soft, approachable, chocolatey drop from Chile with cherry, plums and spice. It doubles as a, 'keeps everyone happy', red at a party too.

Those favouring more on the tannin front, may like to tackle an Aussie duo available at Majestic.

Kangarilla Road Shiraz 2002 is a big wine, with toasted oak and lively, lingering peppery spices. It goes large on juicy black fruit flavours and chocolate essence.

Kangarilla Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 is no shrinking violet either. Characteristic cassis fruit flavours sit happily with vanilla, mint and chocolate to finish.

When I was a lad, the only wine we had was Blue Nun or Mateus Rose (neither of which would be nice with chocolate). If you tell that to the kids of today they won't believe you, will they?

Cranswick Estate Botrytis Semillon 2002, £3.98 at Asda. 17/20

Brown Brothers Late Harvested Orange Muscat and Flora 2003, £5.99-£6.49 at Sainsbury's, Majestic, Waitrose, Asda, Makro, Budgens and Co-Op. 17/20

Croft Indulgence Port, around £10 at Tesco. 16/20

Seppelt Sparkling Shiraz 2002, £9.49 at Oddbins. 16/20

Anakena Merlot Reserve 2003, £6.49 at Thresher. 16/20

Kangarilla Road Shiraz 2002, £9.99 at Majestic. 16/20

Kangarilla Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2001, £9.99 at Majestic. 16/20

Updated: 08:46 Saturday, March 19, 2005