Mulled Wine and Chocolate Cake with Poached Pears With a Mulled Wine Swiss Meringue Buttercream

For the Poached Pears: (Make day before cake)

bottle of Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Merlot 2017

or 7 ripe but firm Bosc pears, peeled but keep the stems on

cinnamon sticks

ground cardamom

or 1 cup white granulated sugar

maple syrup

Zest from 2 mandarins

mandarins sliced thickly (the two that were zested)

or 2 cups of all purpose flour

or 3/4 cup of cocoa flour

baking soda

ground cardamom

salt

or 1 cup softened unsalted butter

or 1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar

mulled wine

large eggs room temperature

egg whites room temperature

or 2 cups granulated white sugar

or 2 cups softened unsalted butter

mulled wine room temperature