The colour is medium ruby. On the nose at first closed. With some air, dark berries and smoky notes show up. Despite the name, no chocolate whatsoever. In the mouth velvety and fruity, with an enjoyable drying finish. The aftertaste is pleasant, but short.
The Chocolate Block is a barrel-aged red wine made by Boekenhoutskloof winery in the Franschhoek Valley (“French corner” in Dutch), a broad vineyard-lined valley that has been producing wine since the 17th Century, when exiled French Huguenots brought their viticultural know-how to their new home in South Africa.
The Boekenhoutskloof winery already existed as an estate in 1776, but it was not until 1993, after it went through a major shift in winemaking, that it started producing praiseworthy wines. The winery focuses on using Rhône valley grape varieties and organic wine-growing methods.
The Chocolate Blocks 2016 is a blend of 79% Syrah, 11% Grenache, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cinsault and 1% Viognier. Each variety is vinified separately.
I bought this magnum at Globus two years ago for 79.90 CHF and I drank it on Christmas Eve.
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschhoek Valley
Grapes: Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Viognier
Type: Red
Vintage: 2016
Producer: Boekenhoutskloof
Price range: Premium (30-50 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 4/5