0 0

2021 Boekenhoutskloof, The Chocolate Block, Franschhoek, South Africa

  • Red
  • Dry
  • Medium Bodied
  • Other Varieties
Neal Martin MW
90/100
James Suckling
91/100
Add to wishlist
Product: 20218029128
2021 Boekenhoutskloof, The Chocolate Block, Franschhoek, South Africa

Description

One of the major success stories of South African wine, Boekenhoutskloof’s The Chocolate Block represents the best of the Swartland at a friendly price point. The wine is Syrah-based, with the lion’s share coming from the esteemed Goldmine vineyard, alongside some from the legendary Porseleinberg. The remainder of the blend is Grenache, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier.

This is beautifully ripe with glossy black cherry, bacon fat and cracked pepper, and silky, seamless tannins. This is a lot of wine for the money! This will drink on arrival and easily for five years afterwards – as confirmed by a delicious bottle of the 2014 opened with Callie Louw at Porseleinberg last October.

Fergus Stewart, Private Client Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd (April 2023)

Colour Red
Sweetness Dry
Vintage 2021
Alcohol % 14.5
Grape List Other Varieties
Body Medium Bodied
Property Boekenhoutskloof Winery

Critics reviews

Neal Martin MW 90/100
The 2021 The Chocolate Block had been bottled a month before my visit. The Grenache and Cinsault plus part of the Syrah comes from Boekenhoutskloof's own vines and the remainder from purchased fruit. It undergoes whole berry fermentation and aged for 14 months in French barriques and two oak foudres.This has a much more refined and focused bouquet than the Chocolate Blocks of yore, brambly black fruit mixed with pencil lead and undergrowth. Impressive delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with powdery tannins, well judged acidity, quite structured and sappy towards the finish. Fine length.  Drink 2023 - 2030 Neil Martin, Vinous.com.com (August 2022)
Drink 2023 - 2030
Neal Martin MW, Vinous.com (Aug 2022)
James Suckling 91/100
An inviting nose of pitted cherries, sliced plums, white pepper and tobacco leaf. Medium-bodied with silky tannins. Juicy and savory with nicely ripened red and black fruit. Subtle spice and cocoa undertones. 74% syrah, 10% grenache, 8% cinsault, 7% cabernet sauvignon and 1% viognier. Sustainable. Vegan. james_suckling, jamessuckling_com (December 2022)
Drink 2023 - 2030
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (Dec 2022)

About this wine

Other Varieties

There are over 200 different grape varieties used in modern wine making (from a total of over 1000). Most lesser known blends and varieties are traditional to specific parts of the world.

Boekenhoutskloof Winery

Boekenhoutskloof is one of the most celebrated of all South African wineries and was indeed voted Winery of the Year 2012 by the influential South African journalist John Platter. Created in 1776 and situated in a remote corner of the beautiful Franschhoek Valley, the estate‘s recent fame dates only from 1993 when new owners completely restored the vineyard and established new plantings of varietals such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Viognier. The driving force here is winemaker Marc Kent, a maverick genius with an unswerving commitment to the highest quality in all that he does. The winery is better known for its reds, especially Syrah and Cabernet, but also makes a stunning white from the Semillon grape amongst a small range of whites. One of the most iconic wines of Boekenhoutskloof is the famed Chocolate Block, a red blend which changes every year according to the vagaries of the vintage, but is largely based on Syrah. The source of the wine’s name remains a mystery, as the estate’s owners refuse to divulge its origin, but the key point is that the wine is sublime.

Need help?

Delivery and Quality Guarantee