Having been gifted this wine by our fabulous friends, Roxy and Marcin, and considering we are barred from entering the lounge as we try to replace some rotten lintels, I thought what better time than now to try The Chocolate Block. The time is 4:30pm; time for a small slice of buttered baguette but too early for dinner.
My first impression was that this was a wine with a high abv. Having looked at the label it is 14% which is certainly not unusual in Swartland (SA). Made by the fantastic Boekenhoutskloof it quickly became evident that the sheer abundance of fruit balanced the alcohol exceptionally well. Flavours of red plum, black plum, cherry, black olives and, I thought, both black and white pepper as well as coriander presenting themselves. The tannins were soft, ripe and inviting…. it just got better and better. This was the 2023 vintage so the blend was Syrah 74%, Grenache 11%, Cabernet Sauvignon 8%, Cinsault 6% and Viognier 1%. The high percentage of Syrah will account for the black pepper for sure. I questioned what the white grape Viognier would bring to the party being only 1% of the total but the mouthfeel was rich and velvety which must in every way be attributable to this low-acidity aromatic grape.
I thoroughly recommend this wine. Available from Waitrose, as I understand it, but it would be rude for me to check the price. 9/10.
