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| Chateau/Producer: | Boekenhoutskloof | | Wine Name: | The Chocolate Block | | Country: | South Africa | | State: | Western Cape | | Region: | Franschhoek | | Wine Score: | 92 | | Notes: | Color is a deep, dark, purpley garnet, fading only slightly to brick at the edges. It has a pleasant nose, not too heavy, of berry fruits--blackberry, raspberry--and the promised hint of chocolate, but subtle. The flavor is very rich and highly extracted; there's a lot of good flavor in this wine. Chocolate, sure, but also plenty of jammy dark fruits, and a dash of black pepper. It's nicely balanced, with good amounts of acids and tannins and a nice spicy, lingering finish. This wine was very good--my personal favorite from a Christmas season awash with (reasonably priced) wine. | | Tasting Date: | 2004-12-25 | | Varietal: | 44%Syrah, 21%Cab, 17%Gren, 12%Cinsault, 6%Viogn | | Production Notes: | One of Mark Kent's new limited edition creations, designed to bridge the gap between the Porcupine Ridge range and the flagship Boekenhoutskloof offerings. The wine takes its name from the blends characteristic "chocolately personality" of this Syrah-driven cepage. | | Additional Notes: | The name is clearly a marketing ploy--one that worked well, prompting my aunt to suggest it after I'd noticed it but then forgotten it again. It certainly would disappoint anyone hoping for alcoholic Hershey's syrup, but it's a very tasty wine in its own right, much better than the marketing trick might suggest. | | Price US$: | 27.00 | | Source: | Village Wine Market, Birmingham, AL |
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