Reviews & Ratings

2018 Boekenhoutskloof South African (Red Blend) "The Chocolate Block"

Winery: Boekenhoutskloof

Vintage: 2018

Wine Name/Vineyard: "The Chocolate Block"

Wine Category: South African (Red Blend)

Grape blend: 69% Syrah, 13% Grenache, 9% Cinsault, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon & 1% Viognier

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Swartland

State or country: South Africa

Price: $38

Cases produced: 55,900

KWG Score: 91 (based on 4 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (92)

Review date: February 20, 2020

Wine Review: This midnight purple colored blend from South Africa opens with a mulberry and boysenberry bouquet. On the palate this wine is medium bodied, balanced and savory. The flavor profile is a tasty and complex blend of smoked meat, blackberry and oak with notes of black licorice and black pepper. The finish is dry and its moderate tannins show a nice extended length. I would pair this wine with your favorite beef brisket recipe. Enjoy. - Ken

Winemaker Notes: The nose is dense and brooding, yet opulent, with its compote of dark, ripe plums and blackberry and attractive whiffs of licorice, violets, cocoa and mint. The black fruit and perfume of the nose follow through onto a rich, savory palate with flavors of dark cherry, red currant, black olives and cured meat. Fine-grained, svelte tannins are in perfect balance with the lemony acidity, lending complexity to the mid-palate. The wine is full-bodied with a rich, smooth mouthfeel. The finish is charry and long, with hints of maraschino cherry, pimento olives, and sweet tobacco.

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