It had been a while since I had last drank this wine. I did not keep it well, but somehow it held well, despite losing some flavours and becoming a little cooked. Such a pitty. I thought I had evolved beyond these “commercial” wines, I was not going to like it. But I did. I liked even more because the name is well picked - this is truly a chocolate block. The syrah is explored here to its fullest, bringing out all that chocolate straight into your nose and then your mouth. The rest of the grapes and the ageing in oak barrels soften the blow, creating a tannic, yet pleasant wine to drink.
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Nose: Lavender, green notes (olives?), salinity, slight barnyard at first, roasted meat.
Palate: Peppery + spicy, meaty, green / vegetal notes (green olives), salinity, lavender, iron. Red currant and black cherry with fleshy grenache qualities. Slightly hot. Creamy mouthfeel with lovely acidity. Toasty oak notes. Medium finish, light tannin, medium acidity, medium+ body. Slight unpleasant bitterness.
Note: The wine fell completely flat and tasted like dirt on day 2 after storing in the fridge overnight.
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Beautiful ruby red. Given the name and branding of the wine, was expecting a more modern style, and that is mostly what is on offer. There's some complexity on the nose though, with classic Syrah notes of iron, meat, and a bit of green olive. Oak is prominent but not overbearing. Palate is surprisingly red fruited - tart currants play with riper cherries. Must be the Grenache and Cinsault. Pepper there too. Structure is quite nice, with firm but seamless tannins creating a harmonious texture that played well with roast beef. Acids are health, alcohol a little hot but not too obtrusive.
Not sure I would buy this again but is mostly well made for the style. Far better than some of the clunky cabs that this competes against. Not a lot of character here, though I appreciated the more savoury elements. MIL liked very much.
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Red cherry fruit, plenty of meaty flavors, green herbs and green olives, smoke and chalk minerality. Nicely juicy and well-crafted palate. A big step-up from my last tasting of Chocolate Block and glad to see what this wine is capable of.
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Not sure if it is the batch or the style Boekenhoutskloof was going for the 2020 vintage, but the two bottles from the same batch had a barnyard smell in the initial opening. I have tried other vintages but never had this smell before. It went away after 10~15 mins decanting, and showed the dark fruit aromas that I was used to. Nice tannins, mid-body, and easy to drink. Felt the body has become lighter than previous vintages. Worth the price.
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Ok "big" wine if somewhat overpriced. Needs some air, a bit metallic out of the gate. Quite primary, fruit in the grenache territory, but with some depth and a hint of pepper. Fairly smooth, low tannins, not too acidic.
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Oinoscent crew day out mayhem: The wine shows density, chocolate, dark fruit, spices, a touch earthy with toast The wine shows medium body, black fruit, currant, alcohol heat, rather lean, lacks depth, straightforward, medium finish. A crowd pleaser though
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Probably drunk a little too young even though opened and decanted for an hour. V pleasant now but definitely last few more years. Other tasters have the flavour profile spot on.
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Light ruby with medium intensity nose of violets, blackberry, black currant, briar, iodine, olive,. Medium body with high alcohol and medium tannins with a medium finish. Dark fruits especially blackberry with briar chocolate nutmeg olive toasted wood. This is a good wine that should be drunk now and may improve with aging
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A totally different wine after lots of air and time. Even after 4 hours on day 1, it was angular, alcoholic and required very rich and flavourful food. On day two, it softened considerably. It is still full-bodied, spicy, with med/high alcohol. Cocoa and kirsch finally come out to create a level of interest. Minimal tannin and OK length. 88 on day 1, 90 on day 2. Could certainly improve but won't rush back to it
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Rich, spice, pebbery, sweet - yes, chocolate). Manly structure, needs food, really - a good steak. Very well made indeed - without loosing personality.
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Not quite sure what I was expecting as this was a Holiday Gift so I don't normally look $30.00 plus bottles in the mouth & Complain LOL Very musky opening with lots of pepper, while hints of chocolate were there in the middle, the finish was almost I don't quite know how to put it almost sour or tart. Since this isn't my type of wine, I'll defer to the others who tasted with me who said it was decent. I'll go Neutral in my rating.
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Mega Blenders Dinner (Puifai's place - Centro): Medium ruby, with purple hue. Very deep dark blackcurrant and plums, and some dark florals, and toast and cinnamon. Some tannic bite, and lots of heat. Medium length and somewhat straightforward
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The Chocolate Block never disappoints. Lovely albeit young wine. Had this two days ago. No notes taken at the time, so from memory. Double decant, c.30mins in large decanter. Dark purple-ish colour, with a slight red glow around the rim. On the nose lots of leather, wood and berries. Full of fruit this. More of the same on the palate, with strong yet fresh acidity from finely grained tannins. Had it with feijoada, a slow cooked Brazilian black bean stew with fatty breast of lamb, pork and beef ribs, splashed with fresh lime and coriander. Not your every day pairing, but it worked very well. I still have 5 bottles left (I should have bought more!) and will let the remaining 5 bottles age a few years.
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Belle robe rubis avec touche violette, ce vin est encore jeune. Au nez il dégage des effluves de tabac, cerises noires, de fruits rouges et bien sûr comme son nom l'indique du cacao. Bouche bien construite avec des fruits rouges, encore du tabac et une touche d'eucalyptus. 2414 barrils de cette cuvée a été produits.
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Caviste, UK, Zoom tasting of South Aftican wines. Introduced by Gottfried Mocke. Garnet. Spicy nose, redcurrants. Palate is young, ripe blackcurrant. Good.
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2/10/2024 - JayP Likes this wine: 90 Points
Really like this rich, warm, yes chocolate tasting - with hint of apricots as well. Loads of life yet
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10/28/2023 - Bguimaraes wrote: 86 Points
It had been a while since I had last drank this wine. I did not keep it well, but somehow it held well, despite losing some flavours and becoming a little cooked.
Such a pitty. I thought I had evolved beyond these “commercial” wines, I was not going to like it. But I did. I liked even more because the name is well picked - this is truly a chocolate block.
The syrah is explored here to its fullest, bringing out all that chocolate straight into your nose and then your mouth. The rest of the grapes and the ageing in oak barrels soften the blow, creating a tannic, yet pleasant wine to drink.
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10/19/2023 - djsaunde Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose: Lavender, green notes (olives?), salinity, slight barnyard at first, roasted meat.
Palate: Peppery + spicy, meaty, green / vegetal notes (green olives), salinity, lavender, iron. Red currant and black cherry with fleshy grenache qualities. Slightly hot. Creamy mouthfeel with lovely acidity. Toasty oak notes. Medium finish, light tannin, medium acidity, medium+ body. Slight unpleasant bitterness.
Note: The wine fell completely flat and tasted like dirt on day 2 after storing in the fridge overnight.
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12/18/2022 - Ryan8008 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful ruby red. Given the name and branding of the wine, was expecting a more modern style, and that is mostly what is on offer. There's some complexity on the nose though, with classic Syrah notes of iron, meat, and a bit of green olive. Oak is prominent but not overbearing. Palate is surprisingly red fruited - tart currants play with riper cherries. Must be the Grenache and Cinsault. Pepper there too. Structure is quite nice, with firm but seamless tannins creating a harmonious texture that played well with roast beef. Acids are health, alcohol a little hot but not too obtrusive.
Not sure I would buy this again but is mostly well made for the style. Far better than some of the clunky cabs that this competes against. Not a lot of character here, though I appreciated the more savoury elements. MIL liked very much.
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8/26/2022 - sirpat00 wrote: 93 Points
Red cherry fruit, plenty of meaty flavors, green herbs and green olives, smoke and chalk minerality. Nicely juicy and well-crafted palate. A big step-up from my last tasting of Chocolate Block and glad to see what this wine is capable of.
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8/25/2022 - Vinumamator Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not sure if it is the batch or the style Boekenhoutskloof was going for the 2020 vintage, but the two bottles from the same batch had a barnyard smell in the initial opening. I have tried other vintages but never had this smell before. It went away after 10~15 mins decanting, and showed the dark fruit aromas that I was used to. Nice tannins, mid-body, and easy to drink. Felt the body has become lighter than previous vintages. Worth the price.
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6/27/2022 - JayP Likes this wine: 89 Points
A really rich, warm, delicious wine. Plenty of life left but also drinking well. Probably another 3 years of drinking window.
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3/27/2022 - barrkel wrote: 89 Points
Ok "big" wine if somewhat overpriced. Needs some air, a bit metallic out of the gate. Quite primary, fruit in the grenache territory, but with some depth and a hint of pepper. Fairly smooth, low tannins, not too acidic.
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3/7/2022 - kostaslonis wrote:
Oinoscent crew day out mayhem: The wine shows density, chocolate, dark fruit, spices, a touch earthy with toast
The wine shows medium body, black fruit, currant, alcohol heat, rather lean, lacks depth, straightforward, medium finish. A crowd pleaser though
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2/25/2022 - Zweder wrote: 91 Points
An easy afternoon with close friends; some random wines (By BV @ PdV): Aromatic bouquet with ripe sweet fruits, metal and minerals and spiciness. On the palate a lot of herbs and spices, expressive lavender, some sweetness and metal impressions. Beautiful wine.
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2/12/2022 - henrijanssen wrote: 90 Points
Mooie zuren tabak chocola pruimen
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1/29/2022 - JayP Likes this wine: 89 Points
Probably drunk a little too young even though opened and decanted for an hour. V pleasant now but definitely last few more years. Other tasters have the flavour profile spot on.
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1/21/2022 - lewisrise wrote: 90 Points
Light ruby with medium intensity nose of violets, blackberry, black currant, briar, iodine, olive,. Medium body with high alcohol and medium tannins with a medium finish. Dark fruits especially blackberry with briar chocolate nutmeg olive toasted wood. This is a good wine that should be drunk now and may improve with aging
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1/20/2022 - sem106 Likes this wine: 90 Points
A totally different wine after lots of air and time.
Even after 4 hours on day 1, it was angular, alcoholic and required very rich and flavourful food.
On day two, it softened considerably. It is still full-bodied, spicy, with med/high alcohol. Cocoa and kirsch finally come out to create a level of interest. Minimal tannin and OK length.
88 on day 1, 90 on day 2. Could certainly improve but won't rush back to it
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1/9/2022 - Fat Sajak Likes this wine: 90 Points
Muey Delicioso.
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1/8/2022 - beatles wrote: 90 Points
Rich, spice, pebbery, sweet - yes, chocolate). Manly structure, needs food, really - a good steak. Very well made indeed - without loosing personality.
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1/3/2022 - gamlingman wrote: 85 Points
Not quite sure what I was expecting as this was a Holiday Gift so I don't normally look $30.00 plus bottles in the mouth & Complain LOL Very musky opening with lots of pepper, while hints of chocolate were there in the middle, the finish was almost I don't quite know how to put it almost sour or tart. Since this isn't my type of wine, I'll defer to the others who tasted with me who said it was decent. I'll go Neutral in my rating.
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12/5/2021 - henrijanssen wrote: 88 Points
Mooie zuren tabak chocola pruimen
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10/25/2021 - AriaKB24 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good. I normally drink cabs. This is very earthy. Leather, cherries.
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9/15/2021 - pat04 wrote: 81 Points
Still to young
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8/21/2021 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 90 Points
Mega Blenders Dinner (Puifai's place - Centro): Medium ruby, with purple hue. Very deep dark blackcurrant and plums, and some dark florals, and toast and cinnamon. Some tannic bite, and lots of heat. Medium length and somewhat straightforward
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7/31/2021 - CalimerosDad Likes this wine: 91 Points
Toller Wein. tiefe Struktur. ausgewogene Tannine und tolle Frucht. Sehr lecker!
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7/9/2021 - Renevin Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nez de tabac, bonbon anglais, un peu chocolaté. En bouche, tanins très presents, mais sans rudesse. Longueur moyenne. À revoir dans 4 ou 5 ans
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6/9/2021 - SLB83 Likes this wine: 90 Points
The Chocolate Block never disappoints. Lovely albeit young wine. Had this two days ago. No notes taken at the time, so from memory. Double decant, c.30mins in large decanter.
Dark purple-ish colour, with a slight red glow around the rim.
On the nose lots of leather, wood and berries. Full of fruit this.
More of the same on the palate, with strong yet fresh acidity from finely grained tannins.
Had it with feijoada, a slow cooked Brazilian black bean stew with fatty breast of lamb, pork and beef ribs, splashed with fresh lime and coriander. Not your every day pairing, but it worked very well. I still have 5 bottles left (I should have bought more!) and will let the remaining 5 bottles age a few years.
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6/6/2021 - Rodenbach99 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Belle robe rubis avec touche violette, ce vin est encore jeune. Au nez il dégage des effluves de tabac, cerises noires, de fruits rouges et bien sûr comme son nom l'indique du cacao. Bouche bien construite avec des fruits rouges, encore du tabac et une touche d'eucalyptus. 2414 barrils de cette cuvée a été produits.
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5/15/2021 - henrijanssen wrote: 89 Points
Mooie zuren tabak chocola pruimen
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3/1/2021 - henrijanssen wrote: 90 Points
Wat mooi chocolade mooie tannines pruimen tabak enz mag nog wat liggen 2e fles
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3/1/2021 - henrijanssen wrote: 90 Points
Wat mooi chocolade mooie tannines pruimen tabak enz mag nog wat liggen
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11/8/2020 - andyhall_95 Likes this wine: 81 Points
Deep red full bodied dry
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10/23/2020 - Keith Cooper Likes this wine: 89 Points
Caviste, UK, Zoom tasting of South Aftican wines. Introduced by Gottfried Mocke. Garnet. Spicy nose, redcurrants. Palate is young, ripe blackcurrant. Good.
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