2019 Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block

Community Tasting Notes (30) Avg Score: 89.1 points

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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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