The quest to understand the name of this wine and the wine itself is now the stuff of legend. While they don’t reveal all the information to us, what we can say is that the style of the wine is a reflection of our belief that the Cape, with its Mediterranean climate, is eminently suited to blended reds.
The make-up of this wine is tweaked by their winemaker, Marc Kent, who is tight-lipped about how exactly this wine is made – but that only adds to its mystique. He tweaks the blend slightly with every vintage so no two Chocolate Blocks are quite the same. From vintage to vintage to best reflect the season and the ancient vines of great character that are an integral part of the wine’s charm and personality.
The Chocolate Block is a blend of Syrah, Grenache Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, and Viognier with notes of cardamom, cumin, cloves, and black pepper.
Tasting Notes
The nose is dark, intense, and brooding with aromas of black cherries, cardamom, sweet tobacco, espresso, and subtle whiffs of perfume. The dark fruit character of the nose follows through onto an exceptionally complex, juicy palate with gentle nuances of ripe plums, violets, black olives, cloves, and licorice. The mid-palate is focused, lithe and elegant with very fine, cocoa powdery tannins. The wine is medium-bodied, very balanced with an earthy, layered character, covering the entire spectrum of berry fruit – from tart red plums to rich blue and blackberries. The finish is svelte, clean and dry, peppery and lingering, with hints of dried cranberry, tar, graphite, and smoke.
Food Pairing
Due to its multi-layeredness, it is an ideal meal companion. Whether with pasta, dark meat, or roast, this red blend always impresses.
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