{"title":"Boekenhoutskloof","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"boekenhoutskloof-chocolate-block","title":"Boekenhoutskloof Chocolate Block","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBoekenhoutskloof Chocolate Block\u003c\/strong\u003e is a Syrah-dominant red blend from Franschhoek, South Africa, bottled at approximately 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Scored 93 points by \u003cem\u003eWine \u0026amp; Spirits\u003c\/em\u003e and 92 points by both \u003cem\u003eWine Spectator\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eDecanter\u003c\/em\u003e, this cuvée has earned its reputation as one of South Africa's most recognizable and consistently well-reviewed red blends.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Facts:\u003c\/strong\u003e ABV: ~14.5%  |  Origin: Franschhoek Valley, South Africa  |  Red Blend  |  Producer: Boekenhoutskloof\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eProduction \u0026amp; Heritage\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBoekenhoutskloof is based in the Franschhoek Valley, one of South Africa's oldest and most celebrated wine-growing regions. The Chocolate Block's 2022 vintage is composed of 77% Syrah, 9% Grenache, 8% Cinsault, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Viognier — a Southern Rhône-inspired architecture anchored by the structure and dark fruit intensity of Syrah. The wine undergoes whole berry fermentation and is matured in 95% used French oak barrels utilizing Boekenhoutskloof's proprietary \"OXO\" barrel rotation system, which cycles barrels through different positions during aging. The reliance on seasoned oak keeps the fruit and terroir expression forward rather than burying it under new-wood vanilla and toast.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e The nose opens dark and brooding with boysenberry, black cherry, and cardamom before shifting toward sweet tobacco and espresso. Delicate threads of violet, rose petal, and exotic spice lend an almost perfumed complexity that rewards patient swirling.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ripe plum and black currant anchor the entry, joined quickly by dried cranberry, blueberry, and brambly red fruit at mid-palate. The texture is mouth-coating and supple — often described as evoking dark milk chocolate — with a focused, elegant mid-palate framed by fine, cocoa-powdery tannins that reinforce the wine's namesake character.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Medium-long and balanced, the finish carries lingering impressions of cacao, subtle espresso bitterness, and dark berry compote. Integrated acidity keeps the close fresh and inviting rather than heavy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eHow to Drink Chocolate Block\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eServe at 16–18 °C (60–65 °F). A 20- to 30-minute decant opens up the more brooding aromatic layers and softens the tannin structure. This is a wine built for the dinner table: its combination of dark fruit, spice, and velvety texture makes it a natural partner for full-flavored dishes. For a red wine sangria, the boysenberry and plum notes fold beautifully into citrus and stone-fruit mixers. In a classic Kalimotxo — the Basque equal-parts red wine and cola serve — the chocolate undertones amplify into something genuinely compelling. And for a mulled wine in cooler months, the existing cardamom and spice character means you need very little additional seasoning.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eBest For\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntroducing a curious drinker to premium South African reds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePairing with a slow-braised lamb or game dinner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGifting someone who enjoys Southern Rhône blends but wants to explore beyond France\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHosting a blind tasting comparing New World Syrah blends against Gigondas or Châteauneuf-du-Pape\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Chocolate Block taste like?\u003c\/strong\u003e Chocolate Block delivers ripe plum, black currant, and boysenberry fruit wrapped in a cocoa-powdery tannin structure, with supporting notes of cardamom, sweet tobacco, and espresso. The texture is mouth-coating and supple, often compared to dark milk chocolate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does Chocolate Block compare to a Gigondas or Châteauneuf-du-Pape?\u003c\/strong\u003e Like many Southern Rhône reds, Chocolate Block is built on a Syrah-Grenache backbone and shares the same dark fruit and spice vocabulary. However, its whole-berry fermentation and heavy use of seasoned French oak tend to produce a rounder, more fruit-forward profile with softer tannins than the earthier, more garrigue-driven character typical of top Gigondas or Châteauneuf-du-Pape bottlings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Chocolate Block good for beginners?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — its approachable fruit intensity, smooth tannins, and lower oak influence make it an excellent entry point into serious red blends without requiring extensive wine experience to appreciate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere is Chocolate Block made?\u003c\/strong\u003e Chocolate Block is produced by Boekenhoutskloof in the Franschhoek Valley, a sub-region of the Western Cape in South Africa known for its warm climate and historical ties to French Huguenot winemakers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat foods pair well with Chocolate Block?\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow-braised lamb shanks benefit from the wine's dark fruit and spice. Grilled beef short ribs match its weight and tannin structure. Moroccan tagine with dried fruit echoes the cranberry and plum notes. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the cocoa-powder tannins. Hard, aged cheeses like Gruyère or aged Gouda provide savory contrast to the ripe fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat sizes does Chocolate Block come in?\u003c\/strong\u003e The standard release is a 750ml bottle, though larger-format 1.5L magnums have been produced for select vintages.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Chocolate Block worth the price?\u003c\/strong\u003e Chocolate Block positions as a mid-premium red blend, and its multi-critic scores — 93 from \u003cem\u003eWine \u0026amp; Spirits\u003c\/em\u003e, 92 from \u003cem\u003eWine Spectator\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eDecanter\u003c\/em\u003e — place it firmly above its price tier in terms of critical recognition, delivering complexity that rivals more expensive Southern Rhône bottlings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWhy Chocolate Block?\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe strongest case for Chocolate Block rests on its production: whole-berry fermentation preserves bright primary fruit, while aging almost exclusively in used French oak via the OXO rotation system ensures the oak serves the blend rather than dominating it. That restraint is what allows the cocoa-tannin signature — the quality that gives the wine its name — to emerge naturally from the Syrah and Cinsault rather than from heavy-handed barrel treatment. With a 93-point score from \u003cem\u003eWine \u0026amp; Spirits\u003c\/em\u003e and consistent marks above 90 from \u003cem\u003eWine Spectator\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eDecanter\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eWine Advocate\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eJames Suckling\u003c\/em\u003e, Chocolate Block occupies rare ground: a South African red with broad critical consensus that still over-delivers relative to its price bracket.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Boekenhoutskloof","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44837875876009,"sku":"33490","price":35.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/1024\/6313\/files\/Boekenhoutskloof-Chocolate-Block__89150.jpg?v=1730498030"}],"url":"https:\/\/theliquorbarn.com\/collections\/boekenhoutskloof.oembed","provider":"The Liquor Barn","version":"1.0","type":"link"}