A Wine with Secrets to Keep
Nestled in the remote reaches of the Franschhoek Valley, Boekenhoutskloof (“ravine of the Cape Beech”) rose to acclaim under the visionary guidance of Marc Kent — owner, chief winemaker, and creative force behind Chocolate Block.
Nicknamed “The Wine With Secrets to Keep,” Chocolate Block embodies Kent’s belief that the Cape’s Mediterranean climate is especially suited to blended reds. Each vintage is meticulously crafted to capture the season’s essence and the ancient vines that lend the wine its charm and distinct personality.
2023 Vintage (current): Syrah (74%), Grenache (11%), Cabernet Sauvignon (8%), Cinsault (6%), Viognier (1%) — approximately 4,043 barrels produced.
Tasting Notes: perfumed and complex with dark and red berry fruit, violets, and white pepper on the nose. On the palate, structured opulence unfolds with cardamom, cloves, black pepper, cedarwood, and powdery cocoa tannins, finishing with a lifted white-pepper spice. Previous vintages also reveal brooding black fruit, graphite, licorice, silky texture, milk chocolate, and a lingering cocoa-rich finish.
Boekenhoutskloof’s Chocolate Block remains a global ambassador for South African blended red excellence — ever-evolving, endlessly intriguing, and always a masterpiece of place and innovation.
