-32%You know that wine that just works? This is it. Pour a glass and you get dark berries, a little black-pepper kick and a smooth, plush finish that makes you go for a second sip before you've thought about it. It's South Africa's cult red for a reason: serious enough to impress the table, friendly enough to drink on a random Tuesday. Grab it for nyama choma night or just because it's half past wine.
Big, dark and generous. The nose pulls you in with blackberry, plum and mulberry, then a twist of cracked black pepper and that wild Cape herb-scrub thing they call fynbos. On the palate it's rich and full but never heavy, with smooth, fine-grained tannins (the bit that grips your tongue) keeping it tidy. The Syrah brings the spice, the Grenache rounds it out soft and plush, and the Cab adds backbone. Despite the name there's no actual chocolate, just a deep, savoury smoothness that earns it. Dry, polished, moreish.
The details
Pairs well with
Where it's from
This is the work of Boekenhoutskloof, a farm tucked in the corner of the Franschhoek Valley with roots going back to 1776. Winemaker Marc Kent first knocked it together back in 2002, just 15 barrels of an experimental blend, with most of the muscle coming from old Syrah vines up in the hot, dry Swartland north of Cape Town. The name? A mate joked about the chocolatey notes that well-aged Grenache can develop. It stuck, the wine took off, and it's been one of South Africa's most loved reds ever since.
Good to know
- What is the price of The Chocolate Block 75cl?
The Chocolate Block 75cl is KSh 5,299 at Oaks & Corks. Order online for fast delivery across Nairobi, usually within the hour, or next day countrywide.
- What does The Chocolate Block 75cl taste like?
Rich and full with dark berries, plum, black pepper and savoury Cape herbs, all wrapped in smooth tannins. It's dry, spicy and plush, not sweet and there's no literal chocolate in it.
- What is the ABV of The Chocolate Block?
It's 14% ABV, so a properly full-bodied red. Pace yourself and enjoy it.
- What grapes are in it?
It's a blend led by Syrah (Shiraz), with Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and a splash of Viognier. The exact mix shifts a little each vintage.
- How do I serve The Chocolate Block?
Lightly cool at 16 to 18°C in a big red wine glass. Let it breathe 20 to 30 minutes, or decant it, to get the most out of it. No ice, no mixers.
- What pairs with The Chocolate Block?
Anything off the grill loves it. Nyama choma, lamb chops, steak, rich stews, mbuzi and hard cheeses all sing alongside it.
- Where is The Chocolate Block from?
South Africa, made by Boekenhoutskloof in the Franschhoek Valley, with the Syrah coming mostly from the warm Swartland region.
The Chocolate Block 75cl
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The Chocolate Block 75cl price in Kenya
Buy The Chocolate Block 75cl online in Nairobi, Kenya for KSh 5,299. Order now for fast delivery across Nairobi — usually within 30 minutes — or next-day delivery countrywide.