92pts James Suckling

This is wonderfully fragrant, with attractive notes of olive, mulberry and peppercorn. It’s juicy, medium- to full-bodied and very bright, with fine-grained tannins and a lively finish. 74% syrah, 11% grenache, 8% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cinsault and 1% viognier. Delicious already. Drink now.

91pts Vinous

The 2023 The Chocolate Block, arguably the Cape's most successful brand in terms of both quantity and quality, is a mixture of 70% estate fruit (mainly from Porseleinberg) and 30% from partnership vineyards on reddish soils that have supplied fruit for 15 to 20 years. It matured for 12 to 14 months in 95% used barriques. Fruit picked after the rains was not included in the blend. The 2023 has a fresh nose with redcurrant and pomegranate fruit, earthy notes and a touch of tea leaf. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy red fruit and fine acidity, fresh and vibrant with brown spices and black pepper toward the finish. According to the label, production totaled 4,043 barrels in this vintage—it is some achievement to produce a label of such scale at this level of quality. The Cape couldn't ask for a better ambassador.

Tasting Notes

The nose is rich and intense with its abundance of black- and blueberry fruit, ripe brambles, and notes of black olives, perfume and dust. Whiffs of white pepper and coriander seed add to the complexity. The bright dark berries of the nose follow through onto a juicy, abundant palate with classic red liquorice and fresh cherry flavours. The wine is medium to full-bodied, with a broad, weighty midpalate, yet the mouthfeel is smooth, gentle. Lively acidity and svelte, velvety tannins are balanced and add to the elegance, focus and energy of the wine. Hints of cherry tobacco and exotic spice linger
on a pure, dry finish.

Winemaker's Notes

The quest to understand the name of this wine and the wine itself is now the stuff of legend. While we are not about to reveal all, we can say 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 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.

Blend: 74% Syrah, 11% Grenache, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cinsault, 1% Viognier

Vegan