Tasting Notes
The story
Boekenhoutskloof in the beautiful Franschhoek valley in South Africa is perhaps best known for this iconic red blend, The Chocolate Block. I also have its amazing Semillon in stock.
Boekenhout is an indigenous Cape Beech tree greatly prized for making fine furniture. The Boekenhoutskloof label features seven chairs, in the words of the winery "to pay tribute to the skills of 18th century craftsmen and their achievements in creating beauty from natural sources, just like the pursuit of fine wine-making."
Marc Kent is the chief winemaker and driving force behind Boekenhoutskloof. He likes to experiment with the unconventional but his principal commitment is to quality. He is also involved with
Domaine Gayda whose beautiful
Cabernet Franc and
Viognier I stock; these wines also reflect Marc's commitment to quality.
The wine
Boekenhoutskloof describes the style of the wine as "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."
This 2017 vintage is made up of Syrah 64%, Grenache 14%, Cinsault 11%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10% and the white grape, Viognier, 1%. This wine will develop a little more over the next few years but its lovely texture and myriad of flavours - dark berries, spice, chocolate, white pepper - can be enjoyed now.
I still have a few bottles left of The Chocolate Block 2016 at the same price as this 2017. If you would like the 2016 just email me.
Producer's Notes
"The nose is exceptionally perfumed with an abundance of complex red and dark berry fruit, violets and intense aromas of white pepper. Dark brooding fruit follows through onto a structured, opulent palate with notes of cardamom, cumin, cloves and black pepper. The midpalate is rich, textured and balanced with integrated acidity, cocoa powdery tannins and a definite cedarwood character derived from French oak. White pepper lingers on a smooth, lifted finish."
Awards
16 points JancisRobinson.com Oct 2017
"This is the third vintage to be WO Swartland. (The fruit used to come substantially from Wellington but was not as fine.) 64% Syrah, 14% Grenache, 11% Cinsault, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Viognier. All of 2,057 barrels made, and aged at the Helderberg winery. The style of this popular wine has definitely evolved, with the fruit now much more serious and less blowsy. Really quite a complex nose. Fresh and lively. Round and satisfying at the beginning and then it tightens up on the end. Excellent quality in view of the quantity."
