Tasting Notes
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 Freestyle Blanc I stock; these wines also reflect Marc's commitment to quality.
Boekenhoutskloof describes the style of this 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 2018 vintage is made up of Syrah 69%, Grenache 13%, Cinsault 9%, Cabernet Sauvignon 8% and the white grape, Viognier, 1%. 2018 was a difficult year because of the drought conditions but Boekenhoutskloof managed its grape pickings to ensure the best fruit. Though yields were lower, the quality of the grapes was described as "exceptional with very concentrated berries". This translates to very intense wine; the Syrah is the backbone of this wine, the Grenache bringing fruit and finesse, the Cinsault floral and strawberry notes and the Cabernet Sauvignon tannins and structure. 1% Viognier gives the red wine an aromatic lift.
This wine will develop a little more over a few years but its lovely texture and myriad of flavours - dark berries, spice, chocolate, white pepper - can be enjoyed now.
This wine is suitable for vegetarians but not for vegans.
Producer's Notes
"The nose is dense and brooding, yet opulent, with its compote of dark, ripe plums and blackberry and attractive whiffs of liquorice, violets, cocoa and mint. The black fruit and perfume of the nose follow through onto a rich, savoury palate with flavours of dark cherry, red currant, black olives and cured meat. Fine grained, svelte tannins are in perfect balance with the lemony acidity, lending complexity to the mid-palate. The wine is full-bodied with a rich, smooth mouthfeel. The finish is charry and long, with hints of maraschino cherry, pimento olives and sweet tobacco."
Awards
16 points JancisRobinson.com Dec 2019
"Mid-deep purple. Ripe, slightly jammy berry fruits with a touch of dark chocolate and a floral note. Velvety, with a rich mouthfeel, and a blend of sweet fruit and savoury spice. Good length."
