The Chocolate Block is a red blend from the Swartland, made by Boekenhoutskloof. It is a Syrah-led cuvée with dark fruit, spice, and smooth tannins. In stock at ZEBRA WINES for CZK 649: buy The Chocolate Block.
Contents
- What is The Chocolate Block?
- Where does the wine come from?
- What is in the blend, and why does it change?
- How does it taste?
- Why is it called Chocolate Block?
- What food pairs with it?
- Who is it for?
- Where to buy it in the Czech Republic?
What is The Chocolate Block?
The Chocolate Block is a South African red blend. It is not a single-vineyard, single-variety Syrah. Boekenhoutskloof builds it as a deliberate cuvée so the wine keeps a clear house style across vintages and old-vine character.
At ZEBRA WINES we describe it as a Swartland cuvée led by Syrah, with Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, and Viognier. The nose shows dark fruit, black olive, spice, and white pepper. The palate is juicy, medium to full: berries, red cherry, liquorice, tobacco, smooth tannins, and a long dry finish. Price with us: CZK 649, in stock.
Producer page: Boekenhoutskloof – The Chocolate Block.
Where does the wine come from?
Boekenhoutskloof sits in the Franschhoek Valley. The farm dates back to 1776; the name means “ravine of the Boekenhout” (Cape beech). The Chocolate Block itself leans on the Swartland: a warmer, drier terroir where Syrah and Mediterranean varieties give a fuller, spicier profile than cooler coastal zones.
The producer is clear that the Cape’s Mediterranean climate suits blended reds. Chocolate Block is that idea in a bottle: not a Bordeaux copy, but a modern Cape Rhône-style blend with its own logic.
More on the brand: Boekenhoutskloof at ZEBRA WINES.
What is in the blend, and why does it change?
The recipe is not fixed forever. Boekenhoutskloof tunes it each vintage to the season and to old vines with real personality.
Current 2023 blend at the producer (boekenhoutskloof.co.za):
| Variety | Share (2023) | Role in the blend |
|---|---|---|
| Syrah | 74% | Core: fruit, spice, body |
| Grenache | 11% | Juiciness, red fruit, softness |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | 8% | Structure and length |
| Cinsault | 6% | Lift and elegance |
| Viognier | 1% | Aromatics (often co-fermented) |
Trade sheets match those numbers (e.g. Wine.com – 2023): 74 / 11 / 8 / 6 / 1, with most fruit from the winery’s own farming programme.
Why it matters: Chocolate Block is not a random “red blend” label. It is a style line: Syrah up front, Rhône partners, Cabernet as an anchor. Percentages shift a little by vintage; the DNA stays.
How does it taste?
Straight talk:
- Nose: dark fruit, olive, pepper, spice.
- Palate: juice plus medium to full body, not heavy syrup.
- Tannins: smooth and approachable earlier than hard Bordeaux styles.
- Finish: dry, long, with liquorice / tobacco.
Our product page notes berries, red cherry, liquorice, tobacco. That lines up with how merchants describe it abroad: elegant and linear, soft tannins, Syrah blend without drama.
Serving temperature: about 16-18°C. Too warm and alcohol/wood crowd out the fruit. Too cold and the Syrah shuts down.
Decanting: 20-40 minutes is enough for a younger vintage. This is not a 20-year oak bomb that needs half a day.
Why is it called Chocolate Block?
The winery keeps the official story playful and secret: the quest to understand the name is “the stuff of legend,” and they are “not about to reveal all” (Boekenhoutskloof).
Outside the official line, writers often link the name to a spicy, dark profile (including bitter chocolate / spice associations), e.g. Write for Wine. Treat that as interpretation, not a corporate myth you must repeat as fact.
In practice the name works. On a shelf or a wine list, guests read it once and remember it. “Syrah / Grenache / Cinsault Swartland blend” does not do that.
What food pairs with it?
Chocolate Block loves roast meat, grill, and spiced sauces:
| Food | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Steak / BBQ beef | Tannin + fruit hold fat and char (Love Wine, Vinello) |
| Lamb chops / kebab | Syrah + spice; proven tasting-note pairing (Christy Majors) |
| Roast pork, ribs | Medium body does not crush the meat |
| Darker sauces, mushrooms | Olive / tobacco / liquorice on the finish |
| Dark chocolate (carefully) | More a name game than the main pairing; meat still wins |
HoReCa tip from ZEBRA WINES: by-the-glass in a wine bar (memorable name + drinkable tannins), bottle list in steakhouses and grill bistros. Contact: info@zebrawines.cz, +420 777 008 467.
Who is it for?
Yes, if you:
- want a South African icon without memorising ten grape names,
- like Syrah / Rhône blends but not ultra-heavy “blockbuster” wines,
- need a gift: the name + Swartland story beat a faceless cuvée,
- build a list: guests will ask for “Chocolate Block” by name.
Less ideal if you:
- want a pure Bordeaux-style Cabernet (look at Boekenhoutskloof Franschhoek / Stellenbosch Cabernet instead),
- want light Pinot with fish.
Related picks in the ZEBRA catalogue:
- Franschhoek tasting set (Chocolate Block + La Bri + Lynx)
- Boekenhoutskloof Franschhoek Cabernet
- Meerlust Rubicon (another SA icon, classic Stellenbosch Bordeaux blend)
Where to buy it in the Czech Republic?
Official import and e-shop: ZEBRA WINES – The Chocolate Block
Price: CZK 649 · in stock (check the live product page)
Brand: Boekenhoutskloof
B2B / HoReCa: info@zebrawines.cz · +420 777 008 467
Conclusion
The Chocolate Block is a modern Cape red blend led by Syrah, with a name people remember and a style that holds across vintages. Boekenhoutskloof builds it as a blend (2023: 74% Syrah + Grenache, Cabernet, Cinsault, Viognier). The wine is juicy, spicy, and food-friendly with grill and lamb. In the Czech Republic it is in stock at ZEBRA WINES: buy The Chocolate Block.