93 pts Tim Atkin MW 2024 It’s no mean achievement to produce 1.2 million bottles of a wine that’s as good and as consistent as this. Based on Syrah, with the rest of the blend made up of 11% Grenache, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cinsault and 1% Viognier, it’s a seamless cuvée with fynbos, pepper and liquorice aromas, understated oak and flavours of blackberry, bramble and apricot skins. 2025-3292 pts James Suckling Aug 2024 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.91 pts Vinous Aug 2024 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.
