The Chocolate Block

2008
South Africa
69% Syrah /12% Grenache / 10% Cabernet Sauvignon / 7% Cinsault / 2% Viognier

I have posted previously on The Chocolate Block - in December. However, I posted on the 2007.
BIG DIFFERENCE between the 2007 and 2008. I am not too fond of this one. Needs more time I guess.
It is AMAZING to me the difference a year makes. It just goes to show you how volatile wine-making
can be. Each year provides a different taste. It's really intriguing. And sometimes disappointing.
My brother bought a bottle of 2007 in December and we enjoyed it while watching the movie Bottle Shock.
BIG difference in price (almost $20 more for the 2007), but a BIG difference in taste too.

I came home from a SOAKING wet walk with my Gfriend to find The Guy had purchased a bottle of this
and left it on the counter. I was pretty happy to see it. Until I saw the vintage. However, I have not
previously yet tried the 2008 so I tried to have an open mind. :( I am sorry to report that it just wasn't
near as good as the 2007. This one was extremely dry with little distinguishing flavor. It packed a punch,
and wasn't bad, it just wasn't what I was expecting.


There's indecision when you
Know you ain't got nothing left
when the good times never stay
And the cheap thrills always
seem to fade away
When will we
When will we fall down
Jump back, got to get out of here
been too long this time

--Toad the Wet Sprocket--


7.50 out of 10
$17 / 750 ml. bottle
(I was unable to find the alcohol content!!)

The Chocolate Block

2007
A Beautiful Blend of Syrah, Grenache Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault & Viognier
South Africa

This was a wine we enjoyed the weekend after Thanksgiving. Herbal notes and flavor with a hint of tobacco, this was a rather smooth wine that tasted even better with a piece of dark chocolate. Of course, the warm atmosphere of fire at the hearth, and my brother at my side, and a good movie rolling (Bottle Shock) probably contributed to my overall enjoyment.

I am up late baking a pie, drinking organic chocolate chai tea rather than a good wine, and reflecting on those I am indebted to. I wanted to be in bed by 10:00 but my evening unraveled in a frustrating fury when I locked not only my car and office keys and money inside my car, but the spare car key as well, as I hurried to grab my two younger children to bring them to the high school to see my older daughter's first "GLEE" performance. The show started in 10 minutes and I had no way to get there. The Guy didn't pick up his phone and neither did my mother (who was meeting me there). In a most frustrating frenzy of actually considering bundling my children up and walking to the high school in 18 degrees, I called my boss. He was there within 9 minutes and we made it. After the show my mom and stepdad called triple A for me and waited patiently in my kitchen (which, when we returned, wreaked horridly of canine gas). When triple A didn't show after an hour, I had a revelation and went in mad search of a backpack I brought to Maine over the summer. Inside, sure enough, was a third and only other spare key. It was 10:00 before I had even started making the pie, and I needed to clean the kitchen first.

So, as I wait for the pie to finish baking, I am thinking of how lucky I truly am. My brother was here for almost a week and fixed broken chairs for me and mowed the lawn and collected neat piles of leaves that my stepdad spent two full days leaf-blowing into clean, workable piles. I am honestly grateful to these men in my life who provide rides in bad weather or for locked-in car keys, who buy me lunch, fix things around my house, help me with the lawn, provide ladders or a hand in cleaning my gutters, and buy me fine wine. I know The Guy gets a little miffed at times at these gestures, but where would I be without all of their kindness and caring? Things get done and I am happier and calmer. And it's one less thing he has to try to eventually get to. So, now the mad pie baking begins to return thanks to all those who make my life easier. Being up late is a small price to pay in return to those who give unselfishly all year long.


8.25 out of 10
14.5% alc. by vol.
$37 / 750 ml. bottle