Two bottles of the Cape's most recognised red — one to open, one to keep — beside eighteen truffles from a chocolatier who roasts his own beans. The wine already tastes faintly of cacao; this just finishes the thought.
The Chocolate Block comes from Boekenhoutskloof in Franschhoek, and it is the bottle that did more than any other to change how the world looks at South African red. It is Syrah-led, filled out with Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsault and lifted by a touch of Viognier — a Cape blend rather than a varietal, built for depth rather than delicacy. Deep ruby, full-bodied, dark-fruited, with spice and a genuine cacao note on the finish that gives the wine its name.
Two bottles is the right number for it. This is not a wine anyone opens carefully over a year; it is a wine that gets drunk the evening it arrives, which is why one bottle so often feels like a mistake.
The chocolate is a box of eighteen truffles from Pierre Marcolini, who opened in Brussels in 1995 and does something few chocolatiers bother with — he buys cocoa at origin and roasts and refines it himself rather than starting from someone else's couverture. The ganache runs drier and more bitter than most, which is exactly what a wine this ripe needs beside it.
It arrives in our cream-and-gold presentation box on shredded tissue, hand-tied with ribbon, and carrying your message on a card.
Cream and gold gift box, shredded tissue, hand-tied ribbon and a message card
Character
Dark fruit
Spice & pepper
Cacao & mocha
Tannin
BlackberryPlumBlack pepperCacaoVioletDark ganache
Best Enjoyed
Decant for an hour
It is young and tightly wound. Air does it a real favour.
Serve at 16–18°C
Cellar temperature, not room temperature.
Dark chocolate, not milk
The bitterness meets the tannin. Milk would flatten both.
Keep one back
The second bottle will reward three to five years lying down.
At a Glance
Hamper
The Chocolate Block Duo & Truffles Hamper
Wine
The Chocolate Block 2023, 2 × 75cl
Chocolate
Pierre Marcolini Box of 18 Truffles, 108g
Estate
Boekenhoutskloof, Franschhoek, Western Cape
Blend
Syrah-led, with Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and a touch of Viognier
Chocolatier
Pierre Marcolini, Brussels — bean-to-bar since 1995
Presentation
Gift boxed, ribboned, with a message card
Age restriction
18+ · ID required on delivery
Questions
Does the wine actually contain chocolate?
No. The name refers to the dark, cacao-edged character of the blend. It is a dry red wine with no chocolate in it — which is why the truffles beside it work so well.
Why two bottles?
Because one rarely lasts. It also lets the recipient open one now and lay the other down — the wine takes three to five years happily.
What is in the blend?
Syrah leads, filled out with Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsault, and lifted by a small proportion of Viognier. A Cape blend in the Boekenhoutskloof house style.
Can I send it straight to someone else?
Yes. Enter their address at checkout and add your message — we deliver it boxed and ribboned, with no paperwork or pricing inside.
How should the truffles be stored?
Somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight, and not in the fridge. Best within a few weeks; the wine, of course, will wait years.
The Finishing Touches
Signature Gift Box
Cream and gold, lined with shredded tissue.
Hand-Tied Ribbon
Tied by hand into a full bow before it leaves us.
Signature Gift Bag
Our matching bag, so it's ready to hand over on arrival.
Your Message
Add a personal note at checkout — we'll include it with the delivery.
Sending it as a surprise? Enter the recipient's address at checkout and we'll deliver straight to their door, boxed, ribboned and carrying your message — in as little as 30–45 minutes anywhere in London.
How We Deliver
London · 30–45 Minutes
Delivered to your door 24/7, 365 days a year, across Greater London.
UK-Wide Delivery
Next-day delivery across the UK mainland. Rates shown at checkout.
Tracked & Confirmed
Shipment confirmation with live tracking sent to your email.
Challenge 25
Age verified on delivery — 18+ ID required. Responsible retailing, always.
Why Buy From Drinks House 247
✔ 100% authentic stock✔ 4.8★ Google · 223 reviews✔ Gift-boxed and ribboned✔ Open 24/7, 365 days✔ London's 24-hour drinks house, based in Battersea
18+ Please enjoy The Chocolate Block Duo & Truffles Hamper responsibly. For guidance and support, visit drinkaware.co.uk.
