Boekenhoutskloof Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Franschhoek, Coastal Region, South Africa
€235 In Bond MJ 19+
Case of 6 •€39.17 / btl Due In
BoekenhoutskloofCoastal Region, South Africa
Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2020
Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
€241 In Bond MJ 19+
Case of 6 •€40.17 / btl Due In
Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2022
Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
€31.50 In Bond MJ 19+
Single Bottle In Stock
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Rated as a South African First Growth by leading wine critic Tim Atkin MW
Boekenhoutskloof is the most internationally recognised fine wine estate in South Africa and the producer behind The Chocolate Block, a Syrah-led blend that has become one of the most widely distributed and collected South African wines in markets across Europe, Asia and the Americas. Founded by Marc Kent on the cool upper slopes of Franschhoek, the estate's reach extends from the Franschhoek valley floor to the ancient soils of the Swartland, where Kent established Porseleinberg, the 100-point Syrah that stands alongside Boekenhoutskloof as one of the two most critically celebrated South African red wine addresses.
Tim Atkin placed Boekenhoutskloof as a First Growth in his 2025 Cape Classification, the highest recognition available and a confirmation that the estate's commercial reach and its critical standing operate at the same exceptional level.
Estate at a Glance
Boekenhoutskloof is based in Franschhoek, South Africa, on the upper slopes of the valley above the town of Franschhoek. Marc Kent is the founder and winemaker. The principal wines are the Boekenhoutskloof Syrah (from Swartland sources), The Chocolate Block (a Syrah-led blend from Swartland and Franschhoek sources), The Wolftrap (more accessible range) and limited Semillon from Franschhoek old vine sites. The estate also founded Porseleinberg in the Swartland. Tim Atkin First Growth 2025.
Marc Kent and the Boekenhoutskloof Vision
Marc Kent is one of the most important and influential figures in modern South African wine, a winemaker and entrepreneur whose decisions have consistently placed him ahead of the mainstream consensus about where the Cape's finest potential lay.
His establishment of Boekenhoutskloof on the upper slopes of Franschhoek in the 1990s gave the estate the cooler, higher-elevation position that its mountain-facing Syrah vineyards require for the combination of concentration and natural freshness that defines the finest Franschhoek red wine. His subsequent identification of the Porseleinberg mountain in the Swartland as an exceptional Syrah terroir, years before the broader critical establishment was paying attention to the region, demonstrated an understanding of South African terroir that has been validated comprehensively by the multiple 100-point scores that Porseleinberg has subsequently received.
Kent's willingness to work across multiple appellations, drawing fruit from Swartland sources for both the Boekenhoutskloof Syrah and The Chocolate Block, reflects a pragmatic and unsentimental approach to quality: he sources from wherever the best raw material is available, regardless of whether it fits a single estate or appellation identity.
The Franschhoek Estate
Boekenhoutskloof's home estate in Franschhoek occupies the upper slopes of the valley above the town, where the combination of higher elevation, mountain protection and the valley's characteristic sheltered warmth creates growing conditions of exceptional natural balance for Syrah and Semillon. The estate's position on the cooler upper slopes, away from the warmer valley floor, provides the natural freshness and aromatic definition that Franschhoek Syrah requires for genuine quality at the highest level.
The Franschhoek Semillon, produced from some of the valley's most ancient bush vine plantings, is among the most historically distinctive wines in the Boekenhoutskloof range, connecting the estate directly to the Huguenot heritage of old vine Semillon that gives Franschhoek its most uniquely South African white wine identity.
The Swartland Connection
Boekenhoutskloof's engagement with the Swartland runs deeper than simply sourcing fruit. Marc Kent's identification and establishment of Porseleinberg made him one of the founding figures of the region's fine wine story, and the Swartland fruit that flows through both the Boekenhoutskloof Syrah and The Chocolate Block carries the ancient schist and granite character that has made Swartland Syrah internationally celebrated.
The Boekenhoutskloof Syrah, sourced from Swartland old vine material, expresses the region's specific geological character with the power and mineral depth that the ancient soils and dry-land bush vines produce. It is a wine of impressive structure and Swartland mineral intensity that develops significantly over ten to fifteen years of careful cellaring.
Signature Wines
The Chocolate Block
The most widely recognised South African wine in international markets and the wine that has introduced more collectors to Boekenhoutskloof than any other in the range. A Syrah-led blend drawing on Swartland and Franschhoek sources, The Chocolate Block combines the power and mineral depth of Swartland Syrah with Grenache, Cinsaut, Cabernet Franc and Viognier components that contribute aromatic complexity, textural finesse and the natural freshness that distinguishes it from simpler Cape red blends. It is consistently one of the best-value fine wine propositions in South Africa and one of the most reliable expressions of the Cape's capacity for Syrah-driven blends of genuine depth and character.
Boekenhoutskloof Syrah
The estate's most serious red wine and the one that most directly communicates the quality of the Swartland old vine material from which it is sourced. The Boekenhoutskloof Syrah develops impressive complexity and mineral depth over ten to fifteen years, the Swartland schist and granite character revealing itself gradually as the wine integrates its considerable structure. A wine for patient collectors.
The Wolftrap
The estate's more accessible range, providing excellent introduction to Boekenhoutskloof's quality across red, white and rosé styles at a price point that reflects the estate's commitment to offering genuine quality across the full breadth of its production.
Porseleinberg
Porseleinberg, the separate estate that Marc Kent established on the Porseleinberg mountain in the Swartland and which is farmed and made by Callie Louw, is not part of the Boekenhoutskloof range but is inseparable from the understanding of what Kent has built in South African fine wine. Porseleinberg's multiple 100-point scores from Tim Atkin confirm that Kent's identification of the mountain's potential was one of the most consequential and prescient decisions in modern Cape wine history.
Why Buy Boekenhoutskloof?
Boekenhoutskloof is the most internationally recognised and commercially successful fine wine estate in South Africa, and its First Growth recognition from Tim Atkin confirms that the commercial success rests on genuine quality rather than marketing alone. The Chocolate Block is one of the finest value-for-quality propositions in South African fine wine. The Boekenhoutskloof Syrah is a serious collector's wine of genuine ageing potential. Together they offer collectors access to the full range of what Marc Kent's multi-appellation vision produces at its best.
All Boekenhoutskloof wines purchased through Fine Wine Library are held In Bond, excise duty free, with guaranteed provenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Chocolate Block?
The Chocolate Block is a Syrah-led blend produced by Boekenhoutskloof from Swartland and Franschhoek sources, combining Syrah, Grenache, Cinsaut, Cabernet Franc and Viognier. It is the most widely recognised South African wine in international markets.
Who is Marc Kent?
Marc Kent is the founder and winemaker of Boekenhoutskloof and the founder of Porseleinberg in the Swartland. He is one of the most important and influential figures in modern South African fine wine.
What is the connection between Boekenhoutskloof and Porseleinberg?
Marc Kent identified the potential of the Porseleinberg mountain in the Swartland and established the estate, which is farmed and made by Callie Louw. The two estates are separate wine projects but share the same founder and the same underlying conviction about the quality of Swartland Syrah terroir.
How long should Boekenhoutskloof wines be cellared?
The Boekenhoutskloof Syrah develops best over ten to fifteen years. The Chocolate Block is enjoyable earlier but rewards five to eight years of careful cellaring. The Wolftrap range is intended for earlier consumption.