The Wolftrap Red 2023

In a nutshell:
A spicy and rich South African red blend from the esteemed Boekenhoutskloof winery.

The lowdown:
The Wolftrap is the celebrated Boekenhoutskloof entry level label and is a perenially reliable performer and wonderful value for money. While the blend of grapes varies a bit from one year to the next Syrah is always the predominant grape followed by mourvèdre and a splash of Viognier. It leads with intense dark fruit aromas of blackberries, blueberries and a whiff of violets, while on the palate a hint of liquorice and sweet tobacco add to the full, dark berry flavours. With a really sillky texture it's very smooth and well balanced.

The Producer:
Without doubt one of the leading South African wineries Boekenhoutskloof is situated in a remote corner of the scenic Franschhoek Valley. Whilst first established back in 1776 it wasn't until 1993, under new ownership, that the completely renovated vineyard and estate started to build their current reputation. Marc Kent is the man who's responsible for their success. Completely committed to high quality and attention to detail he's, nevertheless, a keen experimenter and always willing to try something new. He was one of the first to establish Syrah as a significant South African variety in the late 1990s. The famed Chocolate Block is their flagship wine. Each vintage is a slightly different blend, using the best quality fruit in each year, but is always largely based on Syrah. And while red wines are their best-known products, the white they make using the Semillon grape is also well worth seeking out.

When to drink:
A classic Rhône style red blends that reliably over delivers for the price.

Categories	Wine / Red Wine / Firm & Spicy Reds
Country	South Africa
Grape Variety	Syrah/Shiraz , Mourvedre/Monastrell
Vintage	2023
Volume	75cl
ABV	14%
SKU	BO6913RN