Wednesday 31 March 2010

TN : Errazuriz Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2009, Central Valley, Chile


This wine was cool fermented to off dry in stainless steel tanks. Then the wine was sealed with a screwcap.



Colour : Bright raspberry

Aroma : Strawberry, blackcurrant

Taste : Strawberry, blackcurrant, dry, herbs

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 39 SEK (375 ml bottle)

Mark : C+

Website : Vina Errazuriz

TN : Tokolosh Merlot 2009, Tooverberg Boerdery, Coastal Region, South Africa


The grapes were cold-soaked prior to fermentation. The fermentation was carried out at around 30°C, finished quickly and the wine racked off the skins without any post-fermentation skin contact. Half of the volume was then transferred to second fill French oak 225 litre barrels, with malolactic fermentation occurring in the wood, for about 6 months. The remainder was finished in stainless steel and the two elements eventually blended before bottling. The residual sugar was 3.8 grammes per litre and the total acidity was 5.6 grammes per litre.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Chris Wine and Spirits.

Colour : Blackberry

Aroma : Plums, blackberry, herbs, vanilla, smoke, oak, milk chocolate

Taste : Plums, cherry, smoke, herbs, blackberry, bitter oak on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 41 SEK (375 ml bottle)

Mark : C

Website : Tokolosh Wines
Website : Chris Wine Sweden

Tuesday 30 March 2010

TN : Zardoz Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere 2007, Vina Indomita, Maipo Valley, Chile



This wine was imported by Primewine Sweden AB.



Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Herbs, blackcurrant, milk chocolate, oak

Taste : Green pepper, blackcurrant, coffee, plums, oak

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 159 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Vina Indomita
Website : Primewine Sweden AB

TN : Morillon 2007, Sattlerhof, Gamlitz, Suedsteiermark, Austria


This wine is 100% Chardonnay.



Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Pear, almond, oranges

Taste : Pear, oranges, marzipan, long finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Sattlerhof

TN : Achaval-Ferrer Malbec 2008, Mendoza, Argentina


10000 twelve bottles cases were produced. This wine is bottled without fining or filtering, on 9th February 2009. The pH is 3.5, the Total Acidity is 6.37, the Volatile Acidity is 0.62, Total SO2 is 46 miligrammes per litre, and Residual Sugar is 1.40 grammes per litre. The wine is 100% Malbec from long term lease contracts in different districts such as Mayor Drummond, La Consulta and Medrano. The three properties are, as traditional in Mendoza, irrigated by furrow. In all vineyards the average yield was 5,500 kilos per hectare (around 33 hectolitres per hectare). The wine was aged during 9 months in French oak barrels.



This wine was imported by Divine AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Violets, savoury notes, plums, herbs, blueberry

Taste : Lean, oak, violets, herbs, plums, blueberry

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 179 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Achaval-Ferrer Winery
Website : Divine AB

Tuesday 23 March 2010

TN : Rubicon 2005, Meerlust Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa


Meerlust Estate has been owned by the Myburgh family for eight generations since 1756. Today, the estate is ran by Hannes Myburgh.



This wine is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 16% Cabernet Franc. The Cabernet Sauvignon was grown on low yielding, predominantly biotite partially decomposed granite gravel topsoil rich in quartz and feldspar to a depth of approximately 600mm with a loamy clay subsoil. The Merlot vineyards were planted on more clay rich, yet well drained soils to ensure moisture retention and availability to the vines roots right through the summer.
The Cabernet Franc Vineyard is situated on a very well drained, stony Vilafontes soil with approximately 20% clay.

The Cabernets were given a relatively short cuvaison time to prevent over-extraction, but the Merlot was given a long post fermentation maceration to encourage complete polymerization of complex tannins and add a broad, juicy and ultra-silky texture to the blend as a whole. Malolactic fermentation was completed in barrel for 6 months before assessment and assemblage. The wine spent a total of 24 months in 75% new French Nevers oak with 25% 2nd Nevers and Alliers barrels.

The dry extract was 33.56, the residual Sugar was 2.45 grammes per litre, the pH was 3.76, total acidity was 5.57 grammes per litre, and the alcohol was 14.42%.

This wine was imported by Tryffelsvinet AB.

Colour : Deep blackcurrant

Aroma : Coffee, blackcurrant, smoke, tobacco, plums

Taste : Talcum powder drying tannins, blackcurrant, plums, overtly smoky, burnt tasting, oak, stale tobacco, black tea

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 229 SEK

Mark : D

Website : Meerlust Wine Estate
Website : Tryffelsvinet

Monday 22 March 2010

TN : Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Paul Hobbs Winery, Napa Valley, California, USA


The grapes for this wine were handharvested between October 25th and November 2nd 2005. The Brix at harvest was between 23.9 and 25.1 degrees. The grapes were fermented in ten ton closed-top stainless steel fermentors with indigenous selected yeasts. The must underwent a five day cold soak and a 30 to 35 total maceration. The malolactic fermentation was spontaneous and carried out in barrels for seven months. The resulting wine was aged for 20 months in French oak barrels from Taransaud, Seguin Moreau, Alain Fouquet, Demptos, Bossuet, Nadalie, and Sylvain. 60% of the oak was new. The wine was bottles unfiltered and unfined in June 2007. The wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.



The extended cool weather and rains in Spring 2005 resulted in late bud break in Napa Valley. Long temperate weather followed.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, oak, cedar, cherry

Taste : Concentrated blackcurrant fruit, lightly toasted oak, smooth tannins, graphite, coffee, pepper on long finish

Alcohol : 14.9%

Price : 389 SEK

Mark : A

Website : Paul Hobbs Wines

TN : Serrata Belguardo 2007, IGT, Mazzei, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy

The Mazzei Marquis have owned Castello di Fonterutoli since 1435. This wine from their Maremma property is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Alicante Nero. Fermentation was between 28 and 30 degrees. The wine was aged for approximately twelve months in small 225 litre oak barrels (30% new). The total acidity is 5.8 grammes per litre. The wine was bottles in March 2009. 75,000 bottles were produced.



The Belguardo estate is located in the Maremma region of Tuscancy, on the hills between Grosseto and Montiano, near the National Park “dell'Uccellina”, about ten kilometers from the coast. The vineyards are located at 70 to 130 metres and have a south to south west exposure. The soil is sandstone and the vines are ten years old. The planting density is 6,600 vines per hectare and the vines are spur-cordon trained.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Tobacco, spice, cherries, milk chocolate

Taste : Cherries, plums, oak, spice, fruity, pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Marchesi Mazzei SPA

TN : dB Selection Rose 2009, De Bortoli, Australia


This wine is a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Colour : Bright strawberry

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, herbs

Taste : Strawberry, raspberry, herbs, oranges, dry

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 197 SEK (3 litre Bag-In-Box)

Mark : C

Website : De Bortoli Wines

Monday 15 March 2010

TN : Yalumba Hand-Picked Shiraz Vignier 2005, Barossa Valley, Australia


The grapes for this wine were harvested during March and April 2005. The wine spent 18 months in French oak hogsheads. The wine was bottled in March 2007.



Colour : Inky purple

Aroma : Bramble fruit, floral, spicy

Taste : Rich dark bramble fruits, spice, milk chocolate, pepper on long finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 228 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Yalumba

TN : Midsummer Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Canon Creek Vineyard, Napa Valley, USA


The winemaker was Rollie Heitz. The vineyard is in the eastern hills of Napa Valley. It is situated between St. Helena and Howell Mountain. The clones planted are 6 and 337. The vines are trained with Vertical Shoot Positioning. The vineyard is 1.4 acres in size and is at an elevation of 1000 feet.



Colour : Deep blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, toasty oak, coffee

Taste : Lingering toasty oak on finish, overoaked currently but may calm down in a couple of years if the fruit lasts, warm finish, rich blackurrant, coffee

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 329 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Midsummer Cellars

TN : Scali Pinotage 2006, Voor-Paardeberg, South Africa


This was made by Willie and Tania De Waal, fifth generation family vignerons on their family farm Schoone Oord. The must was fermented in open kuipe and gently pressed in basket press. The wine was then matured in 228 litre French oak barriques for 12 months and was bottled unfiltered. The total production of this wine was 19 barrels.



The grapes come from two different vineyards. The "Ou Kraal" vineyard has a Southern aspect and the soil is high in clay content and decomposed granite on shale. The vines were planted was in 1972 at a density of 2425 vines per hectare. The vines are single wire, cordon trained. The yield was three tonnes per hectare or 18 hectolitres per hectare. The "Kalkis" vineyard has a South-Eastern aspect and the soil is gravel on shale. The vines were planted in 1994 at a density of 3333 vines per hectare. The vines are five wire vertical shoot positioned. The yield is restricted to four tons per hectare or 24 litres per hectare.

This wine was imported by Vinobele AB.

Colour : Deep lilac/purple

Aroma : Cedar, blackberry, banana, burnt toast

Taste : Juicy dark bramble fruits, somewhat developed, liquorice, tobacco, sour finish, talcum powder texture

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 186 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Scali
Website : Vinobele Wine Agency

Monday 8 March 2010

TN : Antu Ninquen Mountain Vineyard Syrah 2007, Colchagua Valley, Chile



Ninquen (nin-ken) means "Plateau on a Mountain". Antu means "sun" in Mapuche or "People from the Earth" language.



Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Violets, blackberry, burnt toast, chocolate

Taste : Burnt toast, blackberry, hot finish, vanilla, coffee, violets

Alcohol : 15 %

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : B-

TN : Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2008, Weingut Studert-Pruem, Mosel, Germany


This wine was imported by Granqvist Vinagentur AB.



Colour : Very pale lemon

Aroma : Honey, mineral, pear, white grapes

Taste : Sweet, white grapes, line, honey, pear

Alcohol : 8%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Studert-Pruem
Website : Granqvist Vinagentur AB

Friday 5 March 2010

TN : Bardou 2006 Saint Chinian, Laurent Miquel, Languedoc, France


Saint Chinian is an appellation situated in the foothills of the Caroux mountains in Languedoc. This wine is produced from a single block of Syrah vines on the Bardou estate. The site has very poor stony soils. The wines are about 26 years old. The wine is aged in new oak (55%) and one year old oak (45%) French barrels.



Colour : Red, blue hues

Aroma : Violets, plums, oak, cedar, blackberry, coffee

Taste : Oak, cedar, herbs, plums, violets, blackberry, pepper and liquorice on finish, grainy tannins

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 179 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Laurent Miquel

Tuesday 2 March 2010

TN : Prendiville Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2003, Sandalford Wines, Margaret River, Australia


This wine was sealed with a screwcap. It was bottle number 5290. Only 500 cases of this wine were made.



Sandalford Wines was first established in 1840. In the early 1990s Sandalford Wines returned to traditional ownership by way of the Prendiville family. The grapes for this wine were harvested in early April 2003 from three blocks, 13, 14, and 15. The grapes were fermented in small static fermenters. The wine was macerated on its skins for two weeks prior to maturation in new French barriques for 24 months. The purest 20 barrels were allocated to make this wine.

An analysis of the finished wine showed that the pH was 3.49, TA was 6.7 grammes per litre, and residual sugar was 1.1 grammes per litre.

Colour : Blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, chocolate, alcohol, black cherry

Taste : Blackcurrant, black cherry, overly warm finish, grainy tannins, chocolate, alcohol heat is too much, coffee, burnt toast

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 364 SEK (Reduced from 455 SEK)

Mark : B

Website : Sandalford Wines

TN : Godolphin 2005, Ben Glaetzer, Barossa Valley, Australia


This wine is a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are 80% dry-grown Barossa Valley 85 year-old Shiraz vines and 20% dry grown Barossa Valley 60 year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vines. The yields were Cabernet Sauvignon at 1-1.5 ton per acre (0.4-0.6 ton per hectare) and Shiraz at 1-2 tonne per acre (0.4-0.8 ton per hectare). The wine is unfiltered.



The grapes were fermented in one tonne open fermenters and hand plunged three times daily. The must completed primary fermentation on skins and malolactic fermentation in oak. The wine was then matured for 15 months in oak, matured on lees to maintain fruit profile and animation. Minimal SO2 was used and the barrels were topped up every three weeks. 14 months were spent in 100% new oak of which 20% was American and 80% was French (70% hogsheads & 30% barriques). The pH is 3.52, Total Acidity is 7.18grammes per litre and the residual sugar is 0.6grammes per litre.

The name Godolphin has been linked with excellence in many fields, including politics, education and literature. The same ideals are used to make this wine. The label echoes the Ancient Egyptian Ankh symbol (pronunciation: onk). Historically the ankh symbolised sunrise, regeneration, regrowth and renewal.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Blackberry, blackcurrant, mint, chocolate

Taste : Bright blackberry, blackcurrant, mint, pepper on finish, violets, vanilla, oak, sweet, warm finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 299 SEK

Mark : A

Website : Glaetzer Wines

TN : La Clotiere 2008, Alliance Loire, Anjou, France


This wine is 100% Cabernet Franc.



This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Bright red

Aroma : Blueberry, violets, red berries, herbs

Taste : Violets, red berries, blueberry, tangy finish, talcum powder tannins

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 75 SEK

Mark : D+

Website : Alliance Loire

TN : Entity Shiraz 2005, John Duval Wines, Barossa Valley, Australia


After 29 years as a winemaker with Penfolds, John Duval started his own wine label in 2003.



The grapes for this wine were sourced from old vineyards in the Stockwell, Light Pass, Krondorf and Marananga regions of the Barossa Valley. Alcoholic fermentation was with submerged cap in both traditional old open tanks and small stainless steel fermenters. The wine underwent 100% barrel maturation for 18 months with 45% new fine grain French oak and the balance in 2, 3 and 4 year-old French and American oak hogsheads (300 litres). Some batches finished fermentation in new barrels. The pH is 3.51 and TA is 6.3g/l.



Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blueberry, blackberry, violets, burnt toast

Taste : Blueberry, blackcurrant, savoury, pepper, mint, long finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 304 SEK

Mark : A-

Website : John Duval Wines

TN : Alice 2006, Celler de l'Abadia, Priorat, Spain



Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Spice, polished oak, blackberry

Taste : Spice, blackberry, plum, smooth tannins, polished oak, long fruity finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Celler de l'Abadia

TN : Rabl Riesling Vinum Optimum 2008, Weingut Rudolf Rabl, Kamptal DAC Reserve, Austria


This wine was sealed with a screwcap. Alcoholic fermentation was in stainless steel tanks at a temperature of 19 degrees for approximately 3 weeks.



This wine was imported by Johan Lidby Vinhandel.



Colour : Bright yellow

Aroma : Peach, honey, oranges, white grapes, pineapple

Taste : Peach, honey, oranges, white grapes, minerals

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 169 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Weingut Rabl
Website : Johan Lidby Vinhandel

Monday 1 March 2010

TN : Neiss Spaetburgunder 2007 Trocken Vogelsang, Weingut Ludi Neiss, Pfalz, Germany



Colour : Red

Aroma : Spice, strawberry, raspberry

Taste : Red berries, spice, bitter oak

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : D

Website : Weingut Neiss

TN : Neiss Riesling & Gewuerztraminer 2008 Trocken, Weingut Ludi Neiss, Pfalz, Germany


This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : White grapes, citrus, pear, oranges

Taste : White grapes, pear, lemon, lime, oranges, turkish delight then sharp finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Neiss