Saturday 31 December 2011

TN : Chateau Ducluzeau 2005, Listrac-Medoc, Bordeaux, France



The chateau was owned by Mr. Ducluzeau at the end of the seventeenth century. In 1870, it was sold to Mr. Astien, a wine-grower from Moulis. He then married Miss Hugon de Listrac who at her death handed down the property to her daughter, Marie-Louise, wife of André Rochette. When Marie-Louise died in 1976, the estate returned to Monique Rochette Borie, who was born and bred at Château Ducluzeau. Today, her son, Bruno-Eugène manages the estate.

Château Ducluzeau was listed in the 1932 crus bourgeois classification of the Médoc, just after
the fifth classified growths and kept the rank of cru bourgeois in the updated version of 2003.

Château Ducluzeau is located in the communal appellation of Listrac-Médoc. The ten hectares of Château Ducluzeau are divided up into several plots which are all situated on a plateau in the village of Listrac, around 400 metres above sea level. The soil and sub-soil are made up of light gravel with a clay-siliceous structure.

The average age of the vines is 45 years old. The vineyard is made up 50% Merlot and 50%  Cabernet Sauvignon at a density of 10000 plants per hectare. The vineyard is managed traditionally : Medoc, double Guyot pruning, leaf-thinning and crop-thinning in July to favour ripening and concentration.



This wine received 85 points from Wine Spectator (web 2008).

Colour : Red

Aroma : Plums, tobacco, wood

Taste : Grainy aged texture, Plummy, redcurrant, blackcurrant, tangy acid, wood

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 213 SEK

Mark : C

Thursday 29 December 2011

TN : 3 de Valandraud 2005, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Ets Thunevin, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France



Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Plums, chocolate, cedar, oak

Taste : Lacking concentration, oak, cedar, coffee, plummy fruit, overoaked, drying tannins on finish, tobacco, opened too early ? going through a dumb phase ? opened too late ?

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 293 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Ets Thunevin

TN : Vieux Chateau Des Jouans 2009, Calvet, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France



This wine is a blend of 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine spent ten months in French oak barrels of which one third was new and the rest was second and third fill.



This wine was imported by Brandpartners AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Plums, oak, blackcurrant, cedar, herbs

Taste : Cedar and oak on finish, plums, blackcurrants

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 109 SEK

Mark : C+

Wednesday 28 December 2011

TN : Chateau Croizet-Bages 2005, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France



This wine received 86 points from The Wine Advocate, 16.5 from Jancis Robinson, and 15.4 from Decanter.

This property lies  on Pauillac's Bages plateau, between the town of Pauillac itself and Saint-Julien-Beychevelle. Château Croizet-Bages also takes its name from its original creators, the Croizet brothers. One a court clerk, the other a local lawyer, the two men bought up parcels of vines from their neighbours duirng the first half of the 18th century and created their own successful vineyard.

At the time of the Revolution, and much involved in local government, the brothers sold the estate to a family from Gascony, the Puyteracs, who in turn sold it to a Bordelais, Jean Calvé, just two years before the 1855 classification of the Médoc. The current proprietors, the Quié family, acquired Croizet-Bages in 1942 from American entrepreneur Jean-Baptiste Monnot (he bought the struggling estate at the end of the first World War). The Château is today managed by brother and sister team Jean-Philippe and Anne-Françoise Quié.This chateau was classified as one of the eighteen fifth growths in the 1855 Bordeaux classification.

Colour : Red, blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, plums, cedar, liquorice

Taste : Simple, watery texture, blackcurrant, green cedar, liquorice, talcum powder tannins and white pepper on finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 226 SEK (bought at Systembolaget 14th November 2008)

Mark : C

Thursday 22 December 2011

TN : Argento Bonarda 2010, Mendoza, Argentina



Argento was established in the wine region of Mendoza in 1998. The word Argento is Latin for silver.




This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

Colour : Raspberry, blue hues

Aroma : Blackberry, violets, raspberry, oak

Taste : Very fruity, raspberry, violets, blackberry, graphite

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Argento Wine Company

TN : Beaujolias Villages Nouveau 2011, Quinson, Beaujolais, France



This wine is 100% Gamay This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



This wine was imported by Stellan Kramer AB.

Colour : Plummy red, blue hues

Aroma : Blueberry, raspberry, herbs

Taste : Blueberry, herbs, acidic finish, raspberry

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 69 SEK

Mark : C

TN : Chateau Poujeaux 2008, Moulis-en-Medoc, Bordeaux, France



This wine received 87 points from Wine Spectator in the March 31st 2011 issue.

This wine is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot. 25,000 cases were made.

The chateau owner is Philippe Cuvelier. The vineyard soil type is Gunzian gravel. The vines are planted to a density of 10,000 vines per hectare. The average age of the vines is thirty years. The wine spent 12 months in barrel of which 30% were new. The grapes were harvested from the 6th to the 24th October 2008.



Colour : Plummy red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, plums, cedar, herbs

Taste : Tobacco, tannic finish, blackcurrant, plums, green cedar

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 267 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Chateau Poujeaux

Saturday 12 November 2011

TN : Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Vina Los Vascos, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), Casablanca Valley, Chile





Colour : Very pale lemon

Aroma : Gooseberry, blackcurrant leaf

Taste : Crisp, blackcurrant leaf, lemon, gooseberry, passion fruit, earthy zingy acidic finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 109 SEK (The Wine Company, Hamburg, Germany)

Mark : B

Website : Vina Los Vascos
Website : The Wine Company

Saturday 5 November 2011

TN : Altos Las Hormingas Malbec Reserve 2008, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina








This wine is 100% Malbec from ancient riverbeds in the Uco Valley. 90% of the grapes are from Vista Flores and 10% are from Eugenio Bustos. The average yield was 6.3 ton per hectare. The grapes were destemmed and softly pressed  into small stainless steel tanks for five days at ten degrees, for cold maceration.  Alcoholic fermentation began using native yeasts whilst cap management was conducted with systematic rack-and-returns.  The time between crushing and pressing was approximately 20 days.  Immediately after malolactic fermentation the wine went in to tight grain French oak barrels for 18 months of ageing.  The Total Acidity is 5.78 grammes per litre, the pH is 3.6, and the Residual Sugar is 2.23 grammes per litre. The winemakers were Alberto Antonini and Attilio Pagli.





This wine was imported by Arvid Nordqvist.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Toasty oak, blueberry, herbs

Taste : Oak, tight structure, blueberry, violets, herbs, warm finish, opened up after an hour

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Altos Las Hormingas

TN : Chateau Les Roches Gaby 2009, Canon-Fronsac, Bordeaux, France



Chateau du Gaby is located in  Canon Fronsac, 40km north-east of Bordeaux,  near the market town of Libourne. Canon Fronsac is also just 15km from St Emilion and Pomerol and is geologically a continuation of the St-Emilion cote or hillside.

Vinification was peformed in temperature-controlled epoxy-lined concrete vats. The wine was matured in 45% new casks, one year old and two 2 years old. The winemaker was Damien Landour. This wine is a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc.




Colour : Dark red, blueberry hues

Aroma : Oak, blackcurrant, herbs, cedar

Taste : Oaky, coffee, blackcurrant, chocolate texture

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : C+ 

Website : Chateau Du Gaby

Thursday 3 November 2011

TN : Mount Athos Vineyards Metochi Chromitsa 2006, Domain of Monastery Agios Panteleimon Evangelos Tsantalis, Chalkidiki, Greece



This wine is a blend of 50% Limnio, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot.



Colour : Red, blue and brown hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, plums, vanilla, spice

Taste : Spice, blackcurrant, plums, aged, talcum powder tannins

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 129 SEK (The Wine Company, Hamburg, Germany)

Mark : C

Website : The Wine Company

TN : Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Villa Maria Estate, Marlborough, New Zealand



This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Fondberg.



Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Earthy, gooseberry, lemon, tomato leaf, pineapple

Taste : Earthy, zingy lemon, blackcurrant, nettles

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 108 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Villa Maria Estate

Sunday 30 October 2011

TN : Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Robert Mondavi Winery, Oakville, Napa Valley, USA



This wine is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot. The total acidity is 0.63%, final pH was 3.64, and residual sugar is 0.5.



Napa Valley’s 2006 vintage began with a wet winter that extended into spring, delivering more than twice the average rainfall for March and nearly four times the April average. The precipitation delayed bloom, but once the skies cleared, the vines had good fruit set and progressed slowly and steadily through slightly warmer than usual June weather. In July, a brief hot spell of four consecutive days over 100°F had the effect of putting the vines “on hold” before ripening continued when mild weather returned in August. Lower temperatures extended through September and October, with some fog and cloudy days. Overall, the 2006 growing season was significantly cooler than average, and harvest began generally later. Picking began in Oakville on September 28 and finally finished on October 31 when the leaves were turning yellow. All the fruit was in the winery before light rains came in early November.

The majority of grapes, 86%,  for this wine came from the To Kalon Vineyard surrounding the winery in Oakville. To Kalon’s older Cabernet vines are 25-35 years old and yield small-berried clusters; newer vines are planted in higher density for enhanced flavor intensity. The balance of the fruit, 14%,  was sourced from nearby Oakville Bench vineyards. The average Brix was 26.4 with 0.70% initial acid and initial pH of 3.5.

Designated an American Viticultural Area in 1993, Oakville lies in the geographic center of Napa Valley and is distinguished by an alluvial fan extending from the base of the Mayacamas Mountains on the valley’s western border. Oakville Bench vineyards along the Mayacamas foothills have well-drained soils that allow deep rooting and development of complex flavors. To Kalon soils are thinner and rockier, producing fruit with intense concentration.

After harvest, the grapes were hand sorted in the To Kalon Fermentation Cellar, then destemmed and lightly crushed directly into 17-ton oak tanks for fermentation. The wine received an additional 36 days of extended skin contact (maceration) to soften tannins. After the free-run wine was drained, the pomace was conveyed by gravity into a gentle basket press, then followed the flow of gravity to the aging cellars. After a secondary malolactic fermentation, it aged 18 months in French oak barrels of which 70% were new. Cabernet Franc and small portions of Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot were blended with the Cabernet Sauvignon midway through aging to marry flavors and enhance the flavor profile.

This wine received 93 points from Wine and Spirits Magazine.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Coffee, blackcurrant, herbs, mineral

Taste : Concentrated sweet blackcurrant and cherry, coffee, minerals, noticable tannins on long finish, this wine opened up after 30 minutes

Alcohol : 15.4%

Price : 349 SEK (The Wine Company, Hamburg, Germany)

Website : Robert Mondavi Winery
Website : The Wine Company

Saturday 22 October 2011

TN : Tormenta Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Familia Torres, Maule, Curico, Chile


 This wine was made from organically grown grapes.


 This wine was imported by Miguel Torres Sverige AB.



Colour : Pale watery yellow

Aroma : Green apple, leafy, tropical fruits

Taste : Nettles, lemon, lime, zingy fruit, leafy finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 80 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Torres

TN : Motorhead Shiraz 2010, South Eastern Australia, Australia


I saw this in the local Systembolaget and could not resist buying it to see what the Ace of Spades, Lemmy and his band, had cooked up.


This wine was actually produced by Brocken Back Winery.


This wine was sealed with a screwcap.


This wine was imported by Grapes Svenska AB.



Colour : Red, blue hues

Aroma : Red and black fruits, oak, vanilla

Taste : The nice black pepper finish on this was the only Shiraz varietal character to this wine, this is an easy going slurper, oak, vanilla, blueberry and blackberry pie filling, warm finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C



Sunday 16 October 2011

TN : Gysler Weinheimer Riesling Trocken 2009, Weingut Gysler, Rheinhessen, Germany


 This wine is biodynamic and has been certified by Demeter.This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



This wine was imported by Brusquini da bere AB.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Honey, pear, mandarin oranges

Taste : Honey, lemon, green apples, zingy acidic finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 120 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Gysler

TN : Sideral 2005, Altair Vineyards and Winery, Rapel Valley, Chile



This wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Carmenere.

The winemaker was Ana Marie Cumsille.



This wine was imported by Pernod Ricard Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, green pepper, milk chocolate, mint, toasty oak

Taste : Concentrated texture, blackcurrant, cedar, toasty oak, spicy finish, grippy tannins and green pepper also on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 209 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Altair Vineyards and Winery

TN : Tsarine Champagne Rose Brut, Chanoine Freres, Champagne, France



The Chanoine Freres began excavation of the very first Champagne cellars in Epernay in 1730 during the reign of Louis XV. Chanoine Freres created Cuvee Tsarine in honour of Tsarist Russia which was the foremost export market for the wine of Champagne during the 19th century.

This wine is a blend of 34% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and 33% Pinot Meunier.



This wine was imported by Chris-Wine AB.

Colour : Salmon pink

Aroma : Redcurrants, biscuits, oranges

Taste : Strawberry, redcurrants, oranges, biscuits, long finish

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 295 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Champagne Chanoine Freres

Saturday 15 October 2011

2011 Chilean Wine Regions Map



This was included in the bag I received when I registered at the last Wine of Chile trade tasting. I can recommend that you contact your local Wines of Chile office and asking for a copy. One side shows the whole of Chile and the locations of all wineries. The other side of the map describes all of the wine regions including climate, soil information, and grapes grown.

Sunday 9 October 2011

Wines of Chile Annual Trade Tasting, 9th September 2011, Stockholm, Sweden





Friday 9th September 2011 and time for the Wines of Chile annual trade tasting held at the Sheraton hotel in central Stockholm. Twenty nine Chilean wine producers were showing their wines.








Here are my tasting notes/grades :

Amayna
  • Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Blackcurrant leaf, lemon, zingy, Mark : B-
  • Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Fermented 2007, oaky, zingy finish, leafy, Mark : C
  • Chardonnay 2008, Lemon, lime, very oaky, needs time to tone down, Mark : C
  • Pinot Noir 2009, Nice fruit, burgundian cool climate like, oaky, Mark : B-
  • Syrah 2009, Mark : B
 Apaltagua
  •  Gran Verano Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Mark : B
  • Gran Verano Carmenere 2010, Mark : B
  • Gran Verano Rose Carmenere 2011, Mark : B
  • Envero Carmenere Gran Reserva 2009, Mark : B
Casa Marin
  • Cartegna Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Mark : B
  • Cipreses Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Mark : A
  • Miramar Vineyard Syrah 2009, cool climate style, Mark : C
Vina El Principal
  • Calicanto 2010, Mark : B
  • Memorias 2007, Mark : B
  • El Principal 2007, Mark : B
Concha y Toro & Maycas del Limari
  • Marques de Casa Concha Syrah 2008, Mark : C
  • Don Melchor 2007, Mark : B+
  • Maycas del Limari Reserva Pinot Noir 2010, Mark : C
  • Maycas del Limari Reserva Syrah 2009, Mark : C
Millaman
  • Limited Reserve Zinfandel 2009, Mark : C
  • Limited Reserve Carmenere 2009, Mark ; B-
  • Casa Millaman 2005, Mark : C+
Perez Cruz
  • Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2009, Mark : C
  • Cot Limited Edition 2009, Mark : C-
  • Chaski Petit Verdot 2008, Mark : C+
  • Liguai 2008, Mark : A-
  • Quelen 2007, too oaky, Mark : B-
Vina San Pedro
  • Tierras Moradas Carmenere 2007, Mark : B+
  • Kankana del Elqui Syrah 2008, Mark : B+
  • Cabo de Hornos 2007, Mark : B
Santa Carolina
  • Cellar Rose Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, slight sweetness, super fruity, great glugger, Mark : B
  • Reserva de Familia Carmenere 2009, Mark : B
  • VSC 2008, Mark : A-



Thursday 29 September 2011

TN : Erasmo 2006, Vina La Reserva de Caliboro, Maule Valley, Chile



This wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc,  and 30% Merlot.



This wine was imported by Carovin AB.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Toasty oak, plums, backcurrant, raspberry, cedar

Taste : Fruity, raspberry, blackcurrant, plums, toasty oak, woody finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 179 SEK

Website : Vina La Reserva de Caliboro

TN : Schiefer Eisenberg Blaufraenkisch 2008, Suedburgenland, Austria





Colour : Raspberry red, blue hues

Aroma : Off funky smell, red fruits, oak

Taste : Strawberries, blueberries, oak, overly spicy with fruit in background

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 186 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Weinbau Schiefer

Saturday 24 September 2011

Domaine des Bossons Visit July 2011, Peissy, Geneva, Switzerland









On July 18th 2011, we took the train from Geneva Cornavin to Satigny. Laure Leyvraz picked up from the station and took us to the Domaine des Bossons winery. The winery has 29 hectares of vineyard and grows 15 different grape varieties. The domaine is owned by Eric Leyvraz who we met briefly. His daughters, Laure and Valerie, are now involved in the business and will eventually take over. Eric inherited the domaine from his grandfather, Albert Desbaillets in 1971.






The domaine has the same winemaker as Cave & Domaine Les Perries, Sebastien Schwarz.




The estate was organic from 1995 to 2006 but the estate gave up from 2007 onwards due to ideological reasons.





In addition to the Sauvignon Gris 2010 and the  Le Vieux Clocher Fut 2009 (see separate blogposts) , I particularly liked the Gamaret.




Website : Domaine des Bossons
Blogpost : Sauvignon Gris 2010
Blogpost : Le Vieux Clocher Fut 2009