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-