This wine was imported by Blentarps Vinimport.
Colour : Pale lemon
Aroma : Honey, lime, minerals
Taste : Pineapple, lime, honey, minerals, green apples
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : 119 SEK
Mark : C+
Website : Weingut Hans Prinz
Tuesday 9 December 2008
TN : Prinz Tradition 2007 Rheingau Riesling Trocken, Qualtaetswein, Germany
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:00 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Vina Tarapca Ex Zavala, Gran Reserva, Etiquete Negra, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Maipo Valley, Chile
This wine was aged for 12 months in Seguin Moreau oak barrels. The winery is part of the Southern Sun Wine Group. The wine is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenere.
The wine was imported by Bibendum.
Colour : Deep blackcurrant
Aroma : Blackcurrant, coffee, liqourice, herbs, blackberry
Taste : Blackberry, blackcurrant, herbs liqourice on finish, toasty oak
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : 149 SEK
Mark : A-
Website : Vina Tarapaca
Website : Bibendum
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:50 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Friday 5 December 2008
TN : Estate Selection 2006, Chakana Andean Wines, Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
This wine is a blend of 80% Malbec, 10% Syrah, and 10% Petit Verdot. The Syrah was harvested in March and the Petit Verdot and Malbec in April 2006. The wine was matured in French oak barrels for 15 months. Only 6000 bottles were released.
On the label it states : The Yaguarete (Jaguar) considered "Lord of the Starred Night" was the wildest known animal. This image associates the Jaguar with the fantastic beings. Product of hallucinations combining the real with the imaginary.
This wine was imported by Prime Sweden AB.
Colour : Black/purple
Aroma : Tobacco, violets, blackberry, plums
Taste : Blackberry, tobacco, violets, plums, coffee, slight vanilla, structured, slight spice, toast, chewy tannins on finish
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : 149 SEK
Mark : B
Website : Chakana Andean Wines
Website : Primewine Sweden AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:08 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Vin de Pays du Peleponnese, Domaine Skouras, Greece
The grapes for this wine were hand-harvested in August 2006. The must went through six days of maceration before alcoholic fermentation for 12 days at 25 degrees in stainless steel tanks.
Colour : Purple
Aroma : Oak, blackberry, spice, liquorice
Taste : Blackcurrant, coffee, liquorice, earthy, spice, herbs, oak
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 117 SEK
Mark : B
Website : Domaine Skouras
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:16 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Thursday 4 December 2008
TN : Arboleda Chardonnay 2007, Eduardo Chadwick, Casablanca Valley, Chile
The total acidity of this wine is 6.28 grammes per litre (tartaric acid), the pH is 3.43, and the residual sugar is 3.02 grammes per litre.
The vineyards are located 20 miles from the Pacific Coast in the Casablanca Valley. The vineyard soils are composed of clay and sandy loam. The vineyard was planted in 1997 using 96, 458, and Mendoza clones of Chardonnay. The vineyard is drip irrigated and canopy management is done using Vertical Shoot Positioning. The grapes were picked during the first week of April 2007.
The temperature during the 2006-2007 season were relatively cold. The final heat summation showed that there were 1401 degree days which was 60 degree days lower than the average of the past 6 years. Bud break came 10 days early which fortunately did not expose the vines to frosts. The months of october and november were warmer than in a normal year. Although conditions were warmer early in the season, the subsequent ripening period was cold, and the average high temperatures for the final months (December through March) were lower than the historic averages.
The grapes were hand-picked very early in the morning and then brought to the winery in 12kg cases. All of the fruit was whole-cluster pressed gently and all juice was fermented in French oak burgundy type of barrels (30% new oak) between 14 and 24 degrees . Some of the lots were inoculated with selected yeasts, although a large proportion (45%) was fermented with wild yeasts that are naturally present on the grape skins. After ten months of ageing “sur-lie” to enhance complexity, the wine was fined and bottled on the January 28th 2008.
Colour : Lemon
Aroma : Toast, nuts, butter, pineapple, green apple
Taste : Toast, butter, pineapple, honey, grapefruit
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 109 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : Arboleda
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:46 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Wednesday 3 December 2008
Burnt Rubber and South African Reds
There have been many postings and articles, Wine Anorak and Decanter for instance, on the supposedly burnt rubber taste that is tainting red wines from South Africa. I went back through my online tasting notes and found that this character was indeed present in 8 out of 15 wines. I would have to say that this really is a problem that it exists for both low and top end South African red wines.
Website : Burnt Rubber : the great South African wine debate
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:03 0 comments
TN : Riesling Steinterrassen 2007, Weingut Rudolf Rabl, Langenlois, Kamptal, Austria
This wine was imported by Johan Lidby Vinhandel AB.
Colour : Pale lemon
Aroma : Minerals, pineapple, honey, lime, lemon, peach
Taste : Minerals, pineapple, lime, lemon, slight honey, grapefruit
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : 119 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : Weingut Rabl
Website : Johan Lidby Vinhandel AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:52 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Tuesday 2 December 2008
VinUnic Newsletter December 2008
VinUnic have just posted their newsletter for December 2008. It can be downloaded from their website. Highlights for this month include new wines from Tenuta San Guido and Shafer.
Website : VinUnic Våra Viner December 2008
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:11 0 comments
TN : Viu Manent Reserva Cabernet Franc 2005, Colchagua Valley, Chile
The winery has been family owned since 1935.
The grapes were hand-harvested from the El Olivar Estate vineyard. The wine has been aged in French Oak barrels for 18 months.
The wine was imported by Vinia AB.
Colour : Black/blue/red
Aroma : Toasty oak, plums, blackcurrants, herbs, figs
Taste : Toasty oak, blackcurrant, herbs, long coffee finish, plums, damsons, green finish
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 89 SEK
Mark : C+
Website : Viu Manent
Website : Vinia
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:16 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Monday 1 December 2008
Vinkällaren Grappe Newsletter December 2008
Vinkällaren Grappe have just released their newsletter for December 2008. It can be downloaded from their website. The nice thing about the reviews in this newsletter is that it includes drinking windows which is something that Systembolaget will not commit to.
Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev December 2008
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:52 0 comments
Friday 28 November 2008
TN : Orzada Cabernet Franc 2005, Odfjell Vineyards, Maule, Chile
Norwegian Armador (shipowner) Dan Odfjell founded the winery. Orzada is a nautical term for sailing against the wine before setting a direction.
This wine was bottled unfiltered.
There was no mention of the 2005 release of this wine on the Odfjell Vineyards website.
The wine was imported by Arcus Sweden AB.
Colour : Black/purple
Aroma : Toasty oak, blackcurrant, herbs
Taste : Dominating toasty oak, herbs, blackcurrant, milk chocolate, liquorice, drying tannins on finish
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 119 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Odfjell Vineyards
Website : Arcus Sweden AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:02 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Wednesday 26 November 2008
TN : A Lisa 2006, Bodega Noemia de Patagonia, Rio Negro Valley, Patagonia, Argentina
The estate where the grapes were grown is situated in Rio Negro Valley which is 620 miles south of Buenos Aires, 280 miles east of the Andes, and a further 1240 miles from Tierra del Fuego. It is located in the middle of the desert. The vineyards are influenced by the Neuquen and Limay rivers. The climate is dry. There is a maximum of 30% humidity and 7 inches of rain per year. This helps to keep the area free of diseases. During grape maturation, the temperature ranges from 28 degrees, during the day, to 9 degrees at night.
The wine is 93% Malbec and 7% Merlot. The Ph is 3.55 and there is 5.96 grammes of titratable acid.
Only 8900 bottles and 10 magnums were produced. The wine is bottled unfiltered.
This wine was imported by Amka.
Colour : Dark violets
Aroma : Blueberry, violets, savoury, raspberry liqcour
Taste : Raspberry licqour, savoury notes, concentrated, long finish, violets, blueberry, crisp
Alcohol : 14.3%
Price : 225 SEK
Mark : B
Website : Bodega Noemia de Patagonia
Website : Amka
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:16 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Monday 24 November 2008
TN : Cono Sur Reserva Riesling 2007, Bio Bio Valley, Chile
The winemaker was Adolfo Hurtado.
On the back label it is stated "CarbonNeutral delivery" and "Drinking a Cono Sur Wine is now Greener".
Colour : Pale yellow
Aroma : Lime, mineral, marmelade
Taste : Overwhelming petrol character, oily, lime, mineral, oranges, marmelade, green apple, dry
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 100 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Cono Sur
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:15 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Chateau Tayac 2000, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux, France
Colour : Dark plum
Aroma : Herbs, blackcurrant, raspberry, plum
Taste : Violets, talcum powder tannins, plum, cedar
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : 195 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Chateau Tayac
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:10 3 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Beaujolais Nouveau 2008, Pasquier Desvignes, France
Colour : Black cherry
Aroma : red fruits, blueberry, ripe bananas, bubble gum
Taste : Acidic, green, thin, bubble gum, herbs, raspberry, strawberry
Alcohol : 12%
Price : 59 SEK
Mark : D
Website : Pasquier Desvignes
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:05 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Friday 21 November 2008
Samsung Wine Refrigerator RW13EBSS
I have just purchased a wine refrigerator for short term wine storage. It cost less than 2000 SEK at MediaMarkt in Nacka Forum, Stockholm which is by far the cheapest place to buy this model in the Stockholm area. It has place for 29 bottles. There are two preset temperature settings, one for red wine at 13 degrees and the other for white wine at 7 degrees though any custom temperature can be set. There is also inner light that can be switched on so the contents of the refrigerator can be seen without having to open the door. It also has a lock and key which stops the door being opened by accident.
Website : Samsumg Wine Refrigerator RW13EBSS
Website : Samsung Wine Refrigerator Rw13EBSS Instruction Manual
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:17 93 comments
TN : Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau 2008, Cuvee Non Filtree, Pierre Dupond, France
Colour : Light murky cherry red
Aroma : Raspberry, strawberry, boiled sweets
Taste : Thin, weedy, herbs, lacking fruit, raspberry, bubble gum, acidic
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : 73 SEK
Mark : D+
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:05 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Beaujolais Nouveau 2008
Beaujolais Nouveau is here in Sweden. The Systembolaget launched two bottles on Thursday 20th November. They were :
- Beaujolais Nouveau 2008,Pasquier Desvignes, Alcohol 12%, Price 59 SEK
- Beaujolais Nouveau Villages 2008, Cuvee Non Filtree, Terroir et Talents, Alcohol 12.5%, Price 73 SEK
Website : Beaujolais Nouveau 2008 at Systembolaget, Terroir er Talents
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:56 0 comments
Thursday 20 November 2008
TN : Zuccardi Serie A Tempranillo 2006, Mendoza, Argentina
The grapes for this wine come from the Santa Rosa Vineyards located near Mendoza in Argentina.
No mention of this wine could be found on the Familia Zuccardi website.
The wine was imported by Philipson and Söderberg.
Colour : Red/purple
Aroma : Tobacco, dark fruits, savoury, violets, almonds
Taste : Tobacco, savoury, spice, oak, raspberry
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 72 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Bodega Familia Zuccardi
Website : Philipson and Söderberg
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:11 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Thursday 13 November 2008
TN : Le Focaie 2006, Rocca di Montemassi, IGT, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy
Colour : Purple
Aroma : Blackcurrants, burnt toast, oak, violets, cherries
Taste : Burnt toast, cherries, violets
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 89 SEK
Mark : C+
Website : Rocca di Montemassi
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:41 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Wednesday 12 November 2008
Tandarra Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2008, Bag-In-Box, 3 Litres, South Eastern Australia, Australia
The box states that once opened that it must be consumed within 4 weeks.
On the box it is written that the town Tandarra is located on the northern edge of Goldfields region which was centre stage of the Australian goldrush in the 19th century.
The wine was imported and filled by Altria Plc, Helsinki, Finland
Colour : Bright deep strawberry
Aroma : Jellied strawberries, cherries, herbs
Taste : jellied red fruits, strawberries, raspberries
Alcohol : 13%
Price : 189 SEK
Mark : C+
Website : Tandarra
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:02 3 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Tuesday 11 November 2008
Systembolaget New Wines December 2008
The Systembolaget December 2008 newsletter detailing all the new wines available on the 1st December 2008 is now available for download from the Systembolaget's website.
Website : Systembolaget Varunytt December 2008
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 11:52 0 comments
Systembolaget New Wines 14th November 2008
The list of new wines available on November 14th from the Systembolaget can now be viewed on the Systembolaget's website.
Website : Systembolaget Nyheter den 14 November
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 11:50 0 comments
Book : Vinträdgården
A new book has been published by Sveneric Svensson entitled Vinträdgården or Vineyard in English. It contains details and pictures of the author's small garden vineyard in Väröbacka and some details about making wine in the Swedish climate. The book costs 340 SEK including postage (or 240 SEK if you are a member of the Svenska Vinodlare organisation). Contact Anders Norberg at anders.norberg@effektiva.se or ring 040 664 67 52 for details.
Website : Svenska Vinodlare
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:06 0 comments
Labels: BOOK REVIEW
TN : Eclat 2005, Vina Valdivieso, Maule Valley, Chile
This wine is a blend of old vine Carignan, Mourvedre, and Syrah.
The wine was imported by Nigab AB.
Colour : Dark plum
Aroma : Spice, dark fruits, red fruits, violets, black pepper
Taste : Raspberry, violets, spice, long white pepper on finish
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 139 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : Vina Valdivieso
Website : Nigab AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:58 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Wednesday 5 November 2008
TN : Palliser Estate Sauvingon Blanc 2007, Martinborough, New Zealand
Palliser is located in Martinborough which lies in the South East Corner of the North Island of New Zealand. The back label states that the wine contains preservative (220) which is Sulphur Dioxide.
The winemaker was Allan Johnson. The grapes were picked between the 5th and 29th April 2007. The alcohol at bottling, September 2007, was 13.4%.
Colour : Straw
Aroma : Gooseberry, mango, lemon
Taste : Gooseberry, lemon, lime, mango, earthy on finish
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 119 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : Palliser Estate
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:30 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Chateau Olivier 2005, White Wine, Appellation Pessac-Leognan, Grand Cru Classe de Graves, Bordeaux, France
This wine has seen far too much time in oak, I know French winemakers think "built to last" means wrapped in oak but there is some great fruit here which is smothered by the too much oak. This wine will improve with time but it could have been even better to drink now.
Colour : Lemon/yellow
Aroma : French oak, lemon
Taste : French oak, lemon polish, long lime cordial on finish, lively acidity, creamy
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : 217 SEK
Mark : C+
Website : Chateau Olivier
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:23 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : La Mascota Shiraz 2006, Bodega Santa Ana, Argentina
The vineyards that provided grapes for this wine are located in the Tulum Valley in the San Juan province. The wine was fermented in mainly new French oak and spent an extended time on skins post-fermentation.
Rodolfo "Opi" Sadler was the chief winemaker.
The wine was imported by Tegner Hermansson.
Colour : Dark plum
Aroma : Toasty oak, liquorice, damsons, vanilla, spice
Taste : Too much toasty oak, vanilla, liquorice, blackberry, violets, dark chocolate
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 99 SEK
Mark : C+
Website : Bodegas Santa Anna
Website : Tegner Hermansson
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:10 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Glen Carlou Syrah 2005, Wine of Origin Paarl, South Africa
This wine was handcrafted by David Finlayson. It is a wine from the Hess Group.
The blend is 94% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, and 1% Viognier. The grapes were harvested in mid February 2005. It was fermented in 50% new and second fill 225 litre French oak barrels and 50% new American oak barrels. The wine was aged for 12 months in Allier French oak and American Minnesota white oak barrels. The TA was 6.9 grammes per litre, pH was 3.42, and the residual sugar was 2.9 grammes per litre. The wine was bottled on the 12th January 2006.
The burnt rubber on this wine spoilt what was great fruit. Far too many red wines from South Africa seem to have this characteristic.
Colour : Dark cassis
Aroma : Smoke, blackcurrant, violets, black cherry
Taste : Lively bright acidity, burnt toast and rubber on finish, blackcurrant, cherry, red fruits, currants, long finish
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : 183 SEK
Mark : C+
Website : Glen Carlou
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:57 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Tuesday 4 November 2008
VinUnic Newsletter November 2008
VinUnic have just published their latest newsletter for November 2008. It can be downloaded from their website. This month's highlights include DRC 2005s and 2004 La La wines from E. Guigal.
Website : VinUnic VåraViner Nyhetsbrev November 2008
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:53 0 comments
Friday 31 October 2008
TN : Crozes-Hermitage 2005, E. Guigal, Rhone, France
This wine is supposed to be ready for drinking, though can be aged for ten years, according to the E. Guigal website but I would give it another couple of years for the tannins to soften up and maybe the fruit to show through; hopefully the fruit will not fade away.
This wine includes the former vineyards of de Vallouit Estate from Larnage. The vineyards are mainly on steep slopes from the villages of Gervans, Mercurol, Larnage and Crozes-Hermitage. the soil is limestone, clay and silt and also sandy gravel. The average age of the vines is 35 years. the average yield was 40 hectolitres per hectare.
The wine is 100% Syrah. Alcoholic fermentation was carried out in stainless steel vats at high temperatures followed by 3 weeks maceration in the vats. The wine was then matured for 18 months in oak barrels. On average, 330,00o bottles are produced annually.
The Guigal domain was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal in the ancient village of Ampuis. Etienne Guigal arrived in this region in 1923 at the age of 14. He made wine over 67 vintages. Marcel Guigal took over from his father in 1961. Today, Philippe Guigal, oenologist, is the third generation to continue the family endeavour.
Colour : Blackcurrant
Aroma : Strawberry, spice, oak, blackcurrant, plum
Taste : Black pepper, oak, drying tannins on finish, red fruits, thin
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : 154 SEK
Mark : C
Website : E. Guigal
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:42 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Thursday 30 October 2008
TN : Chateau de Chantegrive 2005, White Wine, Graves, Bordeaux, France
In 1966, Henri and Françoise Lévêque acquired a few plots of vines in the commune of Podensac. During the coming 40 years more plots have been added. Chateau de Chantegrive now has 97 hectares under vine. It is situated in the Graves appellation and is a member of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux.
14 hectares of vines are used to produce this wine. The average age of the vines is 30 years. The soil is sand and gravel over limestone and clay subsoil. The cepage is 50 % Sauvignon Blanc and 50 % Semillon. Harvest is by hand using successive sortings. The grapes are pressed and then fermented at low temperature in thermoregulated stainless steel vats. 70,000 bottles are produced annually.
Colour : Lemon
Aroma : Wood, lemon, oranges, gooseberry
Taste : Creamy, wood on finish, lemon, slight orange and honey, blackcurrant leaf
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : 170 SEK
Mark : B
Website : Chateau de Chantegrive
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:58 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Wednesday 29 October 2008
TN : Laszlo 2004, Fleur du Cap, South Africa
This wine was produced as a tribute to Dr. Julius Laszlo. It is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.
It was imported by Distell (Europe) Ltd.
Colour : Dark plums
Aroma : Tobacco, dark fruits, slight violets, pencils
Taste : Tobacco, spice, blackcurrant, blackberry, cherries
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : 199 SEK
Mark : B+
Website : Fleur du Cap
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:44 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Monday 27 October 2008
Vinkällaren Grappe Newsletter November 2008
The November 2008 newsletter from Vinkällaren Grappe can now be downloaded from their website. Included are short reviews, including scores and drinking windows, for the new wines to be released this November by the Systembolaget
Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev November 2008
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 11:45 0 comments