Italian Wine Day for Consumers (Italiensk Vindag), Stockholm, March 29th 2008

I went to the Italian Wine Day for Consumers tasting last Saturday, 29th March 2008. It was held at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Stockholm and organised by the Nordic Wine Institute. It was very busy and sometimes very annoying to wait in queues for tasting whilst somebody waffled on about something irrelevant. Each person got a set of drinks coupons though nobody asked for them so it was unlimited pours.



The best wine of the night was a red from Tenuta Poggio Verano called Dromos 2004 which retails at 307 SEK. It was poured by the only winery representative I could see, Francesco Bolla; everybody else behind the tables were from importers.



Here's my scores, and notes where I wrote some, for the wines I tasted. I concentrated mainly on Tuscany as this is my favourite area of Italy :

A Wines
Brunello di Montalcino, 2002, Piccini, Tuscany, 219 SEK
Ilatraia 2005, La Brancaia, Tuscany, 358 SEK
Dromos 2004, Tenuta Poggio Verano, Tuscany, 307 SEK
Maronea 2004, Casa di Terra, Tuscany, 298 SEK
Poggio Querciolo 2004, Casa di Terra, Tuscany, 186 SEK

A- Wines
Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 2004, Marchesi Mazzei/Castello di Fonterutoli, Tuscany, 271 SEK

B+ Wines
Sormonno, Parmoleto, Tuscany
Ser Lapo Chianti Classico 2006, Marchesi Mazzei/Castello di Fonterutoli, Tuscany, 169 SEK
Brancaiai Il Blu 2004, La Brancaia, Tuscany, 389 SEK
Lamainone 2004, Merlot di Toscana IGT, Marchesi de Frescobaldi, Tuscany,, 315 SEK

B Wines
W... Dreams 2005, Jermann, Friuli-Venezia-Giula, 360 SEK, Chablis-like
Red Angel 2005, Jermann, Friuli-Venezia-Giula, 170 SEK
Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 2006, Marchesi Mazzei/Castello di Fonterutoli, Tuscany, 148 SEK
Brancaiai Chianti Classico 2004, La Brancaia, Tuscany, 199 SEK
Montesodi 2004, Chianti Ruffina DOCG, Marchesi de Frescobaldi, Tuscany, 379 SEK

B- Wines
Torre Testa IGT Salento 2004, Rubino, Apulien, 244 SEK
Castello di Ama Chianti Classico 2001, Castello di Ama, Tuscany, 269 SEK, brownish tinges, a little oxidised ?
Lucente 2005, Tuscany IGT, Luce Della Vite Frescobaldi-Mondavi, 205 SEK, a little oxidised ?

C+ Wines
Vintage Tunina 2005, Jermann, Friuli-Venezia-Giula, 360 SEK, this was more tropical fruits than the Were Dreams 2005
Brancaia Tre 2006, La Brancaia, Tuscany, 119 SEK
Il Cortono 2004, Tenimenti Luigi d'Alessandro, Tuscany, 169 SEK

C Wines
Moreccio 2006, Casa di Terra, Tuscany, 126 SEK
Casamatta Bianco 2006, Bibi Graetz, Tuscany

Website : Italiensk Vindag Vinkatalog March 2008

TN : Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Pinot Noir 2005, Atalayas Vineyard, Casablanca Valley, Chile

The vintage was hand harvested two weeks later than was scheduled. The grapes were put into 12 kg small cases and transported to the winery in refrigerated trucks. 100% of the must was pressed directly without skin contact. 73% of the grapes were hand destemmed. 27% of the grapes went through strict quality control before crush. The must underwent a cold maceration of 4 days at 10 degrees before fermentation. The wine was fermented in French oak vats at 25 degrees for two weeks. All of the blend was aged for 18 months: 73% in new French oak barrels amd 27% in used French oak barrels. The wine was bottled on the 5th March 2007 and 459 nine litre cases were produced.

Colour : Pale red/brown

Aroma : Toasty oak, stewed fruits, coffee

Taste : Toasty oak and spice on finish, stewed fruits, coca cola, cherries, slight chalky tannins

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 228 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Casa Lapostolle

TN : Chianti Classico Riserva Rocca Guicciarda 2004, DOCG, Barone Ricasoli, Tuscany, Italy

The wine was in a half bottle, 375 ml. It is 100% Sangiovese. The winemaker was Carlo Ferini. The fermentation temperature was 30 degrees. The maceration period was 16 days. The wine was matured for 20 months in barriques and 900 litre casks. It was bottled on 30th January 2007.



This wine was imported into Sweden by WineWorld.

Colour : Dark red/maroon

Aroma : Cherries, red fruits, oak, currants

Taste : Cherries, oak, dark chocolate hints, heat on finish, currants

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 69 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Barone Ricasoli
Website : WineWorld

TN : Beta Crux 2004, Red Wine, O Fournier, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina

This is a blend of 50% Tempranillo, 40% Malbec, and 10% Merlot.

The vineyards are situated in La Consulta, Pareditas, Et Cepillo in Mendoza. The vineyards are at an altitude of 1100 metres (3600 feet). The grapes were handharvested into 18 Kg (40 lb) boxes from the 5th to the 20th of April 2004. The must was fermented for 6 days in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 28 degrees. There was a maceration of 5 days between 6 and 8 degrees followed by 25 days at 24 degrees. Malolactic fermentation was in oak barrels. The wine was aged for 12 months in oak of which 80% was French and 20% was American. There were 80,000 bottles produced. The wine was bottled unfiltered.

A winery analysis showed that the alcohol was 14.7%, total acidity was 4.8 grammes per litre, and pH was 3.8.

Colour : Dark purple

Aroma : Oak, bramble jelly, violets, liqourice, mint

Taste : Heat, oak, bramble jelly, blackcurrant, after eight on finish, liqourice, mouth coating, concentrated, hard to drink more than one glass

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 147 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : O Fournier

TN : De Martino Gran Familia Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Maipo Valley, Chile

De Martino has existed since 1934.

The grapes came from a specific parcel of land in the vineyards planted in Isla de Maipo. The soils are light and sandy. The wine was aged in French oak barriques for 18 months.

The wine was imported by Domaine Wines, Stockholm.

Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Blacurrant, vanilla, coffee, polished oak

Taste : Upfront blackcurrant, dominant oak, oak tannins on finish, heat, out of balance, too much oak, second glass was much better

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 239 SEK

Mark : C

Website : De Martino
Website : Domaine Wines

TN : Vina Maipo Reserva Especial Merlot Carmenere Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Vina Maipo, Rapel Valley, Chile

This wine was imported by Chris-Wine Sweden. There 6000 bottles of this wine available for purchase from the Systembolaget on March 1st 2008.

This wine is a blend of 60% Merlot, 25% Carmenere, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was matured in French oak for 9 months.

Colour : Dark purple

Aroma : Coffee, blackcurrant, white pepper, green peppers

Taste : Blackcurrant, coffee, mint, oak, liqourice

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 90 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vina Maipo
Website : Chris-Wine Sweden

TN : Doennhoff Riesling Trocken 2006, Hermann Doennhoff, Nahe, Germany

On the label, the alcohol content is stated as 11% whereas in Systembolaget's March Varunytt it is stated as being 11.5%.

The grapes were harvested in October 2006 and the yield was around 50 hectolitres per hectare. The fermentation was slow, taking two to three months in large German oak and steel tanks. The winemaker was Helmut Doennhoff. There were 600 bottles of this wine available for purchase from the Systembolaget on March 1st 2008.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Orange, white grapes, minerals

Taste : Zingy minerals and lemon, slight rhubarb, long finish, simple

Alcohol : 11%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : C

TN : BenMarco Expessivo 2004, Dominio del Plata, Mendoza, Argentina

The winemaker is Susana Balbo and viticulturist is Pedro Marchevsky.

This wine is a blend of 50% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 10% Bonarda, and 5% Merlot.

The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.

BenMarco is Pedro's means son of Marco in Hebrew and with this wine he pays homage to his father.

The wine was imported by Arvid Nordquist AB.

Colour : Deep dark purple

Aroma : Dark berries, violets, blueberries

Taste : Violets, blackberry, concentrated, long finish, blueberries

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 169 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Arvid Nordquist
Website : Dominio Del Plata Winery

TN : Rivaner 2007, Karl H Johner, Baden, Germany

The grapes come from vineyards around Kaiserstuhl. This wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks and bottled under screwcap.

The wine was imported by Giertz Vinimport AB.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Yeast, dried pineapple, spice, orange

Taste : Yeast, pineapple, orange, lemon, mouth coating, long finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Weingut Karl H Johner
Website : Giertz Vinimport AB

TN : Tenuta Monteti Caburnio 2005, Tenuta Monteti. Tuscany, Italy

The entry in Systembolaget's March 2008 Varunytt for this wine states that it has 14.5% alcohol but the label states 13.5%. Tasting it leads me to believe the label is correct.

This wine is a blend of 60% Petit Verdot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Alicante, and 4% Merlot according to the Systembolaget. The technical sheet on Tenuta Monteti's website states that the wine consists of 68% cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 20% Alicante.

The vines are trellised as spurred cordon. There are 6600 vines per hectare and 49000 bottles were produced.

A winery analysis shows that the alcohol is 13.8%, dry extract is 31.4 grammes per litre, total acidity (tartaric acid) is 5.4 grammes per litre, pH is 3.77, and phenolic compounds (gallic acid) are 2613 milligrammes per litre.

Colour : Dark black cherry

Aroma : Spice, liqourice, blackberry

Taste : Spice, oak, liqourice, herbs, dark fruits

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Tenuta Monteti

Systembolaget New Wines April 2008

The latest Varunytt, detailing April's new wines, can be downloaded from the Systembolaget website. Also in April, a new catalogue is due out.

Website : Systembolaget Varunytt April 2008

TN : Heinz Schmitt Riesling 2003, Koewericher Laurentiuslay Auslese, Germany

Colour : Yellow, lemon

Aroma : Lemon, honey

Taste : Long finish, honey, lemon, orange, sugar syrup, lacking acidity

Alcohol : 8.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Weingut Heinz Schmitt

TN : Ampeleia 2004, IGT, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy

This wine is a blend of seven grape varieties, Cabernet Franc 50%, Sangiovese 20% together with other 5 different varieties of Mediterranean heritage, Alicante, Carignan, Grenache, Marselan, and Mourvedre.

The planted area of the vineyard is 35 hectares. The average age of the vines is 15 years. The altitude of the vineyard varies between 200 and 600 metres above sea level. The yield per hectare was 18 to 25 hectolitres. There were 54,000 bottles produced. The wine was matured and aged for 16 months in oak barrels of which 40% were new.

There were 360 bottles of this wine available for purchase within Sweden in March 2008.

Colour : Dark red, purple

Aroma : Oak, cherries, herbs, chocolate, underlying tobacco notes

Taste : Toasty oak, oak tanins on finish, tobacco, cherries, red fruits, dark chocolate

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 257 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Ampeleia

TN : Moutain Sun 2006, Dry Red Wine of Peloponnese, Sereli Wines, Greece

This is 100% Agiorgitiko. The wine spent three to four months in French oak. The Semeli Winery was established in 1979 by George and Anne Kokotos. Semeli was the mother of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.

Colour : Maroon/red

Aroma : Raspberries, strawberries, herbs, plums

Taste : red berries, red grapes, herbs, fresh, crisp, slight dry tanins on long finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 64 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Semeli Wines

TN : Chateau Ste Michelle, Dry Riesling 2006, Columbia Valley, USA

This wine was imported by VinUnic.

This wine is 100% Riesling. The grapes were picked at night to preserve freshness. It was fermented cool in stainless steel tanks.

The analysis of this wine at the winery showed that the total acidity was 0.71 grammes per litre, the pH was 3.11, residual sugar was 0.75 grammes per 100 millilitres, and the alcohol was 13.9%.

Colour : Lemon

Aroma : Lemon, pear drops, honey

Taste : Lemon, orange, peach, crisp, honey,slight mineral finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Chateau Ste Michelle
Website : VinUnic

TN : Pauillac 2001, Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Bordeaux, France

This wine was aged in French oak barriques for 11 months. 8% of the oak was new. The wine is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot.

This is the so-called third wine of this illustrious chateau but there is no mention of the producer on the labels, front or back; only "renowned second class growth".

Colour : Purple

Aroma : Blackcurrant, vanilla, green vegetables, red berries, violets, cedar

Taste : Long drying tanins on finish, cedar, thin, blackcurrant, vanilla, oak

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 189 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

TN : Shottesbrooke Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Shottesbrooke Vineyards, McLaren Vale, Australia

This wine was imported by Primeur Vin AB.

Colour : Purple

Aroma : Herbs, blackcurrants, blackberry, eucalyptus

Taste : Blackcurrant, mint, vanilla, oak

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 114 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Shottesbrooke
Website : Primeur Vin AB

Vinkällaren Grappes Newsletter March 2008

Grappe have published their newsletter for March 2008. It can be downloaded from their website.

Website : Grappe Newsletter March 2008

TN : Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel 2005, Sonomo Heritage Vines, Sonomo County, USA

The winemaker was Eric Cinnamon. Rancho Zabaco wines bear the name of one of Old California’s earliest land grants – the Tzabaco Rancho.

Colour : Black/cassis

Aroma : Blackberry, herbs, slight pepper

Taste : Spice, blackberry, slight sweetness, dark berries, rich, long finish, mouth coating

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 145 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Rancho Zabaco

TN : Zaca Mesa Syrah 2003, Santa Ynez Valley, USA

This wine was estate grown and bottled. The vineyard blocks used for this wine were Chapel F, Cushman A, B and D, and Mesa A and F. Clay Brock was the winemaker. The grapes were harvested in early October, 8th to 18th, 2003. The wine is a blend of 98% Syrah and 2% Viognier. The wine was fermented in open topped bins and then spent 16 months in French oak barrels, 25% of which was new. the wine was minimally filtered and then bottled between 4th to the 9th March 2005. An analysis performed by the winery shows that the acidity is 0.57 grammes per 100 millilitres, the pH is 3.74, and the alcohol is 14.6%. 10, 693 cases were produced. Zaca Mesa have been making wine since 1972.

Colour : Black/purple

Aroma : Violets, blueberries, pepper, spice

Taste : Blueberries, raspberries, long white pepper finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 178 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Zaca Mesa

TN : Carabantes 2004, Syrah, Vina von Siebenthal, Aconcagua Valley, Chile

Chile's first wine was brought to the country in 1554 by a Spanish priest called Francisco de Carabantes. This wine is named in honour of this pioneer of Chilean viticulture.

The grapes were hand picked and the wine is unfiltered. This is a limited edition bottling of 17,992 bottles. It is a blend of 85% Syrah and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. This information is from the label though the winery's website states that it is only 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. The production was 1.6 Kg of grapes per vine. The vines were trained in double Gobelet trellising an dthe vineyard is 600 metres above sea level. Fermentation was in 150 hectolitre stainless steel tanks. The wine spent 12 months in a mixture of French and American oak of which 35% was new. The wine was bottles in October 2003. The analysis at the winery shows that the Tartaric Acidity was 5.14 grammes per litre (sulfuric) and the pH was 3.73.

The wine was imported by Carovin AB, Stockholm.

Colour : Purple

Aroma : Violets, red berries, blueberries, spice, herbs, mint

Taste : Sweet, slight toasty oak, blueberry, herbs, red berries, white pepper

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 178 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vina von Siebenthal
Website : Carovin AB

TN : Marques de Arienzo Reserva 2002, DOC, Rioja, Spain

This wine is a blend of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano and Mazuelo. The grapes were harvested from 300 ha of mature vineyards in Elciego and Laguardia. The wine was bottled at Bodegas Domecq, Elciego, Spain. This was a 375ml bottle.

Colour : Red/brown

Aroma : Oak, slight sherry, spice, red fruits

Taste : Red fruits, oak, acidic, long finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 47 SEK

Mark : C-

TN : Montes Classic Series Merlot 2006, Colchagua Valley, Chile

This wine was aged in American oak for six months. It is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. All of the grapes were handharvested. The yield was about 8-10 tons per hectare (3-4 tons per acre). The wine underwent a light one soft pad filtration before bottling. Interestingly the alcohol level quoted in the information on the Hjo Grosshandel AB website (a PDF flyer) states that the alcohol is 13.5%



This wine was imported by Hjo Grosshandel AB.

Colour : Deep red/maroon

Aroma : Olive, slight spice, coffee, plums, dark fruits, oak

Taste : Coarse oak, vanilla, dark fruits, olive, slight initial sweetness

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Vina Montes
Website : Hjo Grosshandel AB

TN : Trapiche Malbec Single Vineyard, Vina Carlos Gei Berra, 2004, Lunlunta, Mendoza, Argentina

The chief winemaker was Daniel Pi.

Carlos Gei Berra is an agricultural engineer. The vineyard was planted in 1973 in Lunlunta, Maipu. It is situated at an altitude of 878 metres (2879 feet).

The harvest date was April 16th 2004. The average mean temperature during the ripening month realised 17.7 degrees with a thermal amplitude of 9 degrees.

This wine was imported by Fondberg &Co.

Colour : Dark deep purple

Aroma : Toasty oak, herbs, dark berries

Taste : Concentrated, mouth filling, dark berries, cherries, chocolate, herbs

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Mark : A

Website : Trapiche
Website : Fondberg & Co

TN : Erasmo 2004, Red Wine, Maule Valley, Vina la Reserva de Caliboro, Chile

This wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. This is the fourth version of Erasmo produced. The vines were planted in 1998 on the alluvial terraces of the Perquilauquen river. The wine is a collaboration between the consultant enologist Maurizio Castelli and the producer Francesco Marone Cinzano. The grapes were hand harvested between February 23rd and March 10th 2004. Fermentation was in stainless steel with a long maceration period. The wine was then aged for eighteen months in French oak barriques. Bottling took place in December 2005. The wine is unfiltered. An analysis of the wine shows the alcohol content is 14.1%, pH is 3.54, total acidity is 5.54 grammes per litre, and the residual sugar is 1.1 grammes per litre.

Colour : Cassis

Aroma : Oak, blackcurrant, violets, vanilla, licqourice

Taste : Blackcurrant, polished oak, licqourice, herbs

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 189 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vina la Reserva de Caliboro

TN : Swedish Hill, Dry Riesling, 2006, Finger Lakes, New York, USA

This wine was imported by Andersson Wines International.



Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Floral, grapey, sweetness

Taste : Fruity, mineral, slight sweetness

Alcohol : 12.2%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Swedish Hill
Website : Andersson Wines

TN : Matariki Quintology 2002, Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

This wine is a blend of 42% Merlot, 23.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 8.5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Syrah.

The wine was matured in fine grain French oak, from a selection of coopers,for 21 months. Approximately 40% was new oak whilst the remaining 60% was aged in seasoned 1, 2 and 3 year old barrels.

Winestate Magazine awarded this wine 4 Stars in the September/October 2006 Issue

It was imported by Modern Wines, Stockholm.

Colour : Purple, brown hues

Aroma : Oak, tobacco, red berries

Taste : Spicy finish, cedar, tobacco, hints of red berries and blueberries, sour acidic finish, lacking fruit

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Mark : D

Website : Matariki Wines
Website : ModernWines Sweden

Systembolaget New Wines for March 2008

The latest Varunytt from the Systembolaget detailing the new wines for March 2008 can now be downloaded.

Website : Systembolaget Varunytt Newsletter March 2008

TN : Les Fumees Blanches Sauvignon Blanc, 2007, Domaines Francois Lurton, France

This wine was bottled under screwcap.

Colour : Pale watery lemon/yellow

Aroma : Blackcurrant leaf, tropical fruits

Taste : Green blackcurrant leaf, lemon, minerally finish

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 67 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Jacques & Francois Lurton

A Good Year

I finally ended up watching my copy of A Good year on DVD. It was much better than I expected since a lot review stated it was not very good.



Basically a high-up Stockbroker, Max, inherits a vineyard from his uncle. It turns out that Max spent a lot of his childhood visiting his uncle at the vineyard in Provence. He goes there when his uncle dies determined to sell the vineyard. A girl shows up from the USA claiming to be the daughter of Max's uncle. The wine produced on the estate stinks. Max meets up, nearly knocks her off her bicycle with his car, a local waitress that he falls in love with. In the end, Max fabricates a letter stating that his uncle leaves the vineyard to his "daughter" who just happens to have spent some time working in a winery in the USA. Max ends up giving up his job in London (and the possibility of a partnership in his firm) to go back to his love. The end of the film sees the daughter arguing with the local vigneron about how the wine should be made.

TN : Glen Carlou Gravel Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Wine of Origin Paarl, South Africa

According to the label this wine was handcrafted by David Finlayson.

The grapes were harvested on 15th March 2005. During fermentation, the wine spent 12 days in stainless steel tanks and then 7 days on skins. The wine was then aged for 18 months in 100% new French oak (Nevers MHT and Les Bertrange HT). The wine was bottles in January 2007.

The TA is 6.4 grammes per litre, pH is 3.68, and the residual sugar is 1.4 grammes per litre.

This wine won a double gold at 2007 Veritas awards.

Only 180 bottles were imported into Sweden.

Colour : Deep purple, cassis

Aroma : Blackcurrant, smoky oak, red berries, vanilla

Taste : Vanilla, blackcurrant, thin, minerals, red berries, acidic, coffee, chalky tanins, oak

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 179 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Glen Carlou

TN : Schmitt Soehne, Beerenauslese 2005, QmP, Rheinhessen, Germany

This is a desert wine and came in a 500ml bottle. It is mostly made from Ortega and Optima grapes.

Colour : Yellow, gold

Aroma : Orange marmelade, pineapple

Taste : Cloying sweetness, honey, citrus fruits

Alcohol : 8%

Price : 67 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Schmitt Soehne

TN : Grand Callia 2004, Winemaker's Reserve, Bodegas Callia, San Juan, Argentina

This wine was aged for 18 months in French and American oak. It is a blend of 40% Shiraz, 20% Malbec, 20% Merlot, and 20% Tannat. The winemaker was Oscar Biondolillo.

Colour : Deep dark purple

Aroma : Oak, dark fruits, vanilla, coffee, licqourice

Taste : Licqourice, slight blackcurrant, vanilla, coffee, very spicy finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 268 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Bodegas Callia

TN : Chateau Bibian 2005, Cru Bourgeois, Listrac-Medoc, France

This is a blend of 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot. The wine spent 18 months in French oak. Alain Meyre is the chateau owner.

Colour : Red, purple

Aroma : Black berries, herbs, oak, vanilla, licqourice

Taste : Herbs, dry tanins, blackberry, liqcourice

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 138 SEK

Mark : C+

Blaxsta Vineyard featured in Wine & Spirit Magazine

Tim Atkin MW recently wrote an article on Blaxsta vineyard for Wine & Spirit Magazine. It is freely available on the magazine's web site.

Website : Blaxsta Vineyard feature in Wine & Spirit Magazine

TN : Engelbrecht Els Proprietor's Blend 2005, Western Cape, South Africa

This is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Shiraz, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, and 4% Malbec.

Nice fruit but too much smokiness ruined this wine for me. The high alcohol was not noticable.

The winemaker was Louis Styrdom.

This wine was imported by The Wineagency AB.



Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Smoky, oak, blackcurrant, mint

Taste : Dry tanins on finish, smoky, blackcurrant, green pepper, licquorice, coffee, mint

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 215 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Ernie Els Stellenbosch
Website : The Wineagency AB

TN : Santa Rita Triple C 2004, D.O. Valle del Maipo, Vina Santa Rita, Chile

Santa Rita was founded in 1880, by a distinguished entrepreneur of those times, Mr. Domingo Fernández Concha in the area of Alto Jahuel where the main installations of the winery are currently located. From the end of the 19th century until the mid 70´s, Santa Rita developed under the ownership of Mr. Vicente García - Huidobro, father of the famous Chilean poet Vicente Huidobro Fernández. Then in 1980, the Grupo Claro acquired the Santa Rita property.

The Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are from the Alto Jahuel Estate in the Maipo valley. The soil is colluivial loam and is 0.8 to 1 meter deep with a gravelly subsoil. The grapes were harvested during April.

The Carmenere is from 60 year old vineyards located on a southern slope located halfway up the Apalta valley hills. The plantign density is 5,500 vins per hectare. There is no irrigation; the water is obtained via winter rain (700 mm per year average) and the natural water basin. The soil is poor and is granite based.

The wine is a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Carmenere.

The winemaker was Andres Ilabaca.

The winery analysis shows that the pH is 3.54, the acidity is 5.64 grammes per litre, the alcohol is 14.5%, and the residual sugar is 2.40 grammes.

100% of this wine was aged in new French oak for 17 months on average. This was too much in my opinion.

Robert Parker gave this wine 93 points which just shows that he is a big fan of oak. I like oak but in this case it was too much and spoilt the great fruit, texture, and well managed alcohol underneath.

Only 360 bottles were available in the whole of Sweden on February 1st 2008.



Colour : Dark deep inky purple

Aroma : Blackcurrant, blackberry, green pepper

Taste : Overwhelming toasty oak, green pepper, olive, blackcurrant, dark berries, nice dry tannic finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 248 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vina Santa Rita

WineWorld Newsletter February 2008

The latest , February 2008, Newsletter from WineWorld AB can now be downloaded from their website. It details their releases for the first quarter of 2008.

Website : WineWorld February 2008 Newsletter

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, Grape Radio Show, Number 143

Here are some comments that I sent in response to the Grape Radio interview with Stephen Tanzer, who I have to confess I don't bother to follow as, so far, I don't think he is any better than anybody else.

I would like to see more of the low scores published. i am not that interested in wines of over 90 points as they are too difficult to find and too expensive mostly. It is more important to me not to buy a stinker of a wine. Why are these top reveiwers not publishing more of the bad scores ? Are they afraid of annoying the producers who they may rely upon to be allowed to taste their top wines ?

Website : Grape Radio

If You Could Wave A Magic Wand, Grape Radio Show, number 171

This was my magic wand wish submission to Grape Radio.

My wishes :

1. It would be possible to sample any wine before buying a whole bottle. This is already possible in some places e.g http://www.decanter.com/news/131883.html but it should be universal.

2. Fine wine would be cheaper

3. Wine reviewers e.g. Parker, Decanter, Wine Spectator, etc publish reviews in full with scores for every wine they review - even the ones that get -1 out of a 100. They seem to be scared to do so - maybe because they fear they will not be allowed to get the wine for free to review the next year. For me. it is more important to not buy a crap wine than to buy a really good one. I would rather have something drinkable than not.

Website : Grape Radio

TN : Merlot 2006, Vin de Pays d'Oc, South of France, Laroche

This wine was bottled under screwcap.

Colour : Purple

Aroma : Coffee, raspberry, spice, cherry

Taste : Red fruits, spice, oak, slightly too acidic

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 73 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Laroche

The Wine of Frederic Magnien, Grape Radio Show Number 185

I just sent in some comments on the latest show posted up on Grape Radio :

Great show; though Pinot yet again !

Interesting conversation about terroir and winemakers. I think all winemakers obliterate the terroir no matter what they do e.g. even the simplest things such as choosing to cool the must down (and to what temperature) affects the expression of terroir. Don't forget the role of viticulture in obliterating terroir. How many vineyards have you seen where the grapes grow wild ? All things such as fertilisers, trellising, canopy management, disease management, when to pick, etc, all effect (obliterate ??) the expression of terroir. Let's face it, if there is a bad year where there is an large outbreak of at least one form of "bad" rot then surely the best expression of the terroir would be to include all those rotten grapes (and bottle it in a magnum for Jay :-)

I am not sure that I agree with the comment that the winemaker has a duty to let the wine reflect the vintage though. Let's say in 2004, a winemaker produces a stunning wine that I really like. If in 2005, he decides to do his best to let the finished wine reflect the vintage then he/she may produce a wine that i don't like as much as the 2004. In this case, I would have preferred the winemaker to work some magic and produce another 2004 again.

Website : Grape Radio

TN : Castillo de Molina, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Reserva, Curico Valley, Chile

This wine was produced and bottled by Vina San Pedro, Molina, Chile.

Colour : Dark cassis

Aroma : Blackcurrant cordial, oak

Taste : Blackcurrant, dark fruits, rough toasty oak finish, hot

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Vina San Pedro

TN : Marchigue Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, Chile

This wine was produced and bottles by Vinedos Errazuriz Ovalle. It was imported by Sydamerikaviner AB.

Colour : Bramble jelly

Aroma : Blackcurrant, toasty oak

Taste : Blackcurrant/ribena, toasty oak, coffee, raspberry

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 178 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Vinedos Errazuriz Ovalle
Website : Sydamerikaviner AB

TN : Pisoni, Vignetti delle Dolomiti, Rosso 2006, IGT, Italy

This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Nero. It was imported by Italmondo AB.

Colour : Purple, brown hues

Aroma : Violets, raspberry, smoke, thyme

Taste : Violets, strawberry, smoke, oak tints, cherry, thyme

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 77 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Italmondo AB

TN : Fre Chardonnay 2006, Sutter Home Winery, California, USA

This is a de-alcoholized wine.

The ingredients listed on the label are Chardonnay wine, grape must, natural flavourings, and preservatives (Sulfur Dioxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzonate).

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Grapey, lemon, orange

Taste : Grapey, lemon. citrus, orange, long finish

Alcohol : < style="font-weight: bold;">Price : 41 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Sutter Home

TN : Arn de Gotha Rouge, Les Vins d'Arn Magnusson, Grand Vin de Bordeaux, Chateau Le Faure Rouge 2006, Bordeaux, France

Colour : Dark purple/red

Aroma : Dark fruits, slight oak

Taste : lean, thin, soft, dark and red fruits, chalky tannins

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 88 SEK

Mark : D

Website : Arn Magnusson
Website : Granqvist Vinagentur

TN : Arn de Gotha Blanc, Les Vins d'Arn Magnusson, Grand Vin de Bordeaux, Chateau Le Faure Blanc 2006, Bordeaux, France

This wine was imported by Granqvist Vinagentur, Tidaholm

Colour : Yellow/lemon

Aroma : Fruit drops, lemon

Taste : Lemon, fruit drops, long finish, mouthfilling

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 88 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Arn Magnusson
Website : Granqvist Vinagentur

TN : Syrah, Verna's Vineyard, 2003, The Ojai Vineyard, Santa Barbara County, USA

This wine was produced and bottled by Helen and Adam Tolmach.

This wine was imported by Divine AB.

Colour : Black/purple

Aroma : Violets, red fruits, dark fruits, concentrated ribena, slight spice

Taste : Mouth coating, smooth tanins, red fruits, spice, slight white pepper

Alcohol : 15.5%

Price : 299 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Divine AB

Website : The Ojai Vineyard

TN : Neil Ellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Stellenbosch, South Africa

This wine was imported by V&S Wines, Denmark.

This wine is a multi-vineyard blend from the Jonkershoek Valley and Firgrove area. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The soil is decomposed Granite and Sandstone. The grapes were harvested between 27th of February and the 18th of March 2004. The yield was 6 - 8 tons per hectare or between 40 hectolitres per hectare and 52 hectolitres per hectare. The grapes harvested between 23.5ºB to 26.0ºB, total acid 6.7 g/litre to 9.0 g/litre, and pH 3.2 to 3.4. Fermentation was initiated in stainless steel fanks and underwent a series of pump overs until dry. Futher maceration allowed before drawing off and light pressing. This wine spent 16 months in French oak barrels of which 40% were new. The wine was bottled in September 2005 after egg white fining and light filtration. An analysis gives alcohol at 14.0%, residual sugar at 1.7 grammes per litre, total acidity at 6.0 grammes per litre, and a pH of 3.7.



Colour : Cassis

Aroma : Red fruits, tangy, oak, slight vinegar

Taste : Tangy, oak, toast, dull blackcurrant, metallic

Alcohol : 14 %

Price : 155 SEK

Mark : D

Website : Neil Ellis Wines

Systembolaget New Releases February 2008

The February 2008 Newsletter for Systembolaget is now available for download.

Website : Varunytt February 2008