TN : Lulu B Viognier 2007, Vin de Pays D'Oc, Louis Bernard, France

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.


Colour : Lemon

Aroma : Orange, marmelade, apricot, peach, minerals

Taste : Oranges, mandarines, lemon, mineral and bitter finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 70 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Lulu B Wine

TN : Anakena Riesling 2007, Curico Valley, Chile

On the label it is stated that this "Roots of the Andes" and "Single Vineyard"; I am not sure how this affects the quality of the wine :-). In addition, on the back label there is a small picture of a wooden tablet which is supposed to be a Sunfish motif from the Atacana culture of Northern Chile.



This wine was imported by Granqvist Vinagentur AB. 6000 bottles of this wine were imported into Sweden.

Colour : Pale straw

Aroma : Petrol, mineral, lemon, lime

Taste : Dry, mineral, lemon, lim, petrol on finish

Alcohol : 12.5% (on bottle label, 13% stated in Systembolaget Varunytt June 2008)

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Anakena Wines
Website : Granqvist Vinagentur AB

Vinkällaren Grappe have published their newsletter for July 2008. There are no new wines launched at the Systembolaget in July 2008 so it basically outlines some future wine courses they will be holding.

Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev Juli 2008

TN : Rust en Vrede Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Estate Wine, Stellenbosch, South Africa

This wine was imported into Sweden by The Wineagency. Only 360 bottles were imported.

This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The winemaker was Coenie Snyman. A chemical analysis of the wine showed that the alcohol was 14.11 %, acidity was 6.1 grammes per litre, pH was 3.63, and the residual sugar was 3.8 grammes per litre.

The must was fermented in open top vats, pressed, and then left to mature in 300 litre French barrels for 18 months. There are 6 different Cabernet Sauvignon clones that kept separate throughout the fermentation and then after 18 months the different clones are blended together and left to mature for at least 18 months before release.



Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, smoke, oak, tobacco

Taste : Blackcurrant, herbs, overwhelming and spoiling burnt rubber and smoke on finish - has this wine been affected by Brett ???, burnt toast, oak, very drying tannins on finish along with some heat

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 179 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Rust En Vrede
Website : The Wineagency AB

TN : Noble House Riesling Spaetlese 2007, Dr Pauly-Bergweiler, Mosel, Germany

Noble House is a wine named in honour of Prince Elect (Kurfuerst), who ruled Germany for nearly 700 years from 1150 to 1805. The Prince Elector put up the Noble House building in 1743 and his winery was located inside it. The Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler family bought the house about 100 years ago.

This grapes for this wine were located within the region of Bernkastel.

This wine was imported by Primewine Sweden AB.

Colour : Straw

Aroma : Pear, melon, minerals, white grapes

Taste : Honey, oranges, off dry, too sweet as lacking acidity, melon, peach, white grapes, eldeberry

Alcohol : 9% (on label though 10% quoted in Systembolaget Varunytt Juni 2008)

Price : 90 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Dr Pauly Bergweiler
Website : Primewine Sweden AB

Systembolaget New Wines Middle of June 2008

On June 16th 2008, the Systembolaget will be releasing their usual mid month set of new wines. The list can be downloaded from their website.

Website : Systembolaget Nyheter den 16 Juni

TN : Scalabrone 2007 Rosato, Tenuta Guado al Tasso, Marchesi Antinori, Bolgheri DOC, Italy

The grape blend for this rose was 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 30% Syrah and other black varieties. The grapes from the Scalabrone vineyard were destemmed and soft-crushed as soon as they were harvested. Maceration took place at a controlled temperature (less than ten degrees) for 12-14 hours according to the variety. The must was then racked and fermented. The ferment was kept at below 18 degrees and the result was stored in stainless steel.


Colour : Neon red

Aroma : Cherry, raspberry, herbs

Taste : Raspberry, cherry, blackurrant, crisp, clean

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Marchesi Antinori

TN : Hess Collection Mountain Cuvee 2004, Estate Grown, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley, USA

This wine is a proprietry blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc.

Hess vineyards was established in 1978.


600 bottles of this wine were imported into Sweden.


Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, blackberry, cocoa, herbs, red berries

Taste : Blackberry, blackcurrant, cherry, herbs, mint, olive, green pepper

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 229 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : The Hess Collection

TN : Divinus Red 2000, Grand Vin de Bordeaux, Chateau Bonnet, France

On the label it states "Ce grand vin, bel enfant de ma vigne a Bonnet, honore dignement ces lieux ou je suis ne, dans cet Entre-Deux-Mers, berceau de mes ancetre Andre Lurton".

This wine is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard area was four hectares. Soil is shallow with clay and asteriated limestone and southern exposure. The planting density is 5000 vines per hectare. The average age of the vines was 18 years. Vine pruning was double guyot with debudding. All the grapes were hand-harvested. Fermentation lasted approximately three weeks and the wine went through malolactic fermentation. The wine was matured for 18 months in French oak barrels. The wine was fined with egg whites.



600 bottles of this wine were imported into Sweden.

Colour : Red/cassis

Aroma : Blackcurrant, leather, cocoa powder, cedar, oak

Taste : Cold tea, cocoa, cedar, leather, blackcurrant, oak, talcum powder like tannins on finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 219 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Andrew Lurton

TN : Charisma Pinot Gris 2005, Pierre Sparr, Alsace, France

SenSuous Alsace and unoaked is what is stated on the back label of this wine.



This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



Colour : Gold/yellow

Aroma : Apricot, peach, nutty

Taste : White grapes, apricot, honey, overwhelming nutty flavour, grapefruit, full

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 109 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Pierre Sparr

TN : Kerpen Riesling 2007, Mosel, Weingut Heribert Kerpen, Germany

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : White grapes, elberyberry, melon, pineapple

Taste : White grapes, elderberry, pineapple, melon, off-dry

Alcohol : 9.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Weingut Heribert Kerpen

TN : Cambas Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Vin de Pays de Peloponnesos, Cambas Winery, Greece

The Cambas Winery has been in existence since 1882.

Colour : Purple red

Aroma : Spice, cold tea, blackcurrant, earthy, vanilla

Taste : Spice, cherry, vanilla, oak, liqcourice, smoke, dark berries, a bit thin

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 74 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Boutari

Wine and Montreal

Last week, I was in Montreal for three days. Not much time but I looked at some wine stores. Similarly to Sweden, Quebec wine is run by a monopoly, the SAQ. I went to the normal Classique stores but was not impressed, a poor selection. I also looked at the flagship store, the Selection in Sainte Catherine Street. This shop was on two floors. The first of which was devoted to spirits so I avoided it as soon as possible. The basement contained a nice selection of Bordeaux and some Burgundies but not too much of anything else. It opened up to a Classique store which had some local Quebec wines. The duty-free shop at the aiport has no connection to SAQ and was selling some nice Inniskillin Ice Wines but I had to change planes in Europe so could not bring any back to Sweden.

TN : Le Rose de Phelan Segur 2007, Chateau Phelan Segur, Saint Estephe, Bordeaux, France

Colour : Pale strawberry

Aroma : Strawberries and cream, vanilla, herbs

Taste : Strawberry, spice, creamy, vanilla, herbs, blackcurrant lead

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Chateau Phelan Segur

TN : Montes Cherub, Rose of Syrah, 2007, Colchagua Valley, Chile

This wine had a sticker proclaiming that it had won a double gold medal for Best Rose of Show 2007 at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.

This wine was imported by Hjo Grosshandel AB.

The label displays a Cherub, or young angel, called Alfredo, in honour of Alfredo Vidaurre. The label was created by Ralph Steadman.

The wine is 100% Syrah from the Archangel Estate in Marchigue in the Colchagua Valley.

Colour : Pale Red

Aroma : Raspeberries, cherries, jellied fruits, herbs

Taste : Clean, fruity, raspberry sweets, blackcurrant hints, herbs

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Montes Wines
Website : Hjo Grosshandel AB

TN : YBS, Years's Barrel Selection, 2006, Erall Bravo, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is a blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon.

This wine was imported by Carovin AB.



Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Savoury notes, oak, dark fruits, fruits of the forest

Taste : Concentrated, mouth-coating, dark fruits, blackcurrant, bramble jelly, toasty oak, heat, savoury finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 248 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Eral Bravo
Website : Carovin AB

TN : Chinon 2005, Domaine de la Colline, Loire Valley, France

This wine was imported by Primeur Vin AB. Though I couldn't find any information about this wine on their, frankly, exceedingly poor website.

Colour : Plum

Aroma : Dark and red fruits, herbs

Taste : Red fruits, dark fruits, plum, tangy, tannins on finish, herbs, earthy

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 88 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Primeur Vin AB

Devon Vineyard Trail

Available from English Wine Producers is the Devon Vineyard Trail. This consists of a map with each of the nine vineyards shown on it. For each vineyard there is the postal address, email, website, facilities, opening hours, and tour and tasting details.

Website : English Wine Producers

VinUnic Newsletter June 2008

VinUnic have just published their latest newsletter for June 2008. It can be downloaded from their website. Included in next month's releases are wines from Gaja and some very affordable Bordeaux.

Website : VinUnic Våra Viner Juni 2008

Vinkällaren Grappe Newsletter June 2008

Vinkällaren Grappe have just released their newsletter for June 2008. It can be downloaded from their website.

Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev Juni 2008

TN : Shadrach Cabernet Sauvignon 2001, Grant Burge, Australia

Grant Burge's great grandfather, Meshach Burge, was named after the biblical Meshach, one of the men who refused to bow to a gold image of the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar (after which the largest wine bottle is named, 15 litre capacity). The other two men were Shadrach and Abednego. All three were cast into a fiery furnace for their sins but with the help of angels they survived. This convinced Nebuchadnezzar to give them positions of power and to worship their god.

The grapes for this wine came from individual parcels from Coonawarra, the Adelaide Hills, and the Barossa.

This wine was imported by Fondberg & Co.

This wine received 91 points from Wine Advocate in November 2007. However, it was tasted by Jay Miller and NOT Robert Parker.

Colour : Purple, brown hues

Aroma : Mint, blackcurrant, oak, vanilla, slight vinegar

Taste : Vinegar on finish, blackcurrant, mint, talcum power like drying tannins on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 219 SEK

Mark : D-

Website : Grant Burge Wines
Website : Fondberg & Co

TN : Mora Negra 2005, Finca Las Moras, Tulum Valley, Argentina

This wine is a blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Bonarda. The grapes were hand harvested. The wine was aged in small oak barrels for 15 months. 18,850 bottles were produced.

Nora Negra means "black mulberry".

This wine was imported by PrimeWine Sweden AB.

Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Violets, spicy, dark berries, mint, savoury

Taste : Dark fruits, vanilla, savoury, spicy, concentrated, mouth filling, mint, long finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : C

Website : PrimeWine Sweden AB

TN : Agathan 2005, Vin de pays de Mont Athos, Evangelos Tsantalis, Greece

Agathon means precious, noble.

This wine was made from organically grown grapes. It is a blend of Limnio and Cabernet Sauvignon.



Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Earthy, oak, dark berries, mint, violets, talcum powder

Taste : Heat on finish, cherry, violets, dark fruits, red fruit notes, earthy

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 80 SEK

Mark : C+

TN : Ocio Pinot Noir 2006, Cono Sur, Casablanca Valley, Chile

This wine was crafted by Chilean winemaker Adolfo Hurtado together with Burgundian consultant Martin Prieur.



Colour : Cherry, purple

Aroma : Cherry, plum, coca cola

Taste : Tart finish, cherry, blackcurrant, almost no tannins, coca cola, blackberry, minerals

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 339 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Cono Sur

TN : Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2006, Lomas del Valle, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine was made by the Chilean Motes Alpha team.

Kaiken is the Mapuche Indian name for the wild Patagonian geese found on both sides of the Andes.

The details on the Kaiken website are different to that in the Systembolaget Varunytt May 2008. This is what it says on the website. This wine is 100% Malbec. The yield in the vineyard was 6 tonnes per hectare. The grapes were handharvested into 15 Kg bins. The wine was aged in 80% French oak barrels for 18 months. 32,000 cases were produced. A winery analysis showed that the alcohol was 14.5%, the pH was 3.66, the total acidity was 3.38 grammes per litre, the volatile acidity was 0.6 grammes per litre, and the residual sugar was 2.4 grammes per litre.



The wine was imported by Hjo Grosshandel AB.

Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Muted, herbs, spice, violets, oak, plums

Taste : Overwhelming smothering oak, spice, savoury notes, coffee, pepper, violets, licqourice, dry tanins on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Kaiken Wines
Website : Hjo Grosshandel AB

WineWorld Newsletter May 2008

WineWorld AB have just published their newletter for May 2008. It can be downloaded from their website. This issue focuses on new wines from Barone Ricasoli.

Website : WineWorld Nyhetsbrev Maj 2008

TN : Las Moras Gran Shiraz 2004, Finca Las Moras, San Juan, Argentina

The grapes for this wine come from three valleys. The first is the Pedernal Valley at 4429 feet where the grapes are hand-picked at the end of April. Then there is the Zonda valley at 3116 feet where the grapes are hand-picked at the end of January. Finally, there is the Tulum Valley at 2132 feet where the grapes are hand-picked at the end of February.



This wine was imported by PrimeWine Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Dark berries, mint, oak, violets

Taste : Savoury, soy sauce notes, violets, oak, pepper, dark fruits

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Finca Las Moras
Website : PrimeWine Sweden AB

TN : Vergelegen Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Vergelegen means situated "far away" and was granted to the Governor of the Cape in 1700.

The grapes were selected from Vergelegen’s Stonepine, Rondekop, Rooiland and Kopland Vineyards. These vineyards are all north to northwest facing, with granite, Hutton and Clovelly soils. Vines were planted 4000 to the hectare. The preferred Cabernet clone was 46, while for the Merlot, the Italian clones 12 and 192, as well as the French clones 181 and 3 were used. The average yield was 4 tons per hectare. The Cabernets were fermented in open tanks at high temperatures, 28 to 32 degrees, and punched down every 3 to 4 hours in order to maximise colour and tannin extraction. The alcoholic fermentation was followed by a post-fermentation maceration of 21 days. The wine was racked every 3 to 4 months and was matured in 225 litre barrels for 2 years. The blend is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.5% Cabernet Franc, and 4.5% Merlot. A winery analysis of the wine showed that the alcohol was 14.5%, the residual sugar was 3.1 grammes per litre, the total acidity was 5.8 grammes per litre, and the pH was 3.80.

This wine was imported by VinUnic AB.

Colour : Deep dark maroon

Aroma : Blackcurrant, slight green pepper, oak, plums

Taste : Cold tea, blackcurrant, slight oak, plums, green pepper, currants

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 195 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vergelegen Wine Estate
Website : VinUnic AB

TN : Santorini Assyrtico 2007, Dry White Wine, Appellation of Origin Santorini of High Quality, Santo Wines, Greece

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Apple, pear, mandarin oranges, almond

Taste : Mandarin oranges, almond, pear, bitter finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Santo Wines

TN : Kanzemer Altenberg Riesling 1998, Weingut Von Othegraven, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

The estate has its roots in the 16th century. It has always been privately owned and came into the possession of the Grach–Weissebach-von-Othegraven family in 1805. The Second World War caused major devastation. However, the estate was rebuilt and new life emerged again from the unscathed Devon slate soil of the vineyards. Weingut von Othegraven is a founding member of the VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikats-und Qualitätsweingüter, the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates).

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Petrol, honey

Taste : Dry, pronounced petrol, honey, sharp grapefruit and acidity, some minerality

Alcohol : 10.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Weingut Von Othegraven

Systembolaget New Wines June 2008

Systembolaget now have for download from their website the new wines that will be available for June 2008. They should be in the shops on Monday 2nd June.

Website : Systembolaget Varunytt Juni 2008

Systembolaget New Wines May 15th 2008

Systembolaget will release a new set of wines on May 15th 2008. The complete list can be found on their website.

Website : Systembolaget Nyheter den 15 maj

TN : Special Blend Reserva 2005, Bodega del Fin del Mundo, Neuquen, Patagonia, Argentina

This wine was imported by Primewine Sweden AB.

The wine spent 15 months in new French oak barrels which ruined it.

It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Merlot. A winery analysis showed an alcohol level of 14%, a total acidity of 5.47 grammes per litre, and a pH of 3.7. The maceration and fermentation took 30 days. The wine underwent 100% malocatic fermentation. The wine was bottled in August 2006.



Colour : Black/purple

Aroma : Oak, plum, blackcurrant, herbs

Taste : Burnt toasty oak on finish obliterates all fruit, thus finish is very long, upfront herbs, blackcurrant, plum

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 159 SEK

Mark : C+ (for the fruit)

Website : Bodega del Fin del Mundo
Website : Primewine Sweden AB

TN : Sauvignon Gris 2007, Vina Casa Silva, Colchagua Valley, Chile

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

The vines were planted in 1912 from French pre-phylloxera originals.

The grapes were harvested between February 25th and March 4th 2007. The grapes were then pre cold storing at three degrees for 24 hours. There was a hand sorting of the grapes before destemming. Then followed a cold maceration in press for six hours at under eight degrees using reductive method. The grapes were then crushed and racked for 24 hours at ten degrees. The wine underwent a post fermentation in stainless steel tanks between thirteen and fifteen degrees. The wine was then aged in stainless steel tanks.

The wine was imported by Tegner Hermansson.

Colour : Very pale straw

Aroma : Blackcurrant leaf, slight tropical fruits, passionfruit

Taste : Blackcurrant leaf, gooseberry, sharp acidity, bitter finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Vina Casa Silva
Website : Tegner Hermansson

TN : Syrah Polkura 2006, Polkura Estate, Marchigue Colchagua Valley, Chile

This wine was bottled unfiltered. A limited number of 1350 cases were made. It is a blend of 92% Syrah, 4% Malbec, 2% Viognier, 2% Grenache Noir, Mourvedre, and Tempranillo. The grapes were handharvested during the last week of April 2006. The wine spent one year in 85% French oak and 15% American oak. One third of the oak was new.

The wine was imported into Sweden by Primewine.

The wine was produced and bottled by Agricola La Vina S.A.

Polkura is the name of a hill, located in Marchigue. In the native Chilean Mapuche language Polkura means "yellow stone" making reference to the large amounts of yellow granite spread along the clay soils of the area.

Colour : Brooding dark cassis

Aroma : Dark fruits, oak, violets, black peppr

Taste : Dark and red fruits up front, violets, black pepper throughout, burnt toasty oak at end which obliterated the fruit, concentrated

Alcohol : 14.8%

Price : 148 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Primewine Sweden

TN : Grains de Folie Syrah, Rose, Groupe Uccoar, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

This wine was bottled with a screwcap. It was very refreshing and would be idea for something like an indian curry. The bottle was marked best before August 2009.

Colour : Bright strawberry

Aroma : Red fruits, fresh

Taste : Red fruits, slight sweetness

Alcohol : De-alcoholised, alcohol-free, 0.2%

Price : 39 SEK

Mark : B-

TN : Terra Solare Syrah 2006, IGT, La Pierotta, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy

This wine was fermented in cement tanks at 25 degrees. 6000 bottles were produced.



Colour : Deep red

Aroma : Oak, red fruits, cherry, licqourice

Taste : Heavy-handed oak, cherry, violets, licqourice

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : La Pierotta

Mancico "the little man" Bobal Rose 2007, Verde Marte, Utiel-Requena, Spain

Colour : "Glow-in-dark" neon pink

Aroma : Cherry, jellied raspberry sweets

Taste : Red fruits, raspberry, bitter finish

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 59 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Verde Marte