TN : Casa Lapostolle Syrah Cuvee Alexandre 2005, Las Kuras Vineyard, Requinoa, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

Las Kuras means “rocks” in native language and the vines were grown in rocky soils.

The 2004-2005 season began with a cold, cloudy spring and it rained only once. These spring conditions caused a delay in the budding and flowering periods, which were nearly two weeks late. Summer was quite normal and dry but during the last two weeks of February the temperature climbed, which corrected the delays observed during the early stages of growth.



The grapes were harvested by hand in small cases of 12 kg and transported in refrigerated trucks. 38% of the grapes where hand de-stemmed. The remaining 62% had a double selection in long sorting tables. The must underwent cold skin maceration for 5 days at 10°C before fermentation. Fermentation lasted 15 days at 25 to 28 degrees. There was a post fermentation skin contact for 7 to 12 days. All the wine was aged for 20 months in new (80%) and one year old (20%) French oak barrels. The wine was bottled in March 2007 with a production of 2000 nine litre cases.



Colour : Deep blackcherry, purple

Aroma : Violets, savoury notes, spice, cherry, dark fruits

Taste : Violets, mouth filling, savoury, dark fruits, smoky, spice and black pepper on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 228 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Casa Lapostolle

TN : Santa Rita Reserva Pinot Noir 2006, Estate Grown, Valle de Leyda, Chile

The winemaker was Andres Ilabaca. The grapes were harvested during the last two weeks of March. Partially crushed, the grapes were fermented in stainless steel tanks at 28 degrees with a soft extraction. After brief post fermentation maceration, the wine was immediately transferred to barrels so as to ensure proper structuring and color setting. It also spent 9 months in second use French barrels.



A winery anaysis showed that the pH was 3.7, acidity was 4.8, alcohol was 14.9, and residual sugar was 3.0.



Colour : Pink hues, cherry

Aroma : Stewed fruits, oak, mint

Taste : Stewed red and dark fruits, earthy, oak, mint

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Santa Rita

Bordeaux 17th-24th July 2008

I visited Bordeaux again this year, for the third year in a row, and managed to get visits to both Chateaux Kirwan and Giscours. These chateaux visits will be reported separately. I noticed a few wine-related things whilst travelling around :

Bernard Magrez is everywhere. Driving from Blanquefort, and following the D2, there are three massive Bernard Magrez signs. The first is for Chateau La Tour Carnet, the second is for Chateau Les Grands Chenes, and the third (standing in somebody's garden !) is for Chateau Fombrauge which is in Saint Emilion on the other side of Bordeaux !. I was staying near the Meriadeck centre which contains a very large and very good Auchan. Walking along the aisles for the wine, I came upon a large wooden Bernard Magrez wine display which was filled with some other wine though. Half of Auchan's fine wine selection seemed to come from Bernard Magrez as well.

I spotted Pierre Lurton, in conversation with somebody I didn't recognise, outside the Hotel de Ville in Saint Emilion.

The 705 bus which winds its way out to Pauillac now goes from Ravezies instead of Quinconces.



At the Mollat store in the centre of town, they stilled had a few free copies of their wine book catalogue that was produced for Vinexpo 2007.

TN : Les Charmes de Kirwan 2002, Appellation Margaux Controlee, Cantenac, Bordeaux, France

This wine is the second wine of Chateau Kirwan and is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc with a highly unusual, for the second wine, large Cabernet Sauvignon content.



Colour : Plum, red

Aroma : Cedar, oak, plummy red fruit

Taste : Very fruity, blackcurrant, plums, red fruits, cedar, slight pencil lead and tannins on finish, spice, very drinkable now but could be kept for a few more years to mellow out

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 22 Euro (purchased at Chateau Kirwan 22nd July 2008)

Mark : B

Website : Chateau Kirwan

Vinkällaren Grappe August 2008 Newsletter

Vinkällaren Grappe have just published their August 2008 newsletter. It can be downloaded from their website.

Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev Augusti 2008

VinUnic Newsletter August 2008

VinUnic have just published their August newsletter, Våra Viner. It can be downloaded from their website.

Website : Våra Viner Augusti 2008

TN : Veneroso 2004, Tenuta di Ghizzano, Tuscany, Italy

360 bottles of this wine were imported into Sweden.

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



Tenuta di Ghizzano's website is hopelessly out of date to render it almost useless.

Colour : Purple/red

Aroma : Chocolate, sour cherries, bitterness, blackcurrant hints, savoury hints

Taste : Sour and bitter cherries, coffee, blackberry, spice, cocoa, herbs on finish

Alcohol : 14% on label (13.5% stated in Systembolaget Varunytt June 2008)

Price : 200 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Tenuta di Ghizzano

Systembolaget New Wines August 2008

The new wines available in August 2008 from the Systembolaget are now published on the Systembolaget website.

Website : Systembolaget Varunytt Augusti 2008

TN : Claude Val Rouge Vendages 2007, Vin de Pays D'Oc, Languedoc, France

This wine is imported by Bornicon & Salming. It is a blend of Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, and Merlot. The grapes were grown in the Herlaut Hills in Languedoc. The producer is Les Domaines Paul Mas.



Colour : Red, purple

Aroma : Herbs, dark fruits, spice

Taste : Hint of blackcurrant, plums, herbs, spice, white pepper on finish, liqcourice

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 55 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Bornicon & Salming

Website : Les Domaines Paul Mas

TN : Massaya Classic 2006, Vin Rouge, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

This wine was sealed with a screwcap. It was imported by Vinalliansen Sweden.



This wine is a blend of 60% Cinsault, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Syrah.



This wine was too hot and raisiny, probably due to overripe grapes.

Colour : Red

Aroma : Herbs, dried curranst and raisins, white pepper

Taste : Heat upfront and on finish, dried mixed fruits, pepper on finish, liqcourice

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 80 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Massaya & Co
Website : Vinalliansen

TN : Chateau Senejac 2000, Haut-Medoc, France

Colour : Dark maroon

Aroma : Blackcurrant, leather, oak, cedar, dried mixed fruit

Taste : Oak, cedar, blackcurrant, leather, liqourice

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 219 SEK

Mark : C+

TN : Chateau Coucheroy 2007, White, Pessac-Leognan, Andre Lurton, France

The name of the chateau derives from the phrase in Gascon dialect meaning "the king slept here".

This wine is 100% Sauvignon Blanc and was vinified partly in stainless steel and partly in barrique. The vineyard soil is gravel and clay subsoil. The vines are planted on 3309C - Riparia gloire - 101.14 rootstock. The vines are pruned double guyot.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Blackcurrant leaf, lemon, mineral

Taste : Creamy lemon, blackcurrant leaf, mineral finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 104 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Andre Lurton

TN : G 2003, Las Robles Estate, Emiliana Organica, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Ge comes from the Greek word meaning earth. This wine was made from biodynamically grown grapes. All the grapes were handharvested. Alvaro Espinoza was the winemaker. This bottle was number 5874 out of a limited edition of 6000 bottles. It is a blend of 55% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 15% Carmenere.

This wine was awarded 92 points by Wine Spectator in their May 15 2008 issue.

This wine was imported by Premium Wines Sweden AB.



Colour : Dark deep purple

Aroma : Savoury, blackcurrants, pepper, spice

Taste : Concentrated, savoury, dark berries, blackcurrants, cherries, plums, spoilt by the hard tannins and oak on finish, long liqourice finish (like chewing a black liqourice allsort !). Fruit was a bit muted at first but opened up nicely after 15 minutes in the glass which suggests a couple of years cellaring wouldn't go amiss.

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 369 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Emiliana
Website : Premium Wines Sweden AB

TN : Enamore 2006, Allegrini & Bodegas Y Vinedos ReNacer, Mendoza, Argentina

This is a red wine made from naturally dried grapes using the appassimento technique. It is a joint venture between the renowned amarone producer Italien Allegrini and ReNacer.

The wine is a blend of 50% Malbec, 25% Syrah, 22% Bonarda, and 3% Cabernet Franc. The wine was aged in French oak barriques for 12 months. The grapes were from Perdriel, 900 metres with medium soils, Medrano, 800 metres with rich soils, and Rivadavia, 600 metres with poor soils. The vineyards are more than 50 years old and yield less than 5 tonnes per hectare. The grapes were handharvested into 17 kg plastic boxes. The grapes were dried by exposing them to the dry winds of the Andean foothills until they lost about a third of their weight. The must was macerated for ten days and 8 degrees and native yeasts were used for fermentation for 90 days in stainless steel tanks which were kept between 27 and 29 degrees.

The winemakers were Alberto Antonini and Hector Durigutti.



The wine was imported into Sweden by The Wineagency AB and 360 bottles were imported.

Colour : Dark purple

Aroma : Savoury, licquorice, dark berries, plums, violets

Taste : Concentrated, oak, licqourice, violets, dark berries, cherries, herbs, slightly porty on finish, threw a lot of sediment material which could be because the wine may be bottle unfiltered and unfined but this is not specified, the wine was in perfect condition however, slightly porty on finish due to high alcohol

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 195 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Bodegas Y Vinedos ReNacer
Website : The Wineagency AB

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