TN : Alta Reserve Syrah 2006, Pascual Toso, Las Barrancas Vineyards, Maipu, Argentina

Pascual Toso was established in 1890.



This wine was imported by HJO Grosshandel AB.

Colour : Dark purple/red

Aroma : Vanilla, spicy, liqourice, violets, red fruits, black cherry, blueberry

Taste : Violets, blueberry, spicy, black pepper and red fruits on long finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 249 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Bodegas y Vinedos Pascual Toso
Website : HJO Grosshandel AB

TN : Cafe Culture Pinotage 2006, Wine of Origin Western Cape, KWV, South Africa

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Smoke, cherries, raspberries, toast

Taste : Smoke, cherries, red fruits, tangy acidity on finish, burnt notes on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Cafe Culture

TN : Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2007, Boekenhoutskloof, South Africa

Hystrix Africaaustralia, the crested porcupine.



This wine was imported by HJO Grosshandel AB.

Colour : Black cherry

Aroma : Smokey, red fruits, kirsch

Taste : Smoke, caramel, red fruits, kirsch, oak, burnt toast

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 92 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Boekenhoutskloof
Website : HJO Grosshandel AB

TN : Langenloiser Rose Zweigelt 2007, Weingut Bruendlmayer, Langenlois, Austria

Dr. Zweigelt, who managed to interbreed a new variety out of Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent in 1921, had vineyards in Langenlois. The Bruendlmayer family owns part of his vineyards.



This wine was imported by VinUnic AB. 1200 bottles were bought by the Systembolaget.



Colour : Bright pink, copper hues

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, herbs

Taste : Dry, spritzy, jellied raspberries, herbs, white pepper, bitter finish

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 120 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : VinUnic AB
Website : Weingut Bruendlmayer

TN : Mesh Eden Valley Riesling 2005, Grosset-Hill Smith, Australia

This wine was made by Jeffrey Grosset, Clare winemaker, and Robert Hill Smith from Yalumba.



The wine was bottled under screcap. The pH is 3.04, the total acidity is 7.4 grammes per litre, and the residual sugar is 0.79 grammes per litre.



Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Lemon, lime, slight marmelade, ginger, petrol

Taste : Dry, honey, ginger, orange, minerals, lime, slight spritz, petrol

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 115 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Mesh

TN : Vina Morande Edicion Limitada Carmenere 2006, Maipo Valley, Chile

This wine was imported into Sweden by Apricot AB.

The pH is 3.49, the total acidity is 3.51 grammes per litre, and the residual sugar is 1.9 grammes per litre.

Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Blackcurrant, cherry, spice, vegetal

Taste : Concentrated, blackberry, cherry, currant, green pepper

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vina Morande
Website : Apricot AB

TN : Vertice 2005, Vina Ventisquero, Apalta Vineyards, Colchagua Valley, Chile

This wine is a joint creation between Felipe Tosso B, the Chilean winemaker for Vina Ventisquero, and John Duval, the ex-Penfolds Australian winemaker.

All the grapes were hand-harvested from the Apalta hillsides.

The wine is a blend of Carmenere and Syrah.



Colour : Dark cherry/red

Aroma : Black pepper, spice, red fruits, blueberry, green pepper, violets

Taste : Black pepper and smoke and spice on very long finish, slightly over-oaked, blueberry, violets, slight green pepper on finish, red fruits, concentrated, slight bittnerness on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 189 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vina Ventisquero

TN : Alka Carmenere 2003, Estate Bottled, Hacienda Araucano, Colchagua Valley, Chile

This is an effort from Jacques and Francois Lurton.

Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Red fruits, black fruits, liqourice, mint notes

Taste : Green pepper, red fruits, dark fruits, liqourice and mint and pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 250 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Jacques and Francois Lurton

TN : Tsantali Organic Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Halkidiki, Greece

This wine was made from organically grown grapes from Agios Pavlos in Halkidiki.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, cherry, herbs, earthy

Taste : Earthy, tobacco, blackcurrant, spice, cherry

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Tsantali

TN : Winzer Sommerach Silvaner Kabinett Trocken 2007, Sommeracher Kattzenkopf, Franken, Germany

Colour : Yellow

Aroma : White grapes, honey, melon, lemon, orange marmelade

Taste : Dry, honey, melon, white grapes, grapefruit

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 94 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Winzer Sommerach

TN : Coyam 2005, Vinedos Emiliana, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Coyam was the word for "oak" by the Mapuches, the original inhabitents of central and southern Chile. Ancient oaks surround the Emiliana vineyards. All of the grapes were organically grown and hand picked. The wine was aged in 80% French and 20% American oak for 14 months. The wine is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.



This wine was imported by Premium Wines Sweden.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Herbs, dark fruits, violets, chocolate

Taste : herbs, spice, chocolate, violets, smooth tannins, minerals, white pepper on finish, concentrated

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 150 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vinedos Emiliana
Website : Premium Wines Sweden

TN : Simonsig Labyrinth Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Simonsig Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa

On the label "The Malan Family Heritage going back to 1688".

The residual sugar is 2.0 grammes per litre, the total acidity 5.3 grammes per litre, and the pH is 3.6. The wine was matured for 16 months in 77% French oak and 23% American white oak of which 28% was new, 23% second fill, and 49% third fill.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, tobacco, coffee

Taste : Slight smoke, moccha, blackcurrant, tobacco, liqourice, plum

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 150 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Simonsig Estate

TN : Chateau Bel-Air-Ouy 2000, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France

Colour : Dark plum

Aroma : Plums, cedar, herbs, chocolate

Taste : Fruity, plums, slight sweetness, very long finish, smooth tannins, tobacco, dark chocolate, strawberry

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 285 SEK

Mark : A

Website : Ets Thunevin

TN : Chateau Limbourg 2005, Jean Maufras, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France

This wine was drinkable now but could be left 2-3 years for the oak to integrate more. It is a blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon. Fermentation was carried out at 18 degrees and the wine spent 10 months in French oak (60% new).

Chateau Limbourg is one of two brands produced by Chateau Pontac-Montplaisir. The owner is Jean Maufras (from 1955).

Chateau Pontac Monplaisir is an elegant chartreuse which owes its name to the counts of Pontac. The Pontacs were, according to Arnaud de Pontac in to private letter dated 23 May 1936, above all to military family. In spite of that, for nearly three centuries, (16th, 17th, and 18th), they occupied important positions in the Bordeaux Parliament. Lords of great many Bordeaux viticultural spots: Saint-Estèphe, Queyrac, La Tresne, Roaillan, Podensac, Bisqueyton, “Monplésir” (as it used to be spelt) and even Haut Brion, they were the first to use the family name to personalize and identify their growths, creating to new impetus (the notion of growth, of terroir, of brand-names) and gave to considerable upthrust to the wines of Bordeaux in general, and those of Graves in particular. In one of his books, Gaston Marchou relates that especially in England and Germany their fame was such “that in the 18th century any red “Bordeaux” exported became automatically, for the importer, to Pontac wine...”.

During the Revolution, the vineyards of Monplaisir were broken up and belonged to different proprietors. In 1920, Auguste Maufras bought the estate which at that time consisted of 50 hectares of vines. During the World War Two, the property was allowed to run wild. In 1955, Jean Maufras, his son, undertook to renovate the vineyard as well as the various wine buildings, cellars and fermentation rooms. The vinification and ageing of the wines is done according to the traditional methods of the Bordeaux school under the supervision of eminent œnologists such as Mr. Fakorellis.

Colour : Yellow

Aroma : Lemon, grapefruit, honey, herbs

Taste : Crisp,oak, herbs, honey, grapefruit, lemon

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 184 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Chateau Pontac Montplaisir

TN : Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2007, Vina Errazuriz, Casablanca Valley, Chile

On the front label it states "Made from natural yeats that yield greater depth and complexity".



The grapes for this wine come from the La Escultura Estate vineyard in Casablanca Valley. The grapes were hand harvested into 14Kg boxes during the first week of April. The vineyard features clay and sandy loam soils with low vigour. It was planted in 1997 with the 96, 458, and Mendoza clones. Vineyard management includes drip irrigation and vertical shoot positioning. The aim is to obtain a density of 18 buds per metre, for in yields close to 8 ton per hectare balanced by adequate vegetative growth.

Fermentation took place at temperatures between 14 and 22 degrees and approximately 70% of the final blend was further enhanced with malolactic fermentation. The entire blend was aged “sur-lie” for 10 months in French oak barrels (17% new), cold settled for 4 weeks at -3 degrees, and then bottled in January 2008. The pH of the finished wine was 3.3, the total acidity was 6.76 grammes per litre (tartaric acid), and the residual sugar was 2.64 grammes per litre.



Colour : Lemon/yellow

Aroma : Nutty, oranges, pineapple, buttered toast

Taste : Toast, creamy, lemon, citrus, pineapple

Price : 159 SEK

Alcohol : 13.5%

Mark : B-

Website : Vina Errazuriz

Systembolaget New Wines and Bordeaux 2005 Releases October 2008

Systembolaget will release a new set of wines on October 1st 2008. The complete list can be downloaded from their website. The list of Bordeaux 2005 wines available, from October 15th 2008, is also included.

Website : Systembolage Varunytt Oktober 2008

Systembolaget New Wines September 15th 2008

Systembolaget will release new wines on Monday 15th September. The complete list can be downloaded from their website.

Website : Systembolaget Nyheter 15 September 2008

TN : Duette 2006, Vina Indomita, Maipo Valley, Chile

The wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Carmenere. The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested between the 25th April and 3rd May and the Carmenere was harvested between the 30th April and the 8th May. The yield was 54 hectolitres per hectare. There was a maceration for 3 days before alcoholic fermentation at 26 to 28 degrees.



This wine was imported by Primewine Sweden AB.

Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Blackcurrant, mint, violets

Taste : Oak, blackcurrant, spicy, liqourice, mint

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Vina Indomita
Website : Primewine Sweden AB

TN : Alfa Crux 2003, Red Wine, Bodegas Y Vinedos O. Fournier, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentna

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



The vineyard was located in La Consulta, Pareditas El Cepillo (Mendoza). The grapes were grown at an altitude of 1,100 metres. The grapes were all hand-harvested into 18Kg boxes during April 2003. Alcoholic fermentation was seven days in stainless steel vats at 28 degrees. There then was a maceration period of 28 days at 24 degrees and then malolactic fermentation in oak barrels. The wine was aged for 20 months in new oak barrels (80% French and 20% American). 38,200 bottles were produced and the wine was bottled unfiltered.



Colour : Black cherry

Aroma : Herbs, blackcurrant, cherry, raspberry, vanilla

Taste : Nice acidity, concentrated, dark and red fruits, vanilla, long finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 232 SEK

Mark : B

Website : O. Fournier

TN : Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Wine of Origin Franschhoek, South Africa

A direct translation of the word Boekenhoutskloof is Ravine of the Boekenhout. A Boekenhout is an indigenous Cape Beech tree that was greatly prized for furniture making. Boekenhout is pronounced "Book-N-Howed".



This wine was imported by HJO Grosshandel AB. There was almost no information on this wine on their website however.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Smoky, blackcurrant, cedar

Taste : Blackcurrant, slight smoke, vanilla, chocolate, slight oak

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 299 SEK

Mark : A

Website : Boekenhoutskloof
Website : HJO Grosshandel AB

TN : Roodeberg White Blend 2007, KWV, Western Cape, South Africa

Colour : Yellow

Aroma : Buttered toast, pineapple, almond, oranges, lemon

Taste : Butterscotch, oranges, pineapple, guava, cantaloupe melon, oranges, citrus

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : KWV Roodeberg

TN : Ingenuity 2005, Red Blend, Nederburg, South Africa

This wine is an Italian grape variety blend of Sangiovese (organically grown), Barbera, and Nebbiolo. It was aged in 500 litre French oak barrels for 20 months and then bottles unfiltered.



The wine was imported by Distell (Europe) Ltd.

Colour : Dark red/maroon

Aroma : Plums, red fruits, oak, smoke

Taste : Nice acidity on finish, cherry, red berries, raspberry, bright, slight smoke, spice, plums, liqourice

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 199 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Nederburg

TN : Benegas Lynch Meritage 2002 Red Wine, Bodega Benegas, Libertad Vineyards, Argentina

This wine is a blend of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Merlot. The winemaker was Federico Benegas Lynch and consultant was Michel Rolland. The wine was aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. The average yield was 4000 bottles per hectare.



This wine was imported into Sweden by Klunk AB. Though there is no mention of this wine on their website.



Colour : Deep plum/purple

Aroma : Blackcurrant, plum, spice, oak, chocolate, blueberry, violets

Taste : Concentrated, rich, smooth lingering tannins, blackcurrant, plum, blackberry, blueberry, slight savoury notes

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 269 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Bodega Benegas
Website : Klunk AB

Return To Terroir Tasting, Stockholm, 1st September 2008

La Renaissance des Appellations Return To Terroir "Biodynamy, wine-growing for the future" tasting was held at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm on Monday 1st September 2008. 59 wine-growers were presenting their wines. The tasting was ran by the Nordic Wine Institute.



The venue itself was too cramped and, as usual, the tables used for each winery were too small.

Here are the brief wine tasting notes that I took :

Ngeringa Vinyard
This winery is new and located on Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia. I particularly liked their wines however. The Syrah was flavourful without being too peppery (reminiscent of a Crozes Hermitage), the Pinot Noir was very fruity, the Chardonnay was Chablis-like but was showing some oak, and the Rose was dry with some spice but I thought lacking some acidity and was my least preferred wine.

Chateau Fonroque
Located near Saint-Emilion. The wines were presented by Alain Moueix. The vineyard has been practising biodynamic viticulture since 2003. The 2007 had cherry fruit, tannins but was drinkable even now (B). The 2006 was richer, more tannic, less fruity, and should be aged (B-). The blend is mostly Merlot with approximately a quarter Cabernet Franc.

Chateau Ferran
This winery is situated in Entre-Deux-Mers. The blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. The 2005 was drinkable but would be better with some age (B). The 2007 white oaked wine was nice to drink (B-) and preferable to theit unoaked version which could be better with food (C).

Chateau La Grolet
This winery is in Cotes de Bourg and has been biodynamic since 2000. The 2005, mostly Merlot with some Cabernet Sauvignon, was passable (C).
Coulee de Serrant
Both of the wines on show were disappointing. The wines tasted were 2006 Les Vieux Clos (C) and 2006 Coulee de Serrant (C+). Possibly they need some age to show their best ?

Domaine de Chateau Gaillard
Two Saumur wines were available for testing. the 2006 was very fruity with some tannins (C+) and the 2007, drawn from barrel in March/April 2008, was lacking some fruit I thought (C).
Maison M. Chapoutier
I was expecting better from this winery. 2003 Cornas (C+), La Sizeranne Hermitage 2001 (C+), Cote Rotie La Mordonne 2001 (B-), and the Le Pavillon 2001 Ermitage Red (B).

Weingut Wittmann
Situated in Rheinhesses. Gruener Silvaner Trocken 2007 was very fruity (C), Weisser Burgunder Trocken 2007 was showing some minerals (B-), Riesling Trocken 2007 (B-), and Westhofener Riesling Trocken S2007 , which was picked later than the normal riesling (B).

Domaine de Beudon
Located in Valais, Switzerland. The Fendant 2002 was very fruity (C+) whilst the 2003 was not so good (C-). The 2004 Dole (Gamay and Pinot Noir blend) (C+), and the Gammay 2005 (C+).

Website : Return To Terroir Group
Website : Return To Terrior Tasting Catalogue

TN : Wild Ferment Pinot Noir 2006, Vina Errazuriz, Casablanca Valley, Chile

The grapes were from the La Escultura Estate vineyard in the Casablanca Valley. The soil is composed of shallow clay loam. The clonal selection includes 115 and 117, most of which was planted in 1996. The vineyard is trellised to VSP and drip irrigated.

All the grapes were handpicked on the 23rd and 24th April and then deposited into stainless steel tanks. The must then underwent a 5-10 day cold maceration at 8 degrees. The must was fermented using wild yeasts at a temperature between 28 and 32 degrees. The wine was then aged for 11 months in French oak barrels, 57% of which were new.

The wine has a pH of 3.58, TA of 5.13 grammes per litre (Tartaric), and a residual sugar of 2.97 grammes per litre.



Colour : Raspberry/cranberry

Aroma : Oak, red berries, spice

Taste : Spice, oak, red berries, slight violets, cola, acidic finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 159 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Vina Errazuriz

TN : Nitida Sauvignon Blanc 2006, CWG Select, Cape Winemakers Guild, Wine of Origin Durbanville, South Africa

This wine was part of the Cape Winemakers Guild Auction of 2006. There were 115 cases (six 750 ml bottles) produced and 74 cases were sold. The highest price rasied per case was 750 Rand.

Analysis of the wine showed that the alcohol was 13.32 % (by volume), residual sugar was 3.3 grammes per litre, TA was 5.4 grammes per litre, and pH was 3.27.

The winemaker was Bernhard Veller.



Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Gooseberry, peaches, blackcurrant leaf

Taste : Mineral, gooseberry, blackcurrant leaf, oranges, green pea on finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 178 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Cape Winemakers Guild
Website : Nitida Cellars

TN : Dromos 2004, IGT, Poggio Verrano, Maremma, Tuscany

The vines are planted on rocky soils of calcareous and clayey nature at a height between 170 metres and 300 metres, on sea level and at a 15 kilometre distance from the Argentario gulf.

The wine is a blend of Sangiovese, Alicante, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.

The grapes were harvested between 6th September and 12th October. The yield was 670 grammes per vine. Oak fining was 18 months. The acidity is 5.8 grammes per litre. Extract was 33.6. 47,160 750 ml bottles and 350 magnums were produced.



Colour : Red/purple

Aroma : Chocolate, cherries, oak, red berries, coffee

Taste : Drying tannic finish, concentrated, cola, cherries, blackcurrant, raspberry hints

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 307 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Poggio Verrano

TN : La Sirene de Giscours, Appellation Margaux Controlee, Chateau Giscours, Bordeaux, France

This is the second wine of Chateau Giscours.

Colour : Plum, cassis, slight browning at rim

Aroma : Plum, red fruits, cedar, leafy

Taste : Plum, blackcurrant, slight cedar, talcum powder tannins, spice

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 31 Euro (purchased at Chateau Giscours 18th July 2008)

Mark : A-

Website : Chateau Giscours

Vinkällaren Grappe Newsletter September 2008

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

Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev September 2008

VinUnic Newsletter September 2008

VinUnic have published their newsletter, Våra Viner, for September. It can be downloaded from their website.

Website : VinUnic Våra Viner September 2008

TN : Casillero del Diablo Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Vina Concha Y Toro, Central Valley, Chile

The bottle neck has a sticker affixed stating the 2007 vintage in Chile was a historic vintage : The Best Premium Red Wine Vintage.

The soils on which the grapes for this wine were grown were on hillside and riverbank. The wine, 70%, was aged for eight months in small American oak barrels.

Colour : Purple/red

Aroma : Vanilla notes, oak, cassis, coffee

Taste : Blackcurrant, toasty oak, chocolate, good concentration, black cherry, coffee

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 70 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Casillero del Diablo

TN : Kali Gi 2005, Vin de Pays de Halkidiki, Evangelos Tsantalis, Greece

This wine is a 50% Limnio and 50% Grenache blend. All the grapes were organically grown. Kali Gi means "good earth".



Colour : Brown/red

Aroma : Red fruits, spice, earthy, violets

Taste : Blackcurrant, spicy, raspberry, earth, licqourice, oak, pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13.5% (on label, Systembolaget Varunytt August 2008 states 14%)

Price : 79 SEk

Mark : C+

Website : Evangelso Tsantalis

Systembolaget New Wines September 2008

Systembolaget have just published their brochure detailing the new wines that will be available from their stores in September 2008. The brochure can be downloaded from their website.

Website : Systembolaget Varunytt September 2008

Temperature in Systembolaget Wine Stores

There was a recent posting on the Decanter website regarding temperature that fine wine is stored at. I buy most of my wine at Regeringsgatan which is the top wine store in Sweden and notice that the temperature in the store is over 20 and can be warmer. A lot of fine wine is sitting at this temperature for over a year in some cases.

I asked customer service at Systembolaget why temperature control isn't practised in their stores and this was their reply :

Unfortunately it is not possible for our shops to keep the temperature as cool as would be best for the high end wines, especially in the summer. On the other hand the bottles on our shelves are not supposed to stay there for too long, though some wines do not sell as much as others. In the shop in Regeringsgatan we also have a wine cellar that keeps a more suitable temperature for the more expensive and delicate wines.

Website : Top stores keep wine too warm