TN : Estate Selection 2006, Chakana Andean Wines, Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is a blend of 80% Malbec, 10% Syrah, and 10% Petit Verdot. The Syrah was harvested in March and the Petit Verdot and Malbec in April 2006. The wine was matured in French oak barrels for 15 months. Only 6000 bottles were released.

On the label it states : The Yaguarete (Jaguar) considered "Lord of the Starred Night" was the wildest known animal. This image associates the Jaguar with the fantastic beings. Product of hallucinations combining the real with the imaginary.

This wine was imported by Prime Sweden AB.

Colour : Black/purple

Aroma : Tobacco, violets, blackberry, plums

Taste : Blackberry, tobacco, violets, plums, coffee, slight vanilla, structured, slight spice, toast, chewy tannins on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Chakana Andean Wines
Website : Primewine Sweden AB

TN : Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Vin de Pays du Peleponnese, Domaine Skouras, Greece

The grapes for this wine were hand-harvested in August 2006. The must went through six days of maceration before alcoholic fermentation for 12 days at 25 degrees in stainless steel tanks.



Colour : Purple

Aroma : Oak, blackberry, spice, liquorice

Taste : Blackcurrant, coffee, liquorice, earthy, spice, herbs, oak

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 117 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Domaine Skouras

TN : Arboleda Chardonnay 2007, Eduardo Chadwick, Casablanca Valley, Chile

The total acidity of this wine is 6.28 grammes per litre (tartaric acid), the pH is 3.43, and the residual sugar is 3.02 grammes per litre.

The vineyards are located 20 miles from the Pacific Coast in the Casablanca Valley. The vineyard soils are composed of clay and sandy loam. The vineyard was planted in 1997 using 96, 458, and Mendoza clones of Chardonnay. The vineyard is drip irrigated and canopy management is done using Vertical Shoot Positioning. The grapes were picked during the first week of April 2007.

The temperature during the 2006-2007 season were relatively cold. The final heat summation showed that there were 1401 degree days which was 60 degree days lower than the average of the past 6 years. Bud break came 10 days early which fortunately did not expose the vines to frosts. The months of october and november were warmer than in a normal year. Although conditions were warmer early in the season, the subsequent ripening period was cold, and the average high temperatures for the final months (December through March) were lower than the historic averages.

The grapes were hand-picked very early in the morning and then brought to the winery in 12kg cases. All of the fruit was whole-cluster pressed gently and all juice was fermented in French oak burgundy type of barrels (30% new oak) between 14 and 24 degrees . Some of the lots were inoculated with selected yeasts, although a large proportion (45%) was fermented with wild yeasts that are naturally present on the grape skins. After ten months of ageing “sur-lie” to enhance complexity, the wine was fined and bottled on the January 28th 2008.



Colour : Lemon

Aroma : Toast, nuts, butter, pineapple, green apple

Taste : Toast, butter, pineapple, honey, grapefruit

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 109 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Arboleda

Burnt Rubber and South African Reds

There have been many postings and articles, Wine Anorak and Decanter for instance, on the supposedly burnt rubber taste that is tainting red wines from South Africa. I went back through my online tasting notes and found that this character was indeed present in 8 out of 15 wines. I would have to say that this really is a problem that it exists for both low and top end South African red wines.

Website : Burnt Rubber : the great South African wine debate

TN : Riesling Steinterrassen 2007, Weingut Rudolf Rabl, Langenlois, Kamptal, Austria

This wine was imported by Johan Lidby Vinhandel AB.



Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Minerals, pineapple, honey, lime, lemon, peach

Taste : Minerals, pineapple, lime, lemon, slight honey, grapefruit

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Weingut Rabl
Website : Johan Lidby Vinhandel AB

VinUnic Newsletter December 2008

VinUnic have just posted their newsletter for December 2008. It can be downloaded from their website. Highlights for this month include new wines from Tenuta San Guido and Shafer.

Website : VinUnic Våra Viner December 2008

TN : Viu Manent Reserva Cabernet Franc 2005, Colchagua Valley, Chile

The winery has been family owned since 1935.

The grapes were hand-harvested from the El Olivar Estate vineyard. The wine has been aged in French Oak barrels for 18 months.



The wine was imported by Vinia AB.

Colour : Black/blue/red

Aroma : Toasty oak, plums, blackcurrants, herbs, figs

Taste : Toasty oak, blackcurrant, herbs, long coffee finish, plums, damsons, green finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Viu Manent
Website : Vinia

Vinkällaren Grappe Newsletter December 2008

Vinkällaren Grappe have just released their newsletter for December 2008. It can be downloaded from their website. The nice thing about the reviews in this newsletter is that it includes drinking windows which is something that Systembolaget will not commit to.

Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev December 2008

TN : Orzada Cabernet Franc 2005, Odfjell Vineyards, Maule, Chile

Norwegian Armador (shipowner) Dan Odfjell founded the winery. Orzada is a nautical term for sailing against the wine before setting a direction.

This wine was bottled unfiltered.

There was no mention of the 2005 release of this wine on the Odfjell Vineyards website.



The wine was imported by Arcus Sweden AB.

Colour : Black/purple

Aroma : Toasty oak, blackcurrant, herbs

Taste : Dominating toasty oak, herbs, blackcurrant, milk chocolate, liquorice, drying tannins on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Odfjell Vineyards
Website : Arcus Sweden AB

TN : A Lisa 2006, Bodega Noemia de Patagonia, Rio Negro Valley, Patagonia, Argentina

The estate where the grapes were grown is situated in Rio Negro Valley which is 620 miles south of Buenos Aires, 280 miles east of the Andes, and a further 1240 miles from Tierra del Fuego. It is located in the middle of the desert. The vineyards are influenced by the Neuquen and Limay rivers. The climate is dry. There is a maximum of 30% humidity and 7 inches of rain per year. This helps to keep the area free of diseases. During grape maturation, the temperature ranges from 28 degrees, during the day, to 9 degrees at night.



The wine is 93% Malbec and 7% Merlot. The Ph is 3.55 and there is 5.96 grammes of titratable acid.

Only 8900 bottles and 10 magnums were produced. The wine is bottled unfiltered.

This wine was imported by Amka.
Colour : Dark violets

Aroma : Blueberry, violets, savoury, raspberry liqcour

Taste : Raspberry licqour, savoury notes, concentrated, long finish, violets, blueberry, crisp

Alcohol : 14.3%

Price : 225 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Bodega Noemia de Patagonia
Website : Amka

TN : Cono Sur Reserva Riesling 2007, Bio Bio Valley, Chile

The winemaker was Adolfo Hurtado.



On the back label it is stated "CarbonNeutral delivery" and "Drinking a Cono Sur Wine is now Greener".

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Lime, mineral, marmelade

Taste : Overwhelming petrol character, oily, lime, mineral, oranges, marmelade, green apple, dry

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 100 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Cono Sur

TN : Chateau Tayac 2000, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux, France

Colour : Dark plum

Aroma : Herbs, blackcurrant, raspberry, plum

Taste : Violets, talcum powder tannins, plum, cedar

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 195 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Chateau Tayac

TN : Beaujolais Nouveau 2008, Pasquier Desvignes, France

Colour : Black cherry

Aroma : red fruits, blueberry, ripe bananas, bubble gum

Taste : Acidic, green, thin, bubble gum, herbs, raspberry, strawberry

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 59 SEK

Mark : D

Website : Pasquier Desvignes

Samsung Wine Refrigerator RW13EBSS

I have just purchased a wine refrigerator for short term wine storage. It cost less than 2000 SEK at MediaMarkt in Nacka Forum, Stockholm which is by far the cheapest place to buy this model in the Stockholm area. It has place for 29 bottles. There are two preset temperature settings, one for red wine at 13 degrees and the other for white wine at 7 degrees though any custom temperature can be set. There is also inner light that can be switched on so the contents of the refrigerator can be seen without having to open the door. It also has a lock and key which stops the door being opened by accident.


Website : Samsumg Wine Refrigerator RW13EBSS
Website : Samsung Wine Refrigerator Rw13EBSS Instruction Manual

TN : Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau 2008, Cuvee Non Filtree, Pierre Dupond, France

Colour : Light murky cherry red

Aroma : Raspberry, strawberry, boiled sweets

Taste : Thin, weedy, herbs, lacking fruit, raspberry, bubble gum, acidic

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 73 SEK

Mark : D+

Beaujolais Nouveau 2008

Beaujolais Nouveau is here in Sweden. The Systembolaget launched two bottles on Thursday 20th November. They were :

• Beaujolais Nouveau 2008,Pasquier Desvignes, Alcohol 12%, Price 59 SEK

• Beaujolais Nouveau Villages 2008, Cuvee Non Filtree, Terroir et Talents, Alcohol 12.5%, Price 73 SEK

Website : Beaujolais Nouveau 2008 at Systembolaget, Pasquier Desvignes
Website : Beaujolais Nouveau 2008 at Systembolaget, Terroir er Talents

TN : Zuccardi Serie A Tempranillo 2006, Mendoza, Argentina

The grapes for this wine come from the Santa Rosa Vineyards located near Mendoza in Argentina.



No mention of this wine could be found on the Familia Zuccardi website.

The wine was imported by Philipson and Söderberg.



Colour : Red/purple

Aroma : Tobacco, dark fruits, savoury, violets, almonds

Taste : Tobacco, savoury, spice, oak, raspberry

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 72 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Bodega Familia Zuccardi
Website : Philipson and Söderberg

TN : Le Focaie 2006, Rocca di Montemassi, IGT, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy

Colour : Purple

Aroma : Blackcurrants, burnt toast, oak, violets, cherries

Taste : Burnt toast, cherries, violets

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Rocca di Montemassi

Tandarra Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2008, Bag-In-Box, 3 Litres, South Eastern Australia, Australia

The box states that once opened that it must be consumed within 4 weeks.

On the box it is written that the town Tandarra is located on the northern edge of Goldfields region which was centre stage of the Australian goldrush in the 19th century.



The wine was imported and filled by Altria Plc, Helsinki, Finland

Colour : Bright deep strawberry

Aroma : Jellied strawberries, cherries, herbs

Taste : jellied red fruits, strawberries, raspberries

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 189 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Tandarra

Systembolaget New Wines December 2008

The Systembolaget December 2008 newsletter detailing all the new wines available on the 1st December 2008 is now available for download from the Systembolaget's website.

Website : Systembolaget Varunytt December 2008

Systembolaget New Wines 14th November 2008

The list of new wines available on November 14th from the Systembolaget can now be viewed on the Systembolaget's website.

Website : Systembolaget Nyheter den 14 November

Book : Vinträdgården

A new book has been published by Sveneric Svensson entitled Vinträdgården or Vineyard in English. It contains details and pictures of the author's small garden vineyard in Väröbacka and some details about making wine in the Swedish climate. The book costs 340 SEK including postage (or 240 SEK if you are a member of the Svenska Vinodlare organisation). Contact Anders Norberg at anders.norberg@effektiva.se or ring 040 664 67 52 for details.

Website : Svenska Vinodlare

TN : Eclat 2005, Vina Valdivieso, Maule Valley, Chile

This wine is a blend of old vine Carignan, Mourvedre, and Syrah.



The wine was imported by Nigab AB.

Colour : Dark plum

Aroma : Spice, dark fruits, red fruits, violets, black pepper

Taste : Raspberry, violets, spice, long white pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Vina Valdivieso
Website : Nigab AB

TN : Palliser Estate Sauvingon Blanc 2007, Martinborough, New Zealand

Palliser is located in Martinborough which lies in the South East Corner of the North Island of New Zealand. The back label states that the wine contains preservative (220) which is Sulphur Dioxide.



The winemaker was Allan Johnson. The grapes were picked between the 5th and 29th April 2007. The alcohol at bottling, September 2007, was 13.4%.

Colour : Straw

Aroma : Gooseberry, mango, lemon

Taste : Gooseberry, lemon, lime, mango, earthy on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Palliser Estate

TN : Chateau Olivier 2005, White Wine, Appellation Pessac-Leognan, Grand Cru Classe de Graves, Bordeaux, France

This wine has seen far too much time in oak, I know French winemakers think "built to last" means wrapped in oak but there is some great fruit here which is smothered by the too much oak. This wine will improve with time but it could have been even better to drink now.




Colour : Lemon/yellow

Aroma : French oak, lemon

Taste : French oak, lemon polish, long lime cordial on finish, lively acidity, creamy

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 217 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Chateau Olivier

TN : La Mascota Shiraz 2006, Bodega Santa Ana, Argentina

The vineyards that provided grapes for this wine are located in the Tulum Valley in the San Juan province. The wine was fermented in mainly new French oak and spent an extended time on skins post-fermentation.

Rodolfo "Opi" Sadler was the chief winemaker.



The wine was imported by Tegner Hermansson.

Colour : Dark plum

Aroma : Toasty oak, liquorice, damsons, vanilla, spice

Taste : Too much toasty oak, vanilla, liquorice, blackberry, violets, dark chocolate

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Bodegas Santa Anna
Website : Tegner Hermansson

TN : Glen Carlou Syrah 2005, Wine of Origin Paarl, South Africa

This wine was handcrafted by David Finlayson. It is a wine from the Hess Group.

The blend is 94% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, and 1% Viognier. The grapes were harvested in mid February 2005. It was fermented in 50% new and second fill 225 litre French oak barrels and 50% new American oak barrels. The wine was aged for 12 months in Allier French oak and American Minnesota white oak barrels. The TA was 6.9 grammes per litre, pH was 3.42, and the residual sugar was 2.9 grammes per litre. The wine was bottled on the 12th January 2006.



The burnt rubber on this wine spoilt what was great fruit. Far too many red wines from South Africa seem to have this characteristic.

Colour : Dark cassis

Aroma : Smoke, blackcurrant, violets, black cherry

Taste : Lively bright acidity, burnt toast and rubber on finish, blackcurrant, cherry, red fruits, currants, long finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 183 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Glen Carlou

VinUnic Newsletter November 2008

VinUnic have just published their latest newsletter for November 2008. It can be downloaded from their website. This month's highlights include DRC 2005s and 2004 La La wines from E. Guigal.

Website : VinUnic VåraViner Nyhetsbrev November 2008

TN : Crozes-Hermitage 2005, E. Guigal, Rhone, France

This wine is supposed to be ready for drinking, though can be aged for ten years, according to the E. Guigal website but I would give it another couple of years for the tannins to soften up and maybe the fruit to show through; hopefully the fruit will not fade away.



This wine includes the former vineyards of de Vallouit Estate from Larnage. The vineyards are mainly on steep slopes from the villages of Gervans, Mercurol, Larnage and Crozes-Hermitage. the soil is limestone, clay and silt and also sandy gravel. The average age of the vines is 35 years. the average yield was 40 hectolitres per hectare.

The wine is 100% Syrah. Alcoholic fermentation was carried out in stainless steel vats at high temperatures followed by 3 weeks maceration in the vats. The wine was then matured for 18 months in oak barrels. On average, 330,00o bottles are produced annually.

The Guigal domain was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal in the ancient village of Ampuis. Etienne Guigal arrived in this region in 1923 at the age of 14. He made wine over 67 vintages. Marcel Guigal took over from his father in 1961. Today, Philippe Guigal, oenologist, is the third generation to continue the family endeavour.

Colour : Blackcurrant

Aroma : Strawberry, spice, oak, blackcurrant, plum

Taste : Black pepper, oak, drying tannins on finish, red fruits, thin

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 154 SEK

Mark : C

Website : E. Guigal

TN : Chateau de Chantegrive 2005, White Wine, Graves, Bordeaux, France

In 1966, Henri and Françoise Lévêque acquired a few plots of vines in the commune of Podensac. During the coming 40 years more plots have been added. Chateau de Chantegrive now has 97 hectares under vine. It is situated in the Graves appellation and is a member of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux.

14 hectares of vines are used to produce this wine. The average age of the vines is 30 years. The soil is sand and gravel over limestone and clay subsoil. The cepage is 50 % Sauvignon Blanc and 50 % Semillon. Harvest is by hand using successive sortings. The grapes are pressed and then fermented at low temperature in thermoregulated stainless steel vats. 70,000 bottles are produced annually.

Colour : Lemon

Aroma : Wood, lemon, oranges, gooseberry

Taste : Creamy, wood on finish, lemon, slight orange and honey, blackcurrant leaf

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 170 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Chateau de Chantegrive

TN : Laszlo 2004, Fleur du Cap, South Africa

This wine was produced as a tribute to Dr. Julius Laszlo. It is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.



It was imported by Distell (Europe) Ltd.

Colour : Dark plums

Aroma : Tobacco, dark fruits, slight violets, pencils

Taste : Tobacco, spice, blackcurrant, blackberry, cherries

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Fleur du Cap

Vinkällaren Grappe Newsletter November 2008

The November 2008 newsletter from Vinkällaren Grappe can now be downloaded from their website. Included are short reviews, including scores and drinking windows, for the new wines to be released this November by the Systembolaget

Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev November 2008

TN : Chateau Cissac 2005, Cru Bourgeois, Domaines Vialard, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux, France

Chateau Cissac is located in the village of Cissac between St Estephe and Pauillac. In 1895, Jacques Mondon, a lawyer in Pauillac, acquired several vineyards in the parish of Cissac-Medoc. He combined these different vineyards under the name of Château Cissac. Louis Vialard inherited the chateau in 1940, from his grandparents Mondon, and then handed it over to his daughter Danielle Marie. Louis Vialard's granddaughter is not following in her Aunt's foot steps.



The wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvingon, 20% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. The 50 hectare vineyard's soil is composed of fine gravel over chalk. The vineyard planting density is 7200 vines per hectare. The average age of the vines is 30 years. The rootstocks used are 309, 161-49, and Riparia Gloire. 220,000 bottles are produced annually. There are ten large wooden vats at Château Cissac. They and the building which houses them are over 100 years old. They were restored in 1997. It is in them that the first stages of the vinification of the grand vin take place; both the alcoholic fermentation and the malolactic fermentation.

This wine is drinking well right now but is worth waiting for 4-5 years for the cedar wood and tannins to integrate more.

Colour : Dark plummy red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, lead pencils, cedar

Taste : Cedar, plums, blackcurrants, lead pencil

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 159 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Chateau Cissac

Recalled wines at Systembolaget

I saw two of October 2008's three recalled red wines on the shelves of the Systembolaget this week. The Kenwood Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 at Regeringsgatan and the Atelier Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 at Tyresö Centrum. Jenny Gabrielson at the Systembolaget confirms that the Kenwood bottling should now be available in shops but the Atelier should still not be on shelves since it still has quality problems.