TN : Sangiovese 2007, IGT, Rocca di Montemassi, Tuscany, Italy

This wine came in a 3 litre bag-in-box.



Colour : Black cherry, purple

Aroma : Vanilla, oak, cherry, chocolate

Taste : Vanilla, oak, sour cherry, dark fruits, soft tannins, milk chocolate and spice on finish, smooth

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 223 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Rocca di Montemassi

VinUnic Newsletter February 2009

VinUnic have released their February 2009 newsletter. It can be downloaded from their website in PDF format. Dr. Loosen releases their 2007 vintage

Website : VinUnic VåraViner Februari 2009

Vinkällaren Grappe Newsletter February 2009

Vinkällaren Grappe have released their newsletter for February 2009. It can be downloaded from their website.

Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev Februari 2009

Ingwe Reserve 2005, Alain Moueix, Stellenbosch, South Africa

This wine is a blend of 58% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11% Cabernet Franc. Ingwe means leopard in the Xhosa language and is derived from the leopards that live on the mountains near the farm on which this wine is made.



This wine was imported by Domaine Wines.

Colour : Inky purple

Aroma : Cedar, plums, blackcurrants

Taste : Cedar, tight, blackcurrant, plum, smoky, talcum powder tannins on finish, needs a bit more time to soften up and for the fruit to show shine through

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Ingwe Wines
Website : Domaine Wines

TN : L'Avenir Stellenbosch Classic 2006, Stellenbosch, South Africa

This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. As is usual for most South African reds, the wine has a strong smoky quality which always detracts from the wine's quality in my opinion.



L'Avenir is owned by well-known French wine producer Michel Laroche whose family has been producing wines in Chablis since 1850.

Colour : Dark cassis

Aroma : Smoke, blackcurrant, milk chocolate, cherry

Taste : Blackcurrant, smoky, milk chocolate, nice acidity on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Laroche

TN : Synchronicity 2004, Meinert, Wine of Origin Devon Valley, South Africa

The wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Pinotage. A winery analysis shows that the wine has an alcohol of 14.29%, pH 3.53, residual sugar of 2 grammes per litre, total acidity 5.9 grammes per litre, volatile acidity of 0.69 grammes per litre, SO2 of 118 milligrammes per litre, and free SO2 of 40 milligrammes per litre.



This wine was imported by Divine AB.

Colour : Deep blackberry, red

Aroma : Smoke, oak, blackcurrant, mint

Taste : Smoke, blackcurrant, concentrated, liquorice and green pepper on long finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 159 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Meinert
Website : Divine AB

TN : Thelema Sutherland Rhine Riesling 2008, Thelema Mountain Vineyards, Elgin, South Africa

Thelema is family run and produced its first wines in 1988.

The rootstock used for the vines is Mgt 101-14. The soil type of the vineyards was Tukulu. The vines themselves were planted in August 2004 using a planting density of 2.7 metres by 1.6 metres. The trellising is 7 wire Perold with moveable foliage wires. The vines are spur pruned. The yield was 9 tonnes per hectare. Drip irrigation was used. The grapes were picked on the 28th February at 20.68 balling. The acidity was 7.22 and the pH at harvest was 3.15. WE14 yeast was used for fermentation. The final pH is 3.18, total acidity is 6.02 grammes per litre, and the alcohol is 12.4%. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

The wine was imported by AB Nigab.

Colour : Pale straw

Aroma : Lime, lemon, slight mineral

Taste : Minerals on finish, pear, lemon, lime, bone dry

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Thelema Mountain Vineyards
Website : AB Nigab

TN : Jordan Riesling 2008, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Jordan is a family-run winery situated at the upper end of Stellenbosch Kloof. The grapes were harvested from high altitude south-facing slopes. The grapes were then cold fermented in stainless steel tanks.



Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Lemon, lime, honey, slight mineral, pear

Taste : Lemon, slight lime and minerals on finish, slight honey, crisp, very fruity

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Jordan Wines

Book : Wine by Andre Domine

The 2008 version of Wine by Andre Domine is a new completely revised edition. It weighs in at a mighty 900 pages. It was published by Ullmann Publishing in August 2008.

The book is a very good wine companion. There is something in the book for almost everybody. The book mainly focuses upon areas of the world and their wine producers and wines. North and South America, and Australia are given poor coverage whilst Europe is covered in depth including England and Wales, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. France gets 20% of the book with Italy and Spain getting about 10-15% each.

There are also good sections on wine and health, the chemical composition of wine, the history of wine, and wine and food pairing. For the wine knowledgeable then such subjects such as integrated pest management, barrel management, and vineyard management are covered; even esoteric subjects such as the manufacture of wine bottles are given the in-depth treatment.

I can thoroughly recommend this book both for beginners and experts alike.

The book can be purchased at Amazon online :



Website : Ullmann Publishing

TN : Cabernet Merlot 2005, Clairault Wines, Margaret River, Australia

Clairault Wines was established in 1976. Clairault was named after a nearby cape that bears its name from the French Mathematician Alexis Clairault (1713-1765). Alexis Clairault was responsible for calculating the perihelion of Hailey's comet.

The wine is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. The wine was sealed with a screwcap.



This wine was imported by Giertz Vinimport AB.

Colour : Blackberry/black

Aroma : Blackberry, blackcurrant, mint

Taste : Blackcurrant, vanilla, plums, simple, fruity, boring to drink

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 150 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Clairault Wines
Website : Giertz Vinimport AB

VinUnic Newsletter January 2009

The January 2009 Newsletter from wine importer VinUnic can now be downloaded from their website. John Duval's Entity and Plexus wines are now available to order from the Systembolaget.

Website : VinUnic Våra Viner Nyhetsbrev Januari 2009

TN : Windsor Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Windsor Vineyards, Sonoma County, USA

This wine was imported by Tomp Spirits AB.



Colour : Blackcurrant

Aroma : Some vanilla, coffee, cedar, cherry, dark fruits, savoury notes

Taste : Leather, astringent French oak tannins, toasty notes, cedar, blackcurrant, vanilla, plum

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Windsor Vineyards
Website : Tomp Spirits

TN : FM Riesling 2007, Bag-in-Box, Forster Mariengarten, Deidesheim, Pfalz, Germany

This wine was packed in a 3 lite bag-in-box. The best before date on the box was May 2009.

The wine was imported by Granqvist Vinagentur AB.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Lime, orange, minerals, honey

Taste : Lemon, oranges, sweet, honey, nice acidity, long mouthwatering finish

Alcohol : 10.5%

Price : 226 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Winzerverein Deidesheim
Website : Granqvist Vinagentur AB

TN : Pinot Gris 2006, Leon Beyer, Eguisheim, Alsace, France

Formal records of the house of Leon Beyer exist from 1580. The vineyard soils are limestone and clay. There were 61,000 bottles produced.



Colour : Gold

Aroma : Sugar cane, white grapes

Taste : Dry, honey, nutty, white grapes, oily, overly tangy, lemon, sherry notes

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 145 SEK

Mark : D-

Website : Leon Beyer

TN : Casa Marin Riesling 2007, Mirammar Vineyard, Lo Abarca, D. O. San Antonio Valley, Chile

This wine was imported by Giertz Vinimport AB.

Vina Casa Marin is owned by Maria Luz Marin and was founded in 2000.



Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Lime, pear, minerals

Taste : Dry, intense, lime, mineral, honey notes, long finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 169 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Casa Marin
Website : Giertz Vinimport AB

TN : Dr Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2007, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

This wine was sealed with a screwcap. Wehlener Sonnenuhr means "The Sundial of Wehlen". The soils are thin and composed of stony gray-blue slate.

Colour : Pale Straw

Aroma : Floral, white grapes, lime, peaches

Taste : Minerals, off dry, lemon, peaches, white grapes, elderberry, nice clean acidity, long finish

Alcohol : 7.5%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Dr Loosen

TN : St Laurent Ausstich 2005, Stiftsbreite, Weingut Stift Kloster Neuburg, Thermenregion, Austria

Colour : Black/purple, thinnish

Aroma : Oak, some green notes, plums

Taste : Drying tannins on finish, crisp acidity, some green notes, plums, blackcurrants

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 8.99 Euro (Billa, Vienna, January 2009)

Mark : C

Website : Stift Kloster Neuburg

Systembolaget New Wines February 2009

The latest newsletter detailing the wines available from Systembolaget for February 2009 can now be downloaded.

Website : Systembolaget Varunytt Februari 2009

Systembolaget New Wines 15th January 2009

The new wines available for the middle of January 2009 from Systembolaget is now available the Systembolaget website.

Website : Systembolaget Nyheter den 15 Januari

Vinkällaren Grappe Newsletter January 2009

Vinkällaren Grappe have published their newsletter for January 2009. It can be downloaded from their website.

Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev Januari 2009

TN : Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2006, La Escultura Estate, Casablanca Valley, Chile

The botrytis affected grapes were hand harvested and then cold fermented.



This wine was sold in a 375 ml bottle.

Colour : Bright gold

Aroma : Oranges, pears, sweetness, lime

Taste : Lime, oranges, apricot, sweet, honey

Alcohol : 11.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vina Errazuriz

TN : Ried Hinterkirchen Rielsing Federspel 2007, Weingut Karl Stierschneider, Kartaeuser Hof, Wachau, Austria

Colour : Very pale straw

Aroma : Grapey, lemon, rocks

Taste : White grapes, crisp acidic finish, lemon, oranges, lots of minerals

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Karl Stierschneider

TN : Clos de los Siete 2006, by Michel Rolland, Argentina

This wine is a blend of 45% Malbec, 35% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Syrah.

On the label it states : Clos de los Siete is an oasis comprised of seven vineyards in the foothills of the Andes, south of Mendoza. Managed by Michel Rolland.


Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Blackberry, plums, tobacco, spice

Taste : Slight oak, plums, blackberry, tobacco, sweet, spice on finish

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 159 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Clos de los Siete

TN : Divino Nordheim Silvaner 2006, Kabinett Trocken, Someracher Katzenkopf, Franken, Germany

On the label there is a sticker proclaiming that Divino Nordheim was The 2006 International German Wine Producer of the Year at the Wine & Spirit Competition.



This wine was imported by Granqvist Vinagentur AB.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Oranges, pineapple, almond

Taste : Minerals, oranges, pineapples, almonds, grapefruit

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Divino Nordheim
Website : Granqvist Agentur AB

TN : Breasia Profundo 2004, Red Wine, Mendoza, Argentina

This is a blend of 50% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 10% Syrah.

The vinyards are sitauted at an altitude of 3120 feet above sea level. The grapes were harvested in April 2004. The wine was aged for 10 months in French oak barrel. 8000 bottles were produced. Walter Bressia was the Winemaker.



The wine was imported by Enjoy Wine & Spirits AB.

Colour : Purple

Aroma : Violets, spice, red fruits, savoury notes

Taste : Dominant soy sauce quality and savoury notes spoilt this wine, blackcurrant, violets, raspberry, concentrated, long finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 209 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Bodegas Bressia
Website : Enjoy Wine & Spirits AB

TN : Errazuriz Estate Sangiovese 2007, Vina Errazuriz, Casablanca Valley, Chile

The grapes for this wine were all hand-harvested into small bins. The must was subjected to a 5 to 7 day cold-soak at 6 to 8 degrees followed by alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks at 28 to 32 degrees.The post-fermentation maceration consisted of 20 days of skin contact. The wine has been aged for five months in multiple-use French oak barrels and finally botted in September 2007.

Colour : Dark Red

Aroma : Strawberry jam, spice

Taste : Strawberry jam, spice, cherry, smouth tannins, spice, simple and fruity, a good glugger

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Vina Errazuriz

TN : Silvaner 2007, Kabinett Trocken, Glaser Himmelstoss, Franken, Germany

This wine was imported by Divine AB.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Yeast, green apple, grapefruit, pear

Taste : Spritz, overwhelming yeast on finish, green apple, pineapple on finish, grapefruit, pear

Alcohol : 11.5%

Price : 120 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Glaser Himmelstoss
Website : Divine AB

TN : Errazuriz Estate Sangiovese 2007, Vina Errazuriz, Aconcagua Valley, Chile

This wine was sealed with a screwtop. Half of the wine was oak aged for 6 months.

Don Maximiano founded Vian Errazuriz in 1870.



Colour : Black/red

Aroma : Cherry, chocolate, prunes, raisins, herbs

Taste : Vanilla, sour cherries, herbs, oak, spice

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Vina Errazuriz

Systembolaget New Wines 15th December 2008

The list of wines available from the Systembolaget in the middle, 15th, December is now available on the Systembolaget website for viewing.

Website : Systembolaget Nyheter den 15 December

TN : Prinz Tradition 2007 Rheingau Riesling Trocken, Qualtaetswein, Germany

This wine was imported by Blentarps Vinimport.



Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Honey, lime, minerals

Taste : Pineapple, lime, honey, minerals, green apples

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Hans Prinz

TN : Vina Tarapca Ex Zavala, Gran Reserva, Etiquete Negra, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Maipo Valley, Chile

This wine was aged for 12 months in Seguin Moreau oak barrels. The winery is part of the Southern Sun Wine Group. The wine is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenere.

The wine was imported by Bibendum.

Colour : Deep blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, coffee, liqourice, herbs, blackberry

Taste : Blackberry, blackcurrant, herbs liqourice on finish, toasty oak

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : A-

Website : Vina Tarapaca
Website : Bibendum

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