This wine was sealed with a screwcap. The image on the label was painted by Toby Richardson and represents the Shiraz Queen. This wine was rated a 91 points "SmartBuy" by Wine Spectator, May 31st 2009.
Colour : Dark red/blackcurrant
Aroma : Cherry, milk chocolate, blackcurrant
Taste : Tart tannic finish, fruity, juicy, mouth watering, blackcurrant, blackberry, milk chocolate, cherry
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : 119 SEK
Mark : C+
The Ramspeck family has been making wine since the 16th century. In 1991, Gerry and Linda Rowland reintroduced the Ramspeck label, more than 450 years after the Ramspeck family's first release in 1537, in Europe.
This wine was imported by Andersson Wines International.
Colour : Blackcurrant
Aroma : Blackcurrant, chocolate, cedar, plum
Taste : Blackcurrant, cedar, oak, plums, tanni grip on finish, needed half an hour to open up and soften the harsh tart tannins
Alcohol : 13.5%
Mark : B-
Website : Rowland Cellars
Website : Andersson Wines International
This wine came in a 375ml half bottle.
Alpha Zeta’s Veneto wines come from a collaboration involving the winemaking consultant Matt Thompson, Canadian Master of Wine and Decanter contributor David Gleave, and cooperative manager, Gaetano Tobin, who oversees several growers who have vineyard plots in Monteforte and Valpantena. Gaetano is a longtime acquaintance of David Gleave’s. The venture was started in 1999. When not making wine for Alpha Zeta, Matt also makes, or assists in making, the wines for Saint Clair and Kim Crawford in New Zealand.
Colour : Dark red
Aroma : Rum raisins, spice, milk, chocolate, oak, vanilla, cherry
Taste : Fruity, cherry, rum raisins, fruit cake, spice, vanilla, oak, chocolate, warm long finish
Alcohol : 15%
Price : 97 SEK (375ml bottle)
Mark : C+
This wine was made from organically grown grapes. These grapes were all hand harvested. Spontaneous alcoholic fermentation was carried out using native yeasts.
This wine was imported by V&S Vin & Sprit AB. This wine is not mentioned on their website however.
Colour : Bright strawberry
Aroma : Earthy, strawberry, red fruits, slight vanilla
Taste : Dry, strawberry, raspberry, mouth watering, citrus notes
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 75 SEK
Mark : B
Website : 35 South Vina San Pedro
Website : V&S Vin & Sprit AB
This wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Agiorgitiko. The grapes for this wine were grown at an altitude of 750 metres in hilly Klimenti, Korinth. The grapes were grown organically; certified by DIO.
Colour : Red
Aroma : Red fruits, earthy, herbs
Taste : Blackcurrant, earthy, herbs, oak
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : 99 SEK
Mark : C
Website : DIO
Ogier was founded in 1859. The vines are situated in Tavel the district of Gard on the right bank of the Rhone. The grape varieties used were Grenache, Clairette, Cinsault, and Mourvedre.
Colour : Pale strawberry
Aroma : Strawberry, liqcourice, herbs
Taste : Strawberry, liqcourice, herbs, fruity, dry
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 119 SEK
Mark : B+
The domaine was founded in 1895 by the famous ampelographer Chrétien Oberlin and is now maanged by Mr and Mrs Jean-Rémy Haeffelin.
The vineyard soil is very gravely and stony. The wine was fernmented for twelve days under controlled temperature in standard tanks. After the first clarifying filtration, the wine was matured in new barrels made of Vosges' oak. The wine is preserved from 12 to 14 months in the barrels before bottling.
Colour : Light red/brown
Aroma : Stewed red fruits, leather
Taste : Tart, stewed red fruits, soft tannins, leather, acidic
Alcohol : 13%
Price : 143 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Domaine Viticole de la Ville de Colmar
The Cantine was established in 1961. It is situated 5 km from the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. The Cantine, today, consists of 160 members.
The grape varieties used are Sangiovese and Trebbiano. Two types of vinification were used in the production of the wine : soft pressing of the grapes, using pneumatic presses, whose juice is sent for fermentation at 17-19 degrees in temperature controlled containers; in addition, the pomace is left to macerate in the same juice for a brief period, approximately 12 hours, and afterward spart or all of the liquid obtained is drawn off. The must is fermented at a low temperature in the same temperature-controlled tanks.
This wine was sealed with a screwcap.
Colour : Light raspberry
Aroma : Raspberry, herbs, blackcurrant
Taste : Fruity, raspberry, herbs, blackcurrant, dry
Alcohol : 12%
Price : 87 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Cantine Leonardo da Vinci
Weingut Rabl have been in business since 1750. Rudolf Rabl has been in charge since 1986.
This wine had lots of great fruit but an overwhelming herbiness that I did not like. The wine was sealed with a screwcap.
This wine was imported by Johan Lidby Vinhandel AB.
Colour : Light pink, copper tones
Aroma : Blackcurrant, strawberry, raspberry, oranges
Taste : Herbs, grapefruit, strawberry, blackcurrant, dry
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : 85 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Weingut Rabl
Website : Johan Lidby Vinhandel AB
I possess four versions of Oz Clarke's Wine Guide on CD-ROM and wondering why he doesn't produce another version; either online or on DVD with online updates. It could combine his Wine Atlas along with his Best Buys, Pocket Wine Book, Grapes and Wines, and Wine Atlas books. This would be a phenomenal resource.
The four versions I possess are depicted below.
This version was produced by Microsoft in 1995 and ran on MacOS System 7 or later, required 5Mb of memory and 2Mb of hard disk space :
This version was produced by Websters in 1997 and ran on MacOS System 7 or later, required 8Mb of memory and 1Mb of hard disk space :
This version was produced by Websters in 1998 and ran on MacOS System 7 or later, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 3.1, and Windows NT 3.51 or later, required 8Mb of memory and 1Mb of hard disk space on a Macintosh and 10Mb of hard disk space on a Windows box :
This version was produced by Dorling Kindersley in 1999 and ran on Windows 3.1, 95, 98, and NT, and MacOS System 7.5.3 or later, required between 8 and 32Mb of memory and 20Mb of hard disk space on a Windows box and 16Mb of memory and 6Mb of hard disk space on a Macintosh :
Website : Oz Clarke
Do wine blogs matter ?
Tracy Rickman, a doctoral candidate at Auburn University is calling on all wine bloggers and wine blog readers to undertake a survey which will be used to obtain information on how consumers obtain and use information about wine.
Please help Tracy by taking the survey (see the URL link below).
Website : Wine Blog Study Survey
The Systembolaget have published their latest newsletter detailing the new wines that will be available for June 2009. It can be downloaded in PDF format from the Systembolaget web site.
Website : Systembolaget Varunytt June 2009
The label on this wine is the Queen of Clubs icon which symbolises the gamble that Peter Lehmann took when starting up his wine business. The Cabernet Sauvignon Queen image was painted by Michelle Wheadon.
On 27th April 2009, the Argentinian Wine Day was hosted at the Hotel Hilton in Stockholm. The event was organised by the Embassy of Argentina in co-operation with the Nordic Wine Institute.
There were twenty exhibitors which are listed below :
My tasting notes and scores were :
A Wines
The May 2009 newsletter from Vinkällaren Grappe can now be downloaded from their website in PDF format.
Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev maj 2009
This was wine was packaged as a 3 litre bag-in-box. The filling date was 19/02/2009.
The wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot.
The wine was imported by Primewine Sweden.
Colour : Bright strawberry red
Aroma : Jellied strawberries and raspberries, herbs
Taste : Herbs, raspberries, strawberries, crisp, long fruity finish
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 185
Mark : B-
Website : Vina Casa Patronales
Website : Primewine Sweden AB
The Center Party wants to make the countryside more alive. One of the party's main proposals is that it wants to allow Swedish wine, spirits and beer producers to sell directly to consumers, writes Dagens Nyheter.
This comes from a manifesto for sustainable agriculture which is now published.
Previously, the Minister for Agriculture, Eskil Erlandson (C), announced that he wanted to see this opportunity for the Swedish producers of alcoholic beverages.
In an alcohol study, which was presented in spring, it was suggested, however, that it would not be allowed. However, the investigation was conducted by The Public Health Ministry whose responsible minister Maria Larsson has expressed a very different wish.
This is not the first time that the Center Party has proposed permission for direct vineyard sale. Already in 2007 the Agriculture Minister expressed high hopes producers around Sweden to be allowed to sell their alcoholic beverages directly to consumers.
Website : World of Wine News 29th April 2009
Ola Johannesson has finally got hold of a small number, five, different clones of Pinot Noir for test planting. These clones are 115, 777, 512, 792 for SO 4 and 667 on the rootstock Fercal.
He will also try Saphir, that is approved in Germany, but not so widespread. Saphir is a cross from Geisenheim between Seyve Villard 1-72 and Arnsburger which in turn is a cross between two clones of Riesling. Its origin is that it does not ripen really early but instead has the good fungus resistance.
Website : Lyngby Vin
Seeing that Bad Boy 2005 was available to buy via the Systembolaget to-order range for 199 SEK, I asked Jean-Luc Thunevin about the drinking windows for the 2005 and 2006 vintages. This is what he said :
"2005 is certainly more powerful than 2006, but both can be cellared for at least 10 to 15 years. 2006 being made from a blend of 3 terroirs, is more fruit foward and will open earlier. Still, you could drink both now but I recommend to decant them for at least 1 hour, especially 2005."
This wine is a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cavino Winery was established in 1958 by Konstantinos Anastassiou. It initially grew and harvested its own grapes. However, in 1971, Cavinio made the decision to sell its' vineyards and produce wine from locally grown grapes.
Colour : Red, blue hues
Aroma : Smoky, blackberry, vanilla, oak, cherry
Taste : Smoky, blackberry, blackcurrant, vanilla, slight burnt taste
Alcohol : 13%
Price : 72 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Cavino
Casa Ramos Pinto was founded in 1880 by Adriano Ramos Pinto when he was only 21 years old. The grapes for this wine came from the Ervamoira and Bom Retiro estates in the Duoro. All of the grapes were hand-picked into small containers. The must was then vinified in granite tanks and stainless-steel
vats. French oak barrels were used during malolactic fermentation. After that, 40% of the wine remained in barrels and the rest went to age into two and three year old wine casks for 18 months. The wine was finished by fining with egg whites. The wine is a blend of 30% Tourigal Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, and 40% Tinta Barroca. 60,000 750 ml bottles and 150 magnums were bottled in June 2008. The total acidity is 4.9 grammes per litre and pH is 3.6.
In 1911, Leopold Metilcovitz designed one of the posters in the Casa Ramos Pinto collection known as "Adam and Eve".
Colour : Dark red, blue hues
Aroma : Pepper, blackberry, blueberry, mint, liquorice
Taste : Gobs of upfront fruit, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, pepper, herbs, mint, liquorice, warmth, concentrated, tiring to drink
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : 165 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : Ramos Pinto
This was a 375ml half bottle and is 100% Syrah.
Delas was founded in 1835 when Charles Audibert and Philippe Delas bought Maisons Junique, then a 40 year old winery. It was renamed Audibert and Delas. Philippe Delas had two sons, Henri and Florentin. The latter married the daughter of Charles Audibert. In 1924, the brothers succeeded to the founders and changed the name of the house to Delas Freres. After World War II, Florentin's son, Jean took over the reigns and was followed in 1960 by his son Michel. In need of capital, Michel approached Champagne Deutz. In 1977, Andre Lallier-Deutz, great-great-grandson of William Deutz, merged the two companies. In 1981, the house moved to its current premises in Saint Jean de Muzols, a small village located two kilometres north of Tournon. The winery building, set amidst the vineyards of the St. Joseph appellation, covers more than 3000 square meters. Delas Freres and Champagne Deutz were acquired by Champagne Louis Roederer in 1993. Andre Lallier retired from daily winery duties in 1996, and Fabrice Rosset, a 20-year executive with Roederer, took over the helm at both Delas and Deutz.
The current winemaker, Jacques Grange, joined Delas Freres on June 2, 1997. Jacques holds a degree in enology from the University of Dijon and has extensive winemaking experience, including a four-year stint at Chapoutier working directly with Michel Chapoutier on the 1991-1994 vintages.
Colour : Blueberry/red
Aroma : Spice, pepper, liquorice, blueberry
Taste : Blueberry and violets upfront, tartness, then white pepper followed by liquorice on finish
Alcohol : 13%
Price : 72 SEK
Mark : C+
This wine is a blend of 70% Semillion and 30% Sauvingon. It has been partly fermented in French oak barrels and then aged for 7 months in oak. It was bottled with a light filtering.
The wine won a gold medal at the Concours de Bordeaux Vins d'Aquitaine in 2007.
Chateau Le Bourdillot is an old wine producing estate that dates to at least 1818 and is located in the heart of the Graves region, southeast of the city of Bordeaux. The Chateau was aquired by the Haverlan family in 1906 and today fourth generation owner, Patrice Haverland manages the estate.
In 1958, a vine root was discovered in the vineyard in the form of Jesus Christ. This imate was affixed to a cross and blessed by the Bishop of Rhodesia during the 1959 Easter celebrations. This “Jesus of the Vines” is one of the curiosities of the estate.
Colour : Palish yellowI was interested to read about Erik Rudhe who has planted wine grapes in Tynningö in the outskirts of Stockholm. I, myself, am considering planting some grapes on a trial basis in my front garden in Tyresö (suburb of Stockholm); probably Solaris as this is available from Gutevin and may do well. Erik is a lawyer who became a winemaker in his old age. Erik has been, for the last 23 years, busy cultivating grapes on Tynningö which lies between Värmdö and Vaxholm.
Erik started in 1985 on becoming a pensioner. He had a friend who was working in Bordeaux. Erik asked him if he thought he could grow grapes on Tynningö and his friend replied yes. This encouraged Erik and things began. Where Erik grows grapes is favourable, he has them on steep walls. Whilst there is frost elsewhere, the heat from the sea rises and protects his grapes. Both white and black grapes are grown. Amongst the many grape varieties that he grows are Chardonnay, Muller Thurgau, and Pinot Noir. He also cultivates Muscat of Alexandria. One of his wines is named Milchbutter Badstube; the name alludes to the German Mosel wine Bernkasteler Badstube. Erik normally bottles about 30 bottles each year but this can double in a really good year.
Website : Vinodlaren på Tynningö
There was an Aussie, an Englishman, and an American in a Swedish Bar tasting Californian wines. Sounds like the beginning of a really bad joke !. On April 1st 2009, I met up with Bruce Cunningham and Brad Schultze at Berns Hotel in Stockholm. Bruce is the Director of Sales and Partner at X Winery/Amicus Cellars which is located in Napa, California. Brad is the Business Development Manager at Muram International AB. The meeting was kindly arranged by Brad.
X Winery is the core brand of Amicus Cellars. X Winery was started by Reed Renaudin in 2001; Reed is the winemaker and CEO. Amicus Cellars produces 15,000 cases a year for sale in fine-wine shops, restaurants and a downtown Napa tasting room. Amicus Cellars celebrates the connection between wine and friendship; "amicus" is the Latin word meaning "friends". X Winery symbolizes the crossroads of where innovative and traditional winemaking meet. Amicus Cellars is independently owned as has a staff of 8 persons. The initial impression of all their wines is the packaging which is eye-catching, modern, and suggests hi-tech. All of the wines are very drinkable and incredible value for the money.
During winemaking, X Winery uses enzymes for for increased juice extraction and cultured yeasts for better control during fermentation and specific aroma and flavour extraction. All of the bottles labels are silk-screened printed whereby the ink is applied directly to the bottle which is then baked.
We tasted (all prices are the suggested consumer price, in Swedish Kronor, as given by Muram International) :
Edoardo Seghesio planted the first Zinfandel vineyard in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley in 1895.
The wine was bottled under screwcap.
This wine was imported by Johan Lidby Vinhandel.
Colour : Purple, blue hues
Aroma : Blackberry, dark fruits, oak, mint, chocolate, smells much better than it tastes
Taste : Burning bitter astringent oak alcohol finish, blackberry, mint, chocolate, slight liqcourice
Alcohol : 15.5%
Price : 165 SEK
Mark : C-
Website : Seghesio Family Vineyards
Website : Johan Lidby Vinhandel AB
This wine was packaged in a 1.5 litre bag-in-box. It is made by Wither Hills and the winemaker was Ben Glover. Total acidity is 7.2 grammes per litre and the residual sugar is 5 grammes per litre.
This wine was imported by WineWorld AB.
Colour : Pale straw
Aroma : Blackcurrant leaf, lime, gooseberry, cut grass
Taste : Overwhelming cut grass and sharp gooseberry, blackcurrant leaf, bracing mouthwatering acidity, lime
Alcohol : 13%
Price : 179 SEK
Mark : C-
Website : Wither Hills
Website : WineWorld AB
This wine was packaged in a 1500ml (two bottle) bag-in-box. It is a blend of 95% Shiraz and 5% Petit Verdot. There was a pre-fermentation maceration for a week and then alcoholic fermentation was started at 28 degrees and then fell to 23 degrees. Pumping over was performed every seventh hour. One gramme per litre of French oak powder and American oak chips were added during alcoholic fermentation. Part of the wine was stored in two year old French and American barriques and part in steel tanks with American oak staves inserted.
Broken Plough Vineyard was founded in 2000 and is owned by Jim Moulardellis.
Colour : Deep purple
Aroma : Vanilla, oak, plum, blackberry, herbs
Taste : Liquorice and warmth on finish, blackberry, herbs, oak, vanilla
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 179 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : Austwine
The wine was sealed with a screwcap and was bottled in 375ml (half-bottle) format. It is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault. Fermentation was in stainless steel tanks.
The cooperative was founded in 1935 and has 150 members who together own over 550 hectares of vineyards. The winemaker was Bernard Degoul.
This wine was imported by Premium Wines Sweden AB.
Colour : Bright strawberry red
Aroma : Herbs, strawberry, raspberry
Taste : Dry, herbs, strawberry, raspberry
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 45 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Premium Wine Sweden AB
Bernard Magrez has now branched out into more luxury wine tourism; in recent years, it has been possible to visit Pape Clement and the accompanying wine shop. A dedicated web site will be open very soon.
There are four packages currently on offer, a minimum of two persons is needed :
The new newsletter Varunytt detailing the set of new wines that will be for sale in May 2009 from the Systembolaget monopoly stores in Sweden can now be downloaded from their website in PDF format. The wines can be purchased from Saturday 2nd May 2009.
Website : Systembolaget Varunytt Maj 2009
The Directors series is the highest tier price range of Claremont Wines.
This wine was imported by WSB The Beverage Company AB.
Les Sampson was the winemaker.
Colour : Dark red
Aroma : Vanilla, mint, chocolate, blackberry
Taste : Mint, chocolate, blackberry, blackcurrant, vanilla, herbs
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 159 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : Claremont Wines
Website : WSB The Beverage Company AB
On the label it states "from the Golden River Valley". This wine is a blend of Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, and Touriga Franca. Jose Maria Soares Franco was the winemaker. Duorum in Latin means "from two" and respresents the desire to combine oenological activities with Joao Portugal Ramos.
Colour : Red/purple
Aroma : Spice, violets, vanilla, dark berries
Taste : Blackberries, violets, earthy, fruity, oak, vanilla
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 99 SEK
Mark : C+
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