TN : Foley Syrah 2005, Rancho Santa Rosa, Santa Rita Hills, USA

This estate produced Syrah incorporates fruit from sub-blocks 1A and 1B from the Rancho Santa Rosa vineyard, with two clones (Clone Noir and Clone 1) being represented. The grapes were handpicked from October 7th to November 11th 2005 and then de-stemmed and moved to small open-top tanks for inoculation with yeast, and fermentation. After fifteen days, with fermentation complete, the new wine was pressed and pumped into French oak barrels (22% new) for aging. The wine was aged for seventeen months and then bottled. 660 cases were produced. pH is 3.51 and the acidity is 0.66.



This wine was imported by Muram International AB.

Colour : Deep blackberry

Aroma : Spice, blackcurrant, blackberry, liquorice, oak, toast

Taste : Spice, lively acidity, blackcurrant, blackberry, oak, toast, cherries, black pepper

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 179 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Foley Wines
Website : Muram International AB

TN : De Casta Rosado 2008, Torres, Catalunya, Spain

I bought this bottle at Eindhoven airport yesterday whilst waiting to board the plane to Stockholm. It was a bright pink in colour and both fruity and taste and aroma and dry. A very good value airport wine.



This wine was bottled under screwcap. The back label states that this wine was first produced in 1941. It is a blend of Carinena and Garnacha Tinta grapes.

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 4.50 Euro (Eindhoven airport gate area bar)

Mark : B-

Website : Torres

TN : Alamos Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Bodega Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina

The website for Alamos was "under construction" at the time of writing this tasting note.

The wine is made from grapes grown on the eastern slopes of the low mountains of the great Andes.



This wine was imported by VinUnic AB.

Colour : Very pale yellow

Aroma : Pear, oranges

Taste : Pear, oranges, mineral, gooseberry

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Alamos
Website : VinUnic AB

TN : Saile and Sabga Connoissseur Merlot, Vin dePays d'Oc, France

I had this wine on a RyanAir flight from Stockholm to Amsterdam on Sunday and on the return yesterday. It was either this or a Chardonnay (also by Saile and Sabga). I was put off the Chardonnay due to a neighbour complaining that his beer was hot: however, I had to drink something so a second bottle of red was drunk on my return journey !. The wine was bottled under srewcap.

This wine was boring, uninteresting, and over-priced.

Price : 6 Euro (Ryan in-flight, 18.7 centilitre bottle)

Alcohol : 13%

Mark : C-

TN : Argento Bonarda 2007, Mendoza, Argentina

The word Argento, meaning silver in Latin, is often used colloquially in Argentina to refer to a thing or a person that is quintessentially Argentine.

This wine was bottled with a screwcap. Gerardo Cirrincione was the winemaker. The grapes are sourced from Rivadavia (East Oasis) which is located at 600-700 metres above sea level. The grapes undergo fermentation in stainless steel fermentation at 28 to 30 degrees for seven days. The wine then is aged for three months in American oak. The residual sugar is 1.94 grammes per litre, the acidity is 5.07 grammes per litre, and the pH is 3.8.



Colour : Dark red, blackcurrant

Aroma : Cherry, milk chocolate, blackcurrant

Taste : Fruity, mouth watering, blackcurrant, blackberry, cherry, juicy, fruity, tart tannic finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 69 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Argento

TN : Storks' Tower Tempranillio-Shiraz 2008, Rose, Hjos de Antonio Barcelo, Caserio de Duenas Estate, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon, Spain

This bottle was sealed with a screwcap. The wine was produced by the Hjos de Antonio Barcelo company which was established in 1876.



This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.



Colour : Bright raspberry

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, herbs

Taste : Dry, fruity upfront, raspberry, strawberry, red fruits, herbs

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 58 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Hjos de Antonio Barcelo
Website : Vinunic AB

Ata Rangi and Project Crimson

I received some information about Ata Rangi's involvement in Project Crimson.



Ata Rangi produce a younger vines pinot noir in support the work of Project Crimson, a charitable conservation trust established in 1990 for the protection of New Zealand’s iconic native red-flowering trees, the pohutukawa, and northern and southern rata.



Website : Ata Rangi
Website : Project Crimson

The New Wine Consumer July 14th 2009

This week, I was one of two guests on The New Wine Consumer weekly live discussion. Also guest starring was Neil Monnens who talked about two of his projects: WineRelease.com and the controversial WineBlueBook.com.

The show can be downloaded from The New Wine Consumer website or iTunes.

Website : The New Wine Consumer July 14th 2009, Speaking of Wine

Systembolaget New Wines August 2009

The Systembolaget newsletter for August 2009 detailing new wines available can now be downloaded from the Systembolaget website (PDF format). This month sees another bath of Bordeaux 2006 available for purchase: in ridiculously small quantities at only a single shop in the whole of Stockholm !.

Website : Systembolaget Varunytt augusti 2009

TN : Irony Pinot Noir 2006, Russian River Valley, California, USA

Colour : Red/maroon

Aroma : Stewed red fruits, strawberry, raspberry, spice

Taste : Stewed red fruits, violets, strawberry, raspberry, spice, cedar, warm finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 125 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Irony Wines

TN : Merlot delle Venezie 2006, IGT, Zenato, Italy

This wine is 100% Merlot. The grapes are planted on benchland and hillside areas in the province of Verona. The aspect of the vineyards is south and southeast and are at an average altitude of 150 to 200 metres. The vineyard soils are sandy and clayey. The vines are spur-trained and cordon pruned. The planting density is 4000 vines per hectare. The yield per hectare is 10 metric tons. The grapes were manually harvested between mid to late September.

Grapes are sorted using cluster quality selection, crushing-destemming, and then the fruit is given a 5- to 6-day maceration on the skins in steel fermenters. After fermentation, the wine is pressed off and the press wine set aside. Upon completion of malolactic fermentation, maturation follows in 300-litre French oak, then bottle-aged for 6 months before release.



Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Plums, cherries, spice, dark fruits

Taste : Plums, cherries, fruity, spice, dark fruits, pencil-lead like finish, tobacco

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Zenato

TN : Dominio de Valdepusa Syrah 2004, Marques de Grinon, Spain

Colour : Dark deep red, blue hues

Aroma : Oak, spice, blueberry, blackberry

Taste : Blueberry, blackberry, pepper, spice, vanilla, oak, concentrated, long finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 235 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Pagos de Familia Marques de Grinon

TN : Sancerre 2007, Red, Henry Natter, France

This wine is 100% Pinot Noir.

Colour : Light red

Aroma : Strawberries, spice, stewed red fruits, oak

Taste : Strawberries, spice, stewed red fruits, blueberry, violets on finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 147 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Henry Natter

TN : Leasingham Bin 7 Riesling 2008, Leasingham Wines, Clare Valley, Australia

This wine was sealed with a screwcap. Bin 7 Riesling was first released in 1967. Leasingham Wines is estimated to have been established in 1863.



Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Mineral, lemons, hints of orange, petrol character

Taste : Lime, mineral, sharp, apple, petrol character, long finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Leasingham Wines

TN : Serrata Belguardo 2006, IGT, Marchesi Mazzei, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy

Marchesi Mazzei have been the proprietors of Castello di Fonterutoli since 1435.

The Belguardo estate is located in the Maremma region of Tuscany, on the hills between Grosseto and Montiano, near the national park “dell'Uccellina”, about ten kilometers from the coast.

This wine is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Alicante Nero. The grapes were picked from September 12th, for the Sangiovese, and from September 1st, for the Alicante Nero. The wine was fermented at a temperature between 28 and 30 degrees. The wine was aged for approximately twelve months in small, 225 litres, 30% new, French and American oak barrels. The total acidity is 5.70 grammes per litre. All the vines were spur cordon trained. The vine planting density was 6,600 plants per hectare. The wine was bottled in March 2008 and 92,000 bottles were produced.



Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Oak, vanilla, cherries, milk chocolate, spice

Taste : Vanilla and oak bomb, lots of sour cherry fruit, spice, tobacco, smooth tannins on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Marchesi Mazzei SPA

TN : Reserve de Bonnet Rose 2008, Andre Lurton, Bordeaux, France

This wine is a blend of Melot and Cabernet Franc. It is sealed with a screwcap.



Colour : Bright strawberry

Aroma : Jellied red fruits

Taste : Strawberry, jellied raspberries, sour finish, fruity, dry

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 80 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Andre Lurton

TN : Landgut Herrenberg Gewuerztraminer 2008, Weingut Lergenmueller, Pfalz, Germany

This wine was bottled with a screwcap and imported by Primewine Sweden.



Colour : Yellow

Aroma : Spice, orange, pear, turkish delight

Taste : Citrus, oranges, turkish delight, grapey, pineapple

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Weingut Lergenmueller
Website : Primewine Sweden

TN : Schilcher-Frizzante, Perlwein, Weingut Reiterer, Austria

This wine was bottled with a crown cap.



Colour : Bright pale red

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, herbs

Taste : Red berries, strawberries on finish, herbs, grapefruit, sharp citrus-like finish

Alcohol : 11.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Reiterer

TN : Eikendal Merlot 2006, Eikendal Vineyards, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Since 1981, the 76 hectare wine farm has been owned by the Swiss family Saager who hail from Zurich.



This wine was imported by AB Wicked Wine.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Burnt rubber, plums, milk chocolate, mint

Taste : Burnt rubber, plums, blackberries, milk chocolate, mint, very fruity, coffee, mouth watering

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 108 SEK

Mark : C+
Website : Eikendal Vineyards
Website : AB Wicked Wine

TN : Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Bodega Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina

The grapes were for this wine were sourced from small lots: Lot 3 was from La Piramide vineyard, located in Agrelo at 3100 feet elevation, and Lot 2 was from the Domingo vineyard, located in Tupungato at 37700 feet elevation. The wine has spent 18 months in French oak of which 80% was new. Total acidity is 5.62 and pH is 3.62. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.



This wine was imported by VinUnic AB.

Colour : Inky, deep dark purple

Aroma : Blackcurrant, cherry, oak, dates, raisins

Taste : Blackcurrant, cherry, oak, silky, rich, slightly sweet, long finish, slightly cloying, milk chocolate, liqcourice, raisins, dates

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 275 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Bodega Catena Zapata
Website : VinUnic

TN : Moueix Saint Emilion 2006, Jean-Pierre Moueix, Bordeaux, France

Jean-Pierre Moueix was born in Corrèze in 1913. He arrived with his parents in Saint-Emilion following the 1929 depression. In 1937 he founded his wine merchant business on the Quai du Priourat in Libourne.

Colour : Dark red/maroon

Aroma : Tobacco, plums, red fruits

Taste : Fruity, plum, tobacco, dark fruits, drying tannins on finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Jean-Pierre Moueix

TN : Tokaji Harslevelu 2006, Szaraz Minosegi Feherbor, Dry Quality White Wine, Pannon Tokaj, Hungary

According to the label, the speciality of this wine derives from the "linden flower aroma".



Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Mineral, lemon, some stone fruits, sick smell that blew off

Taste : Spicy, lemon, grapefruit, almonds, bitter after taste

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Pannon Tokaj

TN : Green Point Pinot Noir 2007, Domaine Chandon, Victoria, Australia

Green Point was originally named after pioneers who observed that the location remained green long into the summer. The site was established by Moet and Chandon in 1986. The vineyard soils are deep alluvial. This wine is sealed with a screwcap.



The Pinot Noir vintage started in early March with the harvest of the Maroondah block, located
adjacent to the Green Point winery, and finished a month later with the harvest of the Petgra Windy block at Yarra Junction, 40km to the South and 300m higher. There were approximately 14 individual parcels of Pinot Noir made in 2006, each contributing to the blend due to subtle variations, derived from altitude, clone, aspect or soil type. Each separate parcel was destemmed into open fermenters and cold-soaked at 10 degrees for three to four days prior to the commencement of fermentation, with gentle plunging each day to gently extract the colour and tannin from the skins. Once fermentation commenced, the cap was plunged by hand three times a day and the temperature was allowed to reach 30 degrees. After fermentation finished, the wine was pressed, settled for a day and racked to French oak barriques for malolactic fermentation and maturation. After eight months in oak, the wine was blended and bottled in January 2006. An analysis show a pH of 3.50 and a TA of 6.79 grammes per litre.

Colour : Light red

Aroma : Strawberries, spice, ginger, raspberry

Taste : Spice, raspberry, strawberry, herbs, oak, some ginger on long finish, more spice than fruit

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Green Point

TN : Quinta de Chocapalha Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Vinho Regional Estremadura, Portugal

Quinta de Chocapalha is located in the surroundings of Aldeia Galega and spreads over the sunny hills of Alenquer, a delimited region in the northwest of Lisboa, Portugal. Its historical vineyards date back to the 16th century and once belonged to Diogo Duff, a brave Scottish man who received the "Tower and Sword" insignia from King João VI.

Alice and Paulo Tavares da Silva bought the estate in the 1980s and made significant investments in its 45ha of vineyard. Their daughter, Sandra Tavares da Silva, is now in charge of the Oenology Department.



The grapes were fermented in lagares and stainless steel vats for 14 days and then aged for 18 months in French oak barriques. 5600 750ml bottles were produced.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Oak, blackcurrant, leather, plums, dried raisins

Taste : Oak, plums, blackcurrant, leather, herbs, astringent bitter tannins

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Quinta de Chocapalha

TN : Cuvee Prestige Bourgueil 2006, Domaine des Chesnaies, Lame Delisle Boucard, Loire Valley, France

The vineyards are situated along the banks of the Loire river near the famous chateaux of Villandry and Azay le Rideau. The wine is a blend of 90% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvingon.



Colour : Red/blue hues

Aroma : Oak, blackcurrant, raspberry

Taste : Fruits of the forest, oak, talcum poweder smooth tannins, blackcurrant

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 100 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Lame Delisle Boucard

TN : Finca Las Palmas Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Bodegas Trapiche, Mendoza, Argentina

Finca Las Palmas is named after the vineyard of the same name situated at 850 metres above sea level. The wine was aged in French oak barrels for over 18 months. The wine has some great fruit but is ruined by over-oaking.

This wine was imported by Fondberg & Co.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, oak, herbs

Taste : Oak, bitter astringent finish, blackcurrant, vanilla, herbs, over-oaked.

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 115 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Bodegas Trapiche
Website : Fondberg & Co

TN : Castello di Ama Rosato 2008, IGT, Tuscany, Italy

The terroir that yields Castello di Ama’s Rosé is the same that yields its Chianti Classico. The vineyards were planted between 1964 and 1978. The vines are trained partly to vertical trellis and partly to Open Lyre. The wine, 90% sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo, is made by bleeding-off, saignée, lots that will produce Chianti Classico.

Colour : Bright strawberry pink

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, herbs, oranges

Taste : Red fruits, strawberry, oranges, sharp bitter finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Castello di Ama

TN : Lambrusco Reggiano 1915 Dolce, Donelli, Lambrusco Reggiano, Italy

The vineyard soils are alluvial comprised of mixed gravel, sand and clay. The blend is 60% Lambrusco Marani, Lambrusco Maestri and Lambrusco Montericco, 30% Lambrusco Salamino, and 10% Ancellotta. The trellising system used is cordone speronato, G.D.C. and Bellussi. The grapes are typically harvested at the end of September.

Donelli was created in 1915 by Adolfo Donelli. For many years, Donelli has been the exclusive official supplier of wines for Team Ferrari Marlboro on the Formula 1 circuit.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrants, blackberry, metallic

Taste : Sweetness, fruity, dark fruits, raspberry

Alcohol : 7%

Price : 49 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Donelli Vini