TN : Maycas Del Limari Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Concha Y Toro, Limari Valley, Chile

The grapes for this wine were hand-harvested in February 2008. Alcoholic fermentation was in steel tanks. The winemaker was Marcelo Papa.

The front label has twelve dotted circles upon it whereby each dotted circle is supposed to represent a month the growing cycle from bud break to harvest in a land whose growing season is perhaps longer than anywhere else on Earth.



On the back label are the words "I get the feeling I'm walking through a lemon grove a month before they're ripe for picking where green lemons hang amid moist foliage. In the background lie earthy aromas, damp rocks and minerals.



This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Very pale yellow

Aroma : Minerals, lime, nettles, broad beans

Taste : Nettles, gooseberry, sharp lemon, minerals, dirty earthy finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C-

TN : Broquel Cabernet Franc 2007, Bodegas Trapiche, Mendoza, Argentina

The grapes for this wine were hand harvested from vineyards located in Cruz de Piedra, Maipu, Mendoza. The wine spent a total of 15 months in a combination of French and American oak.



This wine was imported by Fondberg & Co.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Dark berries, grilled peppers, oak, milk chocolate

Taste : Dark berries, blackcurrant, herbs, oak

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 95 SEK

Website : Bodegas Trapiche
Website : Fondberg & Co

TN : Pinot Gris K Collection Personnelle 2007, Charles Wantz, Alsace, France

The grapes for this were all harvested by hand. Alcoholic fermentation was in steel tanks with each block vinified separately. Charles Wantz is a family business that was founded in 1563. Today, it is run by Eliane Wantz and her husband Erwin Moser.



This wine was imported by Apricot AB.



Colour : Yellow

Aroma : Pear, honey, apricot

Taste : White grapes, pears, apricots, honey, mushrooms on finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Charles Wantz
Website : Apricot AB

Systembolaget New Wines September 15th 2009

The Systembolaget will release new wines on the 15th September 2009. The list can be viewed on the Systembolaget's web site (in HTML format).

Website : Systembolaget Nyheter den 15 september

TN : Arboleda Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Vina Sena, Valle de Leyda, Chile

This wine was sealed with a screwcap. The pH of this wine is 3.05, total acidity is 5.94 grammes per litre (tartaric acid), and the residual sugar is 1.7 grammes per litre.

The fruit was hand picked and transported by refrigerated trucks to the winery in small 14 kg boxes. The grapes underwent a 6 to 10-hour cold soak to encourage a fuller range of aromas and flavours before the pneumatic pressing. The must was then fermented very clean (40–50 NTU) and cold, twelve to fifteen degrees, in stainless-steel tanks to preserve its aromatic potential and using yeasts that were especially selected for their ability to enhance aromatic compounds under cold temperature conditions.

The grapes were harvested between the 31st of March to 5th of April. The 2008 vintage was unique in every sense. The winter of 2007 was one of the coldest and driest on record, and as a result, the soil moisture levels in the spring and prior to budbreak were considerably lower than in other years. This caused a ten to fifteen day delay in bud break in a number of varieties. Due to its proximity to the coast, the Leyda Valley has a high maritime influence that provides ideal temperatures for grape ripening, while the cool breezes and moderate temperatures allow this valley to maintain consistent quality over time, regardless of annual fluctuations.



The name "Arboleda" pays tribute to Chile’s native trees, which are conserved in the winery's Valle de Aconcagua vineyards.

Colour : Watery pale yellow

Aroma : Lemon, lime, nettles, gooseberry

Taste : Nettles, lime, lemon, minerals, gooseberry

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Arboleda Wines

TN : Simonsig Tiara 2006, Stellenbosch, South Africa

This wine is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot. The wine spent 18 months in oak of which 95% was new French and the rest American oak; 64% of the American oak was new.



This is yet another red wine from South Africa with burnt rubber notes.

Colour : Deep dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Herbs, blackcurrant, plums, tobacco, smoke

Taste : Plums, blackcurrant, burnt rubber, coffee, fruity

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Simonsig

TN : Chateau Bonnet Reserve 2005, Andre Lurton, Bordeaux, France

This wine received 87 points from Wine Spectator. The wine itself is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot. The consultant on this wine was Denis Galabert from the Oenologique Center of Grézillac.



This wine was imported by Bibendum.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, oak, dark fruits, herbs

Taste : Blackcurrant, plums, oak, grainy tannins, a little closed right now or maybe the fruit is fading. Could be worth ageing for another three years to see if it opens up.

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Andre Lurton
Website : Bibendum

Systembolaget New Wines October 2009

The Systembolaget have released their catalogue of new wines for October 2009. It can be downloaded from their website in PDF format. Of note this month, are the bulk of the Systembolaget's release of Bordeaux 2006s (some offerings have already been released in previous months).

The main wines will be available from October 1st and the Bordeaux 2006s from October 15th.

Website : Systembolaget Varunytt Oktober 2009

TN : Cotes d'Aigialia Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Cavino, Aigalia, Greece

The grapes for this wine were grown on highland slopes in the province of Egialia Achaias at an altitude between 500 and 750 metres. The climate is Mediterranean. The vineyard soils are deep clayey calcareous. The grapes were hand harvested between the middle of September and the beginning of October. The grapes were first crushed. and after an initial cold maceration at fourteen degrees, then fermentation followed by maceration with skins in steel tanks for five days. Finally, the wine spent six months in steel tanks together with oak chips. 20,000 bottles were imported into Sweden.

Cavino was founded 50 years ago in Aigio on Peloponnese bu C. Anastassiou, and J. Dousk. Today, it is run by the Anastassiou's son Jiannis.



Colour : Dark red/purple

Aroma : Blackcurrant, oak, vanilla, spice

Taste : Blackcurrant, liquorice, cocoa powder, oak

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Cavino

TN : No1 Edition Riesling Kabinett 2007, St Michael Weinkellerei, Mosel, Germany

The sugar content of this wine is 38 grammes per litre. The wine was sealed with a screwcap.



This wine was imported by Granqvist Vinagentur.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Lemon, oranges, honey, pears, white grapes

Taste : Sweet, honey, lemon, lime, oranges

Alcohol : 8.5%

Price : 49 SEK (375ml bottle)

Mark : C

Website : Granqvist Vinagentur

TN : Stonestreet Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Alexander Valley, California, USA

This wine is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 6% Syrah. The winemaker was Graham Weerts and Jess Jackson is the owner of Stonestreet Wines.



Colour : Dark purple

Aroma : Cherry, blackcurrant, milk chocolate

Taste : Coffee, oak, blackcurrant, cherry, cedar, warm finish, drying tannic finish, long finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 329 SEK

Website : Stonestreet Wines

TN : Chateau Haut-Beausejour 2004, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe, Bordeaux,France

In 1992, Jean-Claude Rouzaud, oenologist and president of Champagne Louis Roederer, acquired two Cru Bourgeois vineyards in Saint-Estephe, Chateau Picard and Chateau Beausejour. It is these two properties that make up Chateau Haut-Beausejour today.



This wine was imported by VinUnic AB.

Colour : Red

Aroma : Fruity, blackcurrant, plums, cedar

Taste : Cedar, tobacco, plums, blackcurrant, cherries, oak, grainy tannins

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 189 SEK

Mark : C

Website : VinUnic

TN : AC 4.090 Cabernet Sauvignon / Carmenere / Syrah Reserva 2007, AltaCima, Lontue Valley, Chile

AltaCima 4.090 refers to the height of the Peteroa Volcano, part of the Andes mountains overlooking the vineyards. AltaCima means "high summit".

This wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carmenere, and 15% Syrah.



This wine was imported by Sydamerikaviner, Stockholm, Sweden.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Herbs, blackberry, toasty oak, plums

Taste : Toasty oak, plums, herbs, blackberry, fruity but boring

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Alta Cima
Website : Sydamerikaviner

Book : Desert Island Wine

Desert Island Wine was published in 2007 by Miles Lambert-Gocs. The book consists of short stories around the theme of wine.



Unfortunately most the episodes were boring and trying to read. However, there were three gems. Firstly, an interview by a CNN correspondent with Dionysus, a profile of William Granville a terroirist who can deliver wine to match any desired terroir, and an interview with Brad Crostati owner of Gobs-of-Fruit vineyards.

TN : Claymore Grenache Shiraz 2006, Claymore Wines, Clare Valley, Australia

This wine is a blend of 82% Grenache and 18% Shiraz.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



2400 bottles were imported into Sweden by Jakobsson and Soderstrom Vinhandel.

Colour : Red

Aroma : Mint, liqourice, raspberry, vanilla, strawberry

Taste : Very spicy, thin, red fruits, mint, soft tannins

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Claymore Wines
Website : Jakobsson and Soderstrom Vinhandel

TN : Sancerre Les Belles Vignes 2008 Rose, Fournier Pere et Fils, Sancerre, France

Colour : Cooked salmon pink

Aroma : Jellied raspberries, herbs

Taste : Dry, herbs, redcurrants, sharp tangy finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Fournier Pere et Fils

TN : Vina Robles Syree 2005, Paso Robles, USA

The name Syree derives from Syrah and Cuvee. This wine is a blend of 72% Syrah, 15% Petit Sirah, and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was aged for 18 months in French oak barrels.

Vina Robles was founded in 1996 by Swiss entrepreneur, Hans Nef. Matthias Gubler was the winemaker.



This wine received 90 points from Wine Enthusiast magazine in November 2008.

This wine was imported by Muram International AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Spice, blackberry, milk chocolate, herbs, tobacco

Taste : Blackberry, blackcurrant, spice, plums, pepper, tobacco, tangy finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 289 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Vina Robles
Website : Muram International AB

TN : Nottage Hill Riesling 2008, Hardys, South Eastern Australia, Australia

In 1850, at the age of 20, Thomas Hardy came to the new colony of South Australia from Devon, England. He established a winery on the banks of Adelaide's River Torrens in 1853. His Bankside winery was the start of a family wine business that grew to become one of the world's great wine companies. At Bankside, and later at his McLaren Vale property Tintara, Thomas Hardy focused on quality and craftsmanship.

The name Nottage originates from the husband of one of Thomas Hardy's cousins, Matilda, whose son Thomas Hardy Nottage was Cellar Manager at Tintara, and the backbone of the Hardy undertaking in McLaren Vale for over 60 years.



The grapes for this wine were harvested from 15-25 year old vines. After harvesting, the fruit was crushed and cold fermented in stainless steel tanks, where it was inoculated with yeasts suited to the Riesling grape. This wine was not matured in oak.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Lime, petrol, green banana, green apple

Taste : Lime, petrol, oranges, pear

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Hardys

Wine in Sitcoms : Terry and June

Terry and June, a TV Sitcom, series six features and episode entitled "Wine, Women And So Long" which is heavily orientated around the subject of wine.

The beginning of this episode starts of with Terry experimenting with home winemaking, bottles half-full with sediment and bottles exploding in the airing cupboard feature heavily; the wine in question being a rice and raisin liebfraumilch. Next, Terry experiments with Coffe liquor which is a resounding success. His boss, Sir Dennis Hodge, nominates him as a judge in a home made wine competition which sees him drinking too much.

TN : Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand

The grapes were planted in free draining silty alluvial loams over deep stony river deposits located in the Central Wairau Valley. The vineyards are bordered to the south by the Wither Hills range.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



This wine was imported by Bibbendum Wine Ltd, London, UK.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Nettles, gooseberry, minerals

Taste : Gooseberry, leafy, minerals, lemon, grassy, earthy notes on finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Bibbendum Wine Ltd
Website : Wither Hills

TN : Casillero del Diablo Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Central Valley, Chile

Colour : Cassis

Aroma : Blackcurrant, coffee

Taste : Ribena Blackcurrant, coffee, cherries

Alcohol : 13.5 %

Price : 39 SEK (375 ml bottle)

Mark : C

Website : Casillero del Diablo

First Venture into Viticulture

Last weekend, I bought my very first grape vine. A black grape variety called Frankenthaler, a member of the vitis vinifera family. Today, it consists of a single cordon with three spurs. I will re-pot and add supports before pruning back to just two spurs in the winter in the hope of producing about four clusters next year. From what I have read, and my intimate knowledge of the Swedish weather climate, the vine should do best indoors and will be fine to remain "in pot".



According to the instructions that came with the vine, it flowers in June, needs full sun (preferably South facing) and protection from the wine, fertilising in early Spring with a fertiliser rich in Calcium or Potassium, and the earth should be kept moist but not too wet. I hope to see some ripe fruit in September.

TN : Ipsus Syrah 2007, IGT, Cantine Carlo Pellegrino, Sicily, Italy

Alcoholic fermentation and skin maceration was in steel tanks. The wine spent one year in French oak barriques. 6,000 bottles were imported into Sweden.



Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Plums, violets, oak, herbs

Taste : Plums, violets, herbs, vanilla, oak, tannic finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Cantine Carlo Pellegrino

TN : Catapult Shiraz Viognier 2007, Wirra Wirra Vineyards, McLaren Vale, Australia

The late Greg Trott saw many of his dreams realised at Wirra Wirra. Yet one vision eluded him - to build a medieval siege machine, or "trebuchet". His reasons ? To use as a catapult of course; bombing neighbouring wineries with bottles of fine wine. He hoped they would return the favour and make it a showpiece for his beloved McLaren Vale. Plans are drawn and in his honour and Wirra Wirra will finish the job one day very soon. This pioneering spirit is honoured by hurling a splash of Viognier into Shiraz and calling it Catapult.



"Wirra Wirra" is an aboriginal name meaning "amongst the gum trees". Wirra Wirra Vineyards was originally established in 1894 by known South Australian eccentric and cricketer Robert Strangways Wigley. The winery prospered in its early days, producing many wines including a much acclaimed Shiraz, which was exported to England and the Empire until Wigley's death in 1925. The winery ran into disrepair and was eventually abandoned. In 1969 under the watchful eye of the late Greg Trott and his first-cousin Roger, the winery was rebuilt from the remnants of two walls and some slate fermenting tanks.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Liquorice, mint, blackberry, spice

Taste : Pepper, mint, dark berries, chocolate, spice, savoury

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Wirra Wirra Vineyards

TN : Semi-Dry Riesling 2007, Hermann J Wiemer, Finger Lakes, New York State, USA

Hermann Wiemer was born in Bernkastel in Germany into a family with a 300 year winemaking tradition. In 1973, Hermann selected a property on the west shore of Seneca Lake with similar soil and climatic properties to that of his native Mosel.

The grapes for this wine were harvested between October 10th and 15th 2007. The grapes underwent a whole cluster press followed by cold alcoholic fermentation.



This wine was imported by Andersson Wines International. 1500 bottles were imported into Sweden.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Petrol, oranges, lemon, white grapes

Taste : Petrol, off-dry, lemon, oranges, honey, white grapes

Alcohol : 11.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Hermann J Wiemer
Website : Andersson Wines International

TN : Pimpala Road Cabernet Sauvignon Sangiovese 2006, Geoff Merrill, South Australia, Australia

Pimpala Road is the location of the Mount Hurtle winery that Geoff Merrill purchased in 1985.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



This wine was imported by Ward Wines AB.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Dark berries, vanilla, mint, oak, chocolate

Taste : Oak, mint, cherries, blackcurrant

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Geoff Merrill Wines
Website : Ward Wines AB

TN : Chateau de Cruzeau 2008, Andre Lurton, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France

This wine is a 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Alcoholic fermentation was carried out in stainless steel vats followed by 10 months of ageing on lees before bottling. The vines were all double guyots trained. All of the grapes were hand-harvested. Denis Dubourdieu, Professor at the Institut d'Oenologie of Bordeaux, was the consultant for this wine. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



Château de Cruzeau is situated between Martillac and St Médard d'Eyrans in the south of the Pessac-Léognan appellation in the Graves region. It is an ancient estate and appears on the map drawn up by Belleyme in 1760.

In 1841, the review “Le Producteur” gave it Premier Cru status for both whites and reds. On high, south-facing hillsides, the vineyard are planted in deep gravelly soil. Some of the buildings date from the 18th century, though the château itself was built in 1912.

The estate was purchased in 1973 by André Lurton, and since entirely restored; today it comprises 101 hectares.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Nettles, vanilla, green apple, citrus

Taste : Nettles, creamy, sharp lime and lemon

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Andre Lurton