TN : Benchmark Shiraz Mourvedre 2008, Grant Burge Wines, South Eastern Australia

This wine was packaged as a bag-in-box (3 litres). The wine is a blend of 80% Shiraz and 20% Mourvedre.



The wine was filled by Altia PLC, Helsinki, Finland.



Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Strawberry, oak, spices, plums

Taste : Soft, fruity, vanilla, oak, spice, liqourice, fruits of the forest

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 235 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Grant Burge Wines

TN : Kevin Arnold Shiraz Ashleigh Anne 2006,

This wine won a gold medal at Veritas 2008. The wine is a blend of 90% Shiraz and 10% Mourvedre. Fermentation was with yeasts WE374, L2226, and L2026 in a combination of Stainless steel and 225 liter barrels. The wine was matured for 16 months in 90% French 225 liter barrels and 10% American oak. Fining was carried out using egg whites and there was a bulk filtration prior to bottling. Volatile acidity is 0.70 grammes per litre, residual sugar is 1.9 grammes per litre, the pH is 3.70, total acidity is 5.8 grammes per litre, and the total SO2 is 95ppm.



This wine was imported by Wineworld AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Oak, blackberry, plums, tobacco, burnt toast

Taste : Blackberry, blueberry hints, tobacco, dark chocolate, mint

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 179 SEK

Website : Waterford Estate
Website : Wineworld AB

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

This wine was imported by Fondberg & Co.



Colour : Blackcurrant, red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, herbs, cherry, liqourice

Taste : Milk chocolate, blackberry, savoury notes, oak, cherry

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Bodegas Trapiche
Website : Fondberg & Co

TN : Grove Street Sangiovese 2007, Grove Street Winery, California, USA

Grove Street Winery was founded in 1988 and is located on one of the oldest streets in Healdsburg and a short distance from the Russian River.



This wine was imported by Tomp Spirits AB.

Colour : Blackberry, red

Aroma : Plums, cherry, herbs, spice

Taste : Cherry, plums, vanilla, liqourice, caramel

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Grove Street Winery
Website : Tomp Spirits AB

TN : 50 Riesling Trocken 2008, G.H. von Mumm, Rheingau,

The 50 degree parallel north runs through the vineyards of the Rheingau.



This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Lime, apple, marmelade

Taste : Green apple, lime, marmelade, mineral

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Weingut G H von Mumm

TN : Flint Valley, Surrey Regional Wine, Denbies Wine Estate, UK

This wine is a blend of Reichensteiner, Seyval Blanc, and Chardonnay.



Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Vanilla ice cream , nettles, lemon

Taste : Vanilla, lemon, nettles, green finish, high acidic zingy finish

Alcohol : 11%

Price : 6.99 GB Pounds (Waitrose)

Mark : C

Website : Denbies Wine Estate

TN : Tendral 2007, Cellers Unio, Priorat, Spain

This wine is a blend of Shiraz, Grenache, and Mazuelo.



Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Spicy, plums, cherries, rum

Taste : Plums, raisins, sour cherry, acidic finish, rum

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 115 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Cellers Unio

TN : Bacchus 2008, Tenterden Vineyard, Chapel Down Winery, English Wines Group, Kent, UK

This wine was made by Owen Elias. It was sealed with a screwcap.




Colour : Very pale watery yellow

Aroma : Green apples, ginger, lemon

Taste : Elderflower, green apples, ginger, lemon, slight herbiness

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 9.49 GB Pounds (Waitrose)

Mark : C+

Website : English Wines Group

TN : Plexus 2005, John Duval Wines, Barossa Valley, Australia

This wine is a blend of 50% Shiraz, 34% Grenache, and 16% Mourvedre. The Shiraz was sourced from vineyards in the Stockwell, Light Pass, Ebenezer and Marananga regions. The Grenache was sourced from old bush vines 50-60 years old from Stockwell, Light Pass and the Rowland Flat regions. The Mourvedre was sourced from old bush vines, the oldest over 100 years old, from the Light Pass and Angaston regions.



The fermentation was with submerged cap in both traditional old open top tanks and small stainless steel fermenters. The wine was 100% barrel matured for 16 months. Some Shiraz finished fermentation in new oak. 17% new fine grain French oak hogsheads (300 litres) were used for balance; 3 years and older mostly French oak. The pH is 3.50 and the total acidity is 6.2 grammes per litre.



John Duval was winemaker at Penfolds for 29 years and started hus own label in 2003.



Colour : Blackberry red

Aroma : Cold meats, blueberry, violets, spice, black pepper

Taste : Blueberry, blackberry, violets, spice, black pepper and cold meats on finish

Price : 273 SEK

Alcohol : 14.5%

Mark : B

Website : John Duval Wines

TN : Albaruta Zitto Zitto Sangiovese 2007, IGT, Cecchi, Umbria, Italy

This wine is a blend of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, and 5% Sagrantino. The wine spent nine months in French oak, The oenologists were Andrea Cecchi and Miria Bracali.



Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Cherry, plums, oak, milk chocolate

Taste : Cherry, oak, spice, plums, fruity

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C

TN : Aglianico 2007, Terredora, IGT, Campania, Italy

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Milk chocolate, coffee, spice, toast, red fruits

Taste : Coffee, spice, toast, raisins, leather, red fruits

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Terredora Di Paolo

TN : Tautavel Reserve 2007, Gerard Bertrand, Tautavel, France

Tautavel is a small appellation in the heart of Rousillon in the south of France.

This wine is a blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 30% Carignan. The grapes were hand harvested in September 2007. The wine was matured for six months in French oak.



Colour : Dark cassis

Aroma : Blackcurrant, herbs

Taste : Spice on finish, herbs, concentrated zingy blackcurrant

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Gerard Bertrand

TN : Kings Ridge Oregon Pinot Noir 2007, Kings Rudge Wines, Oregon, USA

The grapes for this wine come from vineyards in the Willamette Valley (67%) and the Umpqua Valley (33%). The Pinot Noir grapes were fermented in vessels from 1.5 ton boxes to 20 ton closed-top tanks. They were punched down or pumped over three times per day and pressed at dryness. The wine was aged in a combination of new and used French oak barrels (18% new and 82% neutral) for nine months, then blended and bottled. 13,000 cases were produced. The pH is 3.66, titratable acidity is 5.3 grammes per litre, and the residual sugar is 0.2%.



This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Andersson Wines International.

Colour : Pale red

Aroma : Spice, stewed red fruits, herbs

Taste : Oak, raspberry, ginger, lacking fruit, very herby finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Kings Ridge
Website : Andersson Wines International

TN : Chateau Haut-Canteloup 2006, Premieres Cotes de Blaye, Famille Bordenave, Bordeaux, France

This wine is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. 60% of the wine was matured in second-fill French Troncais oak barriques.



Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Cedar, plums, blackcurrant, oak

Taste : cedar and oak on finish, blackcurrant, earthy, plums

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 109 SEK

Mark : C

TN : Winkeler Jesuitengarten Riesling Trocken 2008, Allendorf, Rheingau, Germany

The Allendorf family have been cultivating vineyards in the Rheingau since 1292.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



This wine was imported by Granqvist Vinagentur AB.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Lemon, orange marmelade, honey, mineral, pear

Taste : Green apple, lemon, mineral, sharp, honey, pear

Alcohol : 11%

Price : 109 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Allendorf
Website : Granqvist Vinagentur AB

TN : Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Franschhoek, South Africa

The pH is 3.67, volatile acidity is 0.72 grammes per litre, residual sugar is 2.8 grammes per litre, and the total acidity is 6.4 grammes per litre.



This wine was imported by HJO Grosshandel AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, cedar, milk chocolate, toasty oak

Taste : Coffee, cedar, blackcurrant, lots of toasty oak, structured astringent tannins (from the oak ?), could be kept for three to five years to let the oak integrate and tannins soften.

Price : 299 SEK

Alcohol : 14.5%

Mark : B-

Website : Boekenhoutskloof
Website : HJO Grosshandel AB

TN : De Martino Single Vineyard Carmenere 2007, Alto de Piedras, Maipo Valley, Chile

The grapes for this wine were harvested in the second week of May 2007 from the Alto de Piedras vineyard which is situated on an alluvial terrace from the Quarternary era. The soil is sand, lime, and clay. This wine was aged for 15 months in French oak barrels.



This wine was imported by Domaine Wines.

Colour : Dark purple

Aroma : Blackcurrant, oak, green pepper, chocolate

Taste : Lively blackcurrant, toasty oak, green pepper, smooth tannins

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 159 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : De Martino
Website : Domaine Wines

TN : Nivole Moscato 2008, Michele Chiarlo, Piemonte, Italy

This wine is 100% Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains. The residual sugar content is 122 grammes per litre.



Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Pear, elderberry, wine gums, stone fruits

Taste : Sparkling, pear, sweet, elderberry, apple, wine gums, stone fruits

Alcohol : 5%

Price : 69 SEK (375ml bottle)

Mark : C

Website : Michele Chiarlo

TN : Edition Chremisa Blauer Zweigelt 2005, Winzer Krems, Sandgrube 13, Kremstal, Austria

The city of Krems was first mentioned in the year 995 as “urbs chremisa”. To the honour of the city, Winzer Krems created a new premium line called “Edition Chremisa”.



This wine was imported by Granqvist Agentur.

Colour : Red

Aroma : Red fruits, violets, coca cola, spice

Taste : Super smooth tannins and mouthfeel, strawberry, raspberry, violets, spice, coca cola, soft texture

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 159 SEK

Mark : A

Website : Winzer Krems
Website : Granqvist Agentur

TN : Alfa Romeo Rosso 2006, Scrimaglio, Monferrato, Italy

This wine is 80% Barbera d'Asti and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.



Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Oak, cherry, spice

Taste : Oak, plums, cherry, spice, licourice on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 215 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Scrimaglio

TN : Cono Sur Reserva Merlot 2007, Colchagua Valley, Chile

This wine is a blend of 85% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, 2% Syrah, and 1% Alicante Bouschet. All of the grapes were hand-picked on May 7th 2007. 60% of the wine was aged in barrels and 40% in stainless steel tanks for ten months. The wine was bottled in March 2008. The residual sugar is 2.5 grammes per litre, the pH is 3.5, and the total acidity is 5.6 grammes per litre.



Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Oak, plums, green peppers, coffee, blackcurrant

Taste : Green peppers, plums, blackcurrant, vanilla, coffee, cherry

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 96 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Cono Sur Vineyards and Winery

TN : Cono Sur Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery was founded in 1993. The winemaker was Adolfo Hurtado. The vineyards are located in El Centinela Estate. The vineyard soils are mineral with red clay. All the grapes were hand-picked on March 29th 2008. The wine was aged for four months in stainless steel tanks. The residual sugar is 4.6 grammes per litre, the pH is 3.05, and the total acidity is 7.3 grammes per litre.



This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

On the front label is a bicycle and on the back label is the following text "The bicycle represents a particular way of living and enjoying life’s own rhythm. It symbolizes a different point of view, a statement about our roots, our future and the special feature of our wines: expressive, relaxed and joyful. Both in life and wine we believe in returning to bicycle basics, to those simple things you never forget."

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Pineapple, green banana, nettles, lemon

Taste : Green banana, pineapple, minerals, lemon

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Cono Sur

Bottle Shock DVD/Blue-Ray

This was the first Blue-Ray disk I have bought (and so far the only one). I was pleasantly surprised by this film: it was more wine-orientated than I was expecting. Although based around the Judgement of Paris 1976 tasting, it focused purely on Chateau Montelena and the relationship between Jim Barrett and Bo Barrett.



I don't know how true-to-life the story really is, only Stephen Spurrier can say, but I thoroughly enjoyed this film.