TN : La Massa 2009, IGT, Fattoria La Massa, Tuscany, Italy

This wine is a blend of70%  Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine also received 90 points from The Wine Advocate (August 2011).

This wine was imported by Swedish Brand AB.

Colour : Plummy red

Aroma : Plums, blackcurrant, herbs, raisins, milk chocolate

Taste : Cherries, blackcurrant, plums, raisiny,herbs,  warm finish, milk chococlate, spice, drying tannins which may calm down with a yera or two in bottle

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 199 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 90234

Mark : B-

TN : Rabl Pinot Noir Vinum Optimum 2009,Weingut Rabl, Langenlois, Kamptal, Austria

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Johan Lidby Vinhandel.

Colour : Raspberry red

Aroma : Blueberry, spice, oak, raspberry

Taste : Strawberry, spice, oak, blueberry

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 159 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 97034

Mark : B


Website : Weingut Rabl

Weingut Cobenzl, Vienna, Austra, July 16th 2012

I visited Weingut Cobenzl, located near Kahlenberg in Vienna, on Monday July 16th 2012. We were shown around by Cellar Master Georg Koenigsbauer. Weingut Cobenzl is owned by the city of Vienna since 1907 and controlled by the majoy though Georg pretty much gets to do what he wants. Georg studied at Klosterneuburg College. He tried to make great value fruity classy wines which he achieves. Currently they are producing bottles which they sell in supermarkets and direct at the winery. Georg was exceptionally nice and gave me a bottle of Weissburgunder Reisenberg 2007 as a gift as I was leaving.

Here are the wines I tried :

• Wiener Gemischter Satz Classic 2011, 12.5%, 5,20 Euro, Mark : B
• Gruener Veltliner Classic 2011, 12%, 4,90 Euro, Mark : B
• Gruener Veltliner Senator 2011, 13%, 7,90 Euro, Mark : B
• Gruener Veltliner Pfeffer 2011, 14%, 9,50 Euro, Mark : B
• Weissburgunder Reisenberg 2007, 14,5%, 21 Euro, Mark : A
• Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, 14%, 15 Euro, I tasted this after the Merlot and my palette was dead by this time
• Merlot 2009, fruity and oaky, 15%, 15 Euro, Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Cobenzl

TN : Nr 7 Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Hermanuspietersfontein, South Africa

The Sauvignon Blanc grapes come from a vineyard located at an altitude of 262 to 300 metres. The vineyard area is 20.1 hectares. The orientation of the vineyard is North-East South-West. The vines were planted in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. The yield was 54.4 hectolitres per hectare. The must was fermented and matured in stainless steel tanks for six months and matured in second fill 225 litre French oak barrels for six months before blending. The wine was kept in bottle for two months before being released. This wine is the sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Hjo Grosshandel AB.

Colour : Pale straw

Aroma : Nettles, passionfruit, gooseberry

Taste : Passionfruit, cut grass, gooseberry, nettles, leafy, zingy acidic finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 129 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 97013

Mark : B-

Website :  Hermanuspietersfontein

TN : Clairaut Estate Chardonnay 2008, Clairaut Wines, Margaret River, Australia

The fruit for this wine comes entirely from the Clairault property, and more specifically from the L Block which is a small North-East facing plot just to the north of the winery. This block is planted with both the Gingin clone and Clone 5. The fruit is hand-picked and sorted prior to whole bunch pressing. Juice from the press goes straight to barrel with no settling and no additives. Fermentation occurred natually through yeasts brought in with the fruit.  The wine was 100% barrel fermented in French oak of which 40% was new. Malo-lactic fermentation was deemed unnecessary. Ten months of barrel maturation occured prior to bottling in February 2011.


This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Giertz Vinimport AB.


Colour : Lemon

Aroma : Lemon, oak, pineapple

Taste : Lemon, pineapple,  zingy, oak, vanilla


Alcohol : 13%

Price : 249 SEK


Systembolaget Number : 94734

Mark : B-

Website : Clairaut Wines

TN : Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Chardonnay 2010, Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

The grapes for this wine come from vineyards at an altitude of 1200 metres. The vineyard soils were alluvial, sandy and shallow. The weather was cool and dry with a difference between night and day of 16 degrees. The wine was aged for nine months in 100% new French oak.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Moet Hennessy Sverige AB.  

Colour : Pale yellow, green hues

Aroma : Oak, vanilla, butter, pineappe, peach


Taste : Butter, oak, creamy texture, pear, pineapple, vanilla, lime


Alcohol : 14%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 99488

Mark : B


Website : Terrazas de los Andes

TN : Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2011, Charles Smith Wines, Evergreen Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington State, U.S.A

This wine was sealed with a screwcap. This wine received 90 points from Wine Spectator.

This wine was imported by Klunk AB.

Colour : Pale yellow/straw

Aroma : Lime, pineapple, pear, minerals

Taste : Pear, peach, pineapple, mouthwatering sharp acidic mineral and lime finish

Alcohol : 11%

Systembolaget Number : 2690

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : B-


Website : Charles Smith Wines

Unusual Wine Labels at Weingut-Heuriger Alter Bach-Hengl, Grinzing, Vienna

I spotted these unusual labels on bottles for sale in the windows at Weingut-Heuriger Alter Bach-Hengl in Grinzing, Vienna in July 2012 :

Website : Weingut-Heuriger Alter Bach-Hengl

Grinzinger Heuriger July 2012

Here are some pictures of some wine taverns located in Grinzing on the outskirts of Vienna.

TN : Reyneke Reserve 2007, Reyneke Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa

The Reyneke label was created in 1998 when Johan Reyneke Jr. took over the farming activities from his mother and produced the first wines on the family farm, Uitzicht. The forty hectare farm faces the historic town of Stellenbosch and overlooks the surrounding mountain ranges and the beautiful False Bay. This is a biodynamic red wine blend of 70% Organic Syrah and 30% Organic Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 22 months in French oak. The total acidity is 5.4 grammes per litre, 2.4 grammes per litre residual sugar, and pH 3.78.

This wine was imported by Hjo Grosshandel AB.

Colour : Plummy red

Aroma : Plum, blackberry, blackcurrant, spice, oak, burnt toast, vanilla

Taste : Fruity and mouthwatering, plums, tobacco, blackberry, vanilla, burnt toast and oak on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 249 SEK


Systembolaget Number : 92045

Mark : B+

Website : Reyneke Wines

TN : La Celia Reserve Pinot Noir 2009, Finca La Celia, Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

The La Celia Reserva range of wines was created to pay tribute to Eugenio Bustos´s daughter, the founder of the winery. She inherited the property and the winery and ran it for nearly fivedecades.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Sigva AB.

Colour : Red

Aroma : Spice, raspberry, strawberry, herbs, dark chocolate

Taste : Strawberry, raspberry, spice, oak, dark chocolate

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6593

Mark : C+

Website : Finca La Celia

TN : Bodega Piedra Negra Malbec Reserve 2010, J&F Lurton, Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by The WineAgency Sweden AB.

Colour : Plummy red

Aroma : Blueberry, plums, herbs, coffee, violets

Taste : Plums, mint, blueberry, coffee

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 82 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6051

Mark : C+

Website : Francois Lurton

TN : Wieninger Wiener Gemischter Satz 2011, Weingut Wieninger, Stammersdorf, Vienna, Austria

This wine has 6.6 grammes per litre of acidity and 1.0 grammes per litre of residual sugar. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Pale lemon/straw

Aroma : Earthy, pear drops, green apples

Taste : Lemon, nettles, minerals, sharp finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 9,90 Euro (Heinemann Duty Free Shop, Vienna Airport)

Mark : C

Website : Weingut Wieninger

TN : Marsannay Rose Domaine Clair-Dau 2011, Louis Jadot, Marsannay, Burgundy, France

Marsannay is situated on the outskirts of Dijon, three miles north of Gevrey Chambertin. This rose wine is 100% Pinot Noir and was fermented and aged in stainless steel vats. This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

Colour : Strawberry, copper notes

Aroma : Strawberry, citrus, mineral

Taste : Strawberry, citrus, herbs, mineral and earthy on finish

Alcohol : 13%


Price : 129 SEK


Systembolaget Number : 95048

Mark : C

Website : Maison Louis Jadot

TN : Edition Chremisa Sandgrube 13 Blauer Zweigelt 2009, Winzer Krems, Krems, Austria

"Urbs Chremisa", the city of Krems an der Donau was first mentioned in the year 995. Edition Chremisa wines are created in honour of this. The acidity in this wine is 5.0 grammes per litre and the residual sugar is 5.7 grammes per litre. This wine received 87 points from Wine Spectator

Colour : Dark red, brown hues

Aroma : Blueberry, raspberry, spice, pepper, liqourice

Taste : Pinot-like, strawberry, white pepper, raspberry, blueberry, drying smooth tannins on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 9,90 Euro (Heinemann Duty Free, Vienna International Airport)

Mark : B

Website :  Winzer Krems

TN : Zuccardi Q Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Familia Zuccardi, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine had a sticker onit stating "90 PTS RP) which I suppose refers to Robert Parker. The winemaker was Ruben Ruffo.The grapes for this wine come from the La Consulta y Tupungato vineyards in Mendoza. All of the grapes for this wine were handpicked grapes in plastic boxes during the last week of March and first week of April 2007. Alcoholic fermentation was  in stainless steel tanks with delestage and pigeage at a temperature between 25 and 27 degrees. Followed by Maceration on skins for 20 days. The wine was then aged for 12 months in new French oak barrels; first use, medium toasted. There is 6.30 grammes per litre total acidity and 2.50 grammes per litre of residual sugar in the wines.

Colour : Blackcurrant/red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, cherry, black tea

Taste : Blackcurrant, cherry, coffee, black tea, smooth tannic finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 19,99 Euro (Wein & Co, Naschmarkt, Vienna, Austria)

Mark : B

Website : Zuccardi Wines

TN : Pinot Blanc 2007 Reisenberg, Weingut Cobenzl, Vienna, Austria

This wine was a gift from Georg Koeningsbauer, the cellar master of Weingut Cobenzel after my tour on July 15th 2012. Only 2000 bottles of this wine were produced. This wine was truly a "Mega" wine.

Colour : Yellow, brown hues

Aroma : Lemon, oak, peach

Taste : Lemon, peach, oak, almond, creamy texture, very fruity in keeping with the Cobenzl style

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 21 Euro (Direct from Weingut Cobenzl)

Mark : A-
 
Website : Weingut Wien Cobenzel

TN : Weininger Riesling Nussberg 2011, Weingut Wieninger, Stammersdorf, Vienna, Austria

The grapes for this Riesling Nussberg came from the Preussen on the Nussberg and, because of the small yields and high ripeness, from other vineyards on the Nussberg  at the Obere Schoss and Purgstall. The soils are comprised of weathered shell limestone with a limestone bedrock; chunks of limestone can be found on the surface as well.

The must underwent a five hour skin maceration, followed by pressing with a pneumatic press and finally fermentation in steel tanks with spontaneous yeast. The wine was matured for several months on the fine lees, and then bottled in April 2012.

This wine contains 6.1 grammes per litre of acid and 8.1 grammes per litre of residual sugar. This wine was sealed with a glasss stopper.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : peach, apricot, minerals

Taste : Peach, apricot, lemon, oily rich texture, mineral

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 14,50 Euro (purchased at Weingut Wieninger)

Mark : B

Website : Weingut Wieninger

Wein & Co Bar, Naschmarkt, Vienna, Austria, July 16th 2012

We visited the Wein & Co Winebar in Naschmarkt again this evening for a swift slurp.

Gelber Muskateller 2011, G.u.R. Triebaumer
Taste : Fruity, zingy gooseberry, lemon, and peach
Alcohol : 12%
Mark : C  
Price : 4,50 Euro (1/8 litre)

Website : Wein & Co

TN : Wieninger Wiener Trilogie 2009, Weingut Wieninger, Stammersdorf, Vienna, Austria

The grapes for this Wiener Trilogie 2009 came mainly from Vienna's Bisamberg vineyards and two vineyards on the Nussberg. The soils of the Bisamberg are comprised of light, sandy loess over solid limestone, and the Nussberg features primarily weathered shell limestone, also over solid limestone

This wine is a blend of 70% Zweigelt, 15% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon all of which were harvested separately and at different times. The Zweigelt was harvested first, between the middle and end of September 2009, and the Cabernet was harvested last, at the end of October 2009. Each variety underwent its own fermentation on the skins as well as malolactic fermentation in large barrels. Each was then racked into barriques. Depending on the structure of the individual wine - a portion of new wood was used; 25% on average. The wines were matured in barriques for 15 months in the wine estates's sixteenth century cellar. After several more rackings, the components were blended to the final cuvée. This Wiener Trilogie 2009 was bottled in March of 2011.

There is 4.8 grammes per litre acid and 1.0 grammes per litre of residual sugar present. This wine was sealed with a glasss stopper.

Colour : Red, blue hues

Aroma : Smoky oak, blueberry, cherry, spice

Taste : Cherry, blueberry, raspberry, tangy, spice and slight white pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 11,50 Euro (purchased at Weingut Wieninger)

Mark : B-

Website : Weingut Wieninger

Wein & Co Bar, Naschmarkt, Vienna, Austria, July 15th 2012

We visited the Wein & Co Winebar in Naschmarkt this evening. The wine bar is located in the same complex as the wine shop and has plenty of seating both inside and outside.

Here are the wines I drank :


Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Urgestein Terrassen 2011, F.X. Pichler
Taste : Great wine. Fruity, concentrated, minerals and spice on finish and some turkish delight.
Alcohol : 13%
Mark : A
Price : 4,50 Euro (1/16 litre)


Cablot 2009, Gager
Taste : Porty, plums and cherry, spice and tannic finish
Alcohol : 14%
Mark : C+
Price : 4,50 Euro (1/16 litre)

Wiener Gemischter Satz Nussberg 2011, Mayer am Pfarrplatz
Taste : Fruity, concentrated, white pepper finish
Alcohol : 13%
Mark : B
Price : 3,50 Euro (1/16 litre)

Website : Wein & Co

TN : Zantho Blaufraenkisch 2010, Burgenland, Austria

The average grape yield was around 6.000 kg per hectare. There is 1 gramme per litre of residual sugar present and 5 grammes per litre of acidity. Fementation took place in stainless steel between 30 and 32 degrees and the wine was finished in stainless steel for 6 to 8 months. The wine was sealed with a Vino-Lok glass stopper.

Colour : Blackberry

Aroma : Spicy, blackcurrant, blueberry, raspberry

Taste : Blueberry, blackcurrant, white pepper, raspberry, spice

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 8,49 Euro (Billa, Vienna, Austria)

Mark : B-

Website : Zantho

TN : Reiterer Rose Schilcher Exklusiv, Weingut Reiterer, Weststeiermark, Austria

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Bright strawberry pink


Aroma : Strawberry, herbs, raspberry, mineral

Taste : Strawberry, cherry, raspberry, slight spritz on finish

Alcohol : 11.5%

Price : 5,99 Euro (Billa, Vienna, Austria)

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Reiterer

TN : Malat Gruener Veltliner 2011, Hoehlgraben, Palt, Kremstal, Austria

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Stone fruits, white pepper

Taste : Oranges, apricots, mineral finish, white pepper

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 10,99 Euro (Billa, Vienna, Austria)

Mark : B-

Website : Weingut Malat

TN : Cult Red 2008 by M. Edlmoser, Vienna, Austria

This wine 100% Zweigelt and was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Red, brown hues

Aroma : Blueberry, strawberry, oak, spice

Taste : Spicy, oak, slightly smoky/burnt taste on finish, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 9,39 Euro (Spar Gourmet, Vienna, Austria)


Mark : B-

Website : Edlmoser Wien

TN : Cult White 2011 by M. Edlmoser, Vienna, Austria

This wine is 100% Gruener Veltliner and was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Pale straw

Aroma : Lemon, mineral, almonds, white pepper

Taste : Lemon, oranges, almond, white pepper, peaches

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 9,39 Euro (Spar Gourmet, Vienna, Austria)

Mark : B-

Website : Edlmoser Wien

TN : Neckenmarkt Blaufraenkisch Himmelsthron 2009, Winzerkeller Neckenmarkt, Burgenland, Austria

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.


Colour : Dark red/plums


Aroma : Plums, blackcurrants, pepper, spice

Taste : Spice, pepper, liqourice, plums, blackcurrants, concentrated

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 10,99 Euro (Spar Gourmet, Vienna, Austria)

Mark : B

Website : Winzerkeller Neckenmarkt

TN : Zweigelt Ente 2009 Trocken Landwein, Weingut Alter Bach-Hengl Heurigenbetriebs GmbH, Grinzing, Vienna, Austria

Taste : Thin, lacking concentration, boring and one-dimensional, some plum and cherry fruit with spice on finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 18 Euro (drunk at Alter Bach-Hengl Hueriger)

Mark : C-

Website : Weingut Alter Bach-Hengl

Weinbau und Heurigenschank Gsoels "Zum Berger", Grinzing, Vienna, Austria

I visited the Gsoels Huerigenschank in July this year (2012) and tried three wines :


Gruener Veltliner (1/4 litre) at 3,50 Euro
This was very acidic, very lemon, and tasted like a pot of white pepper had been poured into the glass.
Mark : C-

Grauer Burgunder Rose (1/8 litre) at 4,80 Euro
This was dry and had some berry fruit but was oxidised.
Mark : D

Che "Roesler" Trocken (1/8 litre), 12.5%, at 4,00 Euro
This had lots of cherry and plum flavour with some spice and black pepper
Mark : B-

Website : Weinbau und Heurigenschank Gsoels "Zum Berger"

Book : Grape-A-Hol

This book is written by Michael F. Spratt and Mark L. Feldman from Destuny Bay Vineyards in New Zeland. The book spends most of the time tryin to justify that we should be buying fine wines instead of grape-a-hol. Grape-A-Hol is fermented grape juice and alcohol: sounds like wine to me. I didn't get the point of this book really. Is it just Destiny Bay Wines complaining because they don't sell enough wine ? I Live in Sweden where all wine must be bought via the state controlled monopoly yet I have good access to a decent collection of good wines. Sure, the Systembolaget sell a lot of wines which are one-dimensional and no character but nearly all of them are drinkable and cheap so what is the problem. This book seems to be addressing a very small sector of the population who just like to drink wine which tastes ok. The want to pay an affordable price and it should taste ok. The reason people buy Grape-A-Hol instead of fine wine is the price; they can't afford to buy fine wine. Sorry guys, if you want people to buy fine wine then it has to be cheaper. What is fine wine anyway. The usual propoganda is used to describe fine wine in this book i.e. must come from one place, must be from a small producer etc etc. Who cares; fine wine is a wine that the drinker thinks is very good - it is a simple as that.

TN : Dr Heidemanns-Bergweiler Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spätlese 2000, Dr Heidemanns-Bergweiler Wine International, Mosel, Germany

The sugar content of this wine is 40 grammes per litre.

Colour : Lemon, green hues

Aroma : Honey, oranges, mineral, petrol

Taste : Petrol, honey, oranges, mineral, off-dry

Alcohol : 8%

Price : 99 SEK


Systembolaget Number : 90586

Mark : B-


Website : Dr Heidemanns-Bergweiler

TN : Trinity Hill Viognier 2010, Trinity Hill, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Carovin AB.

Colour : Pale yellow, green hues

Aroma : Pineapple, oak, nuts, oranges

Taste : Apricot, pineapple, ornages, honey, oak, nutty

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 98142

Mark : B

Website : Trinity Hill

TN : Skalia Syrah Aghiorgitiko 2010, Domaine Skouras, Peleponnesos, Greece

This wine is a blend of Syrah and Aghiorgitiko. Domaine Skouras was founded in 1986 by George Skouras.

This wine was imported by Oenoforos AB.

Colour : Raspberry red, blackberry

Aroma : Spice, plums, blackberry, oak

Taste : Cinamon, plums, blackberry, black pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 76 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 98042

Mark : C+

Website : Domaine Skouras

TN : Siro 2007, Fattoria di Gratena, Tuscany, Italy

This wine was imported by Moestue Grape Selections AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry, brown hues

Aroma : Cherry, oak, cedar, herbs, milk chocolate


Taste : Cherry, vanilla, cedar, tobacco, lashing of oak

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 169 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 99459

Mark : C

Website : Fattoria di Gratena

TN : Le Fraghe Covina Rosato 2011, Le Fraghe di Matilde Poggi, Veronese, Italy

This wine is 100% Corvina and sealed with a screwcap. This wine was imported by Enoterra AB.

Colour : Bright strawberry pink

Aroma : Strawberries, cherries

Taste : Dry, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, tart

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 98043

Mark : C

Website : Le Fraghe di Matilde Poggi

TN : 1865 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Vina San Pedro, Maipo Valley, Chile

This wine was imported by Pernod Ricard Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Oak, plums, blackcurrant, blackberry, mint, coffee

Taste : Toast, blackcurrant, coffee, mint, plums

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 16672

Mark : C+

Website : Vina San Pedro

TN : Trinity Hill Syrah 2010, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

This wine was imported by Carovin AB.

Colour : Dark red/blueberry hues

Aroma : Blueberry, spice, minty, white pepper

Taste : Blueberry, spice, liqourice, herbs, blackberry, white pepper on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 98143

Mark : B-

Website : Trinity Hill