TN : Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Bodega Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The total acidity is 5.9 grammes per litre, the pH is 3.72, and the residual sugar is 2 grammes per litre.

The grapes for this wine were sourced from small, carefully selected estate-grown lots in two of the Catena family’s Andean vineyards: La Piramide vineyard Lot 3 (50%) and Domingo vineyard Lot 2 (50%). All of the grapes were harvested between the 15th March and 28th April 2007. This wine spent one and a half years in French oak of which 70% was new. The winemaker was Alejandro Vigil.

This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

This tasting note is from December 2011.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, violets, coffee, oak, toast

Taste : Lots of coffee, blackcurrant, plums, violets, milk chocolate, warm finish, very tight even after one hour of decanting

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 249 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 90524

Mark : C

Website : Bodega Catena Zapata

TN : Kremser Wachtberg Grüner Veltliner 2001, Winzer Krems Sandgrube 13, Kremstal, Niederösterreich, Austria

This wine was imported by Granqvist Vinagentur.

Colour : Yellow

Aroma : Spicy, honey, pineapple, herbs, white pepper, petrol characteristics

Taste : Pineapple, peach, herbs, oranges, white pepper, petrol character

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95303

Mark : C

Website : Winzer Krems

TN ; Pangea Syrah 2008, Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile

This wine is 100% Syrah. All the grapes were hand-harvested in April 2008. The vineyard soils are granite with some red clay. This wine spent one and a half years in medium toasted French oak 225 litre barrels. The winemakers were Felipe Tosso and John Duval.

According to Vina Ventisquero, founded in 1998, "250 million years ago there was only one continent, one ocean, one valley... this is what Pangea represents: one great whole."

This wine was imported by Giertz Vinimport AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Mint, burnt toast, blueberry, blackberry, spice, white pepper, meaty

Taste : Concentrated, blackberry, blueberry, mint, coffee, black pepper on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 279 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 90167

Mark : B

Website : Vina Ventisquero

TN : Ronan By Clinet 2010, Grand Vin de Bordeaux, France

On the back label "An insider secret made by famous by CLINET's team from the Bordeaux region. RONAN refers to the owner's name of Chateau Clinet.".

This wine is 100% Merlot.

This wine was imported y Magnum Wines AB.

Colour : Dark red/blue hues

Aroma : Plums, raspberry, milk chocolate, tobacco, white pepper, herbs

Taste : Plums, raspberry, herbs, tobacco, milk chocolate, drying tanins on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 120 SEK

Systembolget Number : 3991

Mark : B

Website : Ronan By Clinet

TN : Dr L Riesling 2011, Dr Loosen, Mosel, Germany

 This wine contains a residual dugar of 22 grammes per litre.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

Colour : Pale lemon/green hues

Aroma : White grapes, lemon. honey

Taste : Off dry, lime, lemon, minerals, honey

Alcohol : 11%

Price : 79 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 7218

Mark : B-

Website : Dr Loosen

TN : Anselmann Dornfelder Trocken 2010 im barrique gereift, Weingut Werner Anselmann, Edesheimer Ordensgut, Pfalz, Germany

The Anselmann family has been associated with viticulture for centuries, the first records dating back to 1126. The family crest nowadays used as estate logo was awarded to the family in 1541, as can be seen in the historical archives in Karlsruhe. 


Colour : Dark red/blue hues

Aroma : Bubble gum, meaty, cherry, blueberry

Taste : Blueberry, cherry, spicy, bubble gum, meaty, leather on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 10,50 Euro (Munich airport duty free shop)

Mark : B

Website : Weingut Anselmann

TN : Herú Pinot Noir 2010, Viña Ventisquero, Casablanca Valley, Chile

The label states "Legend tells the story of an elf named Herú who secretly lived among the vines of Casablanca while keeping watch over the harvest, his most precious treasure.  His name evokes perfection and embodies the spirit of this remarkable wine".

This wine was imported by Giertz Vinimport AB.

Colour : Red, blue hues

Aroma : Strawberries, cherries, spice, herbs

Taste : Spice, strawberries, cherries, liqourice

Alcohol : 14%

Systembolaget Number : 95110

Price : 239 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Viña Ventisquero

TN : Ruit Hora Vendemmia 2009, Caccia al Piano 1868, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

This wine is a blend of Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine received 89 points from Wine Spectator. This wine

This wine is imported by Stellan Kramer AB .

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Cherries, mint, herbs, milk chocolate, vanilla, oak

Taste : Oak, cherries, tomato leaf on finish, herbs, milk chocolate, mint, plums

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 2842

Mark : B-

TN : Croix du Sud Rosé Syrah 2009, VdP d'Oc, Åkesson Vin AB, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

This wine was imported by Kiviks Musteri AB.

Colour : Strawberry/pink

Aroma : Jellied strawberries, redcurrants

Taste : Redcurrants, jellied strawberries, raspberries, bitter

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 128 SEK (2 litre Bag-In-Box)

Systembolaget Number : 6768

Mark : D+

TN : Markowitsch Classic Pinot Noir 2010, Gerhard Markowitsch, Niederösterreich, Carnuntum, Austria

This wine is 100% Pinot Noir. The wine spent one year in old 225 litre old French oak. The wine was filtered once before bottling. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Fondberg.

Colour : Red, blueberry

Aroma : Perfumed, violets, spice, strawberry, raspberry, herbs

Taste : Acidic, raspberry, strawberry, spicy, thin

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Weingut Markowitsch

TN : Spinyback Sauvignon Blanc Rosé 2011, Waimea Estates, Nelson, New Zealand

This wine is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by JPC Wines AB.

Colour : Bright strawberry pink

Aroma : Gooseberry, redcurrants, blackcurrant leaf, strawberry

Taste : Redcurrant, strawberry, gooseberry, tangy finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 89 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95027

Mark : C

Website : Waimea Estates

TN : Quinta de Chocapalha Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Das Mimosas, Lisbon, Portugal

Quinta de Chocapalha was established in the 16th century. It is still a family estate consisting of 45 hectares of vineyards located in the Lisbon wine region.

This wine was imported by Handpicked Wines Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, plums, cedar, milk chocolate, coffee

Taste : Blackcurrant, cedar, plums, spice, astringent

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 94025

Mark : C

Website : Quinta de Chocapalha

TN : Barda Pinot Noir 2010, Bodega Chacra, Patagonia, Argentina

The grapes for this wine were hand-harvested. The wine spent one year in French oak. Bodega Chacra was founded in 2004 by Piero Incisa della Rocchetta. The winemaker was Hans Vinding-Diers. Bodega Chacra is located in the Rio Negro Valley of northern Patagonia, 620 miles south of Buenos Aires, 1,240 miles north of Tierra del Fuego, and roughly equidistant west to east from the Andes Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. The property's situation in the arid central Argentine desert is tempered by the confluence of the Neuquen and Limay Rivers, both of which flow from the Andes and converge in the Rio Negro, which in turn flows into the Atlantic. The Rio Negro Valley itself is a glacial bed 15.5 miles wide stretching 310 miles along the river's banks at an elevation of 750 feet above sea level. The valley is irrigated by a network of channels excavated in the late 1820s by British colonists who observed the abundant snow melt flowing from the Andes and created an oasis in the middle of the desert.

This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

Colour : Red, pink hues

Aroma : Spices, blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, herbs

Taste : Spices, raspberry, herbs, strawberry, thin

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 195 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95094

Mark : C-

Website : Bodegas Chacra

TN : Zuccardi Serie A Bonarda 2009, Familia Zuccardi, Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is 100% Bonarda. The grapes for this wine come from the Santa Rosa vineyards in Mendoza. The total acidity is 5.30 grammes per litre and the residual sugar is 3.20 grammes per litre. The grapes were selected, destemmed, and then crushed. The must underwent a old maceration for seven days before classic vinification with selected yeast and fermentation at 77 degrees fareinheit (25-27 degrees centigrade). Maceration was for 20 days with daily remontage and delestage. 30% of the wine was aged in oak barrels (first, second and third use) for ten months. Ruben Ruffo was the winemaker.

This wine was imported by Philipson Söderberg AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Blackberry, liqourice, vanilla, burnt toast

Taste : Blackberry, blackcurran, liqourice, vanilla, toast

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 89 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6557

Mark : C

Website : Familia Zuccardi

TN : Réserve de Bonnet Rosé 2011, André Lurton, Bordeaux, France

This wine is a blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Cabernet Franc. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Bibendum.

Colour : Strawberry

Aroma : Herbs, blackcurrant, redcurrant, burnt sugar

Taste : Herbs, blackcurrant, strawberry, raspberry

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 89 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 3181

Mark : C+

Website : André Lurton

TN : Vinalba The Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Domaine Vistalba, Patagonia, Argentina

This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot,and 5% Malbec.

This wine was imported by Future Wines Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Oak, toast, coffee, blackcurrant, herbs

Taste : Too much toasty oak, blackcurrant, concentrated, coffee, milk chocolate like texture, spice on warm finish

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 120 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 99081

Mark : C+

Website : Domaine Vistalba

TN : Boekenhoutskloof Semillon 2010, Wine of Origin Franschhoek, South Africa,

Old Vine Semillon from a combination of 67 year old and 107 year old Franschhoek vines grown on the sandy valley floor just outside the town of Franschhoek. Cool fermented in 100% new Dargaud & Jaegle, Allier & Vosges barrels. Before malolactic fermenration started, the barrels were topped and put in a room that was kept at eight degress. 100% new French oak is used, but because the maturation was done at such low temperatures, the extracting from the oak was minimal. During these 13 months, the wine was never sulphured and no battonage was done. When the wine was taken out of barrel, 5% 2009 Sauvignon Blanc was blended in to enhance the vibrance and freshness.

This wine was imported by Prime Wine Sweden AB.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Lemon, oranges, lime notes, pear, peach, oak, furntiure polish,

Taste :  Oaky, store for a couple for years to calm down, lemon, orange, pear, peach, furntiture polish, creamy texture

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95077

Mark : B-

Website : Boekenhoutskloof

TN : SoLiteRRe 2009, Thierry Germain, Saumur Champigny, Loire, France

This wine is 100% Cabernet Franc.

This wine was imported by Amka Vinimport AB.

Colour : Red, blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, raspberry, herbs, liqourice

Taste : Blackcurrant, raspberry, herbs, liqourice and talcum powder like tannins on finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 99 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 12658

Mark : C+

Website : Thierry Germain

TN : Triade, 2009 Barriqueausbau, Rotweingut Maria Kerschbaum, Burgenland, Austria

This wine was imported by Seaside Tastes HB.

Colour : Red

Aroma : Spice, blackcurramt, redcurrants, liqourice

Taste : Spicy, cherries, liqourice, redcurrants, blackcurrant

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 134 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 74732

Mark : C

Website : Rotweingut Maria Kerschbaum

TN : Château Haut-Canteloup 2009, Premières Côtes de Blaye, Bordeaux

This wine is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.

This wine is imported by TOMP Beer Wine & Spirits AB.

Colour : Dark red/blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, plums, herbs, tobacco

Taste : Blackcurrant, plums, tobacco, spicy finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 100 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 3994

Mark : C+

Website : Château Haut-Canteloup

TN : Brokenwood Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2009, Brokenwood, McLaren Vale, Australia

Tony Albert, John Beeston and wine writer James Halliday founded Brokenwood in 1970 in the Hunter Valley. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The wine was matured in 75% French and 25% American barriques. The total acidity is 6.9 grammes per litre, pH is 3.4, and the residual sugar is nil. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Tryffelsvinet AB.

Colour : Dark purple

Aroma : Milk chocolate, mint, blackcurrant, oak

Taste : Mint, blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 179 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 92028

Mark : B-

Website : Brokenwood

TN : Millaman Limited Reserve Carménère 2009, Viña Millaman, Maule, Chile

This wine is a blend of 85% Carmenere and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine spent one year in American and French oak.

This wine was imported by Concealed Wines AB.

Colour : Dark purple

Aroma : Tobacco, blackcurrant, green pepper, milk chocolate, violets

Taste : Tobacco, blackcurrant, green pepper, milk chocolate

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6250

Mark : B-

Website : Viña Millaman

TN : Inca Reserva Torrontés 2009, Bodegas y Vinedos la Rosa, Valles Calchaquies, Salta, Argentina

This wine was sealed with a screwcap. This wine was imported by Multibev AB.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Pears, roses, pineapple, litchi

Taste : Roses, oily texture, litchi, pineapple, roses

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 87 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6467

TN : Morandé Reserva Riesling 2011, Viña Morandé, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Viña Morandé was founded in 1996. This wine is a blend of 85% Riesling, 10% Sauvignon Blanc, and 5% Gewurztraminer.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap. This wine was imported by Apricot AB.

Colour : Pale yellow, green hues

Aroma : Apricot, pear, honey, figs

Taste : Pear, honey, stone fruits

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 99008

Mark : C+

Website : Viña Morandé

TN : Falernia Syrah Carmenere Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Viña Falernia, Coquimbo, Chile

The winemaker was Giorgio Flessati. This wine was imported by WineWorld AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Plums, strawberries, white pepper, herbs

Taste : White pepper, strawberry, plums, herbs, liqourice on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 199 SEK (3 litre Bag-In-Box)

Systembolaget Number : 6024

Mark : C

Website :  Viña Falernia

TN : Mad House Riesling 2011, Jeanneret Wines, South Australia, Australia

This wine was imported by Multibrev AB.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Honey, lemon, green apples

Taste : Dry, lemon, honey, pear

Alcohol : 11.5%

Price : 189 SEK (3 litre Bag-In-Box)

Systembolaget Number : 6474

Mark : C

Website : Jeanneret Wines

TN : Emma Zuccardi Bonarda 2010, Familia Zuccardi, Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

 This wine is 100% Bonarda and the winemaker was Sebastian Zuccardi.

 This wine was imported by Philipson Söderberg AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Herbs, plums, blueberry

Taste : Blueberry, plums, blackberry, vanilla, talcum powder herby finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95101

Mark : B

Website : Familia Zuccardi

TN : Les Terrasses Rosé 2011, Villa Vallambrosa, Provence, France

This wine is a blend of 45% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, and 10% Mourvedre. This wine was imported by Vinobele AB.

Colour : Pale copper/pink/orange

Aroma : Oranges, jellied strawberry, lemon, herbs

Taste : Dry, orange peel, herbs, jellied strawberries

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 159 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 98135

Mark : B

Website : Villa Vallambrosa

TN : Wieninger Pinot Noir Select 2009, Wieninger, Vienna, Austria

The grapes for this wine came almost exclusively from the sites of the Wiener Bisamberg; one vineyard lies on the Nussberg. The Bisamberg soil consists of light, sandy loess over massive limestone, while the Nussberg soil is comprised mainly of weathered shell-limestone; also over massive limestone. The grapes were destemmed and the must was then filled into modern punch down fermentation tanks.  The must was immediately cooled so that fermentation did not begin for some days (cold maceration). After five days, spontaneous fermentation with natural yeast began; this lasted, with moderate temperature control, for approximately seven days. Following the fermentation and another short maceration, the must was pressed and filled into Burgundian barriques; 25% of them new. As with the Chardonnay, the lees of the Pinot Noir were stirred in regular intervals, with the wine having extended contact with it. After twelve months, the first racking was made, then after a total of 28 months, the barrique maturation was completed and the wine was then blended into a large barrel. Bottling took place one month later without fining or filtration. The total acidity of this wine is 5.1 grammes per litre and the residuak sugar is 1 gramme per litre.

This wine was sealed with a glass stopper.

This wine was imported by Gullberg by Stockwine AB.

Colour : Red

Aroma : Oak, strawberries, wild strawberries, plums, spice

Taste : Spicy, oaky, strawberries, wild strawberries, plums

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 219 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 73496

Mark : B-

Website : Wieninger

Lindt Marc de Champagne Chocolates

These cost somewhere between 80 and 100 kronor here in Sweden for about 25 in a box. 7% of each chocolate is composed of marc de champagne. These taste of creamy milk chocolate and a warm alcohol (any fruit in the marc de champagne is canceled out by the yummy chocolate).

TN : Cameleon Malbec 2011, Jean Bousquet, Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is made from organic grapes sourced mainly from vineyards in Tupungato at an altitude of 1200 metres above sea level, one of the highest points in Mendoza. It is 100% Malbec, and has been in contact with American and French oak during the fermentation and then aged for four months in the bottle.This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Vinia Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Spice, blackberry, vanilla, oak, herbs

Taste : Blackberry, blackcurrant, spice, herbs, oak, liqourice finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 39 SEK (375 ml)

Systembolaget Number : 6581

Mark : C

Website : Domaine Bousquet

TN : Alsace Vindag, 30th January 2012

These are my "very late" tasting notes from the Alsace Wine day tasting that was held on Monday 30th January 2012 at the Operaterrassen in Stockholm, Sweden.

Cave Jean Geiler

• Crement d'Alsace Brut Rose : (C)
• Grad Cru Wineck-Schlossberg Riesling 2008 : (B)
• Grand Cru Florimont Gewurztraminer 2010 : Burnt barley sugar, lemon (C+)

Domaines Schlumberger

• Grand Cru Saering Riesling 2007 : Citrus, minerals, smoky (C)
• Grand Cru Kesssler Gewurztraminer 2005 : Very sweet, lacking acidity (C)

Domaine Albert Mann

• Senteurs des Vignes 2010 : Bland (C)
• Riesling Cuvee Albert 2010 : Lemon, dry (C)
• Pinot Gris Cuvee Albert 2010 : Zingy (B)
• Pinot Noir Grand H 2009 : Strawberries, lean (C)
• Grand Cru Schlossberg Riesling 2010 : Citrus, minerals, long finish (B-)
• Grand Cru Furstentum Pinot Gris 2010 : (C+)
• Grand Cru Steingrubler Gewurztraminer 2009 : (C)

Domaine Gresser

• Pinot Blanc 2010, Saint-Andre : Floral,boring (C)
• Muscat d'Alsace 2010, Brandhof : Floral, minerals, fruity (C+)
• Pinot Noir 2010, Brandhof : Strawberry, thin, bone dry (C)
• Grand Cru Moenchenberg Riesling 2007 : (C)
• Grand Cru Wiebelsberg Riesling 2007 : Lots and lots of minerals (C)
• Grand Cru Kastelberg Riesling 2007 : Lime, minerals (C)

Kientz Rene Fils

• Riesling 2010 : (C)
• Gewurztraminer 2010 : (B)
• Grand Cru Winzerberg Riesling 2008 : Zingy lemon minerals (B)

S.A. Biecher

• Riesling 2009 : (C)
• Riesling Reserve 2008 : Zingy lime, lemon, minerals (C)
• Grand Cru Schoneberg Riesling 2010 : Lemon, lime, fruity, long finish (B)

Charles Wantz

• Muscat 2010, "M" Collection personnelle : (B)
• Pinot Gris "K" 2007  Collection personnelle : Minerals, boring (C)
• Gewurztraminer "O" 2006, Collection personnelle :Barley sugar, lacking acidity (C)

Domaine Michel Fonne

• Crement d'Alsace N.V. Rose : Dry, redcurrants, blackcurrant (B-)
• Pinot Noir 2008 "M" : Dry finish, fruity (C)
• Grand Cru Mambourg Riesling 2008 : (B)

Book : Vinguide Alsace, Per Warfvinge

This book is in Swedish but this doesn't stop it being an excellent small guide to the Alsace wine region.

The book describes the different grapes cultivated in Alsace, booking an appointment to visit a winery, how to read a wine label, the cru system, viticultural techniques, organic and biodynamics, sparkling wines, cycling through the region, and the history of the region. The last half of the book is dedicated to profiles of wineries in Alsace. All of this is packed into less than 200 pages and well worth it.

The book can be ordered direct from Per's website.

Website : Per Warfvinge