TN : Dancing Bull Vintage Blend Zinfandel 2011, Dancing Bull Winery, California, USA

This wine was imported by Spendrups Brygeri AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Mint, raspberry, blueberry, herbs

Taste : Jammy, blueberry, raspberry, mint, herbs

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C+

Website :  Dancing Bull Winery

TN : The Stump Jump Reserve Grenache 2010, d'Arenberg, McLaren Vale, Australia

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Vinovum AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Mint, plums, leather, raspberry, blackberry, spice, herbs

Taste : Oak, plums, herbs, blackberry, raspberry, spice

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6347

Mark : C

Website : d'Arenberg

TN : Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino 2008, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy

This wine was imported by WineWorld AB.

Colour : Dark red/brown hues

Aroma : Sour cherries, raspberry, milk chocolate, leather

Taste : Cherries, raspberries, leather, herbs, milk chocolate

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 179 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 70619

Mark : C+

Website : Castiglion del Bosco

TN : Rosé du Mas 2012, Mas de la Dame, Les Baux de Provence, France

This wine is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

This wine was imported by Ward Wines AB.

Colour : Copper/salmon

Aroma : Raspberry, strawberry, oranges, herbs

Taste : Herbs, straweberry, blackcurrant, redcurrants, creamy texture, bone dry

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 109 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 70356

Mark : B-

Website : Mas de la Dame

TN : Marqués de Cáceres Rosado 2012, Bodegas Marqués de Cáceres, Rioja, Spain

This wine is a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Granacha Tinta. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

 This wine was imported by Domaine Wines Sweden AB.

Colour : Pink/strawberry

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, vanilla, oranges

Taste : Raspberry, strawberry, redcurrants, oranges

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Marqués de Cáceres

TN : Clos Floridène 2010, Denis & Florence Dubourdieu, Graves, Bordeaux, France

Clos Floridène is a 31 hectares estate mostly locatedon the calcerous plateau of Pujois sur Cirn near Barsac. The 22.7 hectare white vineyard is composed 56% Sémillon, 43% Sauvignon and 1% Muscadelle. The plantation densities range between 5,500 plants (1.8 x 1 metre) and 7,140 (1.4 x 1 metre) plants per hectare. This wine is a blend of 50% Sauvignon, 47% Sémillon, and 3% Muscadelle

This wine was imported by Granqvist Beverage House AB.

Colour : Lemon/yellow

Aroma : Oaky, woody, lemon, nuts, green apples, butter

Taste : Upfront overpowering mega oak and wood, lemon, lemon peel, nuts, honey, green apples, try again in two years - will this oak eventually mellow ??

Alcohol : 13.5 %

Price : 194 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 92098

Mark : C-

Website : Denis & Florence Dubourdieu

TN : Mionetto Prosecco Extra Dry 2011, Mionetto Spumante, Prosecco D.O.C., Treviso, Italy

 

This wine was imported by Henkell & Co Sverige AB.

Colour : Watery straw, large bubbles on mousse

Aroma : Green apples, pear, biscuits

Taste : Green apples, oranges, pear

Alcohol : 11%

Price : 69 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 7749

Mark : C

Website : Mionetto Spumante

TN : Buena Vista Sonoma Zinfandel 2010, Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma County, California, USA

 The pH of this wine is 3.52 and the total acidity is  8.30 grammes per litre. The wine spent 14 months in 100% French, Hungarian, and American oak of which 10% was new.

 This wine was imported by Giertz Vinimport AB.

Colour : Dark red/blue hues

Aroma : Fruity, blackberry, raspberry, oak, vanilla

Taste : Blackberry, spice, blueberry, vanilla, zingy acidici finish, oak

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 73776

Mark : C+

Website : Buena Vista Winery

TN : Mas de la Dame La Stèle 2008, Les Baux-de-Provence, France

 This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

This wine was imported by Ward Wines AB.

Colour : Dark plums

Aroma : Blackcurrant, oak, spice, blueberry

Taste : Blackcurrant, blueberry, spice, black pepper and oak on finish, retaste in 1-2 years

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 189 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 70431

Mark : B

Website : Mas de la Dame

TN : Anima Chenin Blanc 2010, Avondale, Paarl, South Africa

The word Anima refers to the vital life force or soul.   Avondale's ethos “Terra Est Vita”- Soil is Life – is their acknowledgement that for us, soul animates everything on earth, from the minerals, through plants and animals to humans.  Avondale called their Chenin Blanc Anima, because the lively minerals of Avondale’s soils give to the wine its own delicious, spirited character and extraordinary finesse.

The hand-picked, organically grown grapes were harvested at 22° to 23° Balling, whole bunch pressed and then naturally fermented in 500 litre French oak barrels. 15 to 20% of the grapes were whole bunch fermented which added body and length to the wine. After fermentation the wine was kept on the lees for twelve months with regular battonage.

This wine was imported by Handpicked Wines Sweden AB.

Colour : Yellow, green/brown hues

Aroma : Oak, mango, herbs, vanilla, butter, lemon

Taste : Peach, mango, oak, butter, lemon, herbs, zingy acidity on long finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 2049

Mark : B-

Website : Avondale

TN : Pittnauer Pitti 2011, Weingut Pittnauer, Burgenland, Austria

This wine is a blend of Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch. The wine received 88 points out of 100 from Austria's Falstaff magazine.

This wine was imported by AB Wicked Wine Sweden.

Colour : Red/blue hues

Aroma : Spices, blueberry, raspberry, milk chocolate

Taste : Spice, burnt toast, herbs, blueberry, raspberry

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 126 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 73173

Mark : B

Website : Weingut Pittnauer

TN : Domaine du Bagnol Rose 2012, Cassis, Provence, France

This wine is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Mourvedre.

Colour : Pale copper/salmon

Aroma : Herbs, jellied strawberry and raspberry

Taste : Redcurrants, raspberry, herbs, zingy finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : Bought at the winery

Mark : B

Website :  Domaine du Bagnol

TN : The Ultimate Zin Zinfandel 2011, Future Wines, Lodi, California, USA

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

 This wine was imported by The Wine Team.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Blueberry, blackberry, vanilla, mint, oak, toast

Taste : Mint, blackberry, blueberry, oak, toast, milk chocolate, warm finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6550

Mark : C+

TN : Minuty Prestige Rosé 2012, Château Minuty, Côtes de Provence, France

The vines are grown in a mica schist soil with south westerly aspect. The soil is mechanically worked (using plough) without using herbicide. The Vines are trellised in double "guyot" with two arms titled to 30 degrees with 2 eyes on every arm. The vines are trellised in 2 dimensions to a height of 1.70 metres height. The manual debudding helps to quantify the harvest by avoiding any green grape harvest. During phytosanitary treatments, no systemic product is used.

 This wine was imported by Ward Wines AB.

Colour : Pale copper/salmon

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, lemon, grapefruit, herbs

Taste : Raspberry, lemon, grapefruit, herbs

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : B

Website :  Château Minuty

Domaine Mas de la Dame, Baux de Provence, France, July 2013

I was at Domaine Mas de la Dame near Saint Remy de Provence last week to purchase some wine and took these photos :

Old Vine Saint Remy de Provence July 2013

We stayed at my wife's friend last week in Saint Remy de Provence and whilst there I took some pictures of this old vine she has growing in her patio. The grapes are red but nobody seems to know what the variety actually is :

Avignon Vines

Whilst taking the tourist train around Avignon last week I spotted these vines near the papal palace :

Domaine du Bagnol, Cassis, Provence, France, July 2013

Here are some pictures from my shopping trip to Domaine du Bagnol is Cassis, Provence, France :

TN : Catena Alta Historic Rows Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Bodega Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina

The grapes for this wine were sourced from two of the Catena's family Andean vineyards; La Piramide (50%) and Domingo (50%).This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Plums, blackcurrant, herbs, liqourice, toast, black olives

Taste : Blackcurrant, plums, liqourice, herbs, black olives

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 255 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 99144

Mark : B

Website : Bodega Catena Zapata

TN : Excellence 2011, Domaine la Ferme Blanche, Cassis, Provence, France

I picked this bottle up at the Domaine la Ferme Blanche winery a couple of weeks ago in Cassis, Provence, France. I also bought the standard red and rose but have lost the tasting notes unfortunately. From what I remember both were average with the red being slightly better than the rose.

Colour : Pale straw

Taste : Creamy texture, lemon, earthy

Alcohol : 13%

Mark : C

TN : Nero d'Avola Ummira 2011, Terre di Zagara, IGT, Sicily, Italy

 I had this wine at a small Italian resturant with pizza last Thursday in Avignon.

 Taste : Dark fruits, raisiny, smooth tannins

Alcohol : 13.5%

Mark : C

TN : Chateau Tayat 2011, Blaye, Cotes de Bordeaux, France

This wine is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle.

Taste : Earthy, blackcurrant leaf, lemon

Colour : Pale lemon

Mark : C+

Website : Chateau Tayat

TN : Château Peyreau 2009, Vignobles Graf von Neipperg, Saint Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France

The Peyreau estate, bordering on Clos de l'Oratoire, was purchased by the Neipperg family in 1971. It has benefited from the winemaking philosophy and experience of Count Stephan von Neipperg since the early 1990s, when he took over the management of these two estates. The 12.82 hectare vineyard is located on Saint-Emilion's north-east slope. It has clay-limestone soil with Fronsac molasse at the top of the slope and clay-siliceous soil lower down.The grape varieties are 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.The average age of the vines is 25 years. The winemaking philosophy is the same as at the other Neipperg vineyards. The only difference is the vats; concrete rather than wood or stainless steel. Château Peyreau has had a fully-renovated installation since the 2004 vintage with new concrete vats and a redesigned barrel-ageing cellar.

Built by the Beylot family in 1860, the château is set in vast grounds featuring a wide variety of trees. In one unusual episode in the building's history, it was used as a girls' boarding school during the Second World War. 95% of total production of the château is exported.

All of the grapes were harvested by hand, into small crates to avoid bruising They were then sorted before and after destemming There was no crushing and all of the grapes arrived on a conveyor belt. The wine was fermented in temperature-controlled concrete vats; extraction was via pneumatic pigeage (punching down the cap). Malolactic fermentation and barrrel ageing was performed in barrels used for either one and two previous vintages.

Colour : Dark plummy red

Aroma : Plums, blackcurrant, oak

Taste : Graphite, fruity, blackcurrant, plums, cedar, grainy tannins on drying finish

Mark : C+

Price : 169 SEK (The Wine Company)

The Wine Company Article Number : 777569

Website : Vignobles Graf von Neipperg
Website : The Wine Company