TN : Clos du Pape 2003, J J Mortier, Graves, Bordeaux

This wine was quite pinot noir like with tobacco notes. The blend is 20% Cabernet Sauvingon, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 60% Merlot. The residual sugar was 1.5 grammes per litre and acid was 3.19 grames per litre. Vinification was traditional and fermentation was approximately 25 days. The wine was imported by Bornicon and Salming.

J. J. Mortier is a Bordeaux negotiant which was founded in 1889 by Chateau lafite owner Louis Mortier. Jerome Faugere is the leader of the company today and the fifth generation of the family to lead the firm. 90% of the company's turnover is via the export market.

Colour : Stewed fruits, brown hues

Aroma : Stewed fruits, oak

Taste : Tobacco, stewed fruits, oak

Alcohol : 12.5 %

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C

Website : J J Mortier

Website : Bornicon & Salming AB

Wine Studies at Plumpton College, UK

Plumpton College is the only educational establishment in Europe where one can take courses in winemaking and viticulture in English. It is possible to study for a BSc degree in Viticulture and Oenology and take the WSET courses.

Interestingly enough, Plumpton College is working in association with the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) at Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand to offer the EIT Certificate in Wine through correspondence study in Europe. The Certificate in Wine (Correspondence) is a two year programme that is designed for people wishing to pursue a career in the wine industry, or those already working within the industry and looking to gain a formal qualification. It is mainly completed through independent learning, guided by distance learning packages. However, attendance at a residential school, where students gain practical experience, is an essential part of the programme. These schools are held annually at both EIT (NZ) and Plumpton College (UK).

In addition, there is a small commercial winery and both red and white wines are produced.

Website : Plumpton College Wine Studies
Website : Chris Foss Podcast

TN : 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Assemblage Red Wine, Central Coast, Limited Edition, Concannon Vineyard

Overall this was disappointing. I think I could have got a cab of similar quality from Chile for half the price. The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with some Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah.

Colour : Blackcurrant

Aroma : Red fruits, Dark fruits, slight oak

Taste : Dilute blackcurrant and dark fruits, some dark chocolate, oak, drying tannic finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 130 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Concannon Vineyard

Skåne Vinvägen / Skåne Vineyards

The Skåne area of Sweden now has a clickable map of vineyards available online. Simply click on a vineyard location and it takes you to the vineyard's own web site.

Website : Välkommen till Vinvägen i Skåne

TN : Chateau Hourtin-Ducasse, 2004, Cru Bourgeois, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux

This wine won a Bronze medal in the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2006.

Chateau Hourtin-Ducasse is located in Saint-Sauveur at the edge of the Pauillac commune. Its name undoubtedly comes from the juxtaposition of those of two of its former owners, Mr. Hourtin (18th century) and Mr. Fleury-Ducasse (19thcentury). The Chateau was acquired in 1976 by Mr. Marengo.

The property includes approximately 30 hectares, including 25 devoted to the vine. The wine making is carried out under the vigilance of Jean-Claude Arcennathury.

Colour : Dark plum, cassis

Aroma : Blackcurrant hints, green vegetal, oak

Taste : Oak, cedar, dark fruits, drying finish

Alcohol : 12.5 %

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Chateau Hourtin-Ducasse

Malborough Wine Research Centre

Malborough Wine Research Centre is located in prime New Sauvignon Blanc country i.e. Blenheim, Malborough. All publications and information about research projects can be found on their web site. The aim of the centre is to provide scientific leadership, authorative information and innovative technological development for the grape and wine industry, both in Marlborough and throughout New Zealand.

Currently the research centre is running New Zealand's first large-scale wine research project, into Sauvignon Blanc, funded by FoRST. This project aims to help the industry retain and understand the unique flavour of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and to ensure it maintains its international reputation.

The campus includes four laboratories, a technology transfer theatre seating 84, a wine sensory room for conducting specialised tastings, and a small-scale winery for teaching and training viticulture and oenology students.

Website : Malborough Wine Research Centre

The Focus Vineyard Project New Zealand

The Focus Vineyard programme is a three-year project funded by the MAF Sustainable Farming Fund and the New Zealand wine industry. The aim of the project is to investigate best practice techniques within the industry and improve the adoption of this best practice. The project encompasses Malborough, Gimblett Gravels, and Hawke's Bay. All material from the project are available from the project website.

Website : Focus Vineyard Project

TN : Le Cardinal, Merlot-Cabernet Suvignon, Bordeaux, 2006, Dourthe

The blend is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Colour : Ruby red

Aroma : Muted Red fruits

Taste : Heavy cedar, oak, muted red fruits

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 69 SEK

Mark : D+

Website : Dourthe

TN : Tsar, Cabernet Sauvingon Reserve, 2004

This is a quality wine of origina Plovdiv. It was produced and bottled by Vinzavod PLC, Assenovgrad, Bulgaria. The town of Assenovgrad is located in Southern Bulgaria.

Colour : Plum, brown hues

Aroma : Green leaf, dusty, red fruits, blackcurrant

Taste : Strong tobacco, oak, red fruits, earthy finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 39 SEK

Mark : D-

TN : Dourthe, Barrel Select, Bordeaux Superieur, 2003

This wine is 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. It has nice balance, typical Bordeaux style, but was a bit thin on fruit and lacking in concentration.

Colour : Plummy red

Aroma : Red fruit

Taste : Red fruits, oak, vanilla

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 88 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Dourthe

WineWorld

I got an email from VinUnic this morning with a link to the June 2007 newsletter from WineWorld. It covers their wines that will be distributed by the Systembolaget in June 2007 and new wines that can be ordered.

Website : Bonarome WineWorld AB
Website : WineWorld June 2007 Newsletter

TN : Chateau Belgrave 2004, Haut-Medoc, Grand Cru Classe, Vignoble Dourthe

My overall impression of this wine was it was a classic left-bank Bordeaux. The only thing letting it down was a slight lack of fruit.

Decanter Magazine gave it 3 out of 5 starts and 16 out of 20 points. The drinking window was estimated to between 2008 and 2014.

Chateau Belgrave was graded a 5th tier Grand Cru Classe in the 1855 classification.

The vineyard is composed of deep gravelly soil set on a clay subsoil. It has been tenant-famred by Dourthe since 1979. 60 ha are used for vines. It is 100% hand-harvested and a double sortign tabel is used for grape selection.

The grape varieties in the blend are 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet France, and 3% Petit Verdot. The wine is matured in oak barrels; typically from 12 to 15 months. Part of the wine is matured in barrel on lees to preserve aromas.

A new cellar was constructed in 2003 equipped with average-sized vats and wooden vats. A conveyor belt system is used to minimise contact with the grapes.

The winemaking manager is Antoine Gonzales and the vinegrowing manager is Olivier Gayrard. The consultant oenologist is the omni-present Michel Rolland.

Colour : Blackberry, blackcurrant

Aroma : Cedar, oak, blackberry, spice

Taste : Blackcurrant, cedar, soft tannins, integrated oak, blackberry

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 245 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Dourthe

Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Podcasts

The AWBC have started podcasting audio and video. Currently available are a set of MP3s by renowned Australian wine journalist and book author Max Allen. Each podcast is examining a different wine region of Australia going into detail about the history, stories, and wine.

Website : Wine Australia Podcasting

TN : 2003 Christian Moueix, Red, Saint-Emilion, France

This was packaged using a conglomerated cork. One of the points that the Systembolaget continually make is that they have quality control. In this case, all wines should be of good quality compared to their price i.e. good value for money. The person responsible for buying this wine should be made to sit down and drink a bottle every night until the supplies are depleted. This wine was almost totally lacking in fruit and very hard to drink.

Colour : Plum

Aroma : Red fruits, cedar, oak

Taste : Oak and cedar on finish, lead pencil, some plum, lacking fruit

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : E+

TN : Chateau des Annereaux 2003, Lalande de Pomerol, Bordeaux, France

Chateau des Annereaux has been owned by the same family for six centuries (20 generations). The Chateau is headed by Dominique Hessel, who manages Chateau Moulin-a-Vent in Moulis.

The vineyard soil, 22.7 ha, is sandy-gravel and the subsoil is Crasse de Fer (Iron Pan).

The blend is 72% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvingon.

Colour : Purple, brown

Aroma : Green vegetable, some dark fruits

Taste : Herbs, dark fruits, slight green vegetable, slight oak on finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 143 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Chateau des Annereaux

Neal Martin & Robert Parker

Recently, a number of Decanter article authors have written pieces in which they state that they disagree with the current trend of high alcohol, concentrated wines; sometimes they even mention Robert Parker himself. Well this month, July 2007, sees Neal Martin publish an article defending Robert Parker. I ask myself, why isn't Robert Parker writing his own article. I also observe that Neal Martin is now working for Robert Parker and publishes his own articles on the Robert Parker web site.

Website : Decanter Magazine

TN : Chateau Labadie, 2003, Cotes de Bourg, Bordeaux, France

Chateau Labadie is located in the Medoc in the Commune of Begadan, 70Km from Bordeaux. It owner is Yves Bibey having acquired the chateau in 1970. There 47 ha under vines and the average age of the vines is 28 years. The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet France, and Petit Verdot.

The label shown is from 2002 but the 2003 label is identical except for the change of year.

Colour : Blackberry, red hues

Aroma : Cedar, smoke, blackberry

Taste : Cedar, blackberry, blackcurrant, oak on finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Cru Bourgeois du Medoc

Fine Wine Magazine

Fine Wine magazine is distributed in PDF form. It is available in both English and Swedish. The next issue will be out in September, the editor Ove Canemyr assures me with a couple of articles relating to the Swedish tax laws, Swedish customs and excise, and private imports via the Internet.

The latest issue is May 2007. There are articles on what's happening in Priorat, the dangers of alcohol and labelling, Lavinia - a wine boutique in Paris, a review of some of the wines available to bid for in the Sweden Drinks Auction, held in cooperation with Systembolaget, which was held last week in Stockholm, Veuve Clicquot, Rose wines, Hungarian wines, and an offer to buy some fine wines from Mastroberadino.

Website : Fine Wine

TN : 2007 Malbec Rose, Chakana, Argentina

Unlike the 2006 which was sealed with a black synthetic cork, it seems that Chakana have now switched over to screwcaps. This wine was imported by PrimeWine Sweden AB. What I like about all the wines I have had from Chakana are that they are extremely good value and their wine label design is brilliant.

Colour : Canned strawberries

Aroma : Candied red fruits

Taste : Candied jellied cherries

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 65 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Chakana

Website : PrimeWine

Vinfo

I received a magazine called Vinfo yesterday, No 39 May 2007. It is published by Granqvist Vinagentur. The articles aren't that interesting It does have one interesting piece on Patrick d'Aulan who used to own, along with his family, Piper-Heidsieck Champagne and still own Chateau Sansonnet in Bordeaux. He now runs a company called Edonia wines whose properties include Alta Vista in Argentina.

Website : Granqvist Vinagentur