VinUnic Press Reviews November 2007

The press reviews for VinUnics November 2007 offerings can now be found on their website.

Website : VinUnic Novembernyheter 2007 Pressrevy

Mondowine strengthens portfolio

I received an email yesterday from Mondowine saying that they will be the new representative for Champagne Henriot in Sweden. Henriot dates back, as grapegrowers, to the mid 1600s. Henriot was founded in 1808 by Apolline Henriot. Back then she sold the champagne to close friends and family under the name "Veuve Henriot Aine". Nowadays, Henriot own 115 hectares of vineyards in Cotes des Blancs, Montagne de Reims, and Vallee de la Marne. What distinguishes Henriot champagnes is the high proportion of Chardonnay in the blends and almost no Pinot Meunier.

Website : Mondowine

TN : Leconfield Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Leconfield wines, Coonawarra, Australia

Leconfield estate was established in 1974 by noted oenologist Sydney Hamilton. Today, Paul Gordon is the winemaker and Richard Hamilton is the winegrower.

The vineyards are situated in Coonawarra. The soil is terra rossa over limestone. The clones planted are Reynella, CW44, and 125. The age of the vines vary between 1974 and 1988. The grapes were machine picked between 13th April and 7th May 2004.

The wine is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc. The actual alcohol, as reported on the Leconfield website, is 14.4%. The acidity is 7.03 grammes per litre. The residual sugar is 1.9 grammes per litre. The pH is 3.38. Oak maturation was in 60% new French, 3% new American, 29% in 1 to 2 year old French, and the rest in older oak. The wines was left in contact with the lees for three weeks in tank. The fermentation temperature was between 22 and 28 degrees. The yeast used for fermentation was Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The wine underwent blending in January 2005 and was bottles on the 23rd February 2006.

Robert Parker gave this wine 87 points in the edition 161 of his Wine Advocate. James Halliday gave this wine 92 points in his 2008 Australian Wine Companion. My conclusion is that this wine could do with a couple more years to let the oak marry and die down.

This wine was imported by Premium Wines Nordic. Though there is almost no information about this wine on their website.

Colour : Dark maroon

Aroma : Oak, vegetal, mint, coffee, some dark fruits, cold tea

Taste : Oak, blackcurrant, coffee, red fruits, lacking in fruit, overwhelming oak on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 154 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Leconfield Wines
Website : Premium Wines Nordic

TN : Caitec Pinot Noir 2006, Bodega del Anelo, Neuquen, Patagonia, Argentina

Caitec is from the Quechuas Indian language meaning "firelight".

The vineyard is located on the banks of the river Neuquen in Anelo. The vines are planted on red alluvial soil.

This wine was imported by Oenoforos AB. There is no mention of this wine on the Bodega del Anelo website.

Colour : Stewed dark fruits

Aroma : Violets, blueberries, plum, spice

Taste : Spicy finish, violets, blueberry, plums

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Bodega del Anelo
Website : Oenoforos AB

WineFinder

Britt Karlsson pointed out the company WineFinder to me which specialise in the Internet purchase/delivery of wine to customers in Sweden. They have a small but very interesting range currently. I noticed Almaviva 2004, Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2004, Chateau La Tour Carnet 2004 Errazuriz Syrah La Cumbre 2005, and Luce 2003. All of these wines I would like to purchase.

However, they have an annual membership fee of 2000 SEK. This seems to be excessive and I don't understand why it exists given that I only want to buy wine. I don't need a membership fee to buy from Berry Bros & Rudd for instance.

There is a wine club where you get 12 bottles of wine a month for only 1600 SEK plus moms. There is no mention of what these wines might be. There are also wine investment possibilities; 50000 SEK appears to be the minimum investment.

Website : WineFinder

TN : Eclat 2004, Vina Valdivieso, Maule Valley, Chile

This wine was imported by AB Nigab. It is a blend of 50% Mourvedre, 38% Carignan, and 125 Syrah. Vina Valdivieso was founded in 1879 and the current winemaker is Brett Jackson.

The grapes were harvested during March and April. The wine was aged for 12 months in barrel (70% French oak and 30% American oak). The barrels were one to five years old. The fruit was all sourced from the Maule Valley, Carignan was sourced from old (more than 50 years old) dry farmed head pruned vines in the Maule Valley. The sites are free draining sandy clay loams. The bunches were destemmed, not crushed, and cold soaked for 48 hours before being inoculated with yeast. Fermentation was in small stainless steel tubs for 7 days. During fermentation the cap was hand plunged three times a day. After alcoholic fermentation, there was post-fermentation maceration on skins for 14 days, before pressing. The wine went directly to barrel, and underwent a natural malolactic fermentation in barrel.

Colour : Dark red/black

Aroma : Spicy, oak, liquorice, red and dark fruits, blueberry

Taste : Spicy, dark and red fruits, liquorice, coffee

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : B

Website : AB Nigab
Website : Vina Valdivieso

TN : Monteregio di Massa Marittima 2004, DOC, Vendemmia, Morisfarms, Italy

This wine was imported by Carovin AB.

The wine is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyards lie in Monteregio di Massa Marittima in South West Tuscany. The soils are clay and rich in fossils. The yield was 6000 kilos of grapes per hectare. Harvesting was during the second and fourth weeks of September. Fermentation was in cement tanks for 18 days with pumpovers twice a day. The wine was matured for one year in seasoned barriques. The total acidity in Tartaric acid is 5.00 grammes per litre. the volatile acidity in vinegar acid is 0.53 grammes per litre. The pH is 3.58 and dry extract is 27.10.

Colour : Deep plum

Aroma : Plum, oak, dark chocolate, dark fruits

Taste : Dark fruits, slight tartiness , slight oak

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 159 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Carovin
Website : Morisfarms

TN : Mineralstein Riesling Vom Blauschiefer 2006, QmP, GP Winery, Mosel, Germany

This wine was imported by Oenoforos.



Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Mineral, apricot, citrus marmelade

Taste : Oranges, grapey mid-palatte, citrus lemony finish, minerals, off-dry

Alcohol : 11%

Price : 77 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Oenoforos

TN : Pangea Syrah 2004, Vina Ventisquero, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Only 120 bottles were imported into Sweden.

This wine is from vineyards in Apalta.



It is made by a collaboration Felipe Tosse of Vina Ventisquero (Chief Oenologist) and the famed Australian winemaker John Duval (ex-Penfolds).



Colour : deep dark purple

Aroma : Violets, blueberry, spice, oak

Taste : Pepper and spice on long finish, silky, mouth coating, dark fruits, blueberry, violets

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 269 SEK

Mark : A-

Website : Vina Ventisquero

TN : Gran Caus Rosado 2006, Can Rafols dels Caus, Penedes, Spain

This wine may have been slightly oxidised (a bad bottle ?) but at the price I wasn't going to buy another one to be disappointed again.

This is 100% Merlot and 53300 bottles were produced.

Only the 2004 vintage is mentioned on the Can Rafols dels Caus website.

Colour : Deep red fruits

Aroma : Red fruits, slight vinegar

Taste : Red and dark fruits, slight sherry

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 169 SEK

Mark : D-

Website : Can Rafols dels Caus

TN : Eroica 2006 Riesling, Columbia Valley, USA

There was only 120 bottles of this wine imported into Sweden.

This wine was produced and bottled by Chateau Ste Michelle, Woodinville, WA, USA. It is made from a joint venture between Washington State's Chateau Ste Michelle and Mosel's Dr Loosen.



The wine received 90 points from Wine Spectator and was named as a "Smart Buy".

Colour : Gold/yellow

Aroma : Lemon, orange, minerals

Taste : Lemon, orange, lime, minerals, slight petrol, spritzy finish, slight sweetness, long long finish

Alcohol : 12.%%

Price : 199 SEK

Mark : A

Website : Chateau Ste Michelle Partners Eroica

TN : Piccini 2005, IGT, Picinni, Tuscany, Italy

This wine is a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes were harvested by hand and then vinified in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks for 15 days. The wine was then stored in 500 litre oak bottis for three months before bottling.

Piccini was founded in 1882 by Angiolo Piccini and is run today by Mario and Martina Piccini.

The wine was imported by Fondberg & Co.


Colour : Dark deep red

Aroma : Spice, oak, cherry, plum

Taste : Sour cherry, liquorice, oak, spice, herbs

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 85 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Fondberg & Co

TN : Pink Billy Rose 2006, Philip Shaw, Orange, Australia

This wine comes from the Koomooloo vineyard which was established in 19988 at 900 metres altitude.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap. It is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Shiraz. The clones used are Merlot D3 V14 and Shiraz BVR CL20/CL12/CL30, 1654. The pH is 3.36. The TA is 5.50. The wines was harvested between March 16th and April 3rd.

Colour : Pale raspberry/strawberry

Aroma : Muted red fruits

Taste : Red fruits, spice, long finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 179 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Philip Shaw

TN : Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2005, Montes Wines, Casablanca Valley, Chile

This wine was slightly overpowered by too much oak for my liking.

The wine was vinified with clean must separating three different lots using three different strains of selected yeasts: D', Montrachet and native. It was fermented and aged in French oak barrels for 1 year, 40% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation. The grapes sourced from Casablanca Valley. The wine remained in its original cask for one year using a monthly batonage.

This wine was imported by Av Hjo Grosshandel AB though no mention of this wine is on their site.

Colour : Yellow

Aroma : Mango, melon, sweetcorn

Taste : Oak, mango, sweetcorn, butter

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Montes Wines
Website : Av Hjo Grosshandel AB

TN : Poacher's Blend 2007, St Hallett Wines, Barossa, Australia

This wine is a blend of classic Barossa varieties Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling. The winemakers were Stuart Blackwell and Matt Gant.

This wine was imported by WineWorld AB Sweden. There was no information available on their website as it is currently being updated.

The St Hallet website contains information about Poacher's Blend but sadly not for the 2007 vintage.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Apple, pear, honey, apricot

Taste : Apple, pear, apricot

Alcohol : 11.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Wine World AB
Website : St Hallett

Wineworld Newsletter November 2007

I just received the latest newsletter from Wineworld. Interesting wines (i.e. that I can actually afford and don't have to cellar for twenty years before I can drink them) include the 2007 Poacher's Blend from St Hallet and Casalferro 2003 from Baron Ricasoli.

Website : Wineworld Nyhetsbrev November 2007

VinUnic Newsletter November 2007

The latest newsletter from VinUnic can be downloaded (PDF format).

The 2004 DRC wines are launched; not that I could afford them and there was a huge queue at the Regeringsgatan store in Stockholm when I went in to buy my Eroica 2006 (luckily available without queueing which was a bit strange given its good reviews in Wine Spectator and the fact that onyl 120 bottles made it into Sweden).

Eroica 2006, as previously mentioned, is imported by VinUnic. Vergelegen V also looks interesting but I suspect is overpriced for the quality at 775 SEK. Dr Loosen Graacher Himmelreich 2005 is also imported.

Website : VinUnic Våra Viner November 2007

TN : Rocca di Montemassi Vermentino 2006, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy, Tenuta Rocca di Montemassi

I found this in the Kista Gallerian Systembolaget but normally it is in beställningssortiment (number 83176).


This wine was produced by Zonin and imported by Bibendum.

This tasted like a muted flabby viognier. There was much more fuit on the taste than the nose. Yet despite these perceived faults, I rather enjoyed this wine. I would have rated it even higher if it had more fruit.

The vineyards are overlooked by an old fortified stronghold which probably dates back to the 10th century. This castle was initially owned by the Aldobrandeschis, and then by the noble Pannocchieschi family. It was then usurped by Cappuccini di Sticciano who, in 1328, rebelled against Siena with the help of Castruccio Castracani. The castle was, however, conquered by the more powerful Sienese troops after a siege that was immortalized in Simone Martini's famous painting, now in the Palazzo Pubblico di Siena. It depicts Guidoriccio da Fogliano on horseback, with the Casle of Montemassi and his troops' campsite - surrounded by vineyards. In 1632, Gran Duke Ferdinando II of Tuscany established the Marquisate of Montemassi and Roccatederighi and put it in the hands of the Malaspina di Mulazzo family, the title later passed to the Cambiaso di Genova and Bichi di Roccalbegna clans, and then to Marquis Bichi Rispoli until, in 1826, the Marquisate was finally dissolved.

The Estate is situated in the low foothills around Montemassi, which is part of the commune of Roccastrada in Maremma. The property stretches out over 430 hectares (1085 acres), of which 160 hectares (397 acres) are planted with vines in the D.O.C. zone of Monteregio. This area is particularly suited for the production of high quality wines that are characterized by intense aromas and flavors thanks to the siliceous and clayey soil, which is rich in precious minerals, and to the Mediterranean climate, with its constant sea breezes that help mitigate the hot summer temperatures and also keep the grapes healthy. Moreover, the scarce rainfall in spring and summer limits grape yields considerably, ensuring optimum ripening of the fruit.

The winery has been designed so as to be perfectly integrated in its environment and in the surrounding landscape. The architect Mirko Amatori decided to restore the original buildings of Rocca di Montemassi, maintaining their agricultural functions and conserving the Maremman countryside, as well as refurbishing the pre-existing architectural structures that lie amidst cluster-pines, olive trees and a small natural lake.

On the property is a museum of rural civilization. It is an interactive exhibit with over 3,000 objects on show, all of which date from the 19th century to the pre-War period (1940), prior to the large-scale industrialization of Italy. They bear witness to what it was like to work in the fields and describe the way of life, the various crafts and trades and the passing of the centuries in this area. The museum is open to the public between April to October, Tuesday through Sunday 10.00 am - 6.00 pm (closed on Monday), and between March to November, Monday through Friday 10.00 am - 6.00 am (Saturday and holidays on request).

The planting density of the vines is 5000 vines per hectare which is 2023 vines per hectare. The yield was 6000 kilos of grapes per hectare. The grapes were picked by hand and fermented in stainless steel tanks at 18 to 22 degrees.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Stone fruits, bitter

Taste : Stone fruits, slight bitter minerally finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 74 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Zonin
Website : Tentuta Rocca di Montemassi
Website : Bibendum

TN . Chateau Kirwan 2004, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux, France

This wine was awarded 5 stars in the November 2007 Decanter Medoc 2004 tasting. I knew it wasn't going to be absolutely ready for drinking as it was recommended to lay down for ten years. However, the tasting note led me to believe that it was quite drinkable even if raw. The note states "Rich, ripe fruit, lovely floral perfume". However, the fruit was dumbed down, I was let down here, and the finish was pure oak but that was to be expected.

Chateau Kirwan is a 3rd classified growth from the Margaux appellation. It is located in the commune of Cantenac which is close to the village of Margaux.

In 1787 Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, said after a journey in the Médoc:
"Chateau Kirwan is of a second quality after Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour, Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau Lafite".

Colour : Dark purple

Aroma : Red and dark fruits, oaky, cedar

Taste : Red and dark fruits, smooth tanins, lashings of drying oak on the finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 235 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Chateau Kirwan

TN : Delheim Pinotage Rose 2007, Simonsberg, Stellenbosch, South Africa

This wine is a blend of 95% Pinotage and 5% Muscat de Frontignan. The vineyard is composed of double row bushvine Pinotage from west-facing slopes in the Muldersvlei bowl which produced around 10 tons per hectare. The Muscat was from south-facing slopes further up on Simonsberg mountain.

The grapes were picked at 21-22 degrees Brix, pH was 3.20 and the total acidity was 9.0 grammes per litre. All the grapes were hand-harvested. The grapes were destalked and crushed followed by mash cooling. There then followed five hours of skin contact along with enzymes and then the juice was pressed off and settled overnight. Cold fermentation proceeded with the aid of selected yeasts and fermentation was stopped with centrifuge to keep residual sugar. The wine was released on April 2007. The final wine has 5.6 sugar per litre, pH of 3.26, and a total acidity of 8.0 grammes per litre.

This wine is imported by Carovin, Stockholm, Sweden.




Colour : Pale strawberry

Aroma : Red fruits, clean

Taste : Strawberries, sweet red fruit, bitter and spice on finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Delheim
Website : Carovin