TN : Beaujolais Villages Nouveau 2007, J.L. Quinson, Romaneche Thorins, France

Colour : Black cherry/red

Aroma : Bubblegum, stewed strawberry

Taste : Long acidic finish, bubblegum, stewed strawberry, spritzy moothfeel

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 70 SEK

Mark : D+

Wine and Symbian OS

A couple of months ago I bought "The Symbian OS Architecture Sourcebook" by Ben Morris. Symbian OS is what powers most Smartphones (example manufacturers being Sony Ericsson, Nokia, and Motorola). Ben is a freelance writer and system and product architect focusing on Symbian OS.

When not using, thinking or writing about software, Ben likes to write about wine and vines. He owns a small vineyard (less than one hectare) that he is restoring to production in Alba, Piemonte, Italy, at Google Earth 44 38.01 N 8 8.850 E or thereabouts.

Ben spends most of his time in London but is flying quite a lot, Ryanair, to Italy. He is also studying on a Wine Production part time course at Plumpton College in the UK. He has written an article for the UKVA's magazine around a Plumpton trip to the Vintech Expo in Bordeaux.

Last year, Ben made around 60 litres of Dolcetto and Barbera from old vines. This year, his aim was to make 200 to 300 litres. The summer in Alba was good this year; around the mid 30 degrees earlier and then consistently warm, mid 20 degrees. Some of the young vines, "Barbatelles", planted this year were lost to heat though some could come back. There were a couple of days of rain in August and a hailstorm with stones the size of cherries.

Website : Ben Morris

TN : Chateau Perenne, Premieres Cotes de Blaye, 2004, Cru Bourgeois, Bernard Magrez, France

The vineyard dates back to the 17th century. Up until the French revolution in 1789, the monks of the Saint Romain de Blaye Abbey lived at the Saint Geres Prieure, receiving a significant source of revenue from the vineyard. In 1791, the estate was sold to the Irish O'Lanyer family.

This wine won the Medaille de Bronze at the Concours d'Aquitaine 2006. It was aged in French oak barrels for 18 months and is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Colour : Purple/red

Aroma : Oak, cedar, blackcurrant, leafy

Taste : Smooth moothfeel but not mouthcoating, blackcurrant, smooth tannins on long finish, blackcurrant, some underlying dark fruits

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 17.35 Euro (purchased at the Bernard Magrez Boutique at Chateau Pape Clement, Pessace, France)

Mark : B

Website : Bernard Magrez

TN : Beaujolais Nouveau 2007, J.L. Quinson, Romaneche Thorins, France

This wine promised so much from the nose (really good for the price) but it was only just drinkable so buyer beware !. This also makes a mockery of the Systembolaget's monopoly policy; one of their stated reasons for existing is that they taste everything beforehand so it's theoretically impossible to buy a bad wine but this is just a joke.

Colour : Brown/Red

Aroma : Spice, bubblegum, strawberry

Taste : Spice, lean fruit, thin, bubblegum

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 59 SEK

Mark : D

TN : Viu Manent, Reserva Malbec, Colchagua Valley, Chile

All grapes were hand harvested from the San Carlos estate vineyard between 18th and 22nd April 2004. The average age of the vines was 40 to 50 years old. The vines are planted at a density of 4464 vines per hectare. The canopies are trained using VSP and the vines are cane pruned. San Carlos is situated near the town of Cunaco. The soil is free draining, alluvial loam/clay of medium fertility.

The fruit was destemmed and crushed into tank. Then 15% percent of the juice was bled off to increase concentration. The must was then cold soaked for 5 days at 10-12 degrees. The must was then heated and inoculated with selected yeasts. Temperatures peaked at 30 degrees and two pumpovers were carried out daily. There was a three week post-fermentation maceration period. The wine was matured for 14 months in 85% French and 15% American oak barrels and then lightly filtered before being bottled. Malolactic fermentation started in tank and finished in barrel.

The alcohol measured at the laboratory was 14.1%, pH was 3.55, TA was 4.9 grammes per litre, residual sugar was 2.9 grammes per litre, and volatile acidity was 0.49 grammes per litre.

Viu Manent has been family, the Viu family, owned since 1935. The Managing Director is Jose Miguel Viu Bottini.

This wine was imported by Vinia Sweden AB.

Colour : Very dark purple

Aroma : Plum, chocolate, dark fruits, herbs, pepper

Taste : Oak, dark fruits, green pepper, herbs, blackcurrant, tar

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Viu Manent
Website : Vinia Sweden AB

Wine and Vineyard in Öland

I have been speaking to a work colleague of mine, Torbjörn Cagenius, who is growing vines and making wine in Öland. He has ten vines of four different grape varieties planted. The varieties yielding the most are Schuyler (blue) and Sukribe (green). He is looking at planting Rondo since another producer, Wannborga on Öland, are apparently producing excellent wine from this grape variety (I must try to get hold of some to try). Öland is agricultural zone 1 whereas where I live, Tyresö, is agricultural zone 3. However, Torbjörn considers the micro climate and soil more important and I would agree with him for such a small plantation. In his experience, it takes three to five years before the vines produce enough grapes to make wine from. he has, so far, no problems with any diseases and no problems from the deer and rabbits which are plentiful on Öland. The only problem has been with birds eating some of the ripe grapes but this has not proven to be a big issue. Torbjörn has his vines planted against walls and on traditional trellising (poles and steel wires between). His oldest vine is 10 years old !.

All his equipment (including yeast) was obtained from :
Gratulera Presenter i Sundyberg
Sturegatan 30
17231 Sundbyberg
Tel : 08 29 08 68

This season, Torbjön has invested in a 5 litre oak barrel made of medium toasted French oak. I am eager to await the results for his experiment. The barrel was bought from Thorslundkagge.

Good luck to Torbjörn !.

Website : Wannborga Vin och Lamm
Website : Thorslundkagge
Website : Swedish Agricultural Zones

Chris Winews No 7 Autumn 2007

I received in the post Chris Wines latest food and wine magazine. It's free and can be downloaded from their website and it also possible to subscribe to a printed copy (which is what I have done). In this issue is an article on Neil Ellis, a South Africa wine producer, whose just released Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (Systembolaget number 82019) looks interesting at 223 SEK. There is also a one page article on Pinotage.

Website : Chris Wines

TN : Tabali Reserva Shiraz 2005, Limari Valley, Chile

According to the label, Vina Tabali is the most northerly premium winery in Chile. Their website contains no information on the 2005 vintage of this wine.

The grapes were hand harvested and fermented in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 26 degrees. Then it was matured in French and American oak for 12 months. It was then fined with egg whites and subjected to a light filtering. It was then aged in bottle for six months before being released.

This wine is imported by Vin & Sprit AB which has a decent amount of information relating to this wine.

Colour : Blackcurrant/violet

Aroma : Spice, dark fruits, burnt rubber

Taste : Undertones of burnt rubber, smoky bacon crisps, oak, some sweetness, dark fruits, long length, good concentration for wine of this price, gripping tannins, white pepper on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 93 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Vina Tabali
Website : Vin & Sprit AB

TN : Xavier Cotes du Rhone 2004, Xavier Vignon, France

This wine is made by Xavier Vignon who is an oenologist whose laboratory works for leading estates in the Southern Rhone. He has been making his own wines since 2002, although he has been an oenologist for the past fifteen years now.

Colour : Red/purple/brown

Aroma : Spicy, red fruits, blueberry

Taste : Long spicy finish, raspberry, blueberry, red fruits

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 96 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Xavier Vignon

Systembolaget Drinks Auction 2/2007

I received my catalogue for the Systembolaget drinks auction, to be held on Tuesday 11th December 2007, yesterday. Lots of Bordeaux and Burgundy of course. Not much in the way of pictures and no tasting notes; this doesn't live up to the qualty of the Sotheby's or Christie's catalogues for instance. The catalogue is available for online browsing at the Stockholms Auktionsverket website.

Website : Systembolaget
Website : Stockholms Auktionsverket

Systembolaget Varunytt December 2007

The December 2007 list of new wines to be releases on Saturday 1st December 2007 is now released an available for download. Lots of good priced Italian reds and German whites to buy for over Christmas drinking.

Website : Systembolaget Varunytt December 2007

TN : Les Bateaux 2006, Rose de Syrah, Vin de Pay d'Oc, Les vins des Salices, Jacques & Francois Lurton, Languedoc, France

The J&F Lurton website contains minimal information this wine.

I bought this wine in the Kista Galleria Systembolaget and have not seen it anywhere else on sale.

Colour : Diluted strawberry cordial

Aroma : Simple sweet red fruits

Taste : red fruits, rosehip, flabby, dry

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 67 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Jacques & Francois Lurton

Divine new wines November 2007

I have a newsletter in my mailbox from Divine which details their new wines for November 2007. These are for the beställningssortiment. Wines that I am interested in are the Copain l'Hiver Syrah 2005 (169 SEK), Copian Madder Lake Syrah (249 SEK), and the Laurel Glen Counterpoint Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 (299 SEK).

You can subscribe to the Divine Newsletter via their website.

Website : Divine AB

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