TN : Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Clare Valley & Coonawarra, Australia

Jaraman is the aboriginal word for seahorse, the icon adopted by the Taylor family after fossilised remains of tiny seahorses were found on the family's Clare Valley Estate. The grapes for this wine come from two parcels of fruits from South Australia; 54% of the fruit came from Clare Valley and 46% from Coonawarra. A winery analysis showed that the alcohol was 14.5% and the pH was 3.48.



This wine was imported by Fondberg & Co.

Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Chocolate, slight mint, dark berries, rich, blackcurrant

Taste : Mint, blackcurrant, green pepper, vanilla, dark fruits, very fruity

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 159 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Wakefield Wines
Website : Fondberg & Co

TN : Masi Valpolicella 2006 Boncosta, Italy

This wine was in a 375ml half bottle and sealed with a synthetic cork. It is a traditional blend of Veronese grape varieties 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, and 5% Molinara. The grapes are harvested separately (mid September for Molinara and Rondinella, end of September for Corvina). Fermentation is at controlled temperatures (25-28°C), using selected yeasts. Contact with the skins lasts 16 days for Corvina, 10 days for the other grapes. Fermentation lasts 20 days in total, and is followed by complete malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged for 6 months in 60-90 hectolitre Slavonian oak barrels. 20% of the Corvina is aged in new Allier and Slavonian small oak casks, followed by 1 month’s ageing in bottle. A winery analysis showed that the alcoholwas 12.40% by volume, the sugars 4.5 grammes per litre, dry extract was 25.8 grammes per litre, the total acidity was 5.10 grammes per litre, and the pH was 3.59.


Colour : Dark maroon

Aroma : Muted, red fruits, slight spice, oak

Taste : Red fruits, oak, spice, volatile acidity, sour

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 52 SEK

Mark : D+

Website : Masi Agricola

TN : Catena 2005 Malbec, Bodega Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is 100% Malbec. The grapes come from estate grown vineyards; specifically the Angelica vineyard, in the Lunlunta district,at 2,850 feet elevation, the La Pirámide vineyard, in the Agrelo district, at 3,100 feet elevation, the Altamira vineyard, in the Altamira district, at 3,870 feet elevation, and the Adrianna vineyard, in the Gualtallary district, at 5,000 feet elevation.

Selected yeast was used for fermentation at a maximum temperature of 29 degrees for 11 days folowed by a 28 day maceration. The wine was aged for 12 months in 70% French oak, of which 20% was new, and 30% new American oak. The acidity is 5.25 and pH is 3.75. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Jose Galante made the wine and who has been head winemaker with Catena since 1975.

The wine is imported by VinUnic AB.

Colour : Blackberry, cassis

Aroma : Violets, blackcurrant, vanilla, oak

Taste : Savoury soya sauce undertone, violets, blackberry, oak, spice

Alcohol : 13,5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Bodega Catena Zapata
Website : VinUnic AB

TN : 1865 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Vina San Pedro, Maipo Valley, Chile

The grapes for this wine come from the Alto Maipo Valley. The vineyard was planted 40 years ago with vines that were propagated by massal selection. The climate is mediterranean. The average summer high temperature was around 30 degrees. The vineyard's clay-loam soils, from an alluvial terrace, include the presence of cobblestones at 50 centimetres below the surface.

This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes were hand-harvested in 20 kg boxes early in the morning to avoid high temperatures. The grapes were harvested at 24 to 25 brix. The vineyard yield was 6 to 8 tons per hectare.

The grapes were kept cold on reaching the cellar for a pre-fermentation maceration to ensure gentle extraction of colour, taste, and aromas from the skins. The temperature during alcoholic fermentation was kept below 27 degrees and pump-overs were done three times a day. After a post-fermentation maceration, the wine was transfered to French oak barrels for 12 months. 30% of these barrels were new. The wine was clarified with natural egg whites and bottled after filtration.



This wine was imported by V&S Vin and Sprit AB.

Colour : Blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, ribena, oak

Taste : Blackcurrant, too much toasty oak, pepper on finish, smooth tannins, blackberry, heat

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Vina San Pedro
Website : V&S Vinsprit

TN : Ingwe 2004, Alain Moueix, Stellenbosch, South Africa

This was like drinking a very fruity soft easy-drinking right-bank Bordeaux. It is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Ingwe means leopard. It is derived from the leopards that live in the mountains near the farm on which this wine is made.



Alain Moueix is the owner, He graduated from the Toulouse University and then gained valuable experience working at Kumeu River Wines in New Zealand. Alain today is the co-owner and manager of Chateau Fonroque (St Emilion Grand Cru Classé) and the director of Chateau Mazeyres (Pomerol).

Francois Baard is the viticulturist and has trained at the South African Wine Research Institute at Stellenbosch. Francois, also a junior partner in Ingwe, joined Alain in 1999 and has been the driving force in developing the Ingwe vineyards. Francois trained at Nietvoorbij near Stellenbosch and was previously farm manager/viticulturist at Groot Constantia, Buitenverwachting and Zevenwacht wineries. Francois also looks after the local marketing of Ingwe wines.

PJ Geyer is the winemaker. He gained his winemaking skills in both new world (the USA and New Zealand) and old world (Pomerol, France) cellars. He joined Ingwe in 2002.

The Ingwe soils are a mixture of clay and gravel. The gravel provides efficient drainage allowing the water to penetrate the soil’s deep clay reservoir. The roots are lured down to this level thus minimizing the impact of weather and temperature variations on the vine. Research into the great terroir of Bordeaux has shown that moderate water stress two-to-three weeks before grapes start developing their color has the most beneficial impact on the wine’s body and complexity. By regulating irrigation this effect has been simulated in the Ingwe vineyards. By using a pressure chamber to determine the stem water potential they are able to measure the stress on the vine. If irrigation is required large amounts of water are used in order to wet all the soil horizons. The upper horizons dry quickly, stressing the roots into penetrating the deeper moist clay levels.


This wine is imported by Domaine Wines.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Tobacco, dark fruits, oak

Taste : Blackcurrant, plum, tobacco, very fruity, slight oak

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Domaine Wines

TN : Max 2004, Miles Mossop Wines, South Africa

This wine won a gold at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show in 2006. It is wine of origin coastal region. It is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 22% Petit Verdot. The wine was names after Miles and Samantha Mossop's son, Maximillian Anthony. Max inherited his names from his grandfathers. Miles Mossop wines has been in existence since 2004. 500 cases of this wine were produced. Miles Mossop is winemaker at Tokara, appointed in January 2000. Miles attended Wynberg Boys’ High in Cape Town and completed a degree in geology and geochemistry at the University of Stellenbosch in 1995 before obtaining a degree in viticulture and oenology in 1998, graduating top of his class. In 1999, he spent a vintage at the prestigious Knappstein winery in South Australia. Miles has also experienced winemaking in France, Italy and California’s Napa Valley.



This wine is imported into Sweden by AB Nigab.

Colour : Dark plum

Aroma : Talcum powder, spice, turkish delight, dark fruits

Taste : Spice, plums, dark fruits, talcum powder and turkish delight on finish, slight heat on logn finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 189 SEK

Mark : B

Website : AB Nigab

TN : Chateau Bonnet 2007, Rose Wine, Andre Lurton, Bordeaux, France

Colour : Pink/strawberry

Aroma : Strawberry, cream, mint, white pepper

Taste : Strawberry, vanilla ice cream, mint, slight spice on finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 80 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Andre Lurton

Systembolaget New Wines for May 2008

The May 2008 issue of Varunytt can now be downloaded from the Systembolaget's website. The wines will go on sale on Friday May 2nd 2008. There is a big focus on rose wines next month.

Website : Systembolaget Varunytt Maj 2008

WineWorld AB Newsletter April 2008

WineWorld AB have published their April 2008 Newsletter. It is available for download from their web site. The focus this month is on Barossa's St Hallet with an article on Tony Barlow, the new winemaker.

Website : WineWorld AB Nyhetsbrev April 2008

TN : Querciabella Chianti Classico 2005, DOCG, Agricola Quercialbella, Tuscany, Italy

This wine is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Colour : Brown/cherry

Aroma : Spice, cherry, licquorice, violets

Taste : Spice, cherry, raspberry, violets, licqourice

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Agricola Querciabella

TN : Clos de la Mine 2005, Domaine d'Ambinos, Coteau du Layon Beaulieu, France

J.P. Chene is the viticulteur for this wine. They can be reached by telephone on 0241784809.

Colour : Gold/yellow

Aroma : Muted, sugar, lemon

Taste : Overwhelming sweetness, lemon, lime, lucozade, long finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 158 SEK

Mark : C

TN : Chakana Malbec Syrah 2007, Argentina

This wine is available as a 3 litre bag-in-box.

It states on the box that "Chakana was the name given by the Indians to the Southern Cross constellation. It was represented by the square cross, a powerful scared symbol with great importance in the protection of crops. Chakana literally means bridge in indigneous language."

The wine was imported by Primewine Sweden AB.

The box was filled on January 9th 2008 and it is stated that it is best before 9th November 2008.

Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Dark berries, violets, spice

Taste : Spice, white pepper on finish, red berries, dark berries, slight hint of violets

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 177 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Chakana
Website : Primewine Sweden AB

Vinkällaren Grappes Monthly Newsletter April 2008

For April 2008, comes the latest newsletter from Vinkällaren Grappe. Amongst the wines delivered this month include Ser Lapo from Marchesi Mazzei and Ingwe from Alain Moueix.

Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev April 2008

VinUnic Newsletter April 2008

VinUnic have just published their newsletter for April 2008. This month sees a couple of good low-end wines from Catena and a couple of high-end wines for South Africa's Vergelegen.

Website : Våra Viner Nyhetsbrev April 2008

Italian Wine Day for Consumers (Italiensk Vindag), Stockholm, March 29th 2008

I went to the Italian Wine Day for Consumers tasting last Saturday, 29th March 2008. It was held at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Stockholm and organised by the Nordic Wine Institute. It was very busy and sometimes very annoying to wait in queues for tasting whilst somebody waffled on about something irrelevant. Each person got a set of drinks coupons though nobody asked for them so it was unlimited pours.



The best wine of the night was a red from Tenuta Poggio Verano called Dromos 2004 which retails at 307 SEK. It was poured by the only winery representative I could see, Francesco Bolla; everybody else behind the tables were from importers.



Here's my scores, and notes where I wrote some, for the wines I tasted. I concentrated mainly on Tuscany as this is my favourite area of Italy :

A Wines
Brunello di Montalcino, 2002, Piccini, Tuscany, 219 SEK
Ilatraia 2005, La Brancaia, Tuscany, 358 SEK
Dromos 2004, Tenuta Poggio Verano, Tuscany, 307 SEK
Maronea 2004, Casa di Terra, Tuscany, 298 SEK
Poggio Querciolo 2004, Casa di Terra, Tuscany, 186 SEK

A- Wines
Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 2004, Marchesi Mazzei/Castello di Fonterutoli, Tuscany, 271 SEK

B+ Wines
Sormonno, Parmoleto, Tuscany
Ser Lapo Chianti Classico 2006, Marchesi Mazzei/Castello di Fonterutoli, Tuscany, 169 SEK
Brancaiai Il Blu 2004, La Brancaia, Tuscany, 389 SEK
Lamainone 2004, Merlot di Toscana IGT, Marchesi de Frescobaldi, Tuscany,, 315 SEK

B Wines
W... Dreams 2005, Jermann, Friuli-Venezia-Giula, 360 SEK, Chablis-like
Red Angel 2005, Jermann, Friuli-Venezia-Giula, 170 SEK
Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 2006, Marchesi Mazzei/Castello di Fonterutoli, Tuscany, 148 SEK
Brancaiai Chianti Classico 2004, La Brancaia, Tuscany, 199 SEK
Montesodi 2004, Chianti Ruffina DOCG, Marchesi de Frescobaldi, Tuscany, 379 SEK

B- Wines
Torre Testa IGT Salento 2004, Rubino, Apulien, 244 SEK
Castello di Ama Chianti Classico 2001, Castello di Ama, Tuscany, 269 SEK, brownish tinges, a little oxidised ?
Lucente 2005, Tuscany IGT, Luce Della Vite Frescobaldi-Mondavi, 205 SEK, a little oxidised ?

C+ Wines
Vintage Tunina 2005, Jermann, Friuli-Venezia-Giula, 360 SEK, this was more tropical fruits than the Were Dreams 2005
Brancaia Tre 2006, La Brancaia, Tuscany, 119 SEK
Il Cortono 2004, Tenimenti Luigi d'Alessandro, Tuscany, 169 SEK

C Wines
Moreccio 2006, Casa di Terra, Tuscany, 126 SEK
Casamatta Bianco 2006, Bibi Graetz, Tuscany

Website : Italiensk Vindag Vinkatalog March 2008

TN : Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Pinot Noir 2005, Atalayas Vineyard, Casablanca Valley, Chile

The vintage was hand harvested two weeks later than was scheduled. The grapes were put into 12 kg small cases and transported to the winery in refrigerated trucks. 100% of the must was pressed directly without skin contact. 73% of the grapes were hand destemmed. 27% of the grapes went through strict quality control before crush. The must underwent a cold maceration of 4 days at 10 degrees before fermentation. The wine was fermented in French oak vats at 25 degrees for two weeks. All of the blend was aged for 18 months: 73% in new French oak barrels amd 27% in used French oak barrels. The wine was bottled on the 5th March 2007 and 459 nine litre cases were produced.

Colour : Pale red/brown

Aroma : Toasty oak, stewed fruits, coffee

Taste : Toasty oak and spice on finish, stewed fruits, coca cola, cherries, slight chalky tannins

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 228 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Casa Lapostolle

TN : Chianti Classico Riserva Rocca Guicciarda 2004, DOCG, Barone Ricasoli, Tuscany, Italy

The wine was in a half bottle, 375 ml. It is 100% Sangiovese. The winemaker was Carlo Ferini. The fermentation temperature was 30 degrees. The maceration period was 16 days. The wine was matured for 20 months in barriques and 900 litre casks. It was bottled on 30th January 2007.



This wine was imported into Sweden by WineWorld.

Colour : Dark red/maroon

Aroma : Cherries, red fruits, oak, currants

Taste : Cherries, oak, dark chocolate hints, heat on finish, currants

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 69 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Barone Ricasoli
Website : WineWorld

TN : Beta Crux 2004, Red Wine, O Fournier, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina

This is a blend of 50% Tempranillo, 40% Malbec, and 10% Merlot.

The vineyards are situated in La Consulta, Pareditas, Et Cepillo in Mendoza. The vineyards are at an altitude of 1100 metres (3600 feet). The grapes were handharvested into 18 Kg (40 lb) boxes from the 5th to the 20th of April 2004. The must was fermented for 6 days in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 28 degrees. There was a maceration of 5 days between 6 and 8 degrees followed by 25 days at 24 degrees. Malolactic fermentation was in oak barrels. The wine was aged for 12 months in oak of which 80% was French and 20% was American. There were 80,000 bottles produced. The wine was bottled unfiltered.

A winery analysis showed that the alcohol was 14.7%, total acidity was 4.8 grammes per litre, and pH was 3.8.

Colour : Dark purple

Aroma : Oak, bramble jelly, violets, liqourice, mint

Taste : Heat, oak, bramble jelly, blackcurrant, after eight on finish, liqourice, mouth coating, concentrated, hard to drink more than one glass

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 147 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : O Fournier

TN : De Martino Gran Familia Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Maipo Valley, Chile

De Martino has existed since 1934.

The grapes came from a specific parcel of land in the vineyards planted in Isla de Maipo. The soils are light and sandy. The wine was aged in French oak barriques for 18 months.

The wine was imported by Domaine Wines, Stockholm.

Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Blacurrant, vanilla, coffee, polished oak

Taste : Upfront blackcurrant, dominant oak, oak tannins on finish, heat, out of balance, too much oak, second glass was much better

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 239 SEK

Mark : C

Website : De Martino
Website : Domaine Wines

TN : Vina Maipo Reserva Especial Merlot Carmenere Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Vina Maipo, Rapel Valley, Chile

This wine was imported by Chris-Wine Sweden. There 6000 bottles of this wine available for purchase from the Systembolaget on March 1st 2008.

This wine is a blend of 60% Merlot, 25% Carmenere, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was matured in French oak for 9 months.

Colour : Dark purple

Aroma : Coffee, blackcurrant, white pepper, green peppers

Taste : Blackcurrant, coffee, mint, oak, liqourice

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 90 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vina Maipo
Website : Chris-Wine Sweden