TN : Vergelegen Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Vergelegen means situated "far away" and was granted to the Governor of the Cape in 1700.

The grapes were selected from Vergelegen’s Stonepine, Rondekop, Rooiland and Kopland Vineyards. These vineyards are all north to northwest facing, with granite, Hutton and Clovelly soils. Vines were planted 4000 to the hectare. The preferred Cabernet clone was 46, while for the Merlot, the Italian clones 12 and 192, as well as the French clones 181 and 3 were used. The average yield was 4 tons per hectare. The Cabernets were fermented in open tanks at high temperatures, 28 to 32 degrees, and punched down every 3 to 4 hours in order to maximise colour and tannin extraction. The alcoholic fermentation was followed by a post-fermentation maceration of 21 days. The wine was racked every 3 to 4 months and was matured in 225 litre barrels for 2 years. The blend is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.5% Cabernet Franc, and 4.5% Merlot. A winery analysis of the wine showed that the alcohol was 14.5%, the residual sugar was 3.1 grammes per litre, the total acidity was 5.8 grammes per litre, and the pH was 3.80.

This wine was imported by VinUnic AB.

Colour : Deep dark maroon

Aroma : Blackcurrant, slight green pepper, oak, plums

Taste : Cold tea, blackcurrant, slight oak, plums, green pepper, currants

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 195 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vergelegen Wine Estate
Website : VinUnic AB

TN : Santorini Assyrtico 2007, Dry White Wine, Appellation of Origin Santorini of High Quality, Santo Wines, Greece

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Apple, pear, mandarin oranges, almond

Taste : Mandarin oranges, almond, pear, bitter finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Santo Wines

TN : Kanzemer Altenberg Riesling 1998, Weingut Von Othegraven, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

The estate has its roots in the 16th century. It has always been privately owned and came into the possession of the Grach–Weissebach-von-Othegraven family in 1805. The Second World War caused major devastation. However, the estate was rebuilt and new life emerged again from the unscathed Devon slate soil of the vineyards. Weingut von Othegraven is a founding member of the VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikats-und Qualitätsweingüter, the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates).

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Petrol, honey

Taste : Dry, pronounced petrol, honey, sharp grapefruit and acidity, some minerality

Alcohol : 10.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Weingut Von Othegraven

Systembolaget New Wines June 2008

Systembolaget now have for download from their website the new wines that will be available for June 2008. They should be in the shops on Monday 2nd June.

Website : Systembolaget Varunytt Juni 2008

Systembolaget New Wines May 15th 2008

Systembolaget will release a new set of wines on May 15th 2008. The complete list can be found on their website.

Website : Systembolaget Nyheter den 15 maj

TN : Special Blend Reserva 2005, Bodega del Fin del Mundo, Neuquen, Patagonia, Argentina

This wine was imported by Primewine Sweden AB.

The wine spent 15 months in new French oak barrels which ruined it.

It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Merlot. A winery analysis showed an alcohol level of 14%, a total acidity of 5.47 grammes per litre, and a pH of 3.7. The maceration and fermentation took 30 days. The wine underwent 100% malocatic fermentation. The wine was bottled in August 2006.



Colour : Black/purple

Aroma : Oak, plum, blackcurrant, herbs

Taste : Burnt toasty oak on finish obliterates all fruit, thus finish is very long, upfront herbs, blackcurrant, plum

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 159 SEK

Mark : C+ (for the fruit)

Website : Bodega del Fin del Mundo
Website : Primewine Sweden AB

TN : Sauvignon Gris 2007, Vina Casa Silva, Colchagua Valley, Chile

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

The vines were planted in 1912 from French pre-phylloxera originals.

The grapes were harvested between February 25th and March 4th 2007. The grapes were then pre cold storing at three degrees for 24 hours. There was a hand sorting of the grapes before destemming. Then followed a cold maceration in press for six hours at under eight degrees using reductive method. The grapes were then crushed and racked for 24 hours at ten degrees. The wine underwent a post fermentation in stainless steel tanks between thirteen and fifteen degrees. The wine was then aged in stainless steel tanks.

The wine was imported by Tegner Hermansson.

Colour : Very pale straw

Aroma : Blackcurrant leaf, slight tropical fruits, passionfruit

Taste : Blackcurrant leaf, gooseberry, sharp acidity, bitter finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Vina Casa Silva
Website : Tegner Hermansson

TN : Syrah Polkura 2006, Polkura Estate, Marchigue Colchagua Valley, Chile

This wine was bottled unfiltered. A limited number of 1350 cases were made. It is a blend of 92% Syrah, 4% Malbec, 2% Viognier, 2% Grenache Noir, Mourvedre, and Tempranillo. The grapes were handharvested during the last week of April 2006. The wine spent one year in 85% French oak and 15% American oak. One third of the oak was new.

The wine was imported into Sweden by Primewine.

The wine was produced and bottled by Agricola La Vina S.A.

Polkura is the name of a hill, located in Marchigue. In the native Chilean Mapuche language Polkura means "yellow stone" making reference to the large amounts of yellow granite spread along the clay soils of the area.

Colour : Brooding dark cassis

Aroma : Dark fruits, oak, violets, black peppr

Taste : Dark and red fruits up front, violets, black pepper throughout, burnt toasty oak at end which obliterated the fruit, concentrated

Alcohol : 14.8%

Price : 148 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Primewine Sweden

TN : Grains de Folie Syrah, Rose, Groupe Uccoar, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

This wine was bottled with a screwcap. It was very refreshing and would be idea for something like an indian curry. The bottle was marked best before August 2009.

Colour : Bright strawberry

Aroma : Red fruits, fresh

Taste : Red fruits, slight sweetness

Alcohol : De-alcoholised, alcohol-free, 0.2%

Price : 39 SEK

Mark : B-

TN : Terra Solare Syrah 2006, IGT, La Pierotta, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy

This wine was fermented in cement tanks at 25 degrees. 6000 bottles were produced.



Colour : Deep red

Aroma : Oak, red fruits, cherry, licqourice

Taste : Heavy-handed oak, cherry, violets, licqourice

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : La Pierotta

Mancico "the little man" Bobal Rose 2007, Verde Marte, Utiel-Requena, Spain

Colour : "Glow-in-dark" neon pink

Aroma : Cherry, jellied raspberry sweets

Taste : Red fruits, raspberry, bitter finish

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 59 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Verde Marte

TN : Mediterra Winery, Dry Rose Wine, 2007, Regional Wine of Crete, Greece

This is a blend of the grape varieties Kotsifali and Mandilaria. It is from Heraklion region of Crete.

This wine is imported by Divine AB.

Colour : Copper/strawberry

Aroma : Strawberries, red berries

Taste : Strawberry, creamy mouthfeel, red fruits, cherries

Alcohol : 12.5 % (from label, 13% is stated in Systembolaget Varunytt May 2008)
Price : 79 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Mediterra Winery
Website : Divine AB

TN : Vida Salvaje Malbec Rose 2007, Finca La Chamiza, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine was imported by Chris-Wine Sweden AB.



On the back label it is stated "Yaguarete, Leo Onca, the biggest feline of America. This specie lives in Argentina and is endangered by the destruction of its environment."

Colour : Deep raspberry

Aroma : Raspberry, vanilla ice cream

Taste : Raspberry, vanilla, sangria, oranges, dry

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 60 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Chris-Wine Sweden

VinUnic Newsletter May 2008

The May 2008 newsletter from VinUnic can now be downloaded from their website. Their are new wines from Vergelegen, Georg Breuer, Catena, Allegrini, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht and Dr. Loosen.

Website : VinUnic Nyhetsbrev Maj 2008

Vinkällaren Grappe Courses and Tastings

Details of upcoming tastings and courses ran by Vinkällaren Grappe can now be found on their website.

Website : Vinkällaren Grappe courses/tastings details

TN : Quinta Generacion 2004, Red Wine, Colchagua Valley, Vina Casa Silva, Chile

This wine is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Carmenere, 15% Shiraz, and 5% Petit Verdot. All the grapes came from the Colchagua Valley. The Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Petit Verdot were from Los Lingues Estate at the foot of the Andes Mountains and the Syrah from Lolol Estate within a stone´s throw of the Pacific Ocean.

The grapes underwent hand selection prior and post-destemming and, depending on the variety,
pre-fermentive maceration for 6 to 8 days at 6 degrees, alcoholic fermentation for 15 to 17 days at 27 to 30 degrees, post fermentation maceration for up to 15 days. The wine as then run off and underwent malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels. The result was aged in new French oak barrels for 13 months.

The wine was imported into Sweden by Tegner Hermansson.

Colour : Deep dark cassis

Aroma : Blackcurrant, mint, toast, green pepper

Taste : Concentrated, blackcurrant and mint and spice upfront, toasted oak and obtrusive green pepper on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 169 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Vina Casa Silva
Website : Tegner Hermansson

TN : Casillero del Diablo Reserva Chardonnay 2007, Concha Y Toro, Chile

This wine was in its 375 ml half-bottle format.

30% of the must was fermented and aged in French oak barrels and 70% in stainless steel tanks.

Colour : Pale straw

Aroma : Dominant wood, green bananas, slight tropical fruit notes

Taste : Tropical fruits, oak, pineapple, slight vanilla

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 37 SEK (375 ml bottle format)

Mark : C

Website : Casillero Del Diablo

TN : Errazuriz Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2007, Vina Errazuriz, Central Valley, Chile

The grapes for this wine were hand-harvested. The grapes were then destemmed and crushed into stainless steel tanks for a 24 hour pre- fermentation maceration period to allow the must to take on colour before bleeding of 5-10% prior to fermentation. The clean must is centrifuged, protected from oxygenation and fermented at 12-15 degrees. Fermentation is halted in some lots to allow a small amount of residual sugar to remain in the wine, along with the fruity aromas of the fermentation to remain in the wine. The wine is then stabilized, filtered, and bottled as soon as possible.

A winery analysis showed that the alcohol was 13.3%, the pH was 3.3, the total acidity was 5.89 grammes per litre (as tartaric acid), and the residual sugar was 4.1 grammes per litre.

This wine was in its half-bottle, 375 ml, format. It was also sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Pink cherry

Aroma : Strawberry jelly, cherry jelly, raspberry jelly

Taste : Jellied red fruits, hint of black pepper

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 39 SEK (375 ml bottle format)

Mark : B

Website : Vina Errazuriz

Vinkällaren Grappes Newsletter May 2008

Vinkällaren Grappe have published their May 2008 Newsletter which can be downloaded from their website.

Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev Maj 2008

TN : Ser Lapo Riserva 2005, Chianti Classico, DOCG, Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli, Tuscany, Italy

The Mazzei family have been the proprietors of Castello di Fonterutoli since 1435.

This wine owes its name to Ser Lapo Mazzei who was a notary and a passionate wine connoisseur. He was the author of the first known reference to the Chianti appellation (December 16th 1398).

The wine is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Cherry, plum, polished oak, vanilla

Taste : Oak throughout, tannins upfront, rich cherry fruit, chocolate hints

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 169 SEK

Mark : B
Website : Mazzei