This wine is a proprietry blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc.
Hess vineyards was established in 1978.
600 bottles of this wine were imported into Sweden.
Colour : Dark red
Aroma : Blackcurrant, blackberry, cocoa, herbs, red berries
Taste : Blackberry, blackcurrant, cherry, herbs, mint, olive, green pepper
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : 229 SEK
Mark : C+
Website : The Hess Collection
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
TN : Hess Collection Mountain Cuvee 2004, Estate Grown, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley, USA
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:52 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Divinus Red 2000, Grand Vin de Bordeaux, Chateau Bonnet, France
On the label it states "Ce grand vin, bel enfant de ma vigne a Bonnet, honore dignement ces lieux ou je suis ne, dans cet Entre-Deux-Mers, berceau de mes ancetre Andre Lurton".
This wine is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard area was four hectares. Soil is shallow with clay and asteriated limestone and southern exposure. The planting density is 5000 vines per hectare. The average age of the vines was 18 years. Vine pruning was double guyot with debudding. All the grapes were hand-harvested. Fermentation lasted approximately three weeks and the wine went through malolactic fermentation. The wine was matured for 18 months in French oak barrels. The wine was fined with egg whites.
600 bottles of this wine were imported into Sweden.
Colour : Red/cassis
Aroma : Blackcurrant, leather, cocoa powder, cedar, oak
Taste : Cold tea, cocoa, cedar, leather, blackcurrant, oak, talcum powder like tannins on finish
Alcohol : 13%
Price : 219 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : Andrew Lurton
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:42 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Friday, 13 June 2008
TN : Charisma Pinot Gris 2005, Pierre Sparr, Alsace, France
SenSuous Alsace and unoaked is what is stated on the back label of this wine.
This wine was sealed with a screwcap.
Colour : Gold/yellow
Aroma : Apricot, peach, nutty
Taste : White grapes, apricot, honey, overwhelming nutty flavour, grapefruit, full
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 109 SEK
Mark : C-
Website : Pierre Sparr
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:47 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Thursday, 12 June 2008
TN : Kerpen Riesling 2007, Mosel, Weingut Heribert Kerpen, Germany
This wine was sealed with a screwcap.
Colour : Pale lemon
Aroma : White grapes, elberyberry, melon, pineapple
Taste : White grapes, elderberry, pineapple, melon, off-dry
Alcohol : 9.5%
Price : 79 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Weingut Heribert Kerpen
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:49 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
TN : Cambas Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Vin de Pays de Peloponnesos, Cambas Winery, Greece
The Cambas Winery has been in existence since 1882.
Colour : Purple red
Aroma : Spice, cold tea, blackcurrant, earthy, vanilla
Taste : Spice, cherry, vanilla, oak, liqcourice, smoke, dark berries, a bit thin
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : 74 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Boutari
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:55 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Wine and Montreal
Last week, I was in Montreal for three days. Not much time but I looked at some wine stores. Similarly to Sweden, Quebec wine is run by a monopoly, the SAQ. I went to the normal Classique stores but was not impressed, a poor selection. I also looked at the flagship store, the Selection in Sainte Catherine Street. This shop was on two floors. The first of which was devoted to spirits so I avoided it as soon as possible. The basement contained a nice selection of Bordeaux and some Burgundies but not too much of anything else. It opened up to a Classique store which had some local Quebec wines. The duty-free shop at the aiport has no connection to SAQ and was selling some nice Inniskillin Ice Wines but I had to change planes in Europe so could not bring any back to Sweden.
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:25 0 comments
TN : Le Rose de Phelan Segur 2007, Chateau Phelan Segur, Saint Estephe, Bordeaux, France
Colour : Pale strawberry
Aroma : Strawberries and cream, vanilla, herbs
Taste : Strawberry, spice, creamy, vanilla, herbs, blackcurrant lead
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : 129 SEK
Mark : B
Website : Chateau Phelan Segur
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:10 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Monday, 9 June 2008
TN : Montes Cherub, Rose of Syrah, 2007, Colchagua Valley, Chile
This wine had a sticker proclaiming that it had won a double gold medal for Best Rose of Show 2007 at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.
This wine was imported by Hjo Grosshandel AB.
The label displays a Cherub, or young angel, called Alfredo, in honour of Alfredo Vidaurre. The label was created by Ralph Steadman.
The wine is 100% Syrah from the Archangel Estate in Marchigue in the Colchagua Valley.
Colour : Pale Red
Aroma : Raspeberries, cherries, jellied fruits, herbs
Taste : Clean, fruity, raspberry sweets, blackcurrant hints, herbs
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 99 SEK
Mark : B
Website : Montes Wines
Website : Hjo Grosshandel AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:35 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Monday, 2 June 2008
TN : YBS, Years's Barrel Selection, 2006, Erall Bravo, Mendoza, Argentina
This wine is a blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon.
This wine was imported by Carovin AB.
Colour : Deep purple
Aroma : Savoury notes, oak, dark fruits, fruits of the forest
Taste : Concentrated, mouth-coating, dark fruits, blackcurrant, bramble jelly, toasty oak, heat, savoury finish
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : 248 SEK
Mark : B
Website : Eral Bravo
Website : Carovin AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:28 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Friday, 30 May 2008
TN : Chinon 2005, Domaine de la Colline, Loire Valley, France
This wine was imported by Primeur Vin AB. Though I couldn't find any information about this wine on their, frankly, exceedingly poor website.
Colour : Plum
Aroma : Dark and red fruits, herbs
Taste : Red fruits, dark fruits, plum, tangy, tannins on finish, herbs, earthy
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 88 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Primeur Vin AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:06 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Devon Vineyard Trail
Available from English Wine Producers is the Devon Vineyard Trail. This consists of a map with each of the nine vineyards shown on it. For each vineyard there is the postal address, email, website, facilities, opening hours, and tour and tasting details.
Website : English Wine Producers
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:01 0 comments
Thursday, 29 May 2008
VinUnic Newsletter June 2008
VinUnic have just published their latest newsletter for June 2008. It can be downloaded from their website. Included in next month's releases are wines from Gaja and some very affordable Bordeaux.
Website : VinUnic Våra Viner Juni 2008
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 12:22 0 comments
Vinkällaren Grappe Newsletter June 2008
Vinkällaren Grappe have just released their newsletter for June 2008. It can be downloaded from their website.
Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev Juni 2008
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:04 0 comments
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
TN : Shadrach Cabernet Sauvignon 2001, Grant Burge, Australia
Grant Burge's great grandfather, Meshach Burge, was named after the biblical Meshach, one of the men who refused to bow to a gold image of the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar (after which the largest wine bottle is named, 15 litre capacity). The other two men were Shadrach and Abednego. All three were cast into a fiery furnace for their sins but with the help of angels they survived. This convinced Nebuchadnezzar to give them positions of power and to worship their god.
The grapes for this wine came from individual parcels from Coonawarra, the Adelaide Hills, and the Barossa.
This wine was imported by Fondberg & Co.
This wine received 91 points from Wine Advocate in November 2007. However, it was tasted by Jay Miller and NOT Robert Parker.
Colour : Purple, brown hues
Aroma : Mint, blackcurrant, oak, vanilla, slight vinegar
Taste : Vinegar on finish, blackcurrant, mint, talcum power like drying tannins on finish
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 219 SEK
Mark : D-
Website : Grant Burge Wines
Website : Fondberg & Co
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:02 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Monday, 26 May 2008
TN : Mora Negra 2005, Finca Las Moras, Tulum Valley, Argentina
This wine is a blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Bonarda. The grapes were hand harvested. The wine was aged in small oak barrels for 15 months. 18,850 bottles were produced.
Nora Negra means "black mulberry".
This wine was imported by PrimeWine Sweden AB.
Colour : Deep purple
Aroma : Violets, spicy, dark berries, mint, savoury
Taste : Dark fruits, vanilla, savoury, spicy, concentrated, mouth filling, mint, long finish
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 149 SEK
Mark : C
Website : PrimeWine Sweden AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:22 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Agathan 2005, Vin de pays de Mont Athos, Evangelos Tsantalis, Greece
Agathon means precious, noble.
This wine was made from organically grown grapes. It is a blend of Limnio and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Colour : Dark red
Aroma : Earthy, oak, dark berries, mint, violets, talcum powder
Taste : Heat on finish, cherry, violets, dark fruits, red fruit notes, earthy
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : 80 SEK
Mark : C+
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:18 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Ocio Pinot Noir 2006, Cono Sur, Casablanca Valley, Chile
This wine was crafted by Chilean winemaker Adolfo Hurtado together with Burgundian consultant Martin Prieur.
Colour : Cherry, purple
Aroma : Cherry, plum, coca cola
Taste : Tart finish, cherry, blackcurrant, almost no tannins, coca cola, blackberry, minerals
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 339 SEK
Mark : B
Website : Cono Sur
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:10 3 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Thursday, 22 May 2008
TN : Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2006, Lomas del Valle, Mendoza, Argentina
This wine was made by the Chilean Motes Alpha team.
Kaiken is the Mapuche Indian name for the wild Patagonian geese found on both sides of the Andes.
The details on the Kaiken website are different to that in the Systembolaget Varunytt May 2008. This is what it says on the website. This wine is 100% Malbec. The yield in the vineyard was 6 tonnes per hectare. The grapes were handharvested into 15 Kg bins. The wine was aged in 80% French oak barrels for 18 months. 32,000 cases were produced. A winery analysis showed that the alcohol was 14.5%, the pH was 3.66, the total acidity was 3.38 grammes per litre, the volatile acidity was 0.6 grammes per litre, and the residual sugar was 2.4 grammes per litre.
The wine was imported by Hjo Grosshandel AB.
Colour : Deep purple
Aroma : Muted, herbs, spice, violets, oak, plums
Taste : Overwhelming smothering oak, spice, savoury notes, coffee, pepper, violets, licqourice, dry tanins on finish
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : 129 SEK
Mark : C-
Website : Kaiken Wines
Website : Hjo Grosshandel AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:45 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
WineWorld Newsletter May 2008
WineWorld AB have just published their newletter for May 2008. It can be downloaded from their website. This issue focuses on new wines from Barone Ricasoli.
Website : WineWorld Nyhetsbrev Maj 2008
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 07:04 0 comments
TN : Las Moras Gran Shiraz 2004, Finca Las Moras, San Juan, Argentina
The grapes for this wine come from three valleys. The first is the Pedernal Valley at 4429 feet where the grapes are hand-picked at the end of April. Then there is the Zonda valley at 3116 feet where the grapes are hand-picked at the end of January. Finally, there is the Tulum Valley at 2132 feet where the grapes are hand-picked at the end of February.
This wine was imported by PrimeWine Sweden AB.
Colour : Dark blackberry
Aroma : Dark berries, mint, oak, violets
Taste : Savoury, soy sauce notes, violets, oak, pepper, dark fruits
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : 139 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : Finca Las Moras
Website : PrimeWine Sweden AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 06:55 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note