Burnt Rubber and South African Reds

There have been many postings and articles, Wine Anorak and Decanter for instance, on the supposedly burnt rubber taste that is tainting red wines from South Africa. I went back through my online tasting notes and found that this character was indeed present in 8 out of 15 wines. I would have to say that this really is a problem that it exists for both low and top end South African red wines.

Website : Burnt Rubber : the great South African wine debate

TN : Riesling Steinterrassen 2007, Weingut Rudolf Rabl, Langenlois, Kamptal, Austria

This wine was imported by Johan Lidby Vinhandel AB.



Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Minerals, pineapple, honey, lime, lemon, peach

Taste : Minerals, pineapple, lime, lemon, slight honey, grapefruit

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Weingut Rabl
Website : Johan Lidby Vinhandel AB

VinUnic Newsletter December 2008

VinUnic have just posted their newsletter for December 2008. It can be downloaded from their website. Highlights for this month include new wines from Tenuta San Guido and Shafer.

Website : VinUnic Våra Viner December 2008

TN : Viu Manent Reserva Cabernet Franc 2005, Colchagua Valley, Chile

The winery has been family owned since 1935.

The grapes were hand-harvested from the El Olivar Estate vineyard. The wine has been aged in French Oak barrels for 18 months.



The wine was imported by Vinia AB.

Colour : Black/blue/red

Aroma : Toasty oak, plums, blackcurrants, herbs, figs

Taste : Toasty oak, blackcurrant, herbs, long coffee finish, plums, damsons, green finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Viu Manent
Website : Vinia

Vinkällaren Grappe Newsletter December 2008

Vinkällaren Grappe have just released their newsletter for December 2008. It can be downloaded from their website. The nice thing about the reviews in this newsletter is that it includes drinking windows which is something that Systembolaget will not commit to.

Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev December 2008

TN : Orzada Cabernet Franc 2005, Odfjell Vineyards, Maule, Chile

Norwegian Armador (shipowner) Dan Odfjell founded the winery. Orzada is a nautical term for sailing against the wine before setting a direction.

This wine was bottled unfiltered.

There was no mention of the 2005 release of this wine on the Odfjell Vineyards website.



The wine was imported by Arcus Sweden AB.

Colour : Black/purple

Aroma : Toasty oak, blackcurrant, herbs

Taste : Dominating toasty oak, herbs, blackcurrant, milk chocolate, liquorice, drying tannins on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Odfjell Vineyards
Website : Arcus Sweden AB

TN : A Lisa 2006, Bodega Noemia de Patagonia, Rio Negro Valley, Patagonia, Argentina

The estate where the grapes were grown is situated in Rio Negro Valley which is 620 miles south of Buenos Aires, 280 miles east of the Andes, and a further 1240 miles from Tierra del Fuego. It is located in the middle of the desert. The vineyards are influenced by the Neuquen and Limay rivers. The climate is dry. There is a maximum of 30% humidity and 7 inches of rain per year. This helps to keep the area free of diseases. During grape maturation, the temperature ranges from 28 degrees, during the day, to 9 degrees at night.



The wine is 93% Malbec and 7% Merlot. The Ph is 3.55 and there is 5.96 grammes of titratable acid.

Only 8900 bottles and 10 magnums were produced. The wine is bottled unfiltered.

This wine was imported by Amka.
Colour : Dark violets

Aroma : Blueberry, violets, savoury, raspberry liqcour

Taste : Raspberry licqour, savoury notes, concentrated, long finish, violets, blueberry, crisp

Alcohol : 14.3%

Price : 225 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Bodega Noemia de Patagonia
Website : Amka

TN : Cono Sur Reserva Riesling 2007, Bio Bio Valley, Chile

The winemaker was Adolfo Hurtado.



On the back label it is stated "CarbonNeutral delivery" and "Drinking a Cono Sur Wine is now Greener".

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Lime, mineral, marmelade

Taste : Overwhelming petrol character, oily, lime, mineral, oranges, marmelade, green apple, dry

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 100 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Cono Sur

TN : Chateau Tayac 2000, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux, France

Colour : Dark plum

Aroma : Herbs, blackcurrant, raspberry, plum

Taste : Violets, talcum powder tannins, plum, cedar

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 195 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Chateau Tayac

TN : Beaujolais Nouveau 2008, Pasquier Desvignes, France

Colour : Black cherry

Aroma : red fruits, blueberry, ripe bananas, bubble gum

Taste : Acidic, green, thin, bubble gum, herbs, raspberry, strawberry

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 59 SEK

Mark : D

Website : Pasquier Desvignes

Samsung Wine Refrigerator RW13EBSS

I have just purchased a wine refrigerator for short term wine storage. It cost less than 2000 SEK at MediaMarkt in Nacka Forum, Stockholm which is by far the cheapest place to buy this model in the Stockholm area. It has place for 29 bottles. There are two preset temperature settings, one for red wine at 13 degrees and the other for white wine at 7 degrees though any custom temperature can be set. There is also inner light that can be switched on so the contents of the refrigerator can be seen without having to open the door. It also has a lock and key which stops the door being opened by accident.


Website : Samsumg Wine Refrigerator RW13EBSS
Website : Samsung Wine Refrigerator Rw13EBSS Instruction Manual

TN : Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau 2008, Cuvee Non Filtree, Pierre Dupond, France

Colour : Light murky cherry red

Aroma : Raspberry, strawberry, boiled sweets

Taste : Thin, weedy, herbs, lacking fruit, raspberry, bubble gum, acidic

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 73 SEK

Mark : D+

Beaujolais Nouveau 2008

Beaujolais Nouveau is here in Sweden. The Systembolaget launched two bottles on Thursday 20th November. They were :

• Beaujolais Nouveau 2008,Pasquier Desvignes, Alcohol 12%, Price 59 SEK

• Beaujolais Nouveau Villages 2008, Cuvee Non Filtree, Terroir et Talents, Alcohol 12.5%, Price 73 SEK

Website : Beaujolais Nouveau 2008 at Systembolaget, Pasquier Desvignes
Website : Beaujolais Nouveau 2008 at Systembolaget, Terroir er Talents

TN : Zuccardi Serie A Tempranillo 2006, Mendoza, Argentina

The grapes for this wine come from the Santa Rosa Vineyards located near Mendoza in Argentina.



No mention of this wine could be found on the Familia Zuccardi website.

The wine was imported by Philipson and Söderberg.



Colour : Red/purple

Aroma : Tobacco, dark fruits, savoury, violets, almonds

Taste : Tobacco, savoury, spice, oak, raspberry

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 72 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Bodega Familia Zuccardi
Website : Philipson and Söderberg

TN : Le Focaie 2006, Rocca di Montemassi, IGT, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy

Colour : Purple

Aroma : Blackcurrants, burnt toast, oak, violets, cherries

Taste : Burnt toast, cherries, violets

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Rocca di Montemassi

Tandarra Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2008, Bag-In-Box, 3 Litres, South Eastern Australia, Australia

The box states that once opened that it must be consumed within 4 weeks.

On the box it is written that the town Tandarra is located on the northern edge of Goldfields region which was centre stage of the Australian goldrush in the 19th century.



The wine was imported and filled by Altria Plc, Helsinki, Finland

Colour : Bright deep strawberry

Aroma : Jellied strawberries, cherries, herbs

Taste : jellied red fruits, strawberries, raspberries

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 189 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Tandarra

Systembolaget New Wines December 2008

The Systembolaget December 2008 newsletter detailing all the new wines available on the 1st December 2008 is now available for download from the Systembolaget's website.

Website : Systembolaget Varunytt December 2008

Systembolaget New Wines 14th November 2008

The list of new wines available on November 14th from the Systembolaget can now be viewed on the Systembolaget's website.

Website : Systembolaget Nyheter den 14 November

Book : Vinträdgården

A new book has been published by Sveneric Svensson entitled Vinträdgården or Vineyard in English. It contains details and pictures of the author's small garden vineyard in Väröbacka and some details about making wine in the Swedish climate. The book costs 340 SEK including postage (or 240 SEK if you are a member of the Svenska Vinodlare organisation). Contact Anders Norberg at anders.norberg@effektiva.se or ring 040 664 67 52 for details.

Website : Svenska Vinodlare

TN : Eclat 2005, Vina Valdivieso, Maule Valley, Chile

This wine is a blend of old vine Carignan, Mourvedre, and Syrah.



The wine was imported by Nigab AB.

Colour : Dark plum

Aroma : Spice, dark fruits, red fruits, violets, black pepper

Taste : Raspberry, violets, spice, long white pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Vina Valdivieso
Website : Nigab AB