Saturday, 4 July 2009

TN : Serrata Belguardo 2006, IGT, Marchesi Mazzei, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy


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

The Belguardo estate is located in the Maremma region of Tuscany, on the hills between Grosseto and Montiano, near the national park “dell'Uccellina”, about ten kilometers from the coast.

This wine is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Alicante Nero. The grapes were picked from September 12th, for the Sangiovese, and from September 1st, for the Alicante Nero. The wine was fermented at a temperature between 28 and 30 degrees. The wine was aged for approximately twelve months in small, 225 litres, 30% new, French and American oak barrels. The total acidity is 5.70 grammes per litre. All the vines were spur cordon trained. The vine planting density was 6,600 plants per hectare. The wine was bottled in March 2008 and 92,000 bottles were produced.



Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Oak, vanilla, cherries, milk chocolate, spice

Taste : Vanilla and oak bomb, lots of sour cherry fruit, spice, tobacco, smooth tannins on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Marchesi Mazzei SPA

Friday, 3 July 2009

TN : Reserve de Bonnet Rose 2008, Andre Lurton, Bordeaux, France


This wine is a blend of Melot and Cabernet Franc. It is sealed with a screwcap.



Colour : Bright strawberry

Aroma : Jellied red fruits

Taste : Strawberry, jellied raspberries, sour finish, fruity, dry

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 80 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Andre Lurton

TN : Landgut Herrenberg Gewuerztraminer 2008, Weingut Lergenmueller, Pfalz, Germany


This wine was bottled with a screwcap and imported by Primewine Sweden.



Colour : Yellow

Aroma : Spice, orange, pear, turkish delight

Taste : Citrus, oranges, turkish delight, grapey, pineapple

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Weingut Lergenmueller
Website : Primewine Sweden

Wednesday, 1 July 2009

TN : Schilcher-Frizzante, Perlwein, Weingut Reiterer, Austria


This wine was bottled with a crown cap.



Colour : Bright pale red

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, herbs

Taste : Red berries, strawberries on finish, herbs, grapefruit, sharp citrus-like finish

Alcohol : 11.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Reiterer

Saturday, 27 June 2009

TN : Eikendal Merlot 2006, Eikendal Vineyards, Stellenbosch, South Africa


Since 1981, the 76 hectare wine farm has been owned by the Swiss family Saager who hail from Zurich.



This wine was imported by AB Wicked Wine.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Burnt rubber, plums, milk chocolate, mint

Taste : Burnt rubber, plums, blackberries, milk chocolate, mint, very fruity, coffee, mouth watering

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 108 SEK

Mark : C+
Website : Eikendal Vineyards
Website : AB Wicked Wine

TN : Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Bodega Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina


The grapes were for this wine were sourced from small lots: Lot 3 was from La Piramide vineyard, located in Agrelo at 3100 feet elevation, and Lot 2 was from the Domingo vineyard, located in Tupungato at 37700 feet elevation. The wine has spent 18 months in French oak of which 80% was new. Total acidity is 5.62 and pH is 3.62. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.



This wine was imported by VinUnic AB.

Colour : Inky, deep dark purple

Aroma : Blackcurrant, cherry, oak, dates, raisins

Taste : Blackcurrant, cherry, oak, silky, rich, slightly sweet, long finish, slightly cloying, milk chocolate, liqcourice, raisins, dates

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 275 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Bodega Catena Zapata
Website : VinUnic

Thursday, 25 June 2009

TN : Moueix Saint Emilion 2006, Jean-Pierre Moueix, Bordeaux, France


Jean-Pierre Moueix was born in Corrèze in 1913. He arrived with his parents in Saint-Emilion following the 1929 depression. In 1937 he founded his wine merchant business on the Quai du Priourat in Libourne.

Colour :
Dark red/maroon

Aroma : Tobacco, plums, red fruits

Taste : Fruity, plum, tobacco, dark fruits, drying tannins on finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Jean-Pierre Moueix

Monday, 22 June 2009

TN : Tokaji Harslevelu 2006, Szaraz Minosegi Feherbor, Dry Quality White Wine, Pannon Tokaj, Hungary


According to the label, the speciality of this wine derives from the "linden flower aroma".



Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Mineral, lemon, some stone fruits, sick smell that blew off

Taste : Spicy, lemon, grapefruit, almonds, bitter after taste

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Pannon Tokaj

Sunday, 21 June 2009

TN : Green Point Pinot Noir 2007, Domaine Chandon, Victoria, Australia


Green Point was originally named after pioneers who observed that the location remained green long into the summer. The site was established by Moet and Chandon in 1986. The vineyard soils are deep alluvial. This wine is sealed with a screwcap.



The Pinot Noir vintage started in early March with the harvest of the Maroondah block, located
adjacent to the Green Point winery, and finished a month later with the harvest of the Petgra Windy block at Yarra Junction, 40km to the South and 300m higher. There were approximately 14 individual parcels of Pinot Noir made in 2006, each contributing to the blend due to subtle variations, derived from altitude, clone, aspect or soil type. Each separate parcel was destemmed into open fermenters and cold-soaked at 10 degrees for three to four days prior to the commencement of fermentation, with gentle plunging each day to gently extract the colour and tannin from the skins. Once fermentation commenced, the cap was plunged by hand three times a day and the temperature was allowed to reach 30 degrees. After fermentation finished, the wine was pressed, settled for a day and racked to French oak barriques for malolactic fermentation and maturation. After eight months in oak, the wine was blended and bottled in January 2006. An analysis show a pH of 3.50 and a TA of 6.79 grammes per litre.

Colour : Light red

Aroma : Strawberries, spice, ginger, raspberry

Taste : Spice, raspberry, strawberry, herbs, oak, some ginger on long finish, more spice than fruit

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Green Point

Saturday, 20 June 2009

TN : Quinta de Chocapalha Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Vinho Regional Estremadura, Portugal


Quinta de Chocapalha is located in the surroundings of Aldeia Galega and spreads over the sunny hills of Alenquer, a delimited region in the northwest of Lisboa, Portugal. Its historical vineyards date back to the 16th century and once belonged to Diogo Duff, a brave Scottish man who received the "Tower and Sword" insignia from King João VI.

Alice and Paulo Tavares da Silva bought the estate in the 1980s and made significant investments in its 45ha of vineyard. Their daughter, Sandra Tavares da Silva, is now in charge of the Oenology Department.



The grapes were fermented in lagares and stainless steel vats for 14 days and then aged for 18 months in French oak barriques. 5600 750ml bottles were produced.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Oak, blackcurrant, leather, plums, dried raisins

Taste : Oak, plums, blackcurrant, leather, herbs, astringent bitter tannins

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Quinta de Chocapalha

Friday, 19 June 2009

TN : Cuvee Prestige Bourgueil 2006, Domaine des Chesnaies, Lame Delisle Boucard, Loire Valley, France


The vineyards are situated along the banks of the Loire river near the famous chateaux of Villandry and Azay le Rideau. The wine is a blend of 90% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvingon.



Colour : Red/blue hues

Aroma : Oak, blackcurrant, raspberry

Taste : Fruits of the forest, oak, talcum poweder smooth tannins, blackcurrant

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 100 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Lame Delisle Boucard

Sunday, 14 June 2009

TN : Finca Las Palmas Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Bodegas Trapiche, Mendoza, Argentina


Finca Las Palmas is named after the vineyard of the same name situated at 850 metres above sea level. The wine was aged in French oak barrels for over 18 months. The wine has some great fruit but is ruined by over-oaking.

This wine was imported by Fondberg & Co.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, oak, herbs

Taste : Oak, bitter astringent finish, blackcurrant, vanilla, herbs, over-oaked.

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 115 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Bodegas Trapiche
Website : Fondberg & Co

Thursday, 11 June 2009

TN : Castello di Ama Rosato 2008, IGT, Tuscany, Italy


The terroir that yields Castello di Ama’s Rosé is the same that yields its Chianti Classico. The vineyards were planted between 1964 and 1978. The vines are trained partly to vertical trellis and partly to Open Lyre. The wine, 90% sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo, is made by bleeding-off, saignée, lots that will produce Chianti Classico.

Colour : Bright strawberry pink

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, herbs, oranges

Taste : Red fruits, strawberry, oranges, sharp bitter finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Castello di Ama

Tuesday, 9 June 2009

TN : Lambrusco Reggiano 1915 Dolce, Donelli, Lambrusco Reggiano, Italy


The vineyard soils are alluvial comprised of mixed gravel, sand and clay. The blend is 60% Lambrusco Marani, Lambrusco Maestri and Lambrusco Montericco, 30% Lambrusco Salamino, and 10% Ancellotta. The trellising system used is cordone speronato, G.D.C. and Bellussi. The grapes are typically harvested at the end of September.

Donelli was created in 1915 by Adolfo Donelli. For many years, Donelli has been the exclusive official supplier of wines for Team Ferrari Marlboro on the Formula 1 circuit.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrants, blackberry, metallic

Taste : Sweetness, fruity, dark fruits, raspberry

Alcohol : 7%

Price : 49 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Donelli Vini

TN : Grand Terroir Tautavel 2006, Gerard Bertrand, Cotes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel, France


This wine is a blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 15% Carignan. The wine has spent eight months in French oak.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Blackberry, blackcurrant, herbs

Taste : Dark fruits, spices, liqcourice, pepper, oak

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Gerard Bertrand

TN : Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Penley Estate, Coonawarra, Australia


The name Phoenix recognises the first winemaking company purchased, in 1888, by Douglas Austral Tolley. The company began life as The Phoenix Winemaking and Distilling Company in Stephney, South Australia. D.A. Tolley's great grandson, Kym Tolley, is now the winemaker.

The wine has 6.2 grammes per litre total acidity and a pH of 3.48. The grape yield was between 2.2 and 2.5 tonnes per acre. Maturation was in 25% new French oak for 18 months. The wine was sealed under screwcap.

This wine was imported by Divine AB.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, mint, milk chocolate

Taste : Blackcurrant, plums, mint, coffee, liqourice, spice, drying tannins on finish

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 159 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Penley Estate Pty Ltd
Website : Divine AB

TN : Chateau de la Tour Penet Chardonnay 2007, Jacques Charlet, Macon Blanc Villages, Bourgogne, France


The chateau dates from the 17th century. It once belonged to the 19th century politician and poet Lamartine. It now belongs to the Ferret family and the 35 acre estate is situated on the south east argilo calcarous soils of the village of Peronne. The vines have an average age of 50 years.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Apples, oranges, oak

Taste : Lemon, oak, apple, oranges, lime, minerals

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C+

Thursday, 4 June 2009

TN : Blaufraenkisch Hochberg 2007, Weingut Tesch, Burgenland, Austria


This wine was imported by Viniberum.



Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Oak, herbs, spice, dark berries

Taste : Herbs, pepper, vanilla, dark berries, cherry

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 107 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Weingut Tesch
Website : Viniberum

TN : Clos Fourtet Rose 2008, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France


This wine is made from a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Clos Fourtet was called Camp Fourtet in the middle ages and was once a fort designed to protect the town of Saint Emilion.

Colour : Pale strawberry

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, herbs

Taste : Red berries, oranges, herbs, dry, crisp

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Clos Fourtet

Wednesday, 3 June 2009

TN : Covey Run Dry Riesling 2007, Columbia Valley, USA


Kate Michaud is the winemaker for this wine which part of Covey Run's Quail series.

This wine was imported by Interbrands Sweden

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Mandarin, apple, pear

Taste : Apple, pineapple, lime, passion fruit, apricots

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 90 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Covey Run
Website : Interbrands Sweden