Sunday, 12 July 2009

TN : Irony Pinot Noir 2006, Russian River Valley, California, USA





Colour : Red/maroon

Aroma : Stewed red fruits, strawberry, raspberry, spice

Taste : Stewed red fruits, violets, strawberry, raspberry, spice, cedar, warm finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 125 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Irony Wines

TN : Merlot delle Venezie 2006, IGT, Zenato, Italy


This wine is 100% Merlot. The grapes are planted on benchland and hillside areas in the province of Verona. The aspect of the vineyards is south and southeast and are at an average altitude of 150 to 200 metres. The vineyard soils are sandy and clayey. The vines are spur-trained and cordon pruned. The planting density is 4000 vines per hectare. The yield per hectare is 10 metric tons. The grapes were manually harvested between mid to late September.

Grapes are sorted using cluster quality selection, crushing-destemming, and then the fruit is given a 5- to 6-day maceration on the skins in steel fermenters. After fermentation, the wine is pressed off and the press wine set aside. Upon completion of malolactic fermentation, maturation follows in 300-litre French oak, then bottle-aged for 6 months before release.



Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Plums, cherries, spice, dark fruits

Taste : Plums, cherries, fruity, spice, dark fruits, pencil-lead like finish, tobacco

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Zenato

Wednesday, 8 July 2009

TN : Dominio de Valdepusa Syrah 2004, Marques de Grinon, Spain




Colour : Dark deep red, blue hues

Aroma : Oak, spice, blueberry, blackberry

Taste : Blueberry, blackberry, pepper, spice, vanilla, oak, concentrated, long finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 235 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Pagos de Familia Marques de Grinon

TN : Sancerre 2007, Red, Henry Natter, France


This wine is 100% Pinot Noir.

Colour : Light red

Aroma : Strawberries, spice, stewed red fruits, oak

Taste : Strawberries, spice, stewed red fruits, blueberry, violets on finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 147 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Henry Natter

TN : Leasingham Bin 7 Riesling 2008, Leasingham Wines, Clare Valley, Australia


This wine was sealed with a screwcap. Bin 7 Riesling was first released in 1967. Leasingham Wines is estimated to have been established in 1863.



Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Mineral, lemons, hints of orange, petrol character

Taste : Lime, mineral, sharp, apple, petrol character, long finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Leasingham Wines

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