Monday, 4 October 2010
Book : Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking
The book consists of basically three parts. The first part is all about saying that when drinking wine one should activate the right part of one's brain. No reason is given or any examples why this makes one more creative.
The third part says that whilst drinking wine then one should write poetry. Again I am not clear how this makes anyone more creative.
The second part is the best and the part that I thoroughly enjoyed and made me happy that I had purchased this book. It discusses wine drinking in three different eras; the Greeks, the Renaissance, and the founding of America,
This book contains lots of interesting facts and small items all the way through. The quotes are exceptionally poignant as is the humour littered throughout.
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:09 0 comments
Labels: BOOK REVIEW
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
TN : Ovilos 2009, Estate Ktima Biblia Chora, Regional White Wine of Pangeon, Greece
This wine is a blend of 50% Semillon and 50% Assyrtiko.
Colour : Yellow
Aroma : Marzipan, citrus
Taste : Marzipan, bitter almond finish, creamy fruity texture, lemon, orange, lime
Alcohol : 13%
Price : 195 SEK
Mark : B
Website : Ktima Biblia Chora
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 19:03 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Anthem Riesling 2008, Central Otago, New Zealand
This wine was sealed with a screwcap. The wine was imported by Klunk AB.
Colour : Watery very pale lemon
Aroma : Very petrolly, honey, lime, green apple
Taste : Petrol, lime, green apple, mineral
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 149 SEK
Mark : C+
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 18:57 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Don, De Origen Noble, 2002, Vina Santa Helena, Colchagua Valley, Chile
Vina Santa Helena is part of San Pedro Tarapacá Wine Group. Vina Santa Helena is owned by CCU, the largest beverages producer and manufacturer in Chile.
Colour : Deep purple
Aroma : Green pepper, blackcurrant, milk chocolate, coffee
Taste : Milk chocolate, blueberry, blackcurrant, green pepper, coffee, smooth, toast, concentrated, warm finish
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : 299 SEK
Mark : A
Website : Vina Santa Helena
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 18:47 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : The Ojai Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008, Santa Barbara County, California, USA
This wine was matured in French barriques of which one third were new. 52% of the grapes came from Solomon Hills, 32% came from Bien Nacido, and 16% came from Presido. All of the grapes were hand-harvested.
This wine was imported by Divine AB.
Colour : Red/purple
Aroma : Spice, strawberry, mint, oak, funky, oriental spices
Taste : Oak, strawberry, oriental spices, oak, herbs, oak, warm finish, lacking fruit, boring, drinkable if nothing else is available
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 289 SEK
Mark : C-
Website : The Ojai Vineyard
Website : Divine AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 18:38 4 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
TN : Chateau Ducluzeau 2004, Listrac, Medoc, Bordeaux, France
Chateau Ducluzeau is run by Jean-Eugène Borie, under the Bruno Borie/Château Ducru Beaucaillou umbrella. The vineyard is 4.9 hectares and only the best soils, situated on the Listrac gravel plateau, have been kept for winegrowing. Harvesting is strictly by hand and the vines have an average age of 40 years. The Château is committed to green practices and low density plantings. The wines are matured for 14-18 months in oak barriques, 40% of which are new.
Colour : Plum
Aroma : Cedar, blackcurrant, plum, slight wood notes
Taste : Plum, blackcurrant, cedar, wood
Alcohol : 13%
Price : 127 SEK (375 ml bottle)
Mark : C+
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:54 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Monday, 20 September 2010
TN : E. Guigal Chateauneuf du Pape 2005, Southern Rhone, France
This wine is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, and 5% other varieties. The average age of the vines is 45 years. The average yield was 33 hectolitres per hectare.
The wine was made in a traditional manner using temperature controlled alcoholic fermentation. followed by three weeks maceration in tanks. The wine was matured for two years in oak foudres. 185,000 bottles were produced.
Colour : Dark purple, slight browning on rim
Aroma : Spicy, milk chocolate, liqourice, plums, blueberry, blackberry
Taste : Overly chalky tannic hot finish which spoils the wine, pepper, liqourice, blackberry, blueberry
Alcohol : 15%
Price : 295 SEK
Mark : C+
Website : E. Guigal
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:44 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Rene Mure Gentil Signature 2009, Alsace, France
This wine is a blend of 25% Sylvaner, 25% Gewurztraminer, 24% Pinot Blanc, 16% Riesling, and 10% Pinot Gris. The wine was sealed with a screwcap. Interestingly enough, the back label has a sweetness scale which is very useful for wines from Alsace in particular. This wine is marked as being dry which it is.
Colour : Very pale lemon
Aroma : Honey, floral, pear, apples, white grapes
Taste : White grapes, honey, pear, grapefruit
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : 92 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Rene Mure
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:33 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Thursday, 16 September 2010
TN : Vitikult 2007, Weingut K+K Kirnbauer, Riede Neuberg, Mittelburgenland, Austria
The wine is 100% Blaufraenkisch. This wine spent 18 months in used barriques. Total acidity is 6.5 grammes per litre and the residual sugar is 2.0 grammes per litre.
This wine was bottled in May 2009 and then sealed with a screwcap.
The K + K Kirnbauer Estate is operated as a family enterprise by Walter and Irmgard Kirnbauer.
Colour : Dark red/blue
Aroma : Spicy, oak, herbs, blueberry, raspberry
Taste : Red fruits, blueberry, very spicy on finish, herbs, pepper on finish
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 118 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Weingut K+K Kirnbauer
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 18:39 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
TN : Sandalford Estate Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2008, Margaret River, Australia
This wine is a blend of 67% Sauvignon Blanc and 33% Semillon. Twenty percent of the wine was stored for three months in two year old French barriques.
Sandalford Wines was established in 1840. Peter and Debra Prendiville bought the property in 1991.
This wine was sealed with a screwcap. The wine was imported by Carovin AB.
Colour : Light yellow
Aroma : Oak, lemon, mineral, gooseberry
Taste : Lemon, blackcurrant, leafy, mineral, line, nettles, gooseberry
Alcohol : 13%
Price : 119 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : Sandalford Wines
Website : Carovin AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:04 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
TN : Chateau de Chantegrive 2004, Red, Graves, Grand Vin de Bordeaux, France
This wine comes from a 60 hectare vineyard. The soil is sand and pebbles over limestone and clay subsoil. The wine is a blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon all of which were hand-harvested. The average age of the vines is 25 years. Fermentation was in stainless steel vats and the wine was agwed for 18 months in barrels of which one third were new. Fining was done using egg whites.
Colour : Dark red, very slight browning at edges
Aroma : Plums, blackcurrant, leather, earthy
Taste : Plums, blackcurrant, leather, mineral, drying tannins on finish
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : 130 SEK (375ml bottle)
Mark : C
Website : Chateau de Chantegrive
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:16 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Craggy Range Single Vineyard Riesling 2008, Glasnevin Gravels Vineyard, Waipara, New Zealand
This wine is very like a German Mosel Riesling minus the mineral content. The wine was sealed with a screwcap.
This wine was imported by Divine AB.
Colour : Pale lemon
Aroma : Floral, slight petrol notes, honey, oranges, lemons
Taste : Oranges, lemons, limes, honey, petrol, semi-dry, very fruity, long finish, slight ginger
Alcohol : 10%
Price : 169 SEK
Mark : A-
Website : Craggy Range Winery
Website : Divine AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:06 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
TN : Domaine Gerovassiliou Syrah 2005, Epanomi, Greece
This wine won a gold medal at the 2006 Concours Mondial in Brussels.
Colour : Blackberry
Aroma : Sandalwood, toast, dark fruits
Taste : Developed, toasty oak, blackberry, blueberry, talcum powder tannins on finish
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 229 SEK
Mark : B
Website : Domaine Gerovassiliou
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:58 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Domaine Gerovassiliou Viognier 2009, Epanomi, Greece
This wine won a gold medal in the 2010 Decanter World Wine Awards.
The grapes for this wine were fermented in new French oak barrels and matured on lees for six months.
Colour : Pale lemon
Aroma : Mandarin oranges, almond, herbs
Taste : Peach, pineapple, mandarin oranges, almonds, herbs
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 179 SEK
Mark : B
Website : Domaine Gerovassiliou
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:49 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Errazuriz Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2010, Central Valley, Chile
This wine is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec.
This wine was sealed with a screwcap.
Colour : Bright raspberry
Aroma : Strawberry, blackcurrant, melon
Taste : Strawberry, raspberry, melon, blackcurrant, grapefruit
Alcohol : 13%
Price : 69 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : Vina Errazuriz
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:17 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Monday, 6 September 2010
TN : Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand
Probably New Zealand's most famous wine. Cloudy Bay Vineyards was established in 1985 by Cape Mentelle Vineyards in Western Australia, and is today part of Estates & Wines. The winery takes its name from the bay at the eastern extremity of the Wairau Valley, which was named Cloudy Bay by Captain Cook on his voyage to New Zealand in 1770.
This wine was sealed with a screwcap.
Colour : Very pale straw
Aroma : Asparagus, lemon, passion fruit, gooseberry, peach
Taste : Gooseberry, blackcurrant, leafy, grassy, lemon
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 199 SEK
Mark : B
Website : Cloudy Bay Vineyards Ltd
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:32 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Robert Craig Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Napa Valley, California, USA
The 26 acre vineyard site is located at 1800 feet on the slopes of the Southwestern Mayacamus range and was planted in 1990. The vineyard soil is sandstone and blue slate.
This wine was imported by Primewine Sweden AB.
Colour : Blackcurrant, slight brown notes
Aroma : Blackcurrant, vanilla, cedar
Taste : Blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, vanilla, dust tannic finish, good upfront fruit but became tired tasting after about 10 minutes in the glass
Alcohol : 14.9%
Price : 323 SEK
Mark : B
Website : Robert Craig Wine Cellars
Website : Primewine Sweden AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:22 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
TN : Catena Alta Malbec 2006, Bodega Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina
The grapes for this wine were sourced from small estate grown vineyards. The Angelica vineyard is at 2,850 feet elevation (10%), the La Piramide vineyard is at 3,100 feet elevation (6%), the Nicasia vineyard is at 3,870 feet elevation (30%), and the Adrianna vineyard is at 4,725 feet elevation (54%). This wine spent one and half years in French oak of which 70% was new. The total acidity is 5.57 grammes per litre and the pH is 3.63. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
This wine was imported by VinUnic AB.
Colour : Deep purple
Aroma : Coffee, toasty oak, plums, herbs, cherry, blackberry
Taste : Coffee, toasty oak, blackberry, plums, herbs, tannic and taught, not giving much away currently, leave for 2 to 3 years and then try again
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 295 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : Bodega Catena Zapata
Website : VinUnic AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:39 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Viu Manent El Olivar Alto Malbec 2007, Single Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile
The grapes for this wine come from Malbec blocks 6 and 7 and Petit Verdot block 20 of the El Olivar Estate vineyard. This is a limited edition wine made from vines with an age of 7 years and planted at a density of 2,899 plants per hectare. All of the grapes were hand-harvested and the wine was fermented in small stainless steel tanks and then aged for 18 months in new French (93%) and American (7%) oak barrels. The wine was bottled on December 4th 2008 and 17,365 bottles were produced.
This wine received 90 points from Robert Parker's 2009 Wine Advocate.
Colour : Dark blackberry
Aroma : Blackberry, herbs, cherry, blueberry
Taste : Mineral, blackberry, violets, spicy on finish
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : 229 SEK
Mark : B
Website : Viu Manent Winery
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:27 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Shaw and Smith Shiraz 2006, Adelaide Hills, Australia
Shaw and Smith was established in 1989 by cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith.
The grapes for this wine were sourced from the warmer, drier parts of the Adelaide Hills around Macclesfield and low yielding Shiraz from Balhannah, near the Shaw and Smith Winery. The soil structures in the region are shallow red/brown loam over schist and clay. The vines are planted to a high density of between 2700 to 5500 vines per hectare. All the vines are hand pruned and trained to have vertical shoot position canopies. The yields were restricted to 1.8 kg per vine and all the grapes were hand-picked. The wine was matured in new (1/3) and older French oak barriques for 14 months. The total acidity is 6.7 grammes per litre and the pH is 3.47.
This wine was sealed with a screwcap.
Colour : Dark blackberry
Aroma : Liqourice, blackberry, spice, black pepper, slightly meaty
Taste : Blackberry, blueberry, spice and black pepper on finish, slightly meaty
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 142 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : Shaw and Smith
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:14 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note