TN : Akarua Pinot Noir 2009, Central Otago, New Zealand

Akarua Estate vineyard was planted by Sir Clifford Skeggs in 1996. It is located within the Bannockburn subregion of Central Otago. The grapes come from blocks Kawarua13, 10/5, Clutha 5, and Southview. The vineyard aspect is North/West and the vine orientation is East/West. The vineyard is located at 270 metres. The vineyard soil is young alluvial, schist based sandy/silt and sandy loams. The vine age is 13 years. The trellis system used is two cane VSP. The vines were shoot thinned and crop thinned to 2 kg of fruit per vine. The grapes were block harvested between the 9th April and 15th of May 2009. 2009 was a cooler growing season than normal and there 950-980 GDD with early autumn frosts (September 2008 - April 2009). There was less than 320 mm of rain between September and April.

There was no whole-bunch fermentation. The grapes underwent a five day pre-fermentation maceration. The must was inoculated with various strains of yeast. The heat during fermentation peaked at 31 degrees and the cap was punched down twice daily. There was then a six day post-fermentation maceration. The wine spent ten months in 25% new French barriques which were subjected to a medium-plus toast. The oak was sourced from various coopers and came mostly from Alliers & Vosges forests.

The Viticulturalist was Gillian Wilson, the Winemaker was Matt Connell. The wine was bottled in February 2010. The Brix at Harvest was between 22 and 24. The Titratable Acidity is six grammes per litre. The pH is 3.51. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

In earlier years, the Akarua Pinot Noir was referred to as the "Gullies".



This wine was imported by Domaine Wines and Spirits AB.

Colour : Red/blue hues

Aroma : Spice, strawberries, raspberries, oak, milk chocolate

Taste : Strawberries, coffee, ginger, long spicy warm finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 219 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Akarua Winery

TN : Franconia Bacchus 2009 Nordheimer Voegelein Spaetlese, Divino Nordheim, Franken, Germany

This bottle was sealed with a glass stopper.





Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Lemon, spice, honey, green apple

Taste : Lemon, spice, green apple, honey, off dry, leafy on finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 11,90 Euro (Eurotrade Flughafen Muenchen Duty Free 2011-05-20)

Mark : C+

Website : Divino Nordheim

TN : Trivento Eolo Malbec 2007, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

The grapes for this wine come from vines planted in 1912. Trivento means Three Winds: the Polar, Zonda, and Sudestada winds blow across the sunny and arid land of Mendoza. From the back label, "Eola, Keeper of the Winds, displays his power in spellbound lands. Freeing the Polar, Zonda, and Sudestada winds in a whim, in Mendoza, the enigmatic and mystical God picked out our terrain. Rushing through the vineyards, shaping grapes Eola yields heavenly fruit for this potent symbol and seductive wine. Our finest wine is fitting tribute to the God of the Wind.



Colour : Dark blueberry/blackberry

Aroma : Toast, oak, tobacco, blackberry, violets

Taste : Oak, burnt toast, tobacco, blackberry, blueberry, opened up after an hour

Alcohol : 14.5 %

Price : 349 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Trivento Bodegas Y Vinedos

TN : Neudorf Pinot Noir Rose 2010, Kina, New Zealand

The grapes for this wine come from Kina. All were hand harvested at 23.9 Brix, 3.61 pH and 6 grammes per litre TA. The fruit was destemmed and soaked overnight prior to pressing. Smaller portions of juice were bled off from other Pinot Noir ferments and fermented with the Kina juice. The fermentation was controlled to give a dry style and the wine was left on yeast lees briefly prior to stabilising. Analysis at August bottling was 3.57 pH, 6.2 grammes per litre TA, and 3.9 grammes per litre residual sugar. This wine was bottled with minimum fining or filtration. 400 cases were produced. The winemaker was John Kavanaugh. The wine was produced by Tim and Jundy Finn.


This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by JPC Wines AB.

Colour : Pale red/orange

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, clotted cream

Taste : Dry, strawberry, raspberry, herbs

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Neudorf Vineyards

TN : Leyda Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Rose 2010, Loica Vineyard, Vina Leyda, Leyda Valley, Chile

The Loica vineyard is situated in Leyda which is 12km from the Pacific ocean. The vineyard is planted with clone 777 of Pinot Noir. The vineyard soil is clay. A Loica is a Chilean bird with a red breast similar to a Robin.

The Leyda train station building depicted on the label, was once the last train stop before travelers from Santiago reached the Pacific Ocean. In 1983, the building was burnt by an accidental fire. The word Leyda has also come to mean ‘the way’ in local parlance.

Viña Leyda was founded in 1997. It has planted vineyards of a total of 245 hectares.



This wine was imported by WineWorld AB.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Strawberry pink

Aroma : Raspberry, strawberry, herbs, vanilla

Taste : Lime, strawberry, herbs

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Vina Leyda

TN : Rust En Vrede Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Stellenbosch, South Africa

The proprietor of Rust En Vrede Estate is Jean Engelbrecht. The winemaker was Coenie Snyman.



This wine was imported by The WineAgency AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Green pepper, blackcurrant, milk chocolate, toasty oak

Taste : Blackcurrant, vanilla, green pepper, burnt toast

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 199 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Rust En Vrede

TN : Belguardo Rose, 2010, Marchesi Mazzei, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy

The Belguardo estate is located in the Maremma on the hills between Grosseto and Montiano, near the National Park “dell'Uccellina”, about ten kilometers from the coast. The grapes for this wine come from Montebottigli at 70-130 metres having a South-South West exposure. The vineyard soils are mainly Sandstone and Limestone. The age of the vineyards was seven years at the time of harvest. There is an average of 6,600 vines per hectare. The vine training system used is Spur cordon.



This wine is a blend of 50% Syrah and 50% Sangiovese. The total acidity is 6.30. All of the grapes used to make this wine were handharvested on the 6th September 2010. The wine was bottled in February 2011. 33,000 bottles were produced. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Johan Lidby Vinhandel AB.

Colour : Pale strawberry

Aroma : Redcurrants, lemon, herbs

Taste : Redcurrants, strawberry, creamy, herbs, lemon, bone dry

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 89 SEK

Website : Mazzei

TN : Ghiaie della Furba 2005, Rosso di Toscana, IGT, Tenuta di Capezzana, Conte Contini Bonacossi, Carmignano, Italy

The winery was created in 1979 by Ugo and Vittorio Contini Bonacossi. The first vineyard, made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, was situated on the pebbly, alluvial soil of the Furba stream, after which the wine is named. In 1992 the S. Alessandro vineyard (entirely Cabernet Sauvignon) became productive and the wine's blend of grape varieties was modified. In 1998, Syrah grapes were added. This wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 20% Syrah. The wine has spent 14 months in French oak.



This wine was imported by Vinobele AB.

Colour : Dark red, brown hues

Aroma : Spice, dried fruits, dark fruits

Taste : Spice, dried raisins and sultanas, blackcurrant, plums, nuts

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 295 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Tenuta di Capezzana

TN : Syrah by Rudi Schultz 2007, Stellenbosch, South Africa

All of the grapes were bought from Bellevue Wine Estate and vinified at Thelema Mountain Vineyards where Rudi Schultz has been the winemaker with cellar master Gyles Webb since 2000. Prior to that, Rudi Schultz worked at Jordan which is also based in Stellenbosch.

This wine was matured for 20 months in French oak.



This wine was imported by JPC Wines AB.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, plums, blackberry, tobacco, mint, meaty

Taste : Tobacco, blackberry, blackcurrant, mint, burnt toast, meaty notes, coffee, long finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Mark : B-

TN : Chateau Pont Saint-Martin 2006, Pessac-Leognan, Graves, Bordeaux, France

It was Bernard and Françoise Fontaine who established Chateau Pont Saint Martin in the heart of Pessac-Léognan. The vineyard soil is a combination of grave land sand, with a clay substrata. The grapes undergo a cold maceration prior to fermentation, malolactic fermentation and maturation with the lees in oak barrels, 40–50% of which are new.



Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Cedar, tobacco, blackcurrant, plums

Taste : Lots of upfront cedar, tobacco, blackcurrant, plums

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 195 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Chateau Pont Saint-Martin

TN : Domaine de Muret Viognier 2010, Pays d'Oc, Domaine de Castelnau, France

This wine was imported by Spendrups Bryggeri AB.



Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Peach, apricot, pears

Taste : Apricot, pineapple, mandarin, peachy, oack, creamy texture

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 72 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Domaine de Castelnau

TN : Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Margaret River, Australia

Vasse Felix was planted in 1967 by Dr. Tom Cully. It was the first vineyard and winery to be established in the Margaret River region. Vasse Felix is owned and operated by the Holmes a Court family. The Vasse Felix wines are crafted by Chief Winemaker Virginia Willcock.



The name ‘Vasse Felix’ was inspired by an early event in the district. Thomas Vasse was a French seaman who disappeared after his longboat overturned near the site of Busselton whilst exploring the treacherous South West Coastline of Western Australia (an expedition of Captain Hamelin’s Naturaliste and Captain Baudin’s Geographe) Felix was Hamelin’s middle name, and is the Latin word for lucky.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

Colour : Red, brown, blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, mint, oak, vanilla, milk chocolate

Taste : Blackcurrant, cedar, mint, vanilla, silky texture

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 219 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vasse Felix Winery

TN : Chateau Reysson Reserve du Chateau 2007, Cru Bourgeois, Dourthe, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux, France

This wine is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot.

The estate belongs to the Japanese wine and spirits company Mercian Corporation. Dourthe has been managing Chateau Reysson since 2001. The estate encompassed 40 hectares. The chateau was classified as Cru Bourgeois Superieur in 2003.



Under the vestiges of the medieval castle that was the first to bear the name Reysson, archaeologists have discovered the remains of the theatre of Noviomagus, the ancient town of the Bituriges Vivisques tribe who founded Burdigala (Bordeaux) in the 3rd century B.C.

The quality of its wines was recognised at an early date, with Château Reysson featuring in 1850 among the Crus Remarquables de Vertheuil ranked by Charles Cocks, author of the famous work “Bordeaux et ses Vins” edited by Michel Féret.

This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

Colour : Plummy red

Aroma : Herbs, tobacco, cedar, blackcurrants, plums

Taste : Tobacco, cedar, blackcurrants, plums

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 169 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Vins et Vignobles Dourthe

TN : Chateau de Valois 2006, Earl Vignobles Leydet, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France

Colour : Red/red brick hues

Aroma : Tobacco, milk chocolate, blackcurrant, plums

Taste : Blackcurrant, plums, tobacco, minerals, milk chocolate

Price : 239 SEK

Alcohol : 13.5%

Mark : B-

TN : Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Stellenbosch, South Africa

The vineyard soils were lime and clay. After crushing and three days of cold soaking, the grapes were inoculated with yeast. During fermentation, the juice was regularly punched down and pumped over for maximum colour and flavour extraction. Extended skin contact was given, before maturation took place in 100% first fill French oak barrels for 20 months. The residual sugar is 3.2 grammes per litre, the total acidity is 6.5 grammes per litre, and the pH is 3.42.



This wine won a double gold medal at the 2009 Veritas awards, a trophy at the 2009 Tri Nations Wine Challenge, a trophy at the 2009 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, a gold medal at the 2009 Concours Mondial in Brussels, and an Investec Private Bank Winemakers' Choice award in 2009.

This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

Colour : Deep purple/red

Aroma : Burnt toast, tobacco, blackcurrants, plums, milk chocolate

Taste : Black burnt toast, tobacco, zingy blackcurrant, cherries, plums, milk chocolate, dusty tannins and liqourice on finish

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 295 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Kleine Zalze

TN : Anselmann Dornfelder Trocken im Barrique gereift 2009, Weingut Werner Anselmann, Edesheimer Ordensgut, Deutscher Qualitaetswein, Pfalz, Germany

The vineyards and the cellars are looked after by Dipl. Ing agrar Gerd Anselmann. As of 2010, Anselmann owned 100 hectares of vineyards. The first records of Anselmann date back to 1126. The family crest nowadays used as estate logo was awarded to the family in 1541 and can be seen in the historical archives in Karlsruhe.



Colour : Dark purple

Aroma : Blackberry, cherry, vanilla, oak

Taste : Gobs of fruit smothered by oak, blackberry, cherry, oak, soft tannins, woody finish, overoaked, leave for 1-2 years to see if oak dies down and integrates

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 10,50 Euro (Eurotrade Flughafen Muenchen Duty Free 2011-05-20)

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Anselmann

TN : Doennhoff Riesling Trocken 2009, Weingut Hermann Doennhoff, Nahe, Germany

This wine was imported by Origo Wine.

Colour : Watery pale lemon

Aroma : Minerals, honey, oranges, green apples

Taste : Minerals, green apples, honey, lemon

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 155 SEK

Website : Weingut Doennhoff

TN : Chateau Maucaillou 2005, Moulis, Bordeaux, France

This wine is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot.



Maucaillou means “mauvais cailloux”, the French for bad stone, as the term was understood by the farmers of the middle ages. This was due to the fact that this type of gravel plot was not suitable for growing cereal, the main source of livelihood at the time. It was later discovered that such gravel outcrops constituted an ideal terroir for vines .

Chateau Maucalillou was officially classified as a Cru Bourgeois in 1932 but abandoned the Cru Bourgeois classification of 2003.

Colour : Dark plum/red

Aroma : Cigar box, blackcurrant, plums, spice

Taste : Blackcurrant, plummy, tobacco, spice, talcum powder tannic finish, leave for 1-2 years more for tannins to soften

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 190 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Chateau Maucaillou

TN : Domaene Gobelsburg Rose 2010, Niederoesterreich, Austria

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



This wine was imported by Prime Wine Sweden AB.



Colour : Pale copper/salmon

Aroma : Redcurrants, strawberry, vanilla, herbs

Taste : Redcurrants, herbs, strawberry, tangy zingy finish, spritzy

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Schloss Gobelsburg

TN : Clarendelle 2010 Bordeaux Rose, Clarence Dillon Wines, Bordeaux, France

This wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.

This wine was imported by Hjo Grosshandel AB.

Colour : Strawberry pink

Aroma : Jellied strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants, herbs

Taste : Redcurrants, strawberries, herbs

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Clarendelle