TN : Zuccardi Q Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Familia Zuccardi, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine had a sticker onit stating "90 PTS RP) which I suppose refers to Robert Parker. The winemaker was Ruben Ruffo.The grapes for this wine come from the La Consulta y Tupungato vineyards in Mendoza. All of the grapes for this wine were handpicked grapes in plastic boxes during the last week of March and first week of April 2007. Alcoholic fermentation was  in stainless steel tanks with delestage and pigeage at a temperature between 25 and 27 degrees. Followed by Maceration on skins for 20 days. The wine was then aged for 12 months in new French oak barrels; first use, medium toasted. There is 6.30 grammes per litre total acidity and 2.50 grammes per litre of residual sugar in the wines.

Colour : Blackcurrant/red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, cherry, black tea

Taste : Blackcurrant, cherry, coffee, black tea, smooth tannic finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 19,99 Euro (Wein & Co, Naschmarkt, Vienna, Austria)

Mark : B

Website : Zuccardi Wines

TN : Pinot Blanc 2007 Reisenberg, Weingut Cobenzl, Vienna, Austria

This wine was a gift from Georg Koeningsbauer, the cellar master of Weingut Cobenzel after my tour on July 15th 2012. Only 2000 bottles of this wine were produced. This wine was truly a "Mega" wine.

Colour : Yellow, brown hues

Aroma : Lemon, oak, peach

Taste : Lemon, peach, oak, almond, creamy texture, very fruity in keeping with the Cobenzl style

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 21 Euro (Direct from Weingut Cobenzl)

Mark : A-
 
Website : Weingut Wien Cobenzel

TN : Weininger Riesling Nussberg 2011, Weingut Wieninger, Stammersdorf, Vienna, Austria

The grapes for this Riesling Nussberg came from the Preussen on the Nussberg and, because of the small yields and high ripeness, from other vineyards on the Nussberg  at the Obere Schoss and Purgstall. The soils are comprised of weathered shell limestone with a limestone bedrock; chunks of limestone can be found on the surface as well.

The must underwent a five hour skin maceration, followed by pressing with a pneumatic press and finally fermentation in steel tanks with spontaneous yeast. The wine was matured for several months on the fine lees, and then bottled in April 2012.

This wine contains 6.1 grammes per litre of acid and 8.1 grammes per litre of residual sugar. This wine was sealed with a glasss stopper.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : peach, apricot, minerals

Taste : Peach, apricot, lemon, oily rich texture, mineral

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 14,50 Euro (purchased at Weingut Wieninger)

Mark : B

Website : Weingut Wieninger

Wein & Co Bar, Naschmarkt, Vienna, Austria, July 16th 2012

We visited the Wein & Co Winebar in Naschmarkt again this evening for a swift slurp.

Gelber Muskateller 2011, G.u.R. Triebaumer
Taste : Fruity, zingy gooseberry, lemon, and peach
Alcohol : 12%
Mark : C  
Price : 4,50 Euro (1/8 litre)

Website : Wein & Co

TN : Wieninger Wiener Trilogie 2009, Weingut Wieninger, Stammersdorf, Vienna, Austria

The grapes for this Wiener Trilogie 2009 came mainly from Vienna's Bisamberg vineyards and two vineyards on the Nussberg. The soils of the Bisamberg are comprised of light, sandy loess over solid limestone, and the Nussberg features primarily weathered shell limestone, also over solid limestone

This wine is a blend of 70% Zweigelt, 15% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon all of which were harvested separately and at different times. The Zweigelt was harvested first, between the middle and end of September 2009, and the Cabernet was harvested last, at the end of October 2009. Each variety underwent its own fermentation on the skins as well as malolactic fermentation in large barrels. Each was then racked into barriques. Depending on the structure of the individual wine - a portion of new wood was used; 25% on average. The wines were matured in barriques for 15 months in the wine estates's sixteenth century cellar. After several more rackings, the components were blended to the final cuvée. This Wiener Trilogie 2009 was bottled in March of 2011.

There is 4.8 grammes per litre acid and 1.0 grammes per litre of residual sugar present. This wine was sealed with a glasss stopper.

Colour : Red, blue hues

Aroma : Smoky oak, blueberry, cherry, spice

Taste : Cherry, blueberry, raspberry, tangy, spice and slight white pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 11,50 Euro (purchased at Weingut Wieninger)

Mark : B-

Website : Weingut Wieninger

Wein & Co Bar, Naschmarkt, Vienna, Austria, July 15th 2012

We visited the Wein & Co Winebar in Naschmarkt this evening. The wine bar is located in the same complex as the wine shop and has plenty of seating both inside and outside.

Here are the wines I drank :


Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Urgestein Terrassen 2011, F.X. Pichler
Taste : Great wine. Fruity, concentrated, minerals and spice on finish and some turkish delight.
Alcohol : 13%
Mark : A
Price : 4,50 Euro (1/16 litre)


Cablot 2009, Gager
Taste : Porty, plums and cherry, spice and tannic finish
Alcohol : 14%
Mark : C+
Price : 4,50 Euro (1/16 litre)

Wiener Gemischter Satz Nussberg 2011, Mayer am Pfarrplatz
Taste : Fruity, concentrated, white pepper finish
Alcohol : 13%
Mark : B
Price : 3,50 Euro (1/16 litre)

Website : Wein & Co

TN : Zantho Blaufraenkisch 2010, Burgenland, Austria

The average grape yield was around 6.000 kg per hectare. There is 1 gramme per litre of residual sugar present and 5 grammes per litre of acidity. Fementation took place in stainless steel between 30 and 32 degrees and the wine was finished in stainless steel for 6 to 8 months. The wine was sealed with a Vino-Lok glass stopper.

Colour : Blackberry

Aroma : Spicy, blackcurrant, blueberry, raspberry

Taste : Blueberry, blackcurrant, white pepper, raspberry, spice

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 8,49 Euro (Billa, Vienna, Austria)

Mark : B-

Website : Zantho

TN : Reiterer Rose Schilcher Exklusiv, Weingut Reiterer, Weststeiermark, Austria

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Bright strawberry pink


Aroma : Strawberry, herbs, raspberry, mineral

Taste : Strawberry, cherry, raspberry, slight spritz on finish

Alcohol : 11.5%

Price : 5,99 Euro (Billa, Vienna, Austria)

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Reiterer

TN : Malat Gruener Veltliner 2011, Hoehlgraben, Palt, Kremstal, Austria

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Stone fruits, white pepper

Taste : Oranges, apricots, mineral finish, white pepper

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 10,99 Euro (Billa, Vienna, Austria)

Mark : B-

Website : Weingut Malat

TN : Cult Red 2008 by M. Edlmoser, Vienna, Austria

This wine 100% Zweigelt and was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Red, brown hues

Aroma : Blueberry, strawberry, oak, spice

Taste : Spicy, oak, slightly smoky/burnt taste on finish, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 9,39 Euro (Spar Gourmet, Vienna, Austria)


Mark : B-

Website : Edlmoser Wien

TN : Cult White 2011 by M. Edlmoser, Vienna, Austria

This wine is 100% Gruener Veltliner and was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Pale straw

Aroma : Lemon, mineral, almonds, white pepper

Taste : Lemon, oranges, almond, white pepper, peaches

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 9,39 Euro (Spar Gourmet, Vienna, Austria)

Mark : B-

Website : Edlmoser Wien

TN : Neckenmarkt Blaufraenkisch Himmelsthron 2009, Winzerkeller Neckenmarkt, Burgenland, Austria

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.


Colour : Dark red/plums


Aroma : Plums, blackcurrants, pepper, spice

Taste : Spice, pepper, liqourice, plums, blackcurrants, concentrated

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 10,99 Euro (Spar Gourmet, Vienna, Austria)

Mark : B

Website : Winzerkeller Neckenmarkt

TN : Zweigelt Ente 2009 Trocken Landwein, Weingut Alter Bach-Hengl Heurigenbetriebs GmbH, Grinzing, Vienna, Austria

Taste : Thin, lacking concentration, boring and one-dimensional, some plum and cherry fruit with spice on finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 18 Euro (drunk at Alter Bach-Hengl Hueriger)

Mark : C-

Website : Weingut Alter Bach-Hengl

Weinbau und Heurigenschank Gsoels "Zum Berger", Grinzing, Vienna, Austria

I visited the Gsoels Huerigenschank in July this year (2012) and tried three wines :


Gruener Veltliner (1/4 litre) at 3,50 Euro
This was very acidic, very lemon, and tasted like a pot of white pepper had been poured into the glass.
Mark : C-

Grauer Burgunder Rose (1/8 litre) at 4,80 Euro
This was dry and had some berry fruit but was oxidised.
Mark : D

Che "Roesler" Trocken (1/8 litre), 12.5%, at 4,00 Euro
This had lots of cherry and plum flavour with some spice and black pepper
Mark : B-

Website : Weinbau und Heurigenschank Gsoels "Zum Berger"

Book : Grape-A-Hol

This book is written by Michael F. Spratt and Mark L. Feldman from Destuny Bay Vineyards in New Zeland. The book spends most of the time tryin to justify that we should be buying fine wines instead of grape-a-hol. Grape-A-Hol is fermented grape juice and alcohol: sounds like wine to me. I didn't get the point of this book really. Is it just Destiny Bay Wines complaining because they don't sell enough wine ? I Live in Sweden where all wine must be bought via the state controlled monopoly yet I have good access to a decent collection of good wines. Sure, the Systembolaget sell a lot of wines which are one-dimensional and no character but nearly all of them are drinkable and cheap so what is the problem. This book seems to be addressing a very small sector of the population who just like to drink wine which tastes ok. The want to pay an affordable price and it should taste ok. The reason people buy Grape-A-Hol instead of fine wine is the price; they can't afford to buy fine wine. Sorry guys, if you want people to buy fine wine then it has to be cheaper. What is fine wine anyway. The usual propoganda is used to describe fine wine in this book i.e. must come from one place, must be from a small producer etc etc. Who cares; fine wine is a wine that the drinker thinks is very good - it is a simple as that.

TN : Dr Heidemanns-Bergweiler Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spätlese 2000, Dr Heidemanns-Bergweiler Wine International, Mosel, Germany

The sugar content of this wine is 40 grammes per litre.

Colour : Lemon, green hues

Aroma : Honey, oranges, mineral, petrol

Taste : Petrol, honey, oranges, mineral, off-dry

Alcohol : 8%

Price : 99 SEK


Systembolaget Number : 90586

Mark : B-


Website : Dr Heidemanns-Bergweiler

TN : Trinity Hill Viognier 2010, Trinity Hill, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Carovin AB.

Colour : Pale yellow, green hues

Aroma : Pineapple, oak, nuts, oranges

Taste : Apricot, pineapple, ornages, honey, oak, nutty

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 98142

Mark : B

Website : Trinity Hill

TN : Skalia Syrah Aghiorgitiko 2010, Domaine Skouras, Peleponnesos, Greece

This wine is a blend of Syrah and Aghiorgitiko. Domaine Skouras was founded in 1986 by George Skouras.

This wine was imported by Oenoforos AB.

Colour : Raspberry red, blackberry

Aroma : Spice, plums, blackberry, oak

Taste : Cinamon, plums, blackberry, black pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 76 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 98042

Mark : C+

Website : Domaine Skouras

TN : Siro 2007, Fattoria di Gratena, Tuscany, Italy

This wine was imported by Moestue Grape Selections AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry, brown hues

Aroma : Cherry, oak, cedar, herbs, milk chocolate


Taste : Cherry, vanilla, cedar, tobacco, lashing of oak

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 169 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 99459

Mark : C

Website : Fattoria di Gratena

TN : Le Fraghe Covina Rosato 2011, Le Fraghe di Matilde Poggi, Veronese, Italy

This wine is 100% Corvina and sealed with a screwcap. This wine was imported by Enoterra AB.

Colour : Bright strawberry pink

Aroma : Strawberries, cherries

Taste : Dry, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, tart

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 98043

Mark : C

Website : Le Fraghe di Matilde Poggi