TN : Chateau Olivier 2000, Grand Cru Classe de Graves, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France

This wine is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc.

In the case of Chateau Olivier, records indicate the presence of a building on the spot where the chateau now stands as long ago as the 12th Century, and by the mid-14th Century the property was occupied by the d'Olivey family, as evidenced by documents describing the marriage of Rostang d'Olivey to Elizabeth de la Lande, heiress to nearby Chateau de la Brède, in 1350. The property remained with the family for centuries, a long and successful tenure which even survived a sustained challenge from Bordeaux councillors who had taken over the neighbouring seigneurie in 1409. This must surely have been the longest running legal dispute in the late Medieval Ages, as the matter was not concluded until 1680, despite the intervention of at least one monarch. Perhaps unsurprisingly the dispute was settled in favour of the proprietors, although by this time the property had passed down the female line after the last Olivier due to inherit the estate chose to enter the priesthood instead. The Lasserre family thus took on the estate, and by marriage it then passed in 1663 to Pierre Penel, Baron de la Brède, by virtue of his marriage to Marie Lasserre.

With the ensuing years the estate changed hands numerous times, firstly passing to the daughter of Marie and Pierre, who married Jacques de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu. They sold it to Bernard Joseph de Malet, a local parliamentarian, and there then followed a litany of landlords; Lestard, who did much to improve the chateau, making it less of a fortified castle and more of an elegant country house, then Legris, Souberrie-Dugarry, Sergent-Bardwich and Fousset, none of whom did so much as plant a vine, before finally passing to Count Charles-Joseph Maurice d'Etchegoyen in 1846. The new tenants refurbished the chateau yet again, carrying out extensive modifications, and added viticulture to the activities of the estate, which also included forestry and husbandry. The end result of the extensive renovations of Lestard and then D'Etchegoyen (what stands today is largely of the 18th and 19th Centuries) may not be to everyone's taste, nevertheless the chateau remains an impressive and perhaps attractive building, hidden in a clearing in the woods, and surrounded by a moat. After D'Etchegoyen, Olivier was sold to the Bousset-Salvat family, although they in turn yielded to Alexandre Watcher. Then by virtue of the marriage of Agnew Watcher to Jacques de Bethmann in the early 20th Century, the German De Bethmann family took control, and this is a responsibility they still hold today. The most recent incumbent is Jean-Jacques de Bethmann.

The Olivier estate amounts to 220 hectares the majority of which is forest, pasture and grazing land, with the vineyards amounting to 50 hectares in all. Under De Bethmann the vines were leased to the Eschenhauer firm, although this arrangement ceased in 1981, Eschenhauer eventually losing their exclusive distribution rights in 1987. Today the estate is managed by Laurent Lebrun, who holds sway over all the vines, which are planted on a complex composition of terroirs, including Gunzian gravel, clay and limestone, with areas of quartz, flint and other minerals. Chateau Olivier is just one of six chateau entitled to produce both red and white wines under the Graves classification of 1959, although under Eschenhauer the focus was most certainly on the white wines. Since then, however, plantings of red varieties have increased, and although relatively young in comparison to the established white vines they now constitute the greater part of the vineyard. There are now 38 hectares of red varieties, 45% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc, with an average vine age of 25 years. What is more, with the clearing of trees and the establishment of new vineyards, on ancient plots identified from 18th Century maps, the area planted to red varieties is set to rise considerably.

The planting density is relatively high at between 8000 and 10000 vines per hectare. Practices in the vineyard and winery are modern, with the vinification of the red overseen by Guy Guimberteau, a student of the illustrious Emile Peynaud. The fruit is sorted both at harvest, which is manual, and in the winery, before temperature-controlled fermentation, typically between 25 and 30 degrees for the red. The must is vinified in steel, with cold maceration before fermentation, and with some optional use of the press wine. The wine then sees a year in oak barrels, of which one third are new each vintage. The resulting grand vin has a production of about 6000 cases per year. There is also a second wine produced from aliquots not deemed suitable for the grand vin, La Seigneurie d'Olivier du Chateau Olivier.

Colour : Brown notes, cassis

Aroma : Blackcurrant, talcum powder, dried herbs, vanilla, plum

Taste : Dark fruits, violets, talcum powder like tannins on finish, plums, slight licqourice, slight wood on finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 349 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Chateau Olivier

TN : Snoqualmie Naked Chardonnay 2010, Snoqualmie Vineyards, Columbia Valley, Wasingont State, USA

This wine was made with organically grown grapes. This wine was imported by

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Red apples, pears, butter, apricot

Taste : Red apple, apricor, butter, pears

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 99 SEK

Systembolget Number : 6413

Mark : C

Website : Snoqualmie Vineyards

TN : Tesch St Remigiusberg Riesling Trocken 2010, Weingut Tesch, Nahe, Germany

This wine was sealed with a screwcap. This wine was imported by Bornicon & Salming.



Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Pear, honey, minerals

Taste : Dry, zingy, acidic, clean, lemon and lime, honey, minerals on long finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 99009

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Tesch

TN : Boom Boom! Syrah 2010, Charles Smith Wines, Wasington State, U.S.A

This wine is a blend of 96% Syrah, 2.5% Grenache, and 1.5% Malbec.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap. This wine was imported by Klunk AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Burnt toast, blackberry, blueberry, white pepper

Taste : Blackberry, blkueberry, plums, white pepper, burnt toast, spicy finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 129 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6714

Mark : C+

Website : Charles Smith Wines

TN : Chateau Haut-Chaigneau Cuvee Prestige 2009, Vignobles Chatonnet, Lalande de Pomerol, Bordeaux, France

This wine is a blend of 90% Merlot Noir  and 10% Cabernet Franc.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Herbs, milk chocolate, plums, tobacco

Taste : Plums, blackcurrant, herbs, milk chocolate texture, tobacco

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 163 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95131

Mark : C+

Website : Vignobles Chatonnet

TN : Karl Erbes Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett 2011, Weingut Karl Erbes, Mosel, Germany

Stefan Erbes and his father Karl manage this family-run business which was established in 1967. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Granqvist Vinagentur.

Colour : Very pale watery straw

Aroma : Pears, honey, lime, honey

Taste : Oranges, lime, honey, sweet, long finish

Alcohol : 8%

Price : 120 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 96019

Mark : C+

Website :  Weingut Karl Erbes

TN : Kiss Zin Fire Zinfandel 2010, Rock 'n' Wines, California, USA

This wine was imported by Rewine AB.

Colour : Red, blackberry hues

Aroma : Mint, herbs, blackberry, liqourice

Taste : Thin texture, raspberry and blackberry, jam, vanilla, liqourice and herbs on finish 

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 99 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6575

Mark : C

Website : Rock 'n' Wines

TN :Malbec 2010, Bodega Mendel, Mendoza, Argentina

The grapes for this wine came from Lujan de Coyo at 1000 metres. The vineyard was planted in 1928. 5,500 cases of this wine were produced. The wine was aged for 12 months in French barriques. The winemaker was Roberto del la Mtta. This wine was imported by Prime Wine Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark blueberry/red

Aroma : Blackberry, blueberry, mint, milk chocolate, violets

Taste : Blackberry, blueberry, mint, milk chocolate, violets, savoury notes

Alcohol : 14,5%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 97014

Mark : B-

Website : Bodega Mendel

TN : Villa Maria Hawkes Bay Chardonnay Reserve 2010, Villa Maria Estate, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

The vinyard from where the grapes for this wine were harvested are located on the warm easterly plateau of the Maraekakaho. The fruit from the Waikahu site is grown on the sandy loam over red stained gravels. This area consists of some of New Zealand’s oldest soils dating back thousands of years. The Matthews Family, who are the attentive vignerons of this prestigious vineyard ensure the fruit is of an exceptional quality. This vineyard is planted with a selection of Chardonnay clones, namely clone 95, 15 and Mendoza.This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Fondberg.

Colour : Pale lemon, green hues

Aroma : Butter, mango, oranges, pineapple

Taste : Oak, butter, mango, oranges, creamy texture

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 97046

Mark : B

Website : Villa Maria Estate

TN : Villa Maria Gimblett Gravels Syrah Reserve 2007, Villa Maria, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Villa Maria was founded in 1961 by its current owner and Managing Director Sir George Fistonich. This wine was sealed with a screwcap. This wine was imported by Fondberg.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Spice, blueberry, herbs

Taste : Blueberry, plums, spice, herbs, white pepper

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 199 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 97041

Mark : B-

Website : Villa Maria

TN ; Trinity Hill The Gimblett 2009, Gimblett Gravels, Trinity Hill, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

This wine is a blend of 38% merlot, 37% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc, 8% petit verdot och 2% malbec. This wine won a gold medal at the New Zealand International Wine Show.

This wine was imported by Carovin AB.

Colour : Dark red/plum

Aroma : Blackcurrant, mint, herbs, milk chocolate

Taste : Blackcurrant, plum, mint, liqourice

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 199 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 98141

Mark : B

Website : Trinity Hill

TN : Blaufraenkisch Ried Hochberg 2008, Weingut Hans Igler, Mittelburgenland, Austria

This single-vineyard Blaufränkisch is sourced from the sunny southwest-facing slopes of the Hochberg vineyard. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by A Wendler Försäljnings AB.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Raspberry, strawberry, white pepper, liqourice, spice

Taste : Plums, strawberry, licource, spice, white pepper

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 159 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 96015

Mark : B

Website : Weingut Hans Igler

TN : Ruca Malen Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Bodega Ruca Malen, Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

Ruca Malen means "the house of the young girl" in the ancient Araucan tradition of Arentina. Legend has it that one bold young girl dared to fix her gaze on the eyes of a powerful god in the sky above. She was subdued by lightning and fell deeply in love with the god who then offered her a home, Ruca Malen, and a nectar, which would receive all the happiness of the god's haze. Ruca Malen was founded in 1998 by Jean Pierre Thibaud, former chairman of Bodegas Chandon, and Jacques Louis de Montalembert.

This wine was imported by Sigva Partner AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, cherry, oak, herbs

Taste : Fruity blackcurrant, coffee, toasty oak, vanilla

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 119 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 99345

Mark : C

Website : Bodega Ruca Malen

TN : Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimina Shiraz 2009, Penfolds Wines, South Australia, Australia

The grapes for this wine were sources from Padthaway, Barossa Valley, Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale and Robe. The wine was matured for 12 months in seasoned American oak hogsheads. The acidity is 6.3 grammes per litre and the pH is 3.70. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Blackberry, plums, milk chocolate, mint, oak, vanilla

Taste : Rasping toasty oak, blackberry, plums, milk chocolate, white pepper

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 169 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 16320

Mark : C

Website : Penfolds Wines

TN : Allegrini Appassimento Vino Rossa 2010, Allegrini, Italy

This wine was imported by The WineAgency Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Cherries, plums, milk chocolate, oak

Taste : Cherries, plums, oak, spices

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 5367

Mark : C+

Website : Allegrini

TN : Dr Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 2010, Dr Loosen, Mosel, Germany

The vineyard is located in Wehlen near the Sundial. There is virtually no topsoil in Wehlen, only broken and weathered shards of the purest blue slate. The winemaker was Bernard Schug. This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Peach, honey, lemon, lime

Taste : Concentrated, peach, honey, long lemon and lime and minerally finish, off dry

Alcohol : 7.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95117

Mark : A-

Website : Dr Loosen

TN : Reinhold Oster Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese 1989, Reinhold Oster, Mosel, Germany

This wine was imported by Janake Wine Group AB.

Colour : Lemon

Aroma : Honey, lemon, orange marmelade

Taste : Lemon, honey sweets, petrol, mushroomy

Alcohol : 9.5%

Price : 109 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 99367

Mark : C

TN : Montes Cherub Rose of Syrah 2011, Montes, Rapel, Colhchagua Valley, Chile

The front label on this wine bottle displays a Cherub (young angel) called Alfredo in honour of Alfredo Vidaurre who is a founding partner of Montes Wines (1988): the other founders were Aurelio Montes, Douglas Murray, and Pedro Grand.

The label was illustrated by the British illustrator Ralph Steadman. This wine is 100% Syrah and is sealed with a screwcap. The wine was imported by Hjo Grosshandel AB.

Colour : Bright raspberry

Aroma : Rapsberry, cherry, strawberry, herbs

Taste : Raspberry, strawberry, herbs, citrus finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 91145

Mark : B

Website : Montes

TN : Main Street Chardonnay 2011, Main Street Winery, Santa Barbara County, California, U.S.A

87% of the Chardonnay grapes were sourced from Santa Barbara County and 13% from Monterey County. This wine is sealed with a screwcap. This wine was imported by Vinovum AB.

Colour : Pale yellow, green hues

Aroma :  Sweetcorn, butter, oranges, pears

Taste :  Sweetcorn, oaky, butter, pineapple, oranges

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6321

Mark : C+

Website : Main Street Winery

TN : Black Print 2009, Markus Schneider, Pflaz, Germany

This wine is a blend of St. Laurent, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Mitos, and Cabernet Dorsa. This wine was imported by Bornicon and Salming.


Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Smoky, burnt toast, blackberries, blackcurrant, cedar

Taste : Blackcurrant, blackberry, concentrated, sweet, burnt toast, cedar

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 159 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 72220

Mark :A-

Website : Markus Schneider