Sunday, 10 February 2013

TN : Réserve de Bonnet Rosé 2011, André Lurton, Bordeaux, France



This wine is a blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Cabernet Franc. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Bibendum.

Colour : Strawberry

Aroma : Herbs, blackcurrant, redcurrant, burnt sugar

Taste : Herbs, blackcurrant, strawberry, raspberry

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 89 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 3181

Mark : C+

Website : André Lurton

Saturday, 9 February 2013

TN : Vinalba The Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Domaine Vistalba, Patagonia, Argentina



This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot,and 5% Malbec.

This wine was imported by Future Wines Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Oak, toast, coffee, blackcurrant, herbs

Taste : Too much toasty oak, blackcurrant, concentrated, coffee, milk chocolate like texture, spice on warm finish

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 120 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 99081

Mark : C+

Website : Domaine Vistalba

TN : Boekenhoutskloof Semillon 2010, Wine of Origin Franschhoek, South Africa,




Old Vine Semillon from a combination of 67 year old and 107 year old Franschhoek vines grown on the sandy valley floor just outside the town of Franschhoek. Cool fermented in 100% new Dargaud & Jaegle, Allier & Vosges barrels. Before malolactic fermenration started, the barrels were topped and put in a room that was kept at eight degress. 100% new French oak is used, but because the maturation was done at such low temperatures, the extracting from the oak was minimal. During these 13 months, the wine was never sulphured and no battonage was done. When the wine was taken out of barrel, 5% 2009 Sauvignon Blanc was blended in to enhance the vibrance and freshness.



This wine was imported by Prime Wine Sweden AB.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Lemon, oranges, lime notes, pear, peach, oak, furntiure polish,

Taste :  Oaky, store for a couple for years to calm down, lemon, orange, pear, peach, furntiture polish, creamy texture

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95077

Mark : B-

Website : Boekenhoutskloof

Friday, 8 February 2013

TN : SoLiteRRe 2009, Thierry Germain, Saumur Champigny, Loire, France



This wine is 100% Cabernet Franc.

This wine was imported by Amka Vinimport AB.

Colour : Red, blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, raspberry, herbs, liqourice

Taste : Blackcurrant, raspberry, herbs, liqourice and talcum powder like tannins on finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 99 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 12658

Mark : C+

Website : Thierry Germain

Wednesday, 6 February 2013

TN : Triade, 2009 Barriqueausbau, Rotweingut Maria Kerschbaum, Burgenland, Austria



This wine was imported by Seaside Tastes HB.



Colour : Red

Aroma : Spice, blackcurramt, redcurrants, liqourice

Taste : Spicy, cherries, liqourice, redcurrants, blackcurrant

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 134 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 74732

Mark : C

Website : Rotweingut Maria Kerschbaum

Monday, 4 February 2013

TN : Château Haut-Canteloup 2009, Premières Côtes de Blaye, Bordeaux



This wine is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.

This wine is imported by TOMP Beer Wine & Spirits AB.

Colour : Dark red/blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, plums, herbs, tobacco

Taste : Blackcurrant, plums, tobacco, spicy finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 100 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 3994

Mark : C+

Website : Château Haut-Canteloup

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

TN : Brokenwood Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2009, Brokenwood, McLaren Vale, Australia




Tony Albert, John Beeston and wine writer James Halliday founded Brokenwood in 1970 in the Hunter Valley. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The wine was matured in 75% French and 25% American barriques. The total acidity is 6.9 grammes per litre, pH is 3.4, and the residual sugar is nil. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Tryffelsvinet AB.

Colour : Dark purple

Aroma : Milk chocolate, mint, blackcurrant, oak

Taste : Mint, blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 179 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 92028

Mark : B-

Website : Brokenwood

TN : Millaman Limited Reserve Carménère 2009, Viña Millaman, Maule, Chile



This wine is a blend of 85% Carmenere and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine spent one year in American and French oak.

This wine was imported by Concealed Wines AB.

Colour : Dark purple

Aroma : Tobacco, blackcurrant, green pepper, milk chocolate, violets

Taste : Tobacco, blackcurrant, green pepper, milk chocolate

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6250

Mark : B-

Website : Viña Millaman

Tuesday, 29 January 2013

TN : Inca Reserva Torrontés 2009, Bodegas y Vinedos la Rosa, Valles Calchaquies, Salta, Argentina



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

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Pears, roses, pineapple, litchi

Taste : Roses, oily texture, litchi, pineapple, roses

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 87 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6467

TN : Morandé Reserva Riesling 2011, Viña Morandé, Casablanca Valley, Chile



Viña Morandé was founded in 1996. This wine is a blend of 85% Riesling, 10% Sauvignon Blanc, and 5% Gewurztraminer.

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

Colour : Pale yellow, green hues

Aroma : Apricot, pear, honey, figs

Taste : Pear, honey, stone fruits

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 99008

Mark : C+

Website : Viña Morandé

Monday, 28 January 2013

TN : Falernia Syrah Carmenere Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Viña Falernia, Coquimbo, Chile



The winemaker was Giorgio Flessati. This wine was imported by WineWorld AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Plums, strawberries, white pepper, herbs

Taste : White pepper, strawberry, plums, herbs, liqourice on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 199 SEK (3 litre Bag-In-Box)

Systembolaget Number : 6024

Mark : C

Website :  Viña Falernia


TN : Mad House Riesling 2011, Jeanneret Wines, South Australia, Australia



This wine was imported by Multibrev AB.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Honey, lemon, green apples

Taste : Dry, lemon, honey, pear

Alcohol : 11.5%

Price : 189 SEK (3 litre Bag-In-Box)

Systembolaget Number : 6474

Mark : C

Website : Jeanneret Wines

Sunday, 27 January 2013

TN : Emma Zuccardi Bonarda 2010, Familia Zuccardi, Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina


 This wine is 100% Bonarda and the winemaker was Sebastian Zuccardi.


 This wine was imported by Philipson Söderberg AB.





Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Herbs, plums, blueberry

Taste : Blueberry, plums, blackberry, vanilla, talcum powder herby finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95101

Mark : B

Website : Familia Zuccardi

TN : Les Terrasses Rosé 2011, Villa Vallambrosa, Provence, France



This wine is a blend of 45% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, and 10% Mourvedre. This wine was imported by Vinobele AB.

Colour : Pale copper/pink/orange

Aroma : Oranges, jellied strawberry, lemon, herbs

Taste : Dry, orange peel, herbs, jellied strawberries

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 159 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 98135

Mark : B

Website : Villa Vallambrosa

Saturday, 26 January 2013

TN : Wieninger Pinot Noir Select 2009, Wieninger, Vienna, Austria



The grapes for this wine came almost exclusively from the sites of the Wiener Bisamberg; one vineyard lies on the Nussberg. The Bisamberg soil consists of light, sandy loess over massive limestone, while the Nussberg soil is comprised mainly of weathered shell-limestone; also over massive limestone. The grapes were destemmed and the must was then filled into modern punch down fermentation tanks.  The must was immediately cooled so that fermentation did not begin for some days (cold maceration). After five days, spontaneous fermentation with natural yeast began; this lasted, with moderate temperature control, for approximately seven days. Following the fermentation and another short maceration, the must was pressed and filled into Burgundian barriques; 25% of them new. As with the Chardonnay, the lees of the Pinot Noir were stirred in regular intervals, with the wine having extended contact with it. After twelve months, the first racking was made, then after a total of 28 months, the barrique maturation was completed and the wine was then blended into a large barrel. Bottling took place one month later without fining or filtration. The total acidity of this wine is 5.1 grammes per litre and the residuak sugar is 1 gramme per litre.




This wine was sealed with a glass stopper.




This wine was imported by Gullberg by Stockwine AB.

Colour : Red

Aroma : Oak, strawberries, wild strawberries, plums, spice

Taste : Spicy, oaky, strawberries, wild strawberries, plums

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 219 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 73496

Mark : B-

Website : Wieninger


Sunday, 20 January 2013

Lindt Marc de Champagne Chocolates



These cost somewhere between 80 and 100 kronor here in Sweden for about 25 in a box. 7% of each chocolate is composed of marc de champagne. These taste of creamy milk chocolate and a warm alcohol (any fruit in the marc de champagne is canceled out by the yummy chocolate).

Thursday, 17 January 2013

TN : Cameleon Malbec 2011, Jean Bousquet, Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina



This wine is made from organic grapes sourced mainly from vineyards in Tupungato at an altitude of 1200 metres above sea level, one of the highest points in Mendoza. It is 100% Malbec, and has been in contact with American and French oak during the fermentation and then aged for four months in the bottle.This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Vinia Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Spice, blackberry, vanilla, oak, herbs

Taste : Blackberry, blackcurrant, spice, herbs, oak, liqourice finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 39 SEK (375 ml)

Systembolaget Number : 6581

Mark : C

Website : Domaine Bousquet

TN : Alsace Vindag, 30th January 2012



These are my "very late" tasting notes from the Alsace Wine day tasting that was held on Monday 30th January 2012 at the Operaterrassen in Stockholm, Sweden.

Cave Jean Geiler
  • Crement d'Alsace Brut Rose : (C)
  • Grad Cru Wineck-Schlossberg Riesling 2008 : (B)
  • Grand Cru Florimont Gewurztraminer 2010 : Burnt barley sugar, lemon (C+)

Domaines Schlumberger
  • Grand Cru Saering Riesling 2007 : Citrus, minerals, smoky (C)
  • Grand Cru Kesssler Gewurztraminer 2005 : Very sweet, lacking acidity (C)

Domaine Albert Mann
  • Senteurs des Vignes 2010 : Bland (C)
  • Riesling Cuvee Albert 2010 : Lemon, dry (C)
  • Pinot Gris Cuvee Albert 2010 : Zingy (B)
  • Pinot Noir Grand H 2009 : Strawberries, lean (C)
  • Grand Cru Schlossberg Riesling 2010 : Citrus, minerals, long finish (B-)
  • Grand Cru Furstentum Pinot Gris 2010 : (C+)
  • Grand Cru Steingrubler Gewurztraminer 2009 : (C)

Domaine Gresser
  • Pinot Blanc 2010, Saint-Andre : Floral,boring (C)
  • Muscat d'Alsace 2010, Brandhof : Floral, minerals, fruity (C+)
  • Pinot Noir 2010, Brandhof : Strawberry, thin, bone dry (C)
  • Grand Cru Moenchenberg Riesling 2007 : (C)
  • Grand Cru Wiebelsberg Riesling 2007 : Lots and lots of minerals (C)
  • Grand Cru Kastelberg Riesling 2007 : Lime, minerals (C)

Kientz Rene Fils
  • Riesling 2010 : (C)
  • Gewurztraminer 2010 : (B)
  • Grand Cru Winzerberg Riesling 2008 : Zingy lemon minerals (B)

S.A. Biecher
  • Riesling 2009 : (C)
  • Riesling Reserve 2008 : Zingy lime, lemon, minerals (C)
  • Grand Cru Schoneberg Riesling 2010 : Lemon, lime, fruity, long finish (B)

Charles Wantz
  • Muscat 2010, "M" Collection personnelle : (B)
  • Pinot Gris "K" 2007  Collection personnelle : Minerals, boring (C)
  • Gewurztraminer "O" 2006, Collection personnelle :Barley sugar, lacking acidity (C)

Domaine Michel Fonne
  • Crement d'Alsace N.V. Rose : Dry, redcurrants, blackcurrant (B-)
  • Pinot Noir 2008 "M" : Dry finish, fruity (C)
  • Grand Cru Mambourg Riesling 2008 : (B)




Book : Vinguide Alsace, Per Warfvinge



This book is in Swedish but this doesn't stop it being an excellent small guide to the Alsace wine region.

The book describes the different grapes cultivated in Alsace, booking an appointment to visit a winery, how to read a wine label, the cru system, viticultural techniques, organic and biodynamics, sparkling wines, cycling through the region, and the history of the region. The last half of the book is dedicated to profiles of wineries in Alsace. All of this is packed into less than 200 pages and well worth it.

The book can be ordered direct from Per's website.

Website : Per Warfvinge

Sunday, 13 January 2013

TN : Purple Angel 2008, Montes, Colchagua Valley, Chile



This wine is 92% Carmenere and 8% Petit Verdot. The wine spent 18 months in new French and American oak barrels. This wine received 93points from The Wine Advocate, 91 points from Wine Enthusiast, and 91 points from Wine Spectactor.

This wine was imported by Hjo Grosshandel AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Milk chocolate, tobacco, spice, blackcurrant, blackberry, coconut

Taste : Blackcurrants, blackberry, green pepper, tobacco, coconut, toast

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 399 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 91142

Mark : B+