TN : Antu Ninquén Syrah 2011, MontGras, Colchagua Valley, Chile

 

 

Ninquén (nin-ken), meaning ‘Plateau on a Mountain’, is the name of the unique Estate from where this wine comes from. Antu which in the Mapuche or “People from Earth” language means “Sun” is a range of wines inspired from this ancestral tribe, renowned for its perseverance. Thus Antu Ninquén means “Sun of the Mountain”.

 

 

This wine received 92 points in the 2013 Descorchados Wine Guide. All of the grapes wer eharvested on the 22nd April 2011. The must underwent a four day cold maceration. Fermentation took approximately three weeks with pumpover three times a day. All in all there was 30 days of total skin contact. The fermentation temperature was kept between 29 and 32 degrees a day. The wine spent one year and two months in French oak of which 30% was new and the rest was second fill. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. The residual sugar is 1.7 grammes per litre. The total acidity (tartaric acid) is 5.28 grammes per litre. The pH is 3.5. A total of 7,200 cases were produced.

This wine was imported by Vinovum AB.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Burnt toast, blackcurrant, blackberry, herbs

Taste : Blackberry, blueberry, burnt toast, herbs, violets

Alcohol : 14.5%

Systembolaget Number : 95378

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Ninquén Mountain Vineyard

TN : Fox Creek Short Row Shiraz 2010, Fox Creek Wines, McLaren Vale, Australia

The winemaker was Scott Zrna. The viticulturist was Nick Wiltshire. This wine was sealed with a screwcap. The fruit was fermented on skins for seven to tendays in open fermenters prior to pressing, with 90% of the wine undergoing barrel fermentation. Maturation was in varying proportions of new and one year old French and American oak barrels for 18 months.

This wine was imported by Stellan Kramer AB.

Colour : Deep blackberry/red

Aroma : Blackberry, blackcurrant, mint, milk chocolate, white pepper

Taste : Oak, fruity, blackberry, blackcurrant, milk chocolate, toast, mint, white pepper

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 175 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6145

Mark : B-

Website : Fox Creek Wines

TN : Foppiano Vineyards Estate Bottled Petite Sirah 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA

All of the grapes were hand harvested on the 30th September 2010. The wine spent one year and eight months in French oak (25% of which was new).

This wine was imported by Domaine Wines AB.

Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Mint, blackberry, blackcurrant, plums, rum

Taste : Blackberry, acidic lift, blackcurrant, plums, warm mint and milk chocolate finish

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 139 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6277

Mark : C+

Website : Foppiano Vineyards

TN : Michel Torino Cuma Torrontes 2010, Bodega El Esteco, Cafayate Valley, Argentina

 "Cuma" means clean and pure in Aymara language. Aymara people inhabited in the North of Argentina before Inca's time. They are now spread in the Altiplano region of South America.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Lemon, peach, almonds

Taste : Lemon, zingy acidity, bitter finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 6.50 Euro (Tallink Silja Duty Free)

Mark : C

Website : Bodega El Esteco

TN : Domaine Jean Bousquet Viognier 2012, Tupungato, Argentina

This wine is a blend of 85% Viognier and 15% Chardonnay. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Vinia Sweden AB.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Peach, pear, green apples

Taste : Peach, apricot, grapefuit and bitter notes on finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 82 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Domaine Bousquet

TN : The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Yalumba, Coonawarra, Australia

All of the grapes for this wine were harvested between March 15th and 26th 2008. The vineyard soil was terra rossa over limestone. The final blend was assembled in November 2008 and was given a total of twenty two months in oak before bottling in March 2010. This wine was released in October 2011. The total acidity is 6.4 grammes per litre and the pH is 3.63. Peter Gambetta was the winemaker.

This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

Colour : Deep purple/black

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

Taste : Blackcurrant, mint, oak, plums, acidic lift to finish with coffee

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 295 SEK

Systembolaget Number :  95283

Mark : B

Website : Yalumba

TN : Stoneleigh Pinot Noir Rosé 2012, Stoneleigh Vineyards, Marlborough, New Zealand

All of the grapes for this wine were machine harvested on the fourth of April 2012. The winemaker was Jamie Marfell. The pH is 3.52, the titratable acidity is 6.3 grammes per litre and the residual sugar is 5.0 grammes per litre. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Pernod Ricard Sweden AB.

Colour : Bright strawberry/raspberry

Aroma : Jellied raspberries and strawberries, herbs

Taste : Raspberry, strawberry, redcurrants, herbs, spritzy finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Stoneleigh Vineyards

TN : Athena Agiorgitiko 2011, PGI, Apostolos Lykos Winery, Peloponnesos, Greece

The winemaker was Apostolos Lykos.

This wine was imported by Concealed Wines AB.

Colour : Purple

Aroma : Spice, plums, liqourice, blackberry

Taste : Spice, plums, blackberry, herbs, liqourice and black pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 79 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 2313

Mark : B

Website : Apostolos Lykos Winery

TN : Clarendelle Rouge 2005, Clarence Dillon Wines, Bordeaux, France

On the label it says "Inspired by Haut-Brion" but I doubt this has anything in common with the first growth at all. This wine is a blend of 82% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc.

This wine was imported by Hjo Grosshandel AB.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Raspberry, tobacco, herbs, blackcurrant, milk chocolate

Taste : Minerals, blackcurrant, spice, oak, tobacco, raspberry

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 129 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 3147

Mark : C

Website : Clarendelle

TN : Durigutti Torrontés 2012, La Rioja, Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

All of the grapes for this wine are sources from 1,200 metres above sea level. The winemakers are Pablo and Hector Durigutti.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Arvid Nordquist Vin och Sprithandel AB.

Colour : Pale lemon, green hues

Aroma : Mango, elderberry, honey, almonds

Taste : White grapes, elderberry, lime, almond finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 79 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6271

Mark : C+

Website : Familia Durigutti

TN : Domaine Gerovassiliou Syrah 2006, Domaine Gerovassiliou, Epanomi, Thessaloniki, Greece

This wine has been aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels.

This wine was imported by Carovin AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue and brown hues

Aroma : Porty, blueberry, floral, raisins, blackberry, white pepper

Taste : Blueberry, herbs, blackberry, raisins, white pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 249 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 83150

Mark : B-

Website : Domaine Gerovassiliou

TN : Red Diamond Shiraz 2008, Red Diamond Winery, Washington State, USA

This wine is a blend of 95.5% Shiraz, 2.5% Viognier, and 2% Grenache. The winemaker was Laura Sorge.

This wine was imported by Ward Wines AB.

Colour : Black/blue

Aroma : Burnt coffee, blackberry, plums, oak, pepper, meaty

Taste : Fruity, burnt coffee, blackberry, plums, burnt toast, meaty, black pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6486

Website : Red Diamond Winery

TN : Simboli Gewuerztraminer 2010, La Vis, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Domaine Wines & Spirits AB.

Colour : Very pale lemon

Aroma : Pear, honey, turkish delight

Taste : Honey, turkish delight, pear, litchies, lemon

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 69 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95864

Mark : C

TN : Quara Single Vineyard Malbec 2010, Bodegas Felix Lavaque, Salta, Argentina

This wine was imported by Domaine Wines & Spirits AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry/red

Aroma : Vanilla, coffee, violets, blackberry, herbs

Taste : Blackberry, raisins, coffee, herbs, oak

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 130 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6551

Mark : C

TN : Chaski Petit Verdot 2009, Pérez Cruz, Maipo, Chile

This wine was imported by Terrific Wines AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Lavender/floral, blueberry, mint, liqourice, oaky

Taste : Lavender, blueberry, liqourice, oak, pepper, vanilla

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 169 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 94013

Website : Vina Pérez Cruz

TN : Domaine Virginie Thunevin 2009, Lalande de Fronsac, Bordeaux, France

This wine is a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc. 35,000 bottles were produced. There is 2.5 grammes per litre of residual sugar and the total acidity is 5.5 grammes per litre. The vines are planted at a density of 6,500 vines per hectare. This wine received 89 points from Wine Spectator and 15 out of 20 from Bettane and Desseauve.

This wine was imported by Vinovativa AB.

Colour : Dark plum

Aroma : Oak, coffee, blackcurrant, cedar, raspberry

Taste : Blackcurrant, raspberry, cedar, coffee, liqourice

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 142 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 74605

Mark : C+

TN : Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2009, Martinborough, New Zealand

 

 

The grapes for this wine came from the Ata Rangi, Champ Ali, Di Mattina, Cambrae, Lismore, and Dodd vineyards. At harvest the brix was between 23.5 and 25, the pH was between 3.30 and 3.45, and the total acidity was between 6.1 and 8.6. All of the grapes were harvested between the 25th March and 15th April 2009. Pinot Noir clones Abel, Clone 5, Dijon clones, 10/5 are used. 10% of the grapes were left as whole bunch and went straight to tank. The remaining grapes were de-stemmed but not crushed. The tanks were held cool for five to eight days before fermentation using indigenous yeasts. Peak fermentation temperature was 32 degrees with regular hand-plunging.Malolactic fermententation was in barrel. The wine spent twelve months in French oak (25% of which was new ). All of the clones and vineyard sites were kept separate until final blending. This wine is unfiltered. The total acidity is 5.6 grammes per litre and pH is 3.58. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Gardo & Morris AB.

Colour : Red, blue/brown hues

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, ginger, liqourice

Taste : Very spicy, ginger, strawberry, raspberry, liqourice, oak, cocoa on very long finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 359 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 90376

Mark : B-

Website : Ata Rangi

TN : Boutari Syrah 2008, Imathia, Greece

This wine was imported by Oenoforos AB.

Colour : Dark red/black

Aroma : Oak, vanilla, plums, blackcurrant, spice

Taste : Very oaky, vanilla, blueberry, white pepper, herbs

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 124 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 83208

Mark : C

Website : Boutari

TN : Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Bodega Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The total acidity is 5.9 grammes per litre, the pH is 3.72, and the residual sugar is 2 grammes per litre.

The grapes for this wine were sourced from small, carefully selected estate-grown lots in two of the Catena family’s Andean vineyards: La Piramide vineyard Lot 3 (50%) and Domingo vineyard Lot 2 (50%). All of the grapes were harvested between the 15th March and 28th April 2007. This wine spent one and a half years in French oak of which 70% was new. The winemaker was Alejandro Vigil.

This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

This tasting note is from December 2011.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, violets, coffee, oak, toast

Taste : Lots of coffee, blackcurrant, plums, violets, milk chocolate, warm finish, very tight even after one hour of decanting

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 249 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 90524

Mark : C

Website : Bodega Catena Zapata

TN : Kremser Wachtberg Grüner Veltliner 2001, Winzer Krems Sandgrube 13, Kremstal, Niederösterreich, Austria

This wine was imported by Granqvist Vinagentur.

Colour : Yellow

Aroma : Spicy, honey, pineapple, herbs, white pepper, petrol characteristics

Taste : Pineapple, peach, herbs, oranges, white pepper, petrol character

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95303

Mark : C

Website : Winzer Krems