TN : The Mentors Shiraz 2009, KWV, Rainbow's End, Helshoogte, South Africa

All of the  grapes were harvested in March 2009. The yield at harvest was 4.5tonnes per hectare. The balling at harvest was 25.8 degrees. The grapes were harvested optimally ripe and were hand sorted in the cellar to ensure that only the best fruit was used for fermentation. The wine fermented naturally and alcoholic fermentation lasted approximately six days. During this time it was pumped over every four hours. The wine was pressed off skin before alcoholic fermentation was completed to prevent the extraction of hard and drying tannins. Malolactic fermentation lasted three weeks in the barrel whereafter the wine was racked and put back in the barrel for maturation. The wine was racked twice during its 18 months in barrels.

The wine was matured for 18 months in a combination of 85% French oak barrels and 15% American oak barrels; 70% of these barrels were new oak. A total of 2,130 bottles were produced. The wine was bottles in December 2009.

This wine has won several medals :

• Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2012 - Bronze
• Decanter World Wine Awards 2012 - Commented
• International Wine Challenge 2011 - Silver Medal
• Concours Mondial 2011 - Gold Medal
• Michelangelo International Wine Awards 2010 - Gold Medal

This bottle was part of a five bottle box entitled The Mentors.

This wine was imported by Arvid Nordquist Vin och Sprithandel.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Spice, milk chocolate, blackberry, blueberry, white pepper, burnt toast

Taste : Burnt toast, oak, liqourice, raspberry, blueberry, spice, coffee, black pepper on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 999 SEK (The Mentors Gift Box, 5 bottles)

Systembolaget Number : 72266

Mark : B

Website : KWV

TN : Chateau Cantin 2009, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France

This wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The residual sugar is 1.5 grammes per litre and the total acidity is 5.2 grammes per litre. Château Cantin takes its name from the Latin Cantio meaning singing, song.

 

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Cedar, oak, plums, blackcurrant, sweetness

Taste : All texture and structure and lacking fruit, cedar, plums, oak, blackcurrant, smells better than it tastes

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 209 SEK (Tallink Shops)

Mark : C-

TN : The Mentors Canvas 2008, KWV, Western Cape, South Africa

This bottle was part of a five bottle box entitled The Mentors.

This wine is a blend of 40% Shiraz, 24% Grenache, 19% Mourvedre, 14% Petit Verdot, 2% Cinsault, and 1% Tempranillo. The pH 3.45, residual sugar is 2.61 grammes per litre, and the total acidity is 5.94 grammes per litre. The wine spent 18 months in 50% new French oak barrels (a combination of 300 litre and 500 litre barrels). 6,260 bottles were bottled in December 2009.

This wine was imported by Arvid Nordquist Vin och Sprithandel.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Spice, burnt rubber, vanilla, liqourice, raspberry, blackcurrant

Taste : Burnt rubber, oak, spice, vanilla, liqourice, raspberry, blackcurrant

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 999 SEK (The Mentors Gift Box, 5 bottles)

Systembolaget Number : 72266

Mark : C

Website : KWV

TN : Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Semillon 2010, Waipara Valley, New Zealand

The Sauvignon Blanc was picked during April 2010.  Different parcels were harvested at separate times during the month to achieve a spectrum of ripe aromas and flavours.  The Semillon was left on the vines until the end of May 2010 to ensure optimum physiological ripeness.  These two varieties were fermented separately by their natural indigenous yeasts.  The Semillon portion was in old French oak barrels to help the wines texture without adding oak flavour.  Both varieties were then aged on their deposit of yeast lees (sur lie) for six months to fill out the palate, the semillon still being in barrels. This wine was finally sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by JPC Wines AB.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Lemon, blackcurrant, leafy, orange, floor polish, peas

Taste : Lemon, peach, minerals, blackcurrant, leafy, long finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 97039

Website : Pegasus Bay

TN : Laborum Syrah 2005, Bodegas El Porvenir De Los Andes, Cafayate, Salta, Argentina

This wine is 100% Syrah. The grapes were estate grown at Finca Río Seco, Cafayate, located at 1,750 metres above sea level. The yield was five tons per hectare. The grapes were picked during the second half of March 2005. The must underwent a cold maceration period of two days before fermentation for fifteen days at a temperature of 23 degrees. The total acidity is 5.25 grammes per litre and the pH is 3.52. This wine is one of a limited edition of 12,655 bottles. This wine was aged in a combination of half American and half French new oak barrels for one year. Laborum means "From Work" in Latin. The wine received 91 points from The Wine Advocate.

This wine was imported by BraVin Sverige AB.

Colour : Dark red, brown hues

Aroma : Raisins, raspberries, blueberry, milk chocolate, mint, spice

Taste : Mint, milk chocolate, raisins, blueberry, raspberries, long spicy finish.

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95390

Mark : B

Website : Bodegas El Porvenir De Los Andes

TN : Ridgeview Bloomsbury 2010, English Quality Sparkling Wine, Ridgeview Estate, Sussex, England

This wine is a blend of 61% Chardonnay, 27% Pinot Noir, and 12% Pinot Meunier. The winemakers were Mike and Simon Roberts.

Ridgeview’s trade mark MERRET™ is in honour of Englishman Christopher Merret. In 1662, he presented a paper to the Royal Society in London which documented the process of making traditional method sparkling wines. This was 30 years before the technique was documented in champagne. To celebrate Merret’s achievements Ridgeview has kept a London connection when naming it's range of wines.

This wine was imported by Triplus Vinhandel AB.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Rich tea biscuits, peach, crusty bread, lemon, honey

Taste : Apples, rich tea biscuits, lemon, peach

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 227 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 96359

Mark : B

Website : Ridgeview Wine Estate

TN : Starmont Merlot 2009, Starmont Winery, Merryvale Vineyards, Napa Valley, California, USA

This wine is a blend of 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. The must underwent a warm, fast fermentation with a total of six days on skins. The wine was aged for 18 months in 32% new French and American oak barrels.

Starmont is located at the entrance to the Napa Valley on the historic Stanly Ranch, one of the first vineyards planted in the valley, built by agricultural pioneer Judge John Stanly in 1872. The winery opened officially on September 6th, 2006, just two days before the first grapes for processing arrived. Starmont is a member of the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group. The estate vineyards at Stanly Ranch became certified through the Napa Green Farm Certificate Program in 2007.

At Starmont, each barrel room has independent climate controls to more efficiently manage fermentations and barrel aging. Automated systems manage temperatures by bringing in cooler nighttime air and venting out warmer air, using low energy fans, when conditions permit. Starmont recycles 100% of its' winery process water as vineyard and landscaping irrigation.

This wine was imported by Magnum Wine AB.

Colour :  Dark red

Aroma : Raspberries, plums, milk chocolate, herbs, tobacco

Taste : Luch tannins, plums, raspberries, oak, milk chocolate, tobacco

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 244 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 72948

Mark : B+

Website : Starmont Winery

TN : Raffy Malbec Réserve 2010, Bodega Raffy, Tupungato Valley, Mendoza, Argenina

Bodega Raffy is an argentinean limited company, founded in 2007 by a frenchman, Jean-Louis Raffy, who also is its Manager. The bodega and its vineyard are adjacent to the Andes Moutain Range, in the province of Mendoza, at 3500 feet altitude, just below the Tupungato Volcano which gives its name to the Valley and the village. 

All the grapes for this wine came from a specific parcel, from vines over 50 years old, right next to Bodega Raffy's maturing cellars. All of the grapes were hand-picked. The grapes were harvested slightly overripe. After an alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine underwent a 15% saignéeand a post fermentation maceration of two whole weeks. Malolactic fermentation was entirely carried out during the twelve-month period that the wine spend in French oak barrels; of which 18% was new French oak. 8,700 bottles of this Cuvée Réserve were produced.

This wine was imported by JPC Wines AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Spicy, blueberry, toast, oak, blackberry, lavender, herbs

Taste : Toast, sweet blueberries, blackberries, milk chocolate, liqourice on long finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 179 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95340

Mark : B

Website : Bodega Raffy

TN : Pangea Syrah 2009, Viña Ventisquero, Apalta Valley, Colchagua Valley, Chile

John Duval, ex-Penfolds, and Felipe Tosso, chief winemaker at Viña Ventisquero were responsible for this wine.

This wine was imported by Giertz Vinimport AB.

Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Blackberry, blackcurrant, plums, blueberry, tobacco, vanilla

Taste : Blackberry, blackcurrant, oak, tobacco, spicy warm finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 279 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95374

Mark : B

Website :  Viña Ventisquero

TN : Serrata Belguardo 2011, Marchesi Mazzei, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy

This wine is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Alicante Nero. The Total acidity is 5,80‰. The vineyards are located between 70 and 130 metres above sea level with a South-West exposure. The soil is mainly Sandstone and Limestone. The age of the vineyards is 13 years. The vines are spur cordon trained. The number of vines per hectare is 6,600. All of the grapes were hand picked with the Sangiovese harvested from September 3rd and the Alicante Nero from August 29th 2011. The fermentation temperature was between 28 and 30 degrees. The period of maceration was 14 t o16 days. The wine was aged for twelve months in small French and American 225 litre oak barrels of which 30% were new. The wine was bottled in September 2012 and available on the market in November 2012. 86,000 bottles were produced.

This wine was imported by The WineAgency Sweden AB.

Colour : Red, blue hues

Aroma : Raspberry, cherry, milk chocolate, oak

Taste : Oak, spice, cherry, tobacco, raspberry, liqourice, warm finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 22955

Mark : C

Website : Marchesi Mazzei

TN : Schloss Gobelsburg Steinsetz Grüner Veltliner Kamptal Reserve 2011, Weingut Schloss Gobelsburg, Kamptal, Austria

Schloss Gobelsburg has been maming wine since 1171. The winemaker was Michael Moosbrugger. This wine received 91 points from Wine Spectator and 89-91 from Austrian wine magazine Falstaff.

This wine was imported by Prime Wine Sweden AB.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Peach, white pepper, lemon, mineral

Taste : White pepper, lemon, lime, minerals, peach, acidic finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95314

Mark : C

Website : Weingut Schloss Gobelsburg

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