The Wine of Frederic Magnien, Grape Radio Show Number 185

I just sent in some comments on the latest show posted up on Grape Radio :

Great show; though Pinot yet again !

Interesting conversation about terroir and winemakers. I think all winemakers obliterate the terroir no matter what they do e.g. even the simplest things such as choosing to cool the must down (and to what temperature) affects the expression of terroir. Don't forget the role of viticulture in obliterating terroir. How many vineyards have you seen where the grapes grow wild ? All things such as fertilisers, trellising, canopy management, disease management, when to pick, etc, all effect (obliterate ??) the expression of terroir. Let's face it, if there is a bad year where there is an large outbreak of at least one form of "bad" rot then surely the best expression of the terroir would be to include all those rotten grapes (and bottle it in a magnum for Jay :-)

I am not sure that I agree with the comment that the winemaker has a duty to let the wine reflect the vintage though. Let's say in 2004, a winemaker produces a stunning wine that I really like. If in 2005, he decides to do his best to let the finished wine reflect the vintage then he/she may produce a wine that i don't like as much as the 2004. In this case, I would have preferred the winemaker to work some magic and produce another 2004 again.

Website : Grape Radio

TN : Castillo de Molina, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Reserva, Curico Valley, Chile

This wine was produced and bottled by Vina San Pedro, Molina, Chile.

Colour : Dark cassis

Aroma : Blackcurrant cordial, oak

Taste : Blackcurrant, dark fruits, rough toasty oak finish, hot

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Vina San Pedro

TN : Marchigue Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, Chile

This wine was produced and bottles by Vinedos Errazuriz Ovalle. It was imported by Sydamerikaviner AB.

Colour : Bramble jelly

Aroma : Blackcurrant, toasty oak

Taste : Blackcurrant/ribena, toasty oak, coffee, raspberry

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 178 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Vinedos Errazuriz Ovalle
Website : Sydamerikaviner AB

TN : Pisoni, Vignetti delle Dolomiti, Rosso 2006, IGT, Italy

This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Nero. It was imported by Italmondo AB.

Colour : Purple, brown hues

Aroma : Violets, raspberry, smoke, thyme

Taste : Violets, strawberry, smoke, oak tints, cherry, thyme

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 77 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Italmondo AB

TN : Fre Chardonnay 2006, Sutter Home Winery, California, USA

This is a de-alcoholized wine.

The ingredients listed on the label are Chardonnay wine, grape must, natural flavourings, and preservatives (Sulfur Dioxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzonate).

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Grapey, lemon, orange

Taste : Grapey, lemon. citrus, orange, long finish

Alcohol : < style="font-weight: bold;">Price : 41 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Sutter Home

TN : Arn de Gotha Rouge, Les Vins d'Arn Magnusson, Grand Vin de Bordeaux, Chateau Le Faure Rouge 2006, Bordeaux, France

Colour : Dark purple/red

Aroma : Dark fruits, slight oak

Taste : lean, thin, soft, dark and red fruits, chalky tannins

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 88 SEK

Mark : D

Website : Arn Magnusson
Website : Granqvist Vinagentur

TN : Arn de Gotha Blanc, Les Vins d'Arn Magnusson, Grand Vin de Bordeaux, Chateau Le Faure Blanc 2006, Bordeaux, France

This wine was imported by Granqvist Vinagentur, Tidaholm

Colour : Yellow/lemon

Aroma : Fruit drops, lemon

Taste : Lemon, fruit drops, long finish, mouthfilling

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 88 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Arn Magnusson
Website : Granqvist Vinagentur

TN : Syrah, Verna's Vineyard, 2003, The Ojai Vineyard, Santa Barbara County, USA

This wine was produced and bottled by Helen and Adam Tolmach.

This wine was imported by Divine AB.

Colour : Black/purple

Aroma : Violets, red fruits, dark fruits, concentrated ribena, slight spice

Taste : Mouth coating, smooth tanins, red fruits, spice, slight white pepper

Alcohol : 15.5%

Price : 299 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Divine AB

Website : The Ojai Vineyard

TN : Neil Ellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Stellenbosch, South Africa

This wine was imported by V&S Wines, Denmark.

This wine is a multi-vineyard blend from the Jonkershoek Valley and Firgrove area. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The soil is decomposed Granite and Sandstone. The grapes were harvested between 27th of February and the 18th of March 2004. The yield was 6 - 8 tons per hectare or between 40 hectolitres per hectare and 52 hectolitres per hectare. The grapes harvested between 23.5ºB to 26.0ºB, total acid 6.7 g/litre to 9.0 g/litre, and pH 3.2 to 3.4. Fermentation was initiated in stainless steel fanks and underwent a series of pump overs until dry. Futher maceration allowed before drawing off and light pressing. This wine spent 16 months in French oak barrels of which 40% were new. The wine was bottled in September 2005 after egg white fining and light filtration. An analysis gives alcohol at 14.0%, residual sugar at 1.7 grammes per litre, total acidity at 6.0 grammes per litre, and a pH of 3.7.



Colour : Cassis

Aroma : Red fruits, tangy, oak, slight vinegar

Taste : Tangy, oak, toast, dull blackcurrant, metallic

Alcohol : 14 %

Price : 155 SEK

Mark : D

Website : Neil Ellis Wines

Systembolaget New Releases February 2008

The February 2008 Newsletter for Systembolaget is now available for download.

Website : Varunytt February 2008

TN : Enrique Foster Terruno Malbec 2005, Vistalba, Mendoza, Argentina

The grapes for this wine come from the Lujan de Cuyo, Lunlunta, Perdriel, Tupungato, Vistalba and Vista Flores areas. The winemaker was Mauricio Lorca.

This wine was imported by Heba Trading AB.

Colour : Deep black cherry/purple

Aroma : Dark fruits, oak, toast

Taste : Violets, dark fruits, long toast on finish, oak, vanilla, warm mocha, mouth coating

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Heba Trading AB
Website : Bodega Enrique Foster

TN : Mendel Unus 2004, Boedga Mendel, Mendoza, Argentina

The vineyard is situated in Lujan de Cuyo at 100 metres, 3280 feet, and was planted in 1928.

The wine is a blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The case production was 3646 cases (six packs). The wine was oak aged for 16 months in new French oak barriques. The winemaker was Roberto del la Mota.

The wine was imported by Primewine.

Colour : Deep cassis/red

Aroma : Violets, coffee, dark fruits, spice, rich

Taste : Violets, heat, dark fruits, blackcurrant, spice, coffee, concentrated, soft tannins on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 199 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Primewine
Website : Mendel

TN : Ventisquero Queulat Carmenere Gran Reserva 2005, Maipo Vallet, Chile

This wine is a blend of 85% Carmenere and 15% Syrah.

On the back label is stated "The legend tells the story of an enchanted city in Southern Chile built in Gold and filled with valuable treasures. Although the city was never found, something magic was uncovered, a beautiful hanging snowdrift named Queulat".



Colour : Black, cassis

Aroma : Dark fruits, blackberry, slight oak

Taste : Lots of blackberry, slight green pepper, chocolate, liqourice on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 102 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Ventisquero

TN : Fabre Montmayou Grand Vin 2004, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is from the winery's oldest vineyard which was planted in 1908.

All the grapes were handharvested and the wine was finished in 100% French oak fro 16 months. 12960 bottles were produced.

The wine was imported by Bornicon & Salming.

The Fabre Montmayou winery was the first homemade wine cellar built in Argentina by the group Domaine Vistalba in 1992. The winery was built in the area of Vistalba – Lujan de Cuyo at 1.150 meters of altitude, just by the 15 first hectares of Malbec that were bought in the same area.

The winery is 20 kilometres south from Mendoza. It can be visited and details can be found on the website (tours are available in English).

Colour : Black/red

Aroma : Violets, oak, dark fruits, spice

Taste : Oak, dark fruits, savoury notes, concentrated, mouth filling, lacking acidity/flabby
Alcohol : 14,5%

Price : 189 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Bornicon & Salming
Website : Domaine Vistalba

TN : Cabardes 2004, Sacha Lichine, Vins sans Frontieres, France

This wine is a new world blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 20% Syrah, and 10% Grenache.

Colour : Dark ruby

Aroma : Earth, dark fruits, spice

Taste : Earth, dark fruits, acidic, thin, soft tannins

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 112 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Sacha Lichine

TN : Tre Rose, Renaio, Chardonnay di Toscana 2006, IGT, Tenimenti Angelini, Italy

Tenimenti Angelini, a family owned group of Tuscan estates, was created in November of 1994, with the acquisition of three historical Tuscan wineries: Azienda Agricola Val di Suga in the town of Montalcino, Tenuta Trerose in the town of Montepulciano and Fattoria San Leonino in the town of Castellina in Chianti. Currently the estate is comprised of 415 hectares, between the three properties, with 173 hectares of vineyards divided as follow: Val di Suga, 100 hectares, with 55 hectares under vine; Tenuta Trerose, 170 hectares with 70 under vine and San Leonino 100 hectares with 45 under vine.

Colour : Yellow

Aroma : Green apple, pear drops, pineapple, slight oak

Taste : Butter, slight oak, muted pear, muted green apple, muted pineapple

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 106 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Tenimenti Angelini

TN : High Constantia Cabernet Franc 2001, Constantia Valley, South Africa

This wine was grown and bottled in the Constantia Valley.

High Constantia is being restored, under David van Niekerk and Bob de Villiers, to its former wine-making glory.

This wine was imported by Kvalitetsviner i Sverige.

The nose was really great on this wine but it was let down by the taste; the fruit seemed to be fading and it was well past its' best.

Colour : Black/brown/cassis

Aroma : Perfumed, blackcurrant hints, pencil, talcum powder

Taste : Floral, talcum powder, dark fruits, tangy

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 219 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Kvalitetsviner i Sverige

TN : Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2003, Terrazas de los Andes, Mendoza, Argentina

Estate grown at an altitude of 980 metres.

In the late 1950s, the LVMH subsidiary Moët & Chandon sent its Chief Winemaker, Renaud Poirier, to Latin America to investigate the potential of the region for producing world-class wines. After traveling throughout the region, Poirier visited Luján de Cuyo, in the province of Mendoza. Highly impressed with the local conditions for winemaking, and the presence of unique high elevation vineyards, Poirier and Moët & Chandon decided to launch its first subsidiary vineyards ever outside of France (Bodegas Chandon Argentina).

Following decades of successful sparkling wine production, in 1999 Moët Hennessy Wine Estates and Bodegas Chandon Argentina inaugurated the Terrazas de los Andes winery, a still wines initiative based on the pairing of fine wine varietals to unique altitudes within Mendoza´s emblematic, snow-fed, high elevation vineyards.

The Terrazas de los Andes winery was launched following the restoration of an old Spanish style winery, established in 1898 by Sotero Arizu, one of the forefathers of Argentine winemaking. Arizu founded the winery in the heart of Perdriel, facing the impressive Cordon del Plata (a section of the Andes Mountain Range).



Colour : Red/cassis

Aroma : Blackcurrant, oak, red fruits

Taste : Red fruits, blackcurrant, oak, green pepper, oak, tannins and liquorice on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Terrazes de los Andes

TN : AltaCima 6.330, Premium Reserve, 2003, Lontue Valley, Chile

AltaCima 6.330 refers to the height of the Parinacota Volcano that is part of the Andes mountains overlooking the vineyard. The vineyard is situated at the mouth of the transversal valley of the Lontue river. The soil is muddy and clayey and rich in volcanic ash. The climate is semi-arid Mediterranean.

The grapes were hand harvested during the last week of April and the first week of May 2003.

There was a cold maceration for 6 to 8 days at 6 degrees. Alcoholic fermentation was in steel tanks, took nine days, at 27 to 34 degrees. Afterwards the wine was left to macerate for 15 to 20 days.

The wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Syrah, and 5% Petit Verdot. 60% of the wine has been aged in French oak barrels (Nevers/Vosges/Troncais), with one third new oak and two thirds in second and third use oak, for 14 months. The other 40% was matured in stainless steel vats.

The alcohol is 13.9%, TA is 3.38 grammes per litre, and the pH is 3.71. The wine has not been filtered or cold stabilised.

The back label states that the cellar life of this wine is between 2005 and 2013.

This wine was imported by Sydamerikaviner HB.

This wine received 93 points at the International Wine Challenge 2006, held in London.

Colour : Brown/red

Aroma : Oak, blackcurrant, spice, plum, cold tea, tobacco

Taste : Blackcurrant, oak, warm finish, spicy, tobacco hints, drak fruits, plush tannins but slight drying on finish, nicely balanced

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 158 SEK

Mark : A-

Website : AltaCima
Website : Sydamerikaviner

TN : Alpha Estate 2004, Red, Regional Wine of Macedonia

This wine is a blend of the native grape Xinomavro with the international Syrah and Merlot.

The Grapegrower was Makis Mavridis and the winemaker was Angelos Iatridis. Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. The choice of this name came from the initial letter of Amyndeon, the geographical location of the estate's vineyards and to additionally declare a quality term in the every day Greek spoken language.

The 33 ha vineyard was planted in the Amyndeon region in the late 1990s.

Alpha Estate is situated in the Ampelia location, meaning vines, in the heart of the Amyndeon region, an area of VQPRD wines in the northern part of Greece.

The 33 ha vineyard was planted in the Amyndeon region in the late 1990s. It is situated on a plateau at an altitude of 620-710 m with a northwest exposure, covering a total area of 33 ha . The local climate is characterized by cold winters with sufficient rainfall and snow, which provide the vines with the necessary water supplies to endure the relatively dry summer. Additionally, two neighbouring lakes contribute to the existence of a mild semi-continental climate, favoring the cultivation of foreign and indigenous, red and white grape varieties.

The sandy-clay texture of the soil, assuring an ideal drainage of the rain water, the favorable climatic conditions during maturation and harvest periods and finally the appropriate viticultural practices contribute to a complete fruit ripening thus offering the possibility of producing wines of exquisite quality and rich aromas. The density of plantation is 3900 vines per hectare and the yields do not exceed 4200 kg of grapes per hectare. In order to avoid extreme water stress during summer, regulated deficit irrigation is applied to assure the optimum maturation of grapes.

Alpha Estate is a member of the Wine Producers Association of the Vineyards of North Greece.

This was bottle number 067757.

Colour : Red/cassis

Aroma : Herbs, red fruits, violets, blueberry

Taste : Thin mouthfeel, acidic finish, smooth tannins, red fruits, herbs, slight oak

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 189 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Alpha Estate