TN : Kenwood Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Kenwood Vineyards, Sonoma County, USA

This wine was recalled by the Systembolaget due to quality problems but I managed to find it on the shelves of the Systembolaget in Tyresö Centrum. I have had much worse than this from the Systembolaget and can not understand why it has not been distributed.



This wine is made predominantly of fruit sourced from vineyards located in the Sonoma, Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. It is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvingon, 8% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Fermentation and skin maceration was performed in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged for two years in French and American oak.

This wine was imported by BGS Vinhandel AB.

Colour : Blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, cold tea, coffee, slight mint

Taste : Zingy blackcurrant, slight tangy undertaste, oack, milk chocolate, gripping tannins at finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 145 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Kenwood Vineyards

Systembolaget New Wines November 2008

The latest Varunytt newsletter detailing new wines in Sweden for November 2008 can now be downloaded from the Systembolaget website.

Website : Systembolaget Varunytt November 2008

TN : Chateau Puygueraud 2002, Cotes de Francs, Bordeaux, France

This wine is a blend of 55% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Malbec. All the grapes were crushed and then subjected to a three day cold maceration. Fermentation and maceration lates three weeks in stainless steel tanks. The wine spent 18 to 20 months in barriques of which 30% was new. Egg whites were used to clarify the wine which was not filtered.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Oak, coffee, blackcurrants, mint, herbs

Taste : Drying tannins on finish, blackcurrant, herbs, coffee

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 169 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Chateau Puygueraud

TN : TastYwines Fruity Syrah Mourvedre 2007, Rose, Capeco International, Coteaux du Languedoc, France

This wine was imported by Chris Wine & Spirits.



Colour : Pale strawberry

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, herbs

Taste : Hints of raspberry, strawberry, cherry, some herbs, dry bitter aftertaste.

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 70 SEK

Mark : D

Website : Chris Wine & Spirits

TN : Grove Street Chardonnay 2006, Grove Street Winery, Sonoma County, California, USA

The grapes for this wine came from smaller vineyards growing a range of Dijon Chardonnay clones from the Russian River AVA and the Alexander Valley AVA.



This wine was imported by Tomp Spirits AB.

Colour : Straw, green hues

Aroma : Butter, toast, slight oak, nutts, orange, slight tropical fruits

Taste : Mango, butter, toasty oak, nutty, oranges, pears, caramel

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 109 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Grove Street Winery
Website : Tomp Beer & Sprits

TN : Chateau de Fonbel 2000, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France

This estate is owned by Alain Vauthier of Ausone fame.

The vineyard of Château de Fonbel is located in the Saint-Emilion plain and covers 16 hectares. The soils are sandy-gravelly. Four grape varieties are grown, Merlot (70%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), Petit Verdot (7%) and Carmenere (3%).

Colour : Red

Aroma : Plums, cedar, cherries, chocolate, oak

Taste : Cherry, cedar, plums, drying exotic talcum powder tannins on finish, leather, earth

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 299 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Chateau de Fonbel

TN : Weninger Blaufraenkisch Hochhaecker 2005, Weingut Weninger, Mittelburgenland, Austria

The vineyard soils are Chalybeate clay with high coarse fraction. The age of the vines was 36 to 37 years of age. The planting density was 4500 vines per hectare. The crop yield was 4000 litres per hectare. The grapes were harvested between 10th and 12th October 2005.



Vinification was done using native yeast fermentation in steel tanks, the must was pressed after 15 days of mash-state, then followed by a biological malolactic fermentation in a large oak barrels (90% for 17 months in big oak barrel and 10% in barrique). The total acidity is 5.6 grammes per litre and the residual sugar is 1.9 grammes per litre. The wine was bottled in January 2007.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Earth, violets, red fruits

Taste : Earthy, tangy acidity, spice, violets, red fruits

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 117 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Weingut Weninger

Ancre Hill Estates Harvest 2008

I spoke to Richard Morris of Ancre Hill Estates yesterday about this year's harvest. Ancre Hill Estates is locates near Monmouth in Wales.

He told me that the Triomphe will be harvested on Friday and the Seyval/Pinot Noir towards the end of the month. Apparently, the weather has been remarkably kind to them over last few weeks and the crop is looking good. Progress can be followed on their website.

Website : Ancre Hill Estates

TN : Dr Loosen Riesling Spaetlese Bernkasteler Kurfuerstenlay, Mosel, Germany

Spaetlese means "late picked". All the grapes were hand-harvested. The must was cold fermented in steel tanks.

Colour : Pale straw

Aroma : White grapes, spice, peaches, oranges

Taste : White grapes, yeasty, jasmin, orange marmelade, peaches, pears, off-dry

Alcohol : 8.5%

Price : 109 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Dr Loosen

TN : Red Nectar Cabernet Sauvingon 2005, Barossa Valley, Red Nectar Wines, Australia

Tammy Schutz is the proprietror and vigneron and Troy Kalleske was the winemaker.



This wine was imported by JPC Wines AB.



Colour : Black/red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, mint, oak, chocolate

Taste : Very lively acidity, blackcurrant, mint, vanilla, very fruity

Alcohol : 14.5%

Mark : B-

Price : 199 SEK

Website : Red Nectar Wines
Website : JPC Wines AB

TN : Altosur Malbec Rose 2008, Finca Sophenia SA, Tupungato, Argentina

"4000 feet high by the Argentine Andes" is the quote on the front label. All the grapes were hand-harvested by the end of February and beginning of March. The winemaker was Matias Michelini.



This wine was imported by PrimeWine Sweden AB.

Colour : Pale raspberry

Aroma : Raspberry, cherry, slight spice and white pepper

Taste : Slight spice and white pepper on finish, jellied raspberries and cherries

Alcohol : 12.5%

Mark : B-

Price : 65 SEK

Website : Finca Sophenia
Website : PrimeWine Sweden AB

Wine Quality Problems at Systembolaget October 2008

I just talked to Jakob Stenson at Systembolaget and three of the red wines launched for October 2008 have been recalled because of quality problems. The wines in question are Windsor Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Atelier Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, and Kenwood Cabernet Sauvignon 2006.

TN : Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Thelema Mountain Vineyards, Helshoogte, Simonsberg Mountain, Stellenbosch, South Africa

The wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon clone 46. The rootstock is 101-14, R110, and R99. The soil type is Hutton - decomposed granite. The vines were planed in 1988 and 1989. The planting density is 3200 vines per hectare. The trellising is Vertical hedge. The vines were pruned to 2-bud spurs every 15 centimetres. The yield was approximately 6 tons per hectare. Irrigation was supplementary drip. The grapes wer harvested between 26th March and 7th April. The grape sugar was on average 24.5 degrees Balling. The average acidity was 5.5 grammes per litre. The pH at harvest was on average 3.5.


The yeast used for fermentaion was Bordeaux red. The fermentation temp was about 26 to 28 degrees. The grapes were de-stalked, the berries were then hand sorted, crushed, pumped into stainless steel tanks, pumped over for 6 days, left for 5 days before pressing, and finally racked to barrel for malolactic fermentation. The wine was matured in wood for 20 months in 225 litre French oak of which 50% was new.

The finished wine has a residual Sugar of 1.6 grammes per litre, pH of 3.54, total acidity of 5.4 grammes per litre, and alcohol was 13.85% by volume.

This wine was imported by Nigab AB.



Colour : Blackcurrant/red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, chocolate, coffee, smoke, burnt toast, green vegetables

Taste : Red fruits, oak, drying tannins, burnt toast, slight mint, blackcurrant, mocha, green vegetables

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Thelema Mountain Vineyards
Website : Nigab AB

TN : Blauer Zweigelt 2006 Trocken, Gsellmann & Hans, Heideboden, Burgenland, Austrias

This wine was imported by Boisson Wine & Spirits.



Colour : Red/maroon

Aroma : Spice, plum, damson, liqourice

Taste : Slight liqourice, fruity, plums, cherry, soft tannins, some spice

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 85 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Gsellmann & Hans

VinUnic Newsletter October 2008

The October 2008 newsletter from top Swedish wine importer VinUnic is now available for download from their website.

Website : VinUnic Våra Viner Kundbrev Oktober 2008

TN : Cabernet Sauvignon Selection 2005, Zillinger Bioweingut, Neusiedlersee, Austria

Colour : Red

Aroma : Red fruits, tobacco, oak

Taste : Soft red fruits, oak, spice, cold tea

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Zillinger Biowiengut

Vinkällaren Grappe Newsletter October 2008

The October 2008 newsletter from Vinkällaren Grappe can be downloaded from their website.

Website : Vinkällaren Grappes Nyhetsbrev Oktober 2008

TN : Domaine Lafond Roc-Epine Tavel 2007, Rose, Jean-Pierre and Pascal Lafond, France

This wine was imported by Pixbo Vin KB.



Colour : Bright deep strawberry red

Aroma : Red fruits, fresh, vanilla

Taste : Creamy mouthfeel, strawberry, red fruits, cherry

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : A-

Website : Domaine Lafond

TN : 2006 Corbieres Syrah/Mourvedre, La Culture du Gout, Gerard Bertrand, Sud de France, France

This wine was sealed with a Normacork.



Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Earthy, spicy, dark fruits, cold tea

Taste : Earth, dark and red fruits, cold tea

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 69 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Gerard Bertrand

TN : Alta Reserve Syrah 2006, Pascual Toso, Las Barrancas Vineyards, Maipu, Argentina

Pascual Toso was established in 1890.



This wine was imported by HJO Grosshandel AB.

Colour : Dark purple/red

Aroma : Vanilla, spicy, liqourice, violets, red fruits, black cherry, blueberry

Taste : Violets, blueberry, spicy, black pepper and red fruits on long finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 249 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Bodegas y Vinedos Pascual Toso
Website : HJO Grosshandel AB

TN : Cafe Culture Pinotage 2006, Wine of Origin Western Cape, KWV, South Africa

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Smoke, cherries, raspberries, toast

Taste : Smoke, cherries, red fruits, tangy acidity on finish, burnt notes on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Cafe Culture

TN : Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2007, Boekenhoutskloof, South Africa

Hystrix Africaaustralia, the crested porcupine.



This wine was imported by HJO Grosshandel AB.

Colour : Black cherry

Aroma : Smokey, red fruits, kirsch

Taste : Smoke, caramel, red fruits, kirsch, oak, burnt toast

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 92 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Boekenhoutskloof
Website : HJO Grosshandel AB

TN : Langenloiser Rose Zweigelt 2007, Weingut Bruendlmayer, Langenlois, Austria

Dr. Zweigelt, who managed to interbreed a new variety out of Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent in 1921, had vineyards in Langenlois. The Bruendlmayer family owns part of his vineyards.



This wine was imported by VinUnic AB. 1200 bottles were bought by the Systembolaget.



Colour : Bright pink, copper hues

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, herbs

Taste : Dry, spritzy, jellied raspberries, herbs, white pepper, bitter finish

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 120 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : VinUnic AB
Website : Weingut Bruendlmayer

TN : Mesh Eden Valley Riesling 2005, Grosset-Hill Smith, Australia

This wine was made by Jeffrey Grosset, Clare winemaker, and Robert Hill Smith from Yalumba.



The wine was bottled under screcap. The pH is 3.04, the total acidity is 7.4 grammes per litre, and the residual sugar is 0.79 grammes per litre.



Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Lemon, lime, slight marmelade, ginger, petrol

Taste : Dry, honey, ginger, orange, minerals, lime, slight spritz, petrol

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 115 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Mesh

TN : Vina Morande Edicion Limitada Carmenere 2006, Maipo Valley, Chile

This wine was imported into Sweden by Apricot AB.

The pH is 3.49, the total acidity is 3.51 grammes per litre, and the residual sugar is 1.9 grammes per litre.

Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Blackcurrant, cherry, spice, vegetal

Taste : Concentrated, blackberry, cherry, currant, green pepper

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vina Morande
Website : Apricot AB

TN : Vertice 2005, Vina Ventisquero, Apalta Vineyards, Colchagua Valley, Chile

This wine is a joint creation between Felipe Tosso B, the Chilean winemaker for Vina Ventisquero, and John Duval, the ex-Penfolds Australian winemaker.

All the grapes were hand-harvested from the Apalta hillsides.

The wine is a blend of Carmenere and Syrah.



Colour : Dark cherry/red

Aroma : Black pepper, spice, red fruits, blueberry, green pepper, violets

Taste : Black pepper and smoke and spice on very long finish, slightly over-oaked, blueberry, violets, slight green pepper on finish, red fruits, concentrated, slight bittnerness on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 189 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vina Ventisquero

TN : Alka Carmenere 2003, Estate Bottled, Hacienda Araucano, Colchagua Valley, Chile

This is an effort from Jacques and Francois Lurton.

Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Red fruits, black fruits, liqourice, mint notes

Taste : Green pepper, red fruits, dark fruits, liqourice and mint and pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 250 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Jacques and Francois Lurton

TN : Tsantali Organic Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Halkidiki, Greece

This wine was made from organically grown grapes from Agios Pavlos in Halkidiki.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, cherry, herbs, earthy

Taste : Earthy, tobacco, blackcurrant, spice, cherry

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Tsantali

TN : Winzer Sommerach Silvaner Kabinett Trocken 2007, Sommeracher Kattzenkopf, Franken, Germany

Colour : Yellow

Aroma : White grapes, honey, melon, lemon, orange marmelade

Taste : Dry, honey, melon, white grapes, grapefruit

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 94 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Winzer Sommerach

TN : Coyam 2005, Vinedos Emiliana, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Coyam was the word for "oak" by the Mapuches, the original inhabitents of central and southern Chile. Ancient oaks surround the Emiliana vineyards. All of the grapes were organically grown and hand picked. The wine was aged in 80% French and 20% American oak for 14 months. The wine is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.



This wine was imported by Premium Wines Sweden.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Herbs, dark fruits, violets, chocolate

Taste : herbs, spice, chocolate, violets, smooth tannins, minerals, white pepper on finish, concentrated

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 150 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Vinedos Emiliana
Website : Premium Wines Sweden

TN : Simonsig Labyrinth Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Simonsig Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa

On the label "The Malan Family Heritage going back to 1688".

The residual sugar is 2.0 grammes per litre, the total acidity 5.3 grammes per litre, and the pH is 3.6. The wine was matured for 16 months in 77% French oak and 23% American white oak of which 28% was new, 23% second fill, and 49% third fill.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, tobacco, coffee

Taste : Slight smoke, moccha, blackcurrant, tobacco, liqourice, plum

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 150 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Simonsig Estate

TN : Chateau Bel-Air-Ouy 2000, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France

Colour : Dark plum

Aroma : Plums, cedar, herbs, chocolate

Taste : Fruity, plums, slight sweetness, very long finish, smooth tannins, tobacco, dark chocolate, strawberry

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 285 SEK

Mark : A

Website : Ets Thunevin

TN : Chateau Limbourg 2005, Jean Maufras, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France

This wine was drinkable now but could be left 2-3 years for the oak to integrate more. It is a blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon. Fermentation was carried out at 18 degrees and the wine spent 10 months in French oak (60% new).

Chateau Limbourg is one of two brands produced by Chateau Pontac-Montplaisir. The owner is Jean Maufras (from 1955).

Chateau Pontac Monplaisir is an elegant chartreuse which owes its name to the counts of Pontac. The Pontacs were, according to Arnaud de Pontac in to private letter dated 23 May 1936, above all to military family. In spite of that, for nearly three centuries, (16th, 17th, and 18th), they occupied important positions in the Bordeaux Parliament. Lords of great many Bordeaux viticultural spots: Saint-Estèphe, Queyrac, La Tresne, Roaillan, Podensac, Bisqueyton, “Monplésir” (as it used to be spelt) and even Haut Brion, they were the first to use the family name to personalize and identify their growths, creating to new impetus (the notion of growth, of terroir, of brand-names) and gave to considerable upthrust to the wines of Bordeaux in general, and those of Graves in particular. In one of his books, Gaston Marchou relates that especially in England and Germany their fame was such “that in the 18th century any red “Bordeaux” exported became automatically, for the importer, to Pontac wine...”.

During the Revolution, the vineyards of Monplaisir were broken up and belonged to different proprietors. In 1920, Auguste Maufras bought the estate which at that time consisted of 50 hectares of vines. During the World War Two, the property was allowed to run wild. In 1955, Jean Maufras, his son, undertook to renovate the vineyard as well as the various wine buildings, cellars and fermentation rooms. The vinification and ageing of the wines is done according to the traditional methods of the Bordeaux school under the supervision of eminent œnologists such as Mr. Fakorellis.

Colour : Yellow

Aroma : Lemon, grapefruit, honey, herbs

Taste : Crisp,oak, herbs, honey, grapefruit, lemon

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 184 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Chateau Pontac Montplaisir