TN : Serrata Belguardo 2007, IGT, Mazzei, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy

The Mazzei Marquis have owned Castello di Fonterutoli since 1435. This wine from their Maremma property is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Alicante Nero. Fermentation was between 28 and 30 degrees. The wine was aged for approximately twelve months in small 225 litre oak barrels (30% new). The total acidity is 5.8 grammes per litre. The wine was bottles in March 2009. 75,000 bottles were produced.



The Belguardo estate is located in the Maremma region of Tuscancy, on the hills between Grosseto and Montiano, near the National Park “dell'Uccellina”, about ten kilometers from the coast. The vineyards are located at 70 to 130 metres and have a south to south west exposure. The soil is sandstone and the vines are ten years old. The planting density is 6,600 vines per hectare and the vines are spur-cordon trained.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Tobacco, spice, cherries, milk chocolate

Taste : Cherries, plums, oak, spice, fruity, pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Marchesi Mazzei SPA

TN : dB Selection Rose 2009, De Bortoli, Australia

This wine is a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Colour : Bright strawberry

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, herbs

Taste : Strawberry, raspberry, herbs, oranges, dry

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 197 SEK (3 litre Bag-In-Box)

Mark : C

Website : De Bortoli Wines

TN : Yalumba Hand-Picked Shiraz Vignier 2005, Barossa Valley, Australia

The grapes for this wine were harvested during March and April 2005. The wine spent 18 months in French oak hogsheads. The wine was bottled in March 2007.



Colour : Inky purple

Aroma : Bramble fruit, floral, spicy

Taste : Rich dark bramble fruits, spice, milk chocolate, pepper on long finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 228 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Yalumba

TN : Midsummer Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Canon Creek Vineyard, Napa Valley, USA

The winemaker was Rollie Heitz. The vineyard is in the eastern hills of Napa Valley. It is situated between St. Helena and Howell Mountain. The clones planted are 6 and 337. The vines are trained with Vertical Shoot Positioning. The vineyard is 1.4 acres in size and is at an elevation of 1000 feet.



Colour : Deep blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, toasty oak, coffee

Taste : Lingering toasty oak on finish, overoaked currently but may calm down in a couple of years if the fruit lasts, warm finish, rich blackurrant, coffee

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 329 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Midsummer Cellars

TN : Scali Pinotage 2006, Voor-Paardeberg, South Africa

This was made by Willie and Tania De Waal, fifth generation family vignerons on their family farm Schoone Oord. The must was fermented in open kuipe and gently pressed in basket press. The wine was then matured in 228 litre French oak barriques for 12 months and was bottled unfiltered. The total production of this wine was 19 barrels.



The grapes come from two different vineyards. The "Ou Kraal" vineyard has a Southern aspect and the soil is high in clay content and decomposed granite on shale. The vines were planted was in 1972 at a density of 2425 vines per hectare. The vines are single wire, cordon trained. The yield was three tonnes per hectare or 18 hectolitres per hectare. The "Kalkis" vineyard has a South-Eastern aspect and the soil is gravel on shale. The vines were planted in 1994 at a density of 3333 vines per hectare. The vines are five wire vertical shoot positioned. The yield is restricted to four tons per hectare or 24 litres per hectare.

This wine was imported by Vinobele AB.

Colour : Deep lilac/purple

Aroma : Cedar, blackberry, banana, burnt toast

Taste : Juicy dark bramble fruits, somewhat developed, liquorice, tobacco, sour finish, talcum powder texture

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 186 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Scali
Website : Vinobele Wine Agency

TN : Antu Ninquen Mountain Vineyard Syrah 2007, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Ninquen (nin-ken) means "Plateau on a Mountain". Antu means "sun" in Mapuche or "People from the Earth" language.



Colour : Deep purple

Aroma : Violets, blackberry, burnt toast, chocolate

Taste : Burnt toast, blackberry, hot finish, vanilla, coffee, violets

Alcohol : 15 %

Price : 149 SEK

Mark : B-

TN : Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2008, Weingut Studert-Pruem, Mosel, Germany

This wine was imported by Granqvist Vinagentur AB.



Colour : Very pale lemon

Aroma : Honey, mineral, pear, white grapes

Taste : Sweet, white grapes, line, honey, pear

Alcohol : 8%

Price : 99 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Studert-Pruem
Website : Granqvist Vinagentur AB

TN : Bardou 2006 Saint Chinian, Laurent Miquel, Languedoc, France

Saint Chinian is an appellation situated in the foothills of the Caroux mountains in Languedoc. This wine is produced from a single block of Syrah vines on the Bardou estate. The site has very poor stony soils. The wines are about 26 years old. The wine is aged in new oak (55%) and one year old oak (45%) French barrels.



Colour : Red, blue hues

Aroma : Violets, plums, oak, cedar, blackberry, coffee

Taste : Oak, cedar, herbs, plums, violets, blackberry, pepper and liquorice on finish, grainy tannins

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 179 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Laurent Miquel

TN : Prendiville Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2003, Sandalford Wines, Margaret River, Australia

This wine was sealed with a screwcap. It was bottle number 5290. Only 500 cases of this wine were made.



Sandalford Wines was first established in 1840. In the early 1990s Sandalford Wines returned to traditional ownership by way of the Prendiville family. The grapes for this wine were harvested in early April 2003 from three blocks, 13, 14, and 15. The grapes were fermented in small static fermenters. The wine was macerated on its skins for two weeks prior to maturation in new French barriques for 24 months. The purest 20 barrels were allocated to make this wine.

An analysis of the finished wine showed that the pH was 3.49, TA was 6.7 grammes per litre, and residual sugar was 1.1 grammes per litre.

Colour : Blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, chocolate, alcohol, black cherry

Taste : Blackcurrant, black cherry, overly warm finish, grainy tannins, chocolate, alcohol heat is too much, coffee, burnt toast

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 364 SEK (Reduced from 455 SEK)

Mark : B

Website : Sandalford Wines

TN : Godolphin 2005, Ben Glaetzer, Barossa Valley, Australia

This wine is a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are 80% dry-grown Barossa Valley 85 year-old Shiraz vines and 20% dry grown Barossa Valley 60 year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vines. The yields were Cabernet Sauvignon at 1-1.5 ton per acre (0.4-0.6 ton per hectare) and Shiraz at 1-2 tonne per acre (0.4-0.8 ton per hectare). The wine is unfiltered.



The grapes were fermented in one tonne open fermenters and hand plunged three times daily. The must completed primary fermentation on skins and malolactic fermentation in oak. The wine was then matured for 15 months in oak, matured on lees to maintain fruit profile and animation. Minimal SO2 was used and the barrels were topped up every three weeks. 14 months were spent in 100% new oak of which 20% was American and 80% was French (70% hogsheads & 30% barriques). The pH is 3.52, Total Acidity is 7.18grammes per litre and the residual sugar is 0.6grammes per litre.

The name Godolphin has been linked with excellence in many fields, including politics, education and literature. The same ideals are used to make this wine. The label echoes the Ancient Egyptian Ankh symbol (pronunciation: onk). Historically the ankh symbolised sunrise, regeneration, regrowth and renewal.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Blackberry, blackcurrant, mint, chocolate

Taste : Bright blackberry, blackcurrant, mint, pepper on finish, violets, vanilla, oak, sweet, warm finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 299 SEK

Mark : A

Website : Glaetzer Wines

TN : La Clotiere 2008, Alliance Loire, Anjou, France

This wine is 100% Cabernet Franc.



This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Bright red

Aroma : Blueberry, violets, red berries, herbs

Taste : Violets, red berries, blueberry, tangy finish, talcum powder tannins

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 75 SEK

Mark : D+

Website : Alliance Loire

TN : Entity Shiraz 2005, John Duval Wines, Barossa Valley, Australia

After 29 years as a winemaker with Penfolds, John Duval started his own wine label in 2003.



The grapes for this wine were sourced from old vineyards in the Stockwell, Light Pass, Krondorf and Marananga regions of the Barossa Valley. Alcoholic fermentation was with submerged cap in both traditional old open tanks and small stainless steel fermenters. The wine underwent 100% barrel maturation for 18 months with 45% new fine grain French oak and the balance in 2, 3 and 4 year-old French and American oak hogsheads (300 litres). Some batches finished fermentation in new barrels. The pH is 3.51 and TA is 6.3g/l.



Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blueberry, blackberry, violets, burnt toast

Taste : Blueberry, blackcurrant, savoury, pepper, mint, long finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 304 SEK

Mark : A-

Website : John Duval Wines

TN : Alice 2006, Celler de l'Abadia, Priorat, Spain

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Spice, polished oak, blackberry

Taste : Spice, blackberry, plum, smooth tannins, polished oak, long fruity finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Mark : B+

Website : Celler de l'Abadia

TN : Rabl Riesling Vinum Optimum 2008, Weingut Rudolf Rabl, Kamptal DAC Reserve, Austria

This wine was sealed with a screwcap. Alcoholic fermentation was in stainless steel tanks at a temperature of 19 degrees for approximately 3 weeks.



This wine was imported by Johan Lidby Vinhandel.



Colour : Bright yellow

Aroma : Peach, honey, oranges, white grapes, pineapple

Taste : Peach, honey, oranges, white grapes, minerals

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 169 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Weingut Rabl
Website : Johan Lidby Vinhandel

TN : Neiss Spaetburgunder 2007 Trocken Vogelsang, Weingut Ludi Neiss, Pfalz, Germany

Colour : Red

Aroma : Spice, strawberry, raspberry

Taste : Red berries, spice, bitter oak

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : D

Website : Weingut Neiss

TN : Neiss Riesling & Gewuerztraminer 2008 Trocken, Weingut Ludi Neiss, Pfalz, Germany

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : White grapes, citrus, pear, oranges

Taste : White grapes, pear, lemon, lime, oranges, turkish delight then sharp finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 79 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Neiss

TN : 3 Weingarten Special Edition Riesling 2008, Weingut Huber, Kamptal, Austria

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Honey, oranges, peach

Taste : Honey, oranges, pineapple

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 78 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Weingut Huber

TN : Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir 2007, Dundee Hills, Oregon, USA

The age of the vines was between seven and nine years old. 6111 cases were produced. The grapes were picked between 21st September and 29th September 2007. One-ton and three-ton open top fermenters were used and the cap was punched down 3 times a day. The wine was 100% barrel aged in 16 months in French oak barrels of which 44% were new barrels.



Colour : Red

Aroma : Spice, oak, strawberries, coffee

Taste : Strawberries, sandalwood, coffee, spice,fruit masked by the oak influences, warm finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 199 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Sokol Blosser Winery

TN : Erbacher Schlossberg Riesling Auslese 2005, Schloss Reinhartshausen, Rheingau, Germany

The residual sugar in this wine is 78 grammes per litre.

Schloss Reinhartshausen is the largest privately owned wine estate in the Rheingau. It has vineyards spreading over more than 80 hectares.

At the Castle’s present location stood, in the 12th century, the ancestral seat of the knights of Erbach. From 1275, and over a period of four centuries, the estate belonged to the knights of Allendorf who cultivated wine from 1337.

At the end of the 18th century, the estate was taken over by the Langwerth von Simmern dynasty from Phillip Reinhard after whom the Castle was named. It was sold in 1800 to the Duke of Westfalen, who built Schloss Reinhartshausen as it is seen today. Princess Marianne of Prussia from the Royal House Oranien-Nassau bought the Castle and the estate in 1855. She extended the Castle with the addition of a museum and, owing to her personality and her charitable generosity, she left a lasting imprint in Schloss Reinhartshausen itself and the community of Erbach as a whole.

Colour : Yellow

Aroma : Marzipan, honey, apricot

Taste : Honey, cloying sweetness, marzipan, apricot, long finish

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 119 SEK (Reduced from 149 SEK( (375 ml bottle)

Mark : C

Website : Weingut Schloss Reinhartshausen

Ried Loiser Berg Gruener Veltliner Trocken 2002, Weingut Bruendlmayer, Kamptal, Austria

This wine was imported by VinUnic AB.



Colour : Yellow/gold

Aroma : White pepper, apricot, peach, orange peel

Taste : Orange, white pepper, oily texture, peach, apricot

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 195 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Weingut Brundlmayer
Website : VinUnic AB

TN : Erdener Treppchen 2008 Riesling Kabinett, Dr. Loosen, Mosel, Germany

Erdener Treppchen means "The little staircase of Erden".

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



Colour : Light lemon

Aroma : Elderberry, banana, honey, minerals

Taste : Sweet, nice cleansing acidity, oranges, lemon, elderberry, pineapple, minerals, long zingy finish

Alcohol : 7.5%

Price : 129 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Dr Loosen

TN : Chinon La Gravinieres 2008, Domaine de la Chapelle, Philippe Pichard, Loire, France

Colour : Red

Aroma : Herbs, dark berries, violets

Taste : Violets,dark berries, sour, tangy, talcum powder

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 105 SEK

Mark : C-

TN : Vina Sutil Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Vina Sutil was started in 1990. Viña Sutil is 130 kilometres southeast from Santiago in the heart of the Colchagua Valley.



This wine was imported by VinUnic AB.

Colour : Bright yellow

Aroma : Apricot, orange, burnt sugar, marzipan

Taste : Overwhelming burnt sugar, spice, apricot, slight orange, lacking acidity

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 80 SEK

Mark : C-

Website : Vina Sutil
Website : VinUnic AB

TN : Heredos Del Marques De Riscal Rueda 2009, Spain

This wine is a blend of 85% Verdejo and 15% Viura. Total acidity is 5.4 and pH is 3.30.



The Verdejo, together with Viura, was destemmed, cooled, and then macerated in cool conditions to extract the maximum aromas from the skins and add texture to the wine. The must was fined and once clear was left to ferment slowly for 20 days at a controlled temperature of between thirteen and fifteen degrees.

Colour : Bright light yellow

Aroma : Lemon, pear, dried pineapple

Taste : Lemon, fruity, pear, grapefruit, bitter finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 69 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Marques de Riscal

Italian Wine Day for Consumers 2010

The Nordic Wine Institute organised the latest in a series of yearly Italian Wine Days on the 30th January 2010 at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden. The venue was far too small for the number of attendees and it was like being a sardine packed in a tin.



These are my list of wines tasted, associated ratings, and current retail price :

A Wines

• Brunello di Montalcino 2003, Poggio San Polo (369 SEK)

A- Wines

• Dedicato a Walter 2005, Poggio al Tesoro (575 SEK)
• Dedicato a Walter 2006, Poggio al Tesoro (499 SEK)

B+ Wines

• Rubio 2006, Poggio San Polo (110 SEK)

B Wines

• Gaja Sito Moresco 2007 (329 SEK)
• Tenuta Belguardo 2006, Mazzei (239 SEK)
• Brancaia Ilatraia 2006, La Brancaia (399 SEK)
• Il Nero di Casanova 2006, La Spinetta (159 SEK)
• Pin Rosso Monferrato 2007, La Spinetta (340 SEK)
• Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo 2007, La Spinetta (325 SEK)
• Barbaresco Bordini 2006, La Spinetta (389 SEK)
  

B- Wines

• Sondraia 2005, Poggio al Tesoro (319 SEK)
• Sondraia 2006, Poggio al Tesoro (299 SEK)
• Lucente 2006, Luca delle Vite (205 SEK)
• Ca di Pian Barbera d'Asti 2007, La Spinetta (195 SEK)
• Aglianico Stupor Mondi 2005, Carbone Melfi (269 SEK)
  

C+ Wines

• Brancaia Chianti Classico 2005, La Brancaia (259 SEK)
• Aglianico Terra Dei Fouchi DOC 2007, Carbone Melfi (123 SEK)
  

C Wines

• Brancaia Tre 2007, La Brancaia (149 SEK)