Sunday 30 October 2011

TN : Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Robert Mondavi Winery, Oakville, Napa Valley, USA



This wine is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot. The total acidity is 0.63%, final pH was 3.64, and residual sugar is 0.5.



Napa Valley’s 2006 vintage began with a wet winter that extended into spring, delivering more than twice the average rainfall for March and nearly four times the April average. The precipitation delayed bloom, but once the skies cleared, the vines had good fruit set and progressed slowly and steadily through slightly warmer than usual June weather. In July, a brief hot spell of four consecutive days over 100°F had the effect of putting the vines “on hold” before ripening continued when mild weather returned in August. Lower temperatures extended through September and October, with some fog and cloudy days. Overall, the 2006 growing season was significantly cooler than average, and harvest began generally later. Picking began in Oakville on September 28 and finally finished on October 31 when the leaves were turning yellow. All the fruit was in the winery before light rains came in early November.

The majority of grapes, 86%,  for this wine came from the To Kalon Vineyard surrounding the winery in Oakville. To Kalon’s older Cabernet vines are 25-35 years old and yield small-berried clusters; newer vines are planted in higher density for enhanced flavor intensity. The balance of the fruit, 14%,  was sourced from nearby Oakville Bench vineyards. The average Brix was 26.4 with 0.70% initial acid and initial pH of 3.5.

Designated an American Viticultural Area in 1993, Oakville lies in the geographic center of Napa Valley and is distinguished by an alluvial fan extending from the base of the Mayacamas Mountains on the valley’s western border. Oakville Bench vineyards along the Mayacamas foothills have well-drained soils that allow deep rooting and development of complex flavors. To Kalon soils are thinner and rockier, producing fruit with intense concentration.

After harvest, the grapes were hand sorted in the To Kalon Fermentation Cellar, then destemmed and lightly crushed directly into 17-ton oak tanks for fermentation. The wine received an additional 36 days of extended skin contact (maceration) to soften tannins. After the free-run wine was drained, the pomace was conveyed by gravity into a gentle basket press, then followed the flow of gravity to the aging cellars. After a secondary malolactic fermentation, it aged 18 months in French oak barrels of which 70% were new. Cabernet Franc and small portions of Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot were blended with the Cabernet Sauvignon midway through aging to marry flavors and enhance the flavor profile.

This wine received 93 points from Wine and Spirits Magazine.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Coffee, blackcurrant, herbs, mineral

Taste : Concentrated sweet blackcurrant and cherry, coffee, minerals, noticable tannins on long finish, this wine opened up after 30 minutes

Alcohol : 15.4%

Price : 349 SEK (The Wine Company, Hamburg, Germany)

Website : Robert Mondavi Winery
Website : The Wine Company

Saturday 22 October 2011

TN : Tormenta Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Familia Torres, Maule, Curico, Chile


 This wine was made from organically grown grapes.


 This wine was imported by Miguel Torres Sverige AB.



Colour : Pale watery yellow

Aroma : Green apple, leafy, tropical fruits

Taste : Nettles, lemon, lime, zingy fruit, leafy finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 80 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Torres

TN : Motorhead Shiraz 2010, South Eastern Australia, Australia


I saw this in the local Systembolaget and could not resist buying it to see what the Ace of Spades, Lemmy and his band, had cooked up.


This wine was actually produced by Brocken Back Winery.


This wine was sealed with a screwcap.


This wine was imported by Grapes Svenska AB.



Colour : Red, blue hues

Aroma : Red and black fruits, oak, vanilla

Taste : The nice black pepper finish on this was the only Shiraz varietal character to this wine, this is an easy going slurper, oak, vanilla, blueberry and blackberry pie filling, warm finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C



Sunday 16 October 2011

TN : Gysler Weinheimer Riesling Trocken 2009, Weingut Gysler, Rheinhessen, Germany


 This wine is biodynamic and has been certified by Demeter.This wine was sealed with a screwcap.



This wine was imported by Brusquini da bere AB.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Honey, pear, mandarin oranges

Taste : Honey, lemon, green apples, zingy acidic finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 120 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Gysler

TN : Sideral 2005, Altair Vineyards and Winery, Rapel Valley, Chile



This wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Carmenere.

The winemaker was Ana Marie Cumsille.



This wine was imported by Pernod Ricard Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, green pepper, milk chocolate, mint, toasty oak

Taste : Concentrated texture, blackcurrant, cedar, toasty oak, spicy finish, grippy tannins and green pepper also on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 209 SEK

Mark : B

Website : Altair Vineyards and Winery

TN : Tsarine Champagne Rose Brut, Chanoine Freres, Champagne, France



The Chanoine Freres began excavation of the very first Champagne cellars in Epernay in 1730 during the reign of Louis XV. Chanoine Freres created Cuvee Tsarine in honour of Tsarist Russia which was the foremost export market for the wine of Champagne during the 19th century.

This wine is a blend of 34% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and 33% Pinot Meunier.



This wine was imported by Chris-Wine AB.

Colour : Salmon pink

Aroma : Redcurrants, biscuits, oranges

Taste : Strawberry, redcurrants, oranges, biscuits, long finish

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 295 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Champagne Chanoine Freres

Saturday 15 October 2011

2011 Chilean Wine Regions Map



This was included in the bag I received when I registered at the last Wine of Chile trade tasting. I can recommend that you contact your local Wines of Chile office and asking for a copy. One side shows the whole of Chile and the locations of all wineries. The other side of the map describes all of the wine regions including climate, soil information, and grapes grown.

Sunday 9 October 2011

Wines of Chile Annual Trade Tasting, 9th September 2011, Stockholm, Sweden





Friday 9th September 2011 and time for the Wines of Chile annual trade tasting held at the Sheraton hotel in central Stockholm. Twenty nine Chilean wine producers were showing their wines.








Here are my tasting notes/grades :

Amayna
  • Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Blackcurrant leaf, lemon, zingy, Mark : B-
  • Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Fermented 2007, oaky, zingy finish, leafy, Mark : C
  • Chardonnay 2008, Lemon, lime, very oaky, needs time to tone down, Mark : C
  • Pinot Noir 2009, Nice fruit, burgundian cool climate like, oaky, Mark : B-
  • Syrah 2009, Mark : B
 Apaltagua
  •  Gran Verano Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Mark : B
  • Gran Verano Carmenere 2010, Mark : B
  • Gran Verano Rose Carmenere 2011, Mark : B
  • Envero Carmenere Gran Reserva 2009, Mark : B
Casa Marin
  • Cartegna Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Mark : B
  • Cipreses Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Mark : A
  • Miramar Vineyard Syrah 2009, cool climate style, Mark : C
Vina El Principal
  • Calicanto 2010, Mark : B
  • Memorias 2007, Mark : B
  • El Principal 2007, Mark : B
Concha y Toro & Maycas del Limari
  • Marques de Casa Concha Syrah 2008, Mark : C
  • Don Melchor 2007, Mark : B+
  • Maycas del Limari Reserva Pinot Noir 2010, Mark : C
  • Maycas del Limari Reserva Syrah 2009, Mark : C
Millaman
  • Limited Reserve Zinfandel 2009, Mark : C
  • Limited Reserve Carmenere 2009, Mark ; B-
  • Casa Millaman 2005, Mark : C+
Perez Cruz
  • Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2009, Mark : C
  • Cot Limited Edition 2009, Mark : C-
  • Chaski Petit Verdot 2008, Mark : C+
  • Liguai 2008, Mark : A-
  • Quelen 2007, too oaky, Mark : B-
Vina San Pedro
  • Tierras Moradas Carmenere 2007, Mark : B+
  • Kankana del Elqui Syrah 2008, Mark : B+
  • Cabo de Hornos 2007, Mark : B
Santa Carolina
  • Cellar Rose Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, slight sweetness, super fruity, great glugger, Mark : B
  • Reserva de Familia Carmenere 2009, Mark : B
  • VSC 2008, Mark : A-



Thursday 29 September 2011

TN : Erasmo 2006, Vina La Reserva de Caliboro, Maule Valley, Chile



This wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc,  and 30% Merlot.



This wine was imported by Carovin AB.

Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Toasty oak, plums, backcurrant, raspberry, cedar

Taste : Fruity, raspberry, blackcurrant, plums, toasty oak, woody finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 179 SEK

Website : Vina La Reserva de Caliboro

TN : Schiefer Eisenberg Blaufraenkisch 2008, Suedburgenland, Austria





Colour : Raspberry red, blue hues

Aroma : Off funky smell, red fruits, oak

Taste : Strawberries, blueberries, oak, overly spicy with fruit in background

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 186 SEK

Mark : C

Website : Weinbau Schiefer

Saturday 24 September 2011

Domaine des Bossons Visit July 2011, Peissy, Geneva, Switzerland









On July 18th 2011, we took the train from Geneva Cornavin to Satigny. Laure Leyvraz picked up from the station and took us to the Domaine des Bossons winery. The winery has 29 hectares of vineyard and grows 15 different grape varieties. The domaine is owned by Eric Leyvraz who we met briefly. His daughters, Laure and Valerie, are now involved in the business and will eventually take over. Eric inherited the domaine from his grandfather, Albert Desbaillets in 1971.






The domaine has the same winemaker as Cave & Domaine Les Perries, Sebastien Schwarz.




The estate was organic from 1995 to 2006 but the estate gave up from 2007 onwards due to ideological reasons.





In addition to the Sauvignon Gris 2010 and the  Le Vieux Clocher Fut 2009 (see separate blogposts) , I particularly liked the Gamaret.




Website : Domaine des Bossons
Blogpost : Sauvignon Gris 2010
Blogpost : Le Vieux Clocher Fut 2009

Monday 19 September 2011

TN : Altair 2004, Altair Vineyards & Winery, Cachapoal Valley, Chile





This wine is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Carmenere, and 7% Merlot.

Altair Vineyards and winery is a collaboration between Chilean Vinas San Pedro, Saint Emilion's Chateau La Fleur and Chateau Dassault.

Altair is a star located in the Aguile the Eagle constellation.




This wine was imported by Pernod Ricard Sweden AB.




Colour : Blackberry, red

Aroma : Blackcurrant, green peppers, plums, coffee, liqourice

Taste : Blackcurrant, graphite, green peppers, plums, coffee, liqourice on finish

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 499 SEK

Mark : A-

Website : Altair Vineyards & Winery

TN : Ruedesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Spaetlese 1999, Kloster Eberbach, Rheingau, Germany





This wine was imported by Granqvist Agentur.




Colour : Yellow

Aroma : Honey, Petrol, Green apples

Taste : Sweet, petrol, lemon, honey, oranges

Alcohol : 9%

Price : 139 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Kloster Eberbach

TN : Albia Rose 2010, IGT. Barone Ricasoli, Tuscany, Italy



This wine was sealed with a screwcap. There is a sticker on the front label stating that this wine won a gold trophy at the Nordic Wine Challenge in Stockholm.



In 2010, the seasons were normal. The winter was cold and snowy, followed by a wet spring, a hot summer, and variable weather in September and October leading up to harvest. Bud break was in mid-April, while  veraison, which took place later than in previous vintages, was uniform over all of the grape bunches. The grapes ripened evenly, and the bunches presented high sugar and anthocyanin concentrations.

This wine is a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese. The Merlot  was harvested on September 2nd and the Sangiovese was harvested on September 20th. Fernmentation lasted around about 30to 40 days at a temperature of between 11 and 16 degrees. The wine was aged in stainless steel vats and bottled in February 2011.

This wine was imported by Wineworld AB.

Colour : Bright strawberry/pink

Aroma : Redcurrants, herbs, oranges

Taste : Redcurrants, strawberries, herbs, oranges

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Mark : B


Website : Barone Ricasoli

Sunday 18 September 2011

Cave & Domaine Les Perrieres Visit July 2011, Peissy, Geneva, Switzerland





We visited Cave & Domaine Les Perrieres on July 14th 2011. We took the train from Geneva to Satigny and were picked up from the station and driven to the winery in the company van. The winery and estates have been owned by the Rochaix family for nearly 200 years and present day, eight generation, owner Bernard Rochaix came out to greet us when we arrived. Today, the winery works 82 hectares of which 16 are owned by the domaine. The winemaker is Sebastien Schwarz.






We tried several wines of which we bought three (see separate blog posts). Of the others, my impressions were :

  • Chasselas : Fruity glugger, Mark : C
  • Aligote : Almonds, very dry yet fruity, Mark : C
  • Gamaret : Rustic, fruity, smooth tannins, Mark : B-
  • Muscat : Sweet, fruity, cutting acidity on a long finish




On the whole, the wines were very good and exceptional value for what seemed to be low prices.




Website : Cave & Domaine Les Perrieres
Blogpost : Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Blogpost : Viognier 2009
Blogpost : Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Saturday 17 September 2011

TN : Ernie Els Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Stellenbosch, South Africa



All of the grapes for this wine were harvested during February and March 2009 at an average pf 25.6 Brix  sugar. The residual sugar is 2.6grammes per litre, the TA is 6.4grammes per litre, and the pH is 3.77. The wine was aged for 17 months in 300 litre French Oak barrels of which 20% was new. This wine was released on October 1st 2010. 4,800 six bottle cases were produced.



This wine was imported by The Wineagency AB.



Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrants, toasty oak, plums, green pepper

Taste : Blackcurrants, plums, green pepper, oaky finish with liquorice and tannins

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price :189 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Ernie Els Wines