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

All of the grapes were hand-harvested in February and March 2009. This wine spent 17 months in 300 litre French oak of which 20% was new. This wine received 89 points from The Wine Advocate and 89 points from Wine Spectator. The wine was released on October 1st 2010. The residual sugar in release was 2.6 grammes per litre, the TA was 6.4 grammes per litre, and the pH was 3.77.

This wine was imported by The WineAgency Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark black/red, blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, fruity, blackberry, smoky, herbs, liqourice

Taste : Tobacco, blackcurrant, dark chocolate, herbs, oak, tannic finish, could leave 1-2 years to mellow, opened up after an hour

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 189 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 90588

Mark : B-

Website : Ernie Els Winery

TN : Las Moras Gran Shiraz 3 Valleys 2010, Finca Las Moras, San Juan, Cuyo, Argentina

The grapes for this wine come from three valleys; the Pedernal valley at 1350 metres above sea level, the Zonda valley at 950 metres above sea level, and the Tulum valley at 650 metres above sea level. The grapes from the Pedernal valley were havested at the end of April 2010, the grapes from the Zonda valley at the beginning of February 2010, and the grapes from the Tulum valley at the end of February 2010. The wine was aged in French and American oak barrels for 18 months and a further 8 months in bottle at a controlled temperature.

 This wine was imported by Prime Wine Sweden AB.

 Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Balckberry, plums, blueberry, burnt toast, spice

Taste : Burnt toast, spice, blackberry, blueberry, coffee

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 169 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95587

Mark : B-

Website : Finca Las Moras

TN : Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Napa Valley, USA

This wine is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot. The pH is 3.76 and total acidity is 0.56 grammes per 100 millilitres. The wine spent 18 months in 21.5% new French oak.

The wine received 91 points from The Wine Advocate (12/01/2012) and 90 points from Wine Enthusiast (11/01/2013).

This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

Colour : Black, blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, herbs, cedar, coffee

Taste : Lacks acidity, blackcurrant, cedar, oak, herbs, plums, coffee

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 379 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 92164

Mark : B-

Website : Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

TN : Barrua 2010, IGT, Agricola Punica, Isola dei Nuraghi, Sardinia, Italy

This wine is a blend of 85% Carignano, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot.

Agricola Punica is a joint venture between Sebastiano Rosa, Sardinian winery Cantina di Santadi, Tenuta San Guido, Santadi President Antonello Pilloni and legendary Tuscan consulting oenologist Giacomo Tachis.
Sebastiano Rosa, oenologist and winemaker at Tenuta San Guido and Santadi, the highly respected Sardinia cooperative, represent the majority ownership, with forty percent each. Tenuta San Guido, under the presidency of Marchese Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta, holds ten percent, with Giacomo Tachis and Santadi President Antonello Pilloni equally sharing the remain ten percent. 

This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Herbs, cherries, blackcurrant, liqourice, milk chocolate

Taste : Herbs, blackcurrant, tobacco, cherries, rich mouth-coating glycerine texture

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 199 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 91230

Mark : B-

Website : Agricola Punica

TN : Koyle Royale Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Viña Koyle, Alto Colchagua, Chile

This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec and 6% Carmenère. The wine spent one and half years in French oak. The winemaker was Cristóbal Undurraga.

This wine was imported by Arvid Nordquist Vin Producent och Sprithandel.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, vanilla, herbs, plums

Taste : Cofee, toast, blackcurrant, cedar, plums, vanilla, herbs

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 143 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 92037

Mark : B

Website : Viña Koyle

TN : Calyptra Grand Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

1600 bottles of this wine were produced; they were aged for 18 months in three different barrels, one of them first-use.

This wine was imported by Granqvist Beverage House AB.

Colour : Yellow/lemon

Aroma : Lime, oak, green apples, butter, honey

Taste : Oak, oranges, lime, toast, green apples, minerals

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 269 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 96095

Mark : C+

Website : Calyptra

TN : Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2012, E. Guigal, Rhone, France

This wine is a blend of 70% Viognier, 10% Roussane, 9% Marsanne, 8 % Clairette, and 3% Bourboulenc. The average age of the vines was 25 years. The average yield was 30 hectolitres per hectare. The vines were grown on varied soil consisting of sediment, limestone, and granite. The wine was aged in stainless steel tanks.

This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Apricots, white flowers, peach

Taste : Apricot, oily texture, peach, white flowers, bitter finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 89 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 71947

Mark : B-

Website : E. Guigal

TN : Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Napa Valley, California, USA

Artemis is named after the greek godess of the hunt. The wine was aged for 18 months in French oak barrels of which 48% were new. This wine is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot. The pH is 3.82 and total acidity is 0.54 grammes per 100 millilitres. This wine received 90 points from The Wine Advocate.

Colour : Dark Red/Blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, plums, coffee, vanilla, herbs

Taste : Blackcurrant, cherry, herbs, milk chocolate, liqorice

Alcohol : 14.5%

Mark : B

Website :  Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

TN : The Coffeestone Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Graham Beck Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa

The origin of this wine’s curious name is a reference to the Coffeestone Vineyard in Firgrove, Stellenbosch where the fruit for this wine was sourced. The soil where these old low yielding bush vines are planted is composed of deep granite gravel on laterite (coffeestone) and weathering clay (saprolite). The grapes were hand-harvested at optimum ripeness and then fermented in open stainless steel tanks with regular punch downs to ensure optimum extraction and purity of fruit. The wine was matured for 22 months in new fill French Oak barrels.

This wine was imported by Prime Wine Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, herbs, milk chocolate, plums

Taste : Blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, milk chocolate, plums, coffee, drying tannic finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 96107

Mark : B-

Website : Graham Beck Wines

TN : Mount Crawford Single Vineyard Riesling 2012, Thorn-Clarke Wines, Eden Valley, Australia

The grapes were destemmed and then pressed using a membrane press. The pressings were no tused and fermentation commenced using a French yeast at 12-15 degrees. This wine was bottled in July 2012. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Arvid Nordquist Vin Producent och Sprithandel.

Colour : Pale watery straw

Aroma : Lime, mineral, honey, petrol, green apples

Taste : Lemon, lime, honey, minerals

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 99 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 20022

Website : Thorn-Clarke Wines

TN : Tous les Jours Syrah 2011, Andrew Murray Vineyards, Santa Ynez Valley, California, USA

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Divine AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Herbs, blueberry, mint, blackberry, milk chocolate, spice

Taste : Black pepper, blackberry, blueberry, herbs, spice, mint

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 169 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 90598

Mark : B

Website :  Andrew Murray Vineyards

TN : Hochar Pere et Fils 2007, Chateau Musar, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

The grapes for this wine were sources from a single vineyard planted over 50 years ago at 1000 metres above sea level near the village of Aana in the Bekaa Valley. The vineyard soils are characterised by deep gravel over a limestone base. The yeilds are between 25 and 30 hectolitres per hectare. The average yearly temperature is around 25 degrees encompassing snowy winters, mild spring and hot summers. The blend is 50% Cinsault, 20% Grenache, 15% Carignan, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes were fermented at a temperature of 29 degrees with 15 to 29 days maceration in cement vats, followed by nine months in French Nevers oak barrels. The wine was blended in the spring of 2009.

This wine was imported by Arvud Nordquist Vin and Sprithandel.

Colour : Red, brown hues

Aroma : Raisins, oak, earthy, herbs, plums, strawberry, cherries

Taste : Plums, herbs, raisins, earthy, cherries

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 199 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 84534

Mark : C+

Website : Chateau Musar

TN : Achaval Ferrer Malbec 2012, Mendoza, Argentina

Achaval Ferrer was founded in 1998 by Santiago Achaval and Manuel Ferrer. The winemaker was Robert Cipresso.

This wine was imported by Divine AB.

 Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : White pepper, blackcurrant, blackberry, herbs, mint, lavender

Taste : Lavender, violets, herbs, blackcurrant, blackberry, white pepper, mint

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 169 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Achaval Ferrer

TN : Brolio 2009, Barone Ricasoli, Gaiole in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

This wine is 80% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Alcohol fermentation took place between 24 and 27 degrees. The wine spent nine months in barriques and tonneaux. The wine was bottled in March 2011. This wine was imported by WineWorld AB.

Colour : Dark black cherry

Aroma : Plums, cherries, milk chocolate, coffee

Taste : Plums, cherries, coffee, dark chocolate

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 69 SEK (375ml bottle)

Systembolaget Number : 2705

Mark : C

Website : Barone Ricasoli

TN : Chateau La Commanderie 2005, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France

This wine is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. All of the grapes were harvested between the 19th and 28th September 2005. The yield was 35 hectolitres per hectare. Vatting was 21 days. The wine spent 18 months in barrels of which 50% were new. The wine was matured on its lees. The wine was bottled on the 5th April 2007. 30,000 bottles in total were produced.

Colour : Plummy red

Aroma : Plums, tobacco, cedar, blackcurrant

Taste : Blackberry, plums, cedar, tobacco, liqourice

Alcohol : 14%

Mark : C+

Website : Chateau La Commanderie

TN : Kreos 2009, Weingut Tesch, Burgenland, Austria

The residual sugar is 1.2 grammes per litre and acidity is 5.2 grammes per litre.

This wine was imported by Viniberum.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Oak, blackberry, raspberry, herbs, white pepper

Taste : Blackberry, raspberry, oak overwhelming the fruit, white pepper, spice, drying tannins and liqourice on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 198 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 73632

Mark : C+

Website : Weingut Tesch

TN : Chateau La Tour Carnet 2006, Bernard Magrez, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux, France

This wine is a blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. 21,870 cases of this wine were produced. This wine received 90 points from Wine Spectator (March 31, 2009 issue).

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Cedar, plums, blackcurrant, spice, liqourice

Taste : Fruity, blackcurrant, plums, spice, liqourice, cedar, chalky drying tannins

Alcohol : 13.5%

Mark : B

Website : Chateau La Tour Carnet

TN : Catapult Shiraz 2011, Wirra Wirra Vineyards, McLaren Vale, Australia

This wine is a blend of 99% Shiraz and 1% Viognier. The wine was 100% oak matured for 15 months. The pH is 3.41 and TA is 6.6.

The winemakers were Paul Smith and Paul Carpenter. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Carovin AB.

  
Colour : Blackberry

Aroma : Black pepper, mint, blackberry, herbs, liqourice, cherries

Taste : White pepper, cherries, spice, blackberry

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6582

Mark : C+

Website : Wirra Wirra

TN : Chakana Reserve Bonarda Old Vine 2010, Chakana Wines, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine was imported by Bibendum.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Oak, blackcurrant, mint, coffee

Taste : Violets, blackcurrant, mint, coffee, lots of oak on finish, boring !

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 74 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6548

Mark : C

Website : Chakana Wines

TN : Castelgiocondo Brunello Di Montalcino 2004, DOCG, Marchesi Frescobaldi, Tuscany, Italy

This wine is 100% Sangiovese. The vineyard yield was 35 hectolitres per hectare, or 2 tons per acre. The grapes were hand picked in the first week of October 2004. The wine was fermented, for 12 days, in stainless steel at a temperature of less than 30 degrees. There was a 32 day maceration skins. Malolactic fermentation immediately happened after the alcohol fermentation. The wine was matured in Slavonian oak casks and French oak barrels.

This wine made number 15 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 in 2004 (95 points). The wine also received 90 points from The Wine Advocate in 2004.

Colour : Black, red, blue hues

Aroma : Cherries, spice, mint

Taste : Cherries, wood, spice, mint, chalky finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Mark : C+ (Should have been drunk earlier perhaps ?)

Website : Marchesi Frescobaldi