TN :Fonterutoli No 10 2011, IGT, Marchesi Mazzei, Tuscany, Italy

 

This wine was imported by The WineAgency Sweden AB.

 

 

Colour : Dark plummy red

Aroma : Cherry, herbs, plums

Taste : Plums, cherries, herbs, earthy, oak, vanilla

 

Alcohol : 13.5%

 

Price : 119 SEK

Mark : C+

 

Website : Marchesi Mazzei

 

Complicity 2012, Chateau des Trois Tours, Pierre Montagnac, Bordeaux, France

This wine was imported by Contemporary wines Sweden AB.

Colour: Dark red, blue/brown hues
Aroma : Blueberry, herbs, plums

Taste : Blueberry, plums, herbs, cedar

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 99 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 72051

Mark : B

Website : Pierre Montagnac

TN : Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon (Estate Rows) 2009, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. The grapes for this wine came from select rows from Lot 3 of La Piramide (50%) vineyard, at 3117 feet elevation, and Lot 3 of Domingo vineyard (50%), at 3675 feet elevation. The winemaker was Alejandro Vigil.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, sandalwood, cedar, spice liquorice, cherries

Taste : Blackcurrant, cedar, cherries, oak, warm finish, liquorice

Alcohol : 14%

Mark : B+

Website : Catena Wines

TN : Canto de Apalta Cellar Selection 2011, Lapostolle, Rapel Valley, Chile

 

 

This wine is a blend of 45% Carmenère, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 14% Syrah. 62% of this wine was matured for eleven months in a mixture of new (5%) and older (85%) French oak. This wine received 90 points from Wine Spectator.

 

 

This wine was imported by Carovin AB.

 

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, blueberry, raspberry, oak, herbs, milk chocolate

Taste : Oaky, blueberry, blackcurrant, liquorice

 

Alcohol : 14.5%

 

Price : 141 SEK

 

Systembolaget Number : 95310

 

Mark : B-

 

Website : Lapostolle

Claude Val Rose 2012, Domaines Claude Val, Herault Valley, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

This wine is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Cinsault. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Bornicon & Salming.

Colour : Bright strawberry pink

Aroma : Strawberry, cherry, vanilla ice cream, herbs

Taste : Strawberry, raspberry, cherry, vanilla, herbs

Alcohol : 13%

Mark : B-

Website : Domaines Claude Val

TN : John X Merriman 2011, Rustenberg Estate, Simonsberg, Stellenbosch, South Africa

 

This wine is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Malbec. The pH is 3.6, the residual sugar is 2.9 grammes per litre, and the total acidity is 5.6 grammes per litre. The winemaker was R. Christians. Seventeen different vineyard batches were vinified separately, and approximately nine aerative pump-overs were employed. Two or three rack and returns occurred during primary fermentation at approximately 26°C, in order to ensure maximum extraction, followed by two to three weeks extended maceration on skins. The wine was then drained and gravity-filled to barrels for Malolactic Fermentation (MLF). The separate batches were blended after eleven months and then returned to barrel for a further nine months’ maturation. Zymaflore (FX10) was the main yeast used for alcoholic fermentation. 41% new and 59% second and third fill 225 litre French oak barrels were used to mature the wine in.

 

 

The vineyards were located at an altitude of between 300 and 420 metres. The vineyard soil type was Decomposed granite (Tukulu / Hutton) and Oakleaf. The vine rootstock was 101-14 Mgt. The age of the vines was between 13 and 23 years old. All the vines were VSP trained and two bud spur-pruned. Drip irrigation was used. The vineyard yield was seven to eight tons per hectare.

This wine is named in honour of a former owner of Rustenberg, John Xavier Merriman, who bought the farm in 1892 in sympathy with farmers suffering from the phyloxera crisis. He played a great role in revitalizing Rustenberg and in promoting the tourism and agricultural value of Ida’s Valley, the area close to the town of Stellenbosch in which Rustenberg is situated.

This wine was imported by Scanwine of Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Blackcurrant, blackberry, plums, herbs, milk chocolate, coffee

Taste : Blackcurrant, tobacco, herbs, blackberry, structured drying tannins on finish

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 201 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Rustenberg Estate

TN : DiamAndes Gran Reserva 2008, Bodegas DiamAndes, Clos de los Siete, Uco Valley, Argentina

This wine is a blend of 66% Malbec, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 7% Syrah, and 3% Petit Verdot. This wine received 91 points from Wine Spectator (issue September 30th 2013).

In 2005, the Bonnie family, owner of the renowned Château Malartic-Lagravière (Grand Cru Classé de Graves) and of the Château Gazin Rocquencourt (Pessac-Léognan), decided to leave France. It all began with the acquisition, along with their partners, of a single 130-hectares (321 acres) block of land in the heart of the Uco Valley, to the south of the city of Mendoza. That is where Bodega DiamAndes was born, as a member of the prestigious Clos de los Siete group.

The name DiamAndes is a pun on the words “diamante” (Spanish for “diamond”) and “Andes” (the name of the mountains that provide a background to the estate). Alfred-Alexandre Bonnie came up with it one day as he was enjoying a barbecue at Laguna del Diamante, in Mendoza. The reflection of the Maipo volcano on the lake made him associate the two words. The winery’s architecture is the work of Mendocinian Architects Mario Yanzón and Eliana Bórmida.

This wine was imported by Atrio Wine AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Coconut, violets, blackberry, blackcurrant, liquorice

Taste : Blackberry, blackcurrant, plums, violets, coconut

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 300 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95289

Mark : B-

Website : Bodegas DiamAndes

TN : Weingut Bründlmayer Langenloiser Zweigelt Rosé Zweigelt 2012,

This wine was sealed with s screwcap.

This wine was imported by Vinunic AB.

Colour :  Pale copper/strawberry

Aroma : Redcurrants, herbs, strawberry, raspberry

Taste : Spritzy, herbs, redcurrant, strawberry

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 119 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 90122

Mark : B

Website : Weingut Bründlmayer

TN : Miraval 2013, Jolie-Pitt & Perrin, Côtes de Provence, France

 

This wine is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Rolle and Syrah.

 

 

This wine was imported by Enjoy Wines & Spirits AB.

 

 

Colour : Pale copper/raspberry

Aroma : Strawberry, redcurrants, oranges, herbs

Taste : Herbs, strawberries, redcurrants, oranges

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 90452
Mark : B-

Website : Miraval

TN : A Lisa 2012, Bodega Noemia, Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina

This wine is a blend of 90% Malbec, 9% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. The pH is 3.90 and the titratable acidity is 5.81 grammes per litre. 87,910 bottles (7,325 cases) and 20 Magnums were produced. The harvest, in the five hectares vineyard of Valle Azul, began on the 13th of February 2012 with the Merlot, then on the 14th for the Malbec and finally on the 23rd for the Petit Verdot. These grapes were from the owned single vineyard in the desert.  The grapes were picked later in the Valley and the other Merlot on the 23rd February through to the Malbec which ended on the 27th March 2012. The grapes were all picked by hand into 10 kg crates. All the grapes were destemmed by machine at the winery into small 2,500 litre and 5,000 litre cement vats and 10,000 litre stainless steel tanks. The grapes were then cold-soaked for four days before yeast fermentation started; a controlled yeast called F10 by Laffort was used. The alcoholic fermentation lasted two weeks, using the “pigeage” or “plunging” and “pumping over” methods to extract the color and tannins. After the fermentation, 30 % of the wine was transferred into third and fourth use French oak barrels of the finest quality, 25% into cement tank and 45% into stainless steel tank for a period of 9 months. The malolactic fermentation occurred naturally in the same barrels and vats for about one month with no batonnage. The wine was racked and blended the 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th of January 2013. The wine was then bottled unfiltered the first two weeks of February 2013.

The estate is situated in Rio Negro Valley, which is 620 miles South of Buenos Aires, 280 miles east of the Andes, 310 miles west of the Atlantic and a further 1240 miles from Tierra del Fuego, located in the middle of the desert. The valley’s microclimate is under the influence of two rivers deriving from the Andes, the Neuquen and the Limay which form into the Rio Negro, which throws itself into the Atlantic. The Rio Negro valley is an ex-glacier which is 310 miles long and 15,5 miles large at 250 yards above sea level. In 1828, the British colonies, having observed the large amounts of water flowing down the river, decided to create channels which would irrigate the valley thus forming a type of oasis in the middle of the desert.

One quarter of the grapes are estate grown from an own vineyard planted in 2004 in Valle Azul in the desert, which is cultivated organically and Bio-Dynamically (both certified by respectfully Argencer and Demeter) and drip irrigated. The other three quarters are grapes were partly sourced at the INTA (Agricultural Research Centre) and various producers and sites that vines are leased from.

The winter of 2011 was very cold and humid. The spring was somewhat windy and cool and lasted until beginning December, which was very long. The summer only began in January but came in force as it was hotter than usual and was for the entire month and all of February as well. Then harvest started and March was cool again but wetter than usual, it rained almost every weekend which is not a very common thing for the area. The autumn went straight into winter. It became cold quite soon, the first frost as early as the 27th of March, which forced picking early.

This wine was imported by JPC Wines AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Roasted herbs, oak, blackberry, plums, spice

Taste : Blackcurrant, blackberry, herby, milk chocolate, acidic lift on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 141 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95043

Website : Bodega Noemia

TN : Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino 2009, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy

The wine is 100% Sangiovese. The grapes were harvested in mid-October. The grapes were fermented in stainless steel tanks for 18 days at a temperature of 28 degrees. This wine was aged for two years in French oak, 20% new and 80% in first and second fill, and two years in bottle before release. The vineyard soils contain clay shale and gravel-pebble. The vines are trained to spur cordon and guyot. The planting density is 4,500 to 5,600 vines per hectare.

This wine was imported by WineWorld AB.

Colour : Red/brown hues

Aroma : Raspberry, strawberry, cherries, plums, cedar, rum, oak, spice

Taste : Spice, cherries, raspberry, milk chocolate, tobacco

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 179 SEK

Mark : C+

Website : Castiglion del Bosco

TN : BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Dominio del Plata, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. All of the grapes were hand-harvested. The wine spent eleven months in French oak of which 80% was new and 20% was second fill. The wine was bottled unfiltered and unfined.

This wine was imported by JPC Wines AB.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Coffee, blackcurrant, cedar, mint, liquorice, blackberry

Taste : Coffee, blackcurrant, cedar, blackberry, raspberry, mint

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 111 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6530

Mark : C

Website : Dominio del Plata

TN : Chateau Belgrave 2009, Vignobles Dourthe, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux, France

This wine is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. The Merlot was harvested between the 28th September and the 7th October 2009, the Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested between the 13th and the 22nd October 2009, and the Petit Verdot was harvested on the 12th October. The wine spent 14 months in barrel on the lees. The wine was bottled in June 2011. There were 18,100 cases of this wine made. This wine received 90 points from Wine Spectator (March 31st 2012 issue).

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Cedar, blackcurrant, liquorice, spice, plums

Taste : Cedar, tobacco, spice, liquorice, red fruits, blackcurrants, plums

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 395 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Vignobles Dourthe

TN : Murphy-Goode Liar's Dice Zinfandel 2010, Jackson Family Wines, Sonoma County, California, USA

This wine was imported by Fondberg.

Colour : Blackberry

Aroma : Raspberry, blackcurrant, blackberry, spice, liquorice, white pepper

Taste : Spice, blackberry, raspberry, white pepper, liquorice

Alcohol : 15.5%

Price : 182 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Murphy-Goode Winery

TN : Fable Mountain Vineyards Syrah 2010, Tulbagh, South Africa

All of the grapes for this wine were hand-picked at the beginning of February 2010. This wine was matured in 500 litre oak of which 30 percent was new. The winemaker was Rebecca Tanner.

This wine was imported by JPC Wines AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Minty, blackberry, milk chocolate, plums, herbs

Taste : Blueberry, blackberry, milk chocolate, herbs, mint

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 199 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 90321

Mark : B-

Website : Fable Mountain Vineyards

TN : Anaperenna by Ben Glaetzer 2012, Glaetzer Wines, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia

This wine is a blend of 82% Shiraz and 18 % Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard yield was 1 tonne per hectare. The age of the vines was between 30 and 100 years old for the Shiraz and between 30 and 130 years old for the Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine spent 16 months in 100% new oak barrels of which 92% was French and 8% was American. The pH is 3.51 and the total acidity is 7.0 grammes per litre. This wine was bottled unfiltered.

The name Anaperenna is inspired by Anna Perenna, the Roman goddess of the New Year. Anna Perenna symbolises the year's cycle and her name translates as 'enduring year'. Romans honoured Anna Perenna with a festival held on the first full moon of the Roman calendar. On March 15th they would ask Anna to grant them longevity, and a healthy year for each glass of wine they drank on that day. The symbol on the label is the Egyptian Ankh (pronounced: onk). Historically the ankh symbolised sunrise, regeneration, regrowth and renewal.

This wine was imported by Prime Wine Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Blackcurrant, blackberry, milk chocolate, mint, cherries

Taste : Blackcurrant, blackberry, milk chocolate, mint, spice

Alcohol : 15.2 %

Price : 361 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95175

Mark : B

Website : Glaetzer Wines

TN : Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, California, USA

This wine was imported by Spendrups Bryggeri AB.

Colour : Dark red, blueberry

Aroma : Raisins, Blackcurrant, Spice, cherries

Taste : Raisins, blackcurrant, cherries, spice

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 101 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6533

Mark : C+

Website : Louis M. Martini Winery

TN : Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Napa Valley, California

This wine is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. The grapes were grown on gravelly clay loams. The age of the vines were from 11 to 28 years old. The grapes were harvested from September 20th to October 10th 2010. Fermentation was in stainless steel tanks with twice daily pumpovers. The wine spent 18 months in French oak barrels of which 25% were new. The pH is 3.64 and acid is 6.1 grammes per litre. The wine was bottled in July 2012 and 44,000 cases were produced.

This wine was imported by Mondo Wine Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark blackcurrant

Aroma : Blackcurrant, mint, violets, cedar, milk chocolate, spice

Taste : Blackcurrant, mint, cedar, spice, tangy acidic lift on finish

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 249 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 70486

Mark : C+

Website : Clos du Val

TN : Grace Koshu 2012, Grace Wine, Japan

The grapes for this wine came from vineyards in Katsunuma in Yamanshi which lies in Honshu, west of Tokyo. All of the grapes were harvested in October 2012. The yield was 120 hectolitres per hectare. Fermentation was in steel tanks. The winemaker was Ayana Misawa. Grace Wine, Chuo Budoshu in Japanese, was founded in 1923. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Koshu was first cultivated more than 1,000 years ago in the Caucasus Region in Asia Minor. It came to Japan together with Buddhism via the Silk Road through China. It localised itself and became native to Japan. When winemaking started in Japan in 1874, it quickly became not only the main, but also the most important variety. Koshu bears a purplish-pink fruit. According to research performed by the University of California, it is predominantly (over 90%) vitis vinifera.

This wine was imported by The WineAgency Sweden AB.

Colour : Pale watery straw

Aroma : Lemon, minerals, smoke, herbs

Taste : Zingy lemon, minerals, green apples, herbs

Alcohol : 12%

Price : 149 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6601

Mark : C-

Website : Grace Wine

TN : 1752 Gran Tradicion Petit Verdot Tannat 2012, Bodegas Carrau, Cerro Chapeu, Uruguay

This wine is a blend of 66% Petit Verdot and 34% Tannat. All of the grapes were hand harvested. This wine was macerated in open tanks for 15 days and aged for 14 months in new French oak barrels.

The winemaker was Fransisco Carrau.

This wine was imported by Janake Wine Group AB.

Colour : Dark blackberry

Aroma : Blackberry, plums, herbs, coffee

Taste : Blackberry, blackcurrant, herbs, coffee

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 87 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6394

Mark : C

Website : Bodegas Carrau