This wine is a blend of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, and 5% Sagrantino. The wine spent nine months in French oak, The oenologists were Andrea Cecchi and Miria Bracali.
Colour : Dark red, blue hues
Aroma : Cherry, plums, oak, milk chocolate
Taste : Cherry, oak, spice, plums, fruity
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 79 SEK
Mark : C
Tuesday 20 October 2009
TN : Albaruta Zitto Zitto Sangiovese 2007, IGT, Cecchi, Umbria, Italy
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:20 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Aglianico 2007, Terredora, IGT, Campania, Italy
Colour : Dark red
Aroma : Milk chocolate, coffee, spice, toast, red fruits
Taste : Coffee, spice, toast, raisins, leather, red fruits
Alcohol : 13%
Price : 89 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Terredora Di Paolo
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:14 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Tautavel Reserve 2007, Gerard Bertrand, Tautavel, France
Tautavel is a small appellation in the heart of Rousillon in the south of France.
This wine is a blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 30% Carignan. The grapes were hand harvested in September 2007. The wine was matured for six months in French oak.
Colour : Dark cassis
Aroma : Blackcurrant, herbs
Taste : Spice on finish, herbs, concentrated zingy blackcurrant
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 89 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : Gerard Bertrand
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:05 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Tuesday 6 October 2009
TN : Kings Ridge Oregon Pinot Noir 2007, Kings Rudge Wines, Oregon, USA
The grapes for this wine come from vineyards in the Willamette Valley (67%) and the Umpqua Valley (33%). The Pinot Noir grapes were fermented in vessels from 1.5 ton boxes to 20 ton closed-top tanks. They were punched down or pumped over three times per day and pressed at dryness. The wine was aged in a combination of new and used French oak barrels (18% new and 82% neutral) for nine months, then blended and bottled. 13,000 cases were produced. The pH is 3.66, titratable acidity is 5.3 grammes per litre, and the residual sugar is 0.2%.
This wine was sealed with a screwcap.
This wine was imported by Andersson Wines International.
Colour : Pale red
Aroma : Spice, stewed red fruits, herbs
Taste : Oak, raspberry, ginger, lacking fruit, very herby finish
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 149 SEK
Mark : C-
Website : Kings Ridge
Website : Andersson Wines International
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 21:02 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Chateau Haut-Canteloup 2006, Premieres Cotes de Blaye, Famille Bordenave, Bordeaux, France
This wine is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. 60% of the wine was matured in second-fill French Troncais oak barriques.
Colour : Dark red
Aroma : Cedar, plums, blackcurrant, oak
Taste : cedar and oak on finish, blackcurrant, earthy, plums
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 109 SEK
Mark : C
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:53 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Winkeler Jesuitengarten Riesling Trocken 2008, Allendorf, Rheingau, Germany
The Allendorf family have been cultivating vineyards in the Rheingau since 1292.
This wine was sealed with a screwcap.
This wine was imported by Granqvist Vinagentur AB.
Colour : Pale yellow
Aroma : Lemon, orange marmelade, honey, mineral, pear
Taste : Green apple, lemon, mineral, sharp, honey, pear
Alcohol : 11%
Price : 109 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Allendorf
Website : Granqvist Vinagentur AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:44 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Tuesday 29 September 2009
TN : Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Franschhoek, South Africa
The pH is 3.67, volatile acidity is 0.72 grammes per litre, residual sugar is 2.8 grammes per litre, and the total acidity is 6.4 grammes per litre.
This wine was imported by HJO Grosshandel AB.
Colour : Dark red, blue hues
Aroma : Blackcurrant, cedar, milk chocolate, toasty oak
Taste : Coffee, cedar, blackcurrant, lots of toasty oak, structured astringent tannins (from the oak ?), could be kept for three to five years to let the oak integrate and tannins soften.
Price : 299 SEK
Alcohol : 14.5%
Mark : B-
Website : Boekenhoutskloof
Website : HJO Grosshandel AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:21 30 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : De Martino Single Vineyard Carmenere 2007, Alto de Piedras, Maipo Valley, Chile
The grapes for this wine were harvested in the second week of May 2007 from the Alto de Piedras vineyard which is situated on an alluvial terrace from the Quarternary era. The soil is sand, lime, and clay. This wine was aged for 15 months in French oak barrels.
This wine was imported by Domaine Wines.
Colour : Dark purple
Aroma : Blackcurrant, oak, green pepper, chocolate
Taste : Lively blackcurrant, toasty oak, green pepper, smooth tannins
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : 159 SEK
Mark : B-
Website : De Martino
Website : Domaine Wines
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:09 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Nivole Moscato 2008, Michele Chiarlo, Piemonte, Italy
This wine is 100% Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains. The residual sugar content is 122 grammes per litre.
Colour : Pale yellow
Aroma : Pear, elderberry, wine gums, stone fruits
Taste : Sparkling, pear, sweet, elderberry, apple, wine gums, stone fruits
Alcohol : 5%
Price : 69 SEK (375ml bottle)
Mark : C
Website : Michele Chiarlo
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 19:59 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Tuesday 22 September 2009
TN : Edition Chremisa Blauer Zweigelt 2005, Winzer Krems, Sandgrube 13, Kremstal, Austria
The city of Krems was first mentioned in the year 995 as “urbs chremisa”. To the honour of the city, Winzer Krems created a new premium line called “Edition Chremisa”.
This wine was imported by Granqvist Agentur.
Colour : Red
Aroma : Red fruits, violets, coca cola, spice
Taste : Super smooth tannins and mouthfeel, strawberry, raspberry, violets, spice, coca cola, soft texture
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : 159 SEK
Mark : A
Website : Winzer Krems
Website : Granqvist Agentur
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:12 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Alfa Romeo Rosso 2006, Scrimaglio, Monferrato, Italy
This wine is 80% Barbera d'Asti and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Colour : Dark red
Aroma : Oak, cherry, spice
Taste : Oak, plums, cherry, spice, licourice on finish
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 215 SEK
Mark : C+
Website : Scrimaglio
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 19:58 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Cono Sur Reserva Merlot 2007, Colchagua Valley, Chile
This wine is a blend of 85% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, 2% Syrah, and 1% Alicante Bouschet. All of the grapes were hand-picked on May 7th 2007. 60% of the wine was aged in barrels and 40% in stainless steel tanks for ten months. The wine was bottled in March 2008. The residual sugar is 2.5 grammes per litre, the pH is 3.5, and the total acidity is 5.6 grammes per litre.
Colour : Dark red, blue hues
Aroma : Oak, plums, green peppers, coffee, blackcurrant
Taste : Green peppers, plums, blackcurrant, vanilla, coffee, cherry
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 96 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Cono Sur Vineyards and Winery
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 19:38 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Friday 18 September 2009
TN : Cono Sur Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Casablanca Valley, Chile
Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery was founded in 1993. The winemaker was Adolfo Hurtado. The vineyards are located in El Centinela Estate. The vineyard soils are mineral with red clay. All the grapes were hand-picked on March 29th 2008. The wine was aged for four months in stainless steel tanks. The residual sugar is 4.6 grammes per litre, the pH is 3.05, and the total acidity is 7.3 grammes per litre.
This wine was sealed with a screwcap.
On the front label is a bicycle and on the back label is the following text "The bicycle represents a particular way of living and enjoying life’s own rhythm. It symbolizes a different point of view, a statement about our roots, our future and the special feature of our wines: expressive, relaxed and joyful. Both in life and wine we believe in returning to bicycle basics, to those simple things you never forget."
Colour : Pale yellow
Aroma : Pineapple, green banana, nettles, lemon
Taste : Green banana, pineapple, minerals, lemon
Alcohol : 13%
Price : 89 SEK
Mark : C+
Website : Cono Sur
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 09:16 19 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Tuesday 15 September 2009
Bottle Shock DVD/Blue-Ray
This was the first Blue-Ray disk I have bought (and so far the only one). I was pleasantly surprised by this film: it was more wine-orientated than I was expecting. Although based around the Judgement of Paris 1976 tasting, it focused purely on Chateau Montelena and the relationship between Jim Barrett and Bo Barrett.
I don't know how true-to-life the story really is, only Stephen Spurrier can say, but I thoroughly enjoyed this film.
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:29 2 comments
Labels: DVD REVIEW
TN : Maycas Del Limari Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Concha Y Toro, Limari Valley, Chile
The grapes for this wine were hand-harvested in February 2008. Alcoholic fermentation was in steel tanks. The winemaker was Marcelo Papa.
The front label has twelve dotted circles upon it whereby each dotted circle is supposed to represent a month the growing cycle from bud break to harvest in a land whose growing season is perhaps longer than anywhere else on Earth.
On the back label are the words "I get the feeling I'm walking through a lemon grove a month before they're ripe for picking where green lemons hang amid moist foliage. In the background lie earthy aromas, damp rocks and minerals.
This wine was sealed with a screwcap.
Colour : Very pale yellow
Aroma : Minerals, lime, nettles, broad beans
Taste : Nettles, gooseberry, sharp lemon, minerals, dirty earthy finish
Alcohol : 13%
Price : 89 SEK
Mark : C-
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:06 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Broquel Cabernet Franc 2007, Bodegas Trapiche, Mendoza, Argentina
The grapes for this wine were hand harvested from vineyards located in Cruz de Piedra, Maipu, Mendoza. The wine spent a total of 15 months in a combination of French and American oak.
This wine was imported by Fondberg & Co.
Colour : Dark red, blue hues
Aroma : Dark berries, grilled peppers, oak, milk chocolate
Taste : Dark berries, blackcurrant, herbs, oak
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 95 SEK
Website : Bodegas Trapiche
Website : Fondberg & Co
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 19:53 1 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Sunday 13 September 2009
TN : Pinot Gris K Collection Personnelle 2007, Charles Wantz, Alsace, France
The grapes for this were all harvested by hand. Alcoholic fermentation was in steel tanks with each block vinified separately. Charles Wantz is a family business that was founded in 1563. Today, it is run by Eliane Wantz and her husband Erwin Moser.
This wine was imported by Apricot AB.
Colour : Yellow
Aroma : Pear, honey, apricot
Taste : White grapes, pears, apricots, honey, mushrooms on finish
Alcohol : 13%
Price : 79 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Charles Wantz
Website : Apricot AB
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 18:14 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
Thursday 10 September 2009
Systembolaget New Wines September 15th 2009
The Systembolaget will release new wines on the 15th September 2009. The list can be viewed on the Systembolaget's web site (in HTML format).
Website : Systembolaget Nyheter den 15 september
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 19:48 0 comments
Tuesday 8 September 2009
TN : Arboleda Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Vina Sena, Valle de Leyda, Chile
This wine was sealed with a screwcap. The pH of this wine is 3.05, total acidity is 5.94 grammes per litre (tartaric acid), and the residual sugar is 1.7 grammes per litre.
The fruit was hand picked and transported by refrigerated trucks to the winery in small 14 kg boxes. The grapes underwent a 6 to 10-hour cold soak to encourage a fuller range of aromas and flavours before the pneumatic pressing. The must was then fermented very clean (40–50 NTU) and cold, twelve to fifteen degrees, in stainless-steel tanks to preserve its aromatic potential and using yeasts that were especially selected for their ability to enhance aromatic compounds under cold temperature conditions.
The grapes were harvested between the 31st of March to 5th of April. The 2008 vintage was unique in every sense. The winter of 2007 was one of the coldest and driest on record, and as a result, the soil moisture levels in the spring and prior to budbreak were considerably lower than in other years. This caused a ten to fifteen day delay in bud break in a number of varieties. Due to its proximity to the coast, the Leyda Valley has a high maritime influence that provides ideal temperatures for grape ripening, while the cool breezes and moderate temperatures allow this valley to maintain consistent quality over time, regardless of annual fluctuations.
The name "Arboleda" pays tribute to Chile’s native trees, which are conserved in the winery's Valle de Aconcagua vineyards.
Colour : Watery pale yellow
Aroma : Lemon, lime, nettles, gooseberry
Taste : Nettles, lime, lemon, minerals, gooseberry
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 99 SEK
Mark : C+
Website : Arboleda Wines
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 21:08 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note
TN : Simonsig Tiara 2006, Stellenbosch, South Africa
This wine is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot. The wine spent 18 months in oak of which 95% was new French and the rest American oak; 64% of the American oak was new.
This is yet another red wine from South Africa with burnt rubber notes.
Colour : Deep dark red, blue hues
Aroma : Herbs, blackcurrant, plums, tobacco, smoke
Taste : Plums, blackcurrant, burnt rubber, coffee, fruity
Alcohol : 14%
Price : 149 SEK
Mark : C
Website : Simonsig
Posted by ANDY CHEESE at 20:48 0 comments
Labels: Tasting Note