Anura Merlot (2007)

Wine tasting 6

An elegant bottle with a really nice label. My favourite wine, during the sixth wine tasting. I think it was really smooth with a sort of creamy finish. I would open this wine while cooking a creamy pasta dish, because I think it's really good by itself, but should be really good with pasta in particular.

Panel's rating: 3,39 out of 5




Country: Simonsberg, Paarl, South Africa
Grape: 100% Merlot
Price: 99SEK

Colour: Dark red colour.

Nose: Large, fruity, smoky aroma with barrel character, hints of plums, green pepper, dark chocolate and liquorice. Hints of herbal and violet aromas are folded in layers of dark chocolate.

Taste: Very fruity, smoky wine with barrel character, hints of plums, green pepper, dark chocolate, liquorice and coffee. The wine has loads of ripe blackberry, red berry and blackcurrant flavours. This full-bodied, well balanced wine and has a long lingering flavour or berries and mint leaves.

Argento Malbec (2008)

Wine tasting 6

Malbec is starting to become a wine that is appearing more and more on my wine tasting radar. So far we've tasted 3 Malbec's, and they've all scored between 3 and 3 1/2 stars. Not excellent, but OK. If you're a Malbec fan, I'd recommend this wine because it was really good. Not fantastic, but with the right meal, who knows...

Panel's rating: 3,48 out of 5




Country: Medoza, Argentina
Grape: 100% Malbec
Price: 79SEK

Colour: Dark, blue red colour.

Nose: Very fruity aroma with hints of barrel, blackberries, herbs and pepper. Deep dark violet in colour and offers powerful aromas of blackstone fruit and notes of chocolate.

Taste: Very fruity taste with hints of barrel, blackberries, grass and vanilla. Blackberry and black currant fruit is complimented with a touch of sweet spice and leads into a lingering finish with ripe velvety tannins.

Some more info: The word Argento, meaning silver in Latin, is often used colloquially in Argentina to refer to a thing or a person that is quintessentially Argentine.

Pongrácz Brut

Wine tasting 5

If I buy Champagne, or more correctly, Sparkling wine here in Sweden, this is what I buy. It has a lot to do with the fact that it comes from South Africa, but more so with the fact that it's a really tasty well balanced sparkling wine, with just the right amount of bubbles. We had this with strawberries out in the garden as it's a brut and very dry and the strawberries compliment it really well. Serve nice and chilled.

Panel's rating: 3,47 out of 5




Country: South Africa - Berg Kelder
Grape: 37% Chardonnay and 63% Pinot Noir
Price: 109 SEK

Colour: Light yellow colour.

Nose: Youthful, fruity fragrance with little bread smell, elements of apples and nougat.

Taste: Dry, slightly roasted flavor with hints of apples, nougat and grapefruit.

Neethlingshof Sauvignon Blanc (2008)

Wine tasting 5

South African white wines remind me of summer, sitting on the grass under the trees and pinics. This wine is no exception. Crisp and full of flavour. One of my favourites. It's not a wine that's made for drinking with heavy meals, but a good salad, a fruit bowl or a light lunch outside in the sun would be perfect. It's flavours are a mix of green peppers (Paparika), grass and asparagus, which sounds weird, but is worth a try.

Panel's rating: 3.27 out of 5




Country: South Africa - Stellenbosch
Grape: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Price: 80 SEK
Colour: Light yellow colour

Nose: Youthful scent, aromatic fragrance with hints of nettle, gooseberry, kiwi, asparagus, and lime.

Taste: Dry, very fresh, aromatic flavour with a hint of nettle, gooseberry, kiwi and green marmalade balls 

Allesverloren Tinta Barroca (2007)

Wine tasting 5

Tinta Barroca is a Portuguese red wine grape that is grown primarily in the Douro region with some plantings in South Africa. It's a common blending grape in Port wine while in South Africa it is normally made into a varietal. It's a fairly unknown variety in South Africa, so it's not very common. It took some getting used to for me, because it's not a taste that fits the regular South African palate, but has since been a regular purchase of mine. It goes really well with meat dishes that have lots of flavours. Do not try it as a stand along wine with your favourite book, because you'll be disappointed. This wine needs a busy kitchen with lot of action around it, lots of colours and lots of flavours.

Panel's rating: 3,36 out of 5




Country: South Africa - Swartland
Grape: 100% Tinta Barroca
Price: 109 SEK

Colour: Purple.

Nose: Fruity, spicy, slightly burnt aroma with a hint of barrel, cherry, liquorice and grass.

Taste: Fruity, spicy, slightly burnt taste with hints of barrel, plums, cherries and liquorice.

Graham Beck Pinotage (2008)

Wine tasting 5

This wine has been tasted before during the 2nd wine tasting, and really disappointed. This time around however it was a tad better with everyone commenting favourably on it. Graham Beck is one of South Africa's best wine makers, but he also knows a thing or two about markting, and that's where this wine comes in. Selling it purely off the knowledge of his good name, which isn't always a good thing. I still think this wine needs some time to rest before it's consumed, perhaps 3-5 years. At the moment it's like a naughty child that needs to sit in the corner for a while until it matures a little.

Panel's rating: 3,69 out of 5




Country: South Africa - Robertson
Grape: Pinotage
Price: 75 SEK

Colour: Blue purple colour.

Nose: Fruity, smoky aroma with a hint of barrel, forest berries and herbs.

Taste: “Ripe cherry, strawberries and plums on the nose with ripe red berry fruit and spices on the palate. A full structured and well balanced wine with an elegant mouthfeel and silky soft tannins”. Youthful, fruity, clear and smoky flavor with hints of barrel, forest and grass.

Neethlingshof Cabernet Sauvignon (2004)

Wine tasting 5

Aaahh... Cabernet Sauvignon, that trusty wine that never disappoints. Here's another good example of one, full of flavour, full bodied, long after taste. If I were to guess, I'd say a chicken dish or pasta. Open the bottle 3 hours before you have it to calm the flavours down a bit and give the wine a chance to breathe. Try it before you eat, as well as during the meal, to see just how a wine can change. It's was also fantastic just by itself, with strong barrel flavours that seem to just linger forever.

Panel's rating: 3,64 out of 5




Country: South Africa - Stellenbosch
Grape: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: 89 SEK

Colour: Dark purple colour

Nose: Large, fruity, slightly smoky aroma with barrel character, elements of blackberry, blackcurrant and herbs.

Taste: Tasteful, fruity, smoky wine with barrel character, elements of black currant, licorice and herbs.

Allesverloren Shiraz (2007)

Wine tasting 5

This wine was really close to scoring 4 stars, and was the best wine for the night of the 5th wine tasting. It's smoky and there's that barrel smell and taste that I think appeals to so many red wine drinkers. A good wine for red meat dishes, because it has all the right elements to compliment the food. It's not over-powering, yet full bodied with a taste that slows you down, so you can really enjoy every sip.

Panel's rating: 3,7 out of 5




Country: South Africa - Swartland
Grape: 100% Shiraz
Price: 99 SEK

Colour: Red blue colour

Nose: Fruity, slightly smoky aroma, elements of the barrel, blackberries, rmynta and vanilla.

Taste: Fruity, slightly smoky wine, elements of the barrel, blackberry, mint and vanilla.

Stellenzicht Golden Triangle Shiraz (2005)

Wine tasting 5

This is a multiple award winning wine in South Africa. Double-gold Veritas and the Wine Magazine gold winner. I really enjoyed it, but not more than say the Allesverloren Syrah we had on the same night. Don't get me wrong though, in a tasting of just Shiraz wines, this wine will score in the top ten every time. It's really worth a try, to see what South African award winning wines taste like. Here's a list of all the other wines that also scored double gold in 2008, as well as a link to the Veritas website, so you can see how the wines were judged.

Panel's rating: 3,57 out of 5




Country: South Africa - Stellenbosch
Grape: 100% Shiraz
Price: 110 SEK

Colour: Dark red blue colour.

Nose: Very fruity, slightly smoky aroma with barrel character, plums, pepper, nuts and chocolate.

Taste: Very fruity, smoky flavour of barrel character plums, peppermint and liquorice.

Casillero del Diablo Carménère (2007)

Wine tasting 4

This wine has one of my favourite labels and a very interesting history along with it. I really like Spanish wines and this one from Chilè is no exception. Strong flavours and bold characters. Would be excellent with a spicy dish of meat perhaps.

Panel's rating: 3,28 out of 5




Price: 70SEK
Country: Chilè
Grape: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Carménère

Colour: Dark, purple colour

Nose: Fruity aroma with roasted barrel character, elements of black currant, green pepper, grass and coffee

Taste: Fruity, slightly spicy taste with hints of toasted barrels, black currants, grass, sweet licorice and coffee

Allesverloren Tinta Barroca (2007)

Wine tasting 4

Allesverloren is a very well known wine farm in South Africa that produces really good quality wines. My favourite is their Cabernet Sauvignon that has been aged between 5-8 years. This Tinta Barroca grape is not a well known variety but will stand tall amongst the better known wines such as Shiraz or Merlot. The flavours are not what you might expect, but midway through your glass it is surely to become a favourite.

Panel's rating: 3,51 out of 5




Price: 109SEK
Country: South Africa
Grape: 100% Tinta Barroca

Colour: Purple

Nose: Fruity, spicy, slightly burnt aroma with a hint of barrel, cherry, licorice and grass.

Taste: Fruity, spicy, slightly burnt taste with hints of barrel, plums, cherries and licorice.

Rioja Bordón Reserva (2004)

Wine tasting 1

Wine's from Rioja in Spain has become one my favourite wines since moving to Sweden, where I have access to wines from all over the world. This one is no different. Full of flavour and absolutely delicious. My rule for Tempranillo is however still to rather have it with food, than alone.

Panel's rating: 13.88 out of 20

Price: 89SEK
Country: Spain
Grape: 80% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha and 10% Mazuelo

Colour: Brick red colour. Red ruby colour with a deep iridescence tile.

Nose: Fragrance mature, spicy fragrance with hints of barrel, dried fruit, leather, dill and leaf rot. Nose is intense and rich in spices and balsamic nuances.

Taste: Taste ripe, spicy taste with hints of barrel, dried cherries, leather, dill, cocoa and leaf rot. Its entry on the palate is soft and velvety. This wine is delicious and ample.

Turning Leaf Cabernet Sauvignon (2008)

Wine tasting 3

This is probably only my third or fourth American wine I've had in my life, so I don't really have an opinion on their wines. This one however was good. Really good. A typical weekend wine when you have some friends over and you haven't planned too much. It's got a good flavour and some really interesting characteristics.

Panel's rating: 14.06 out of 20

Price: 79SEK
Country: USA
Grape: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% other

Colour: Dark, Purple colour

Nose: It's delightful, with notes of black cherries, oak and brown spice. Very fruity aroma with hints of black currants, grass and vanilla.

Taste: Very fruity taste with hints of blackcurrants and vanilla. A full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon red wine offers complex and rich layers of dark berry and plum flavours, accented by vanilla, and spice.

Claps Sauvignon Blanc Sequals (2007)

Wine tasting 2

I'm not sure the three and a half stars really give enough credit for this wine. It was really fantastic, and should be if you're looking at spending 80kr for a bottle of white. I do however believe there's better wines on the market for much less. I would however buy this wine again, for a picnic in the park and on warm summers day. I was surprised to learn that this wine comes from Italy, and not somewhere like Australia or South Africa.

Panel's rating: 3,6 out of 5

Price: 80SEK

Country: Italy

Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Colour: A light yellow tone to clear, Very light, A cold greyish yellow, A clear yellow with a hint of gold, Bright and soft yellow with a little hint of turqouise, Light yellow with a little green, Light yellow.

Nose: A lot of citrus and floral mixed, Pears and peaches with some elder flowers, Fresh and fruity with a hint of citrus, Peaches and passion fruits, Tropical fruits with hints of lemons, Sweet citrus mixed with pear marmalade and gooseberries with some tropical fruits.

Taste: Thick on the tongue and hard to destinguish, Crisp, Dry and crisp, Dry and light, Crisp and peachy.

Vinea Corvina Veronese (2006)

Wine tasting 2

My favourite wine for the night and definitely on my shopping list again. Especially when we're planning to cook something really special with friends. I've never heard of the Corvina grape before this night and was very impressed with the wine. Well structured. I also really like the bottle design. Simple and elegant. A superb wine and highly recommended.

Panel's rating: 3,6 out of 5

Price: 80SEK

Country: Italy

Grapes: 100% Corvina

Colour: Brown red and rusty, Dirt red, Brown rusty red, Deep rusty red, Brwon red.

Nose: Raisins, plums and spices, Very spicy, Nutty, Earthy, Almonds with hints of barrel, Figs.

Taste: Sour and hints of cherries, Long after taste and full in the mouth, Cherries and a bit bitter, A tad bitter with berries and vanilla, Sour cherries, Fig marmelade and sour cherries, Barrel characteristics and hints of orange peel.

Letizia Sicilia Syrah (2006)

Wine tasting 2

After Pinotage, Syrah or Shiraz is my next favourite wine variety. I think it's because the wine has such interesting characteristics. So many winemakers can get the best out of this grape variety, and the same with this wine. Well balanced, well structure with a long after taste that's spicy and warm. Worth a try if you're a Syrah fan.

Panel's rating: 3,5 out of 5

Price: 85SEK

Country: Italy

Grapes: 100% Syrah

Colour: Scarlet, Brownish red, Deep dark red.

Nose: Sharp, Figs and very mellow, Young spirited.

Taste: Spicy, juicy and warm, Alcohol with hints of spice and liquorice, Sharp, Figs with spices and some vanilla, Lots of character, Hot and juicy.

Lindemans Chardonnay Bin 65 (2007)

Wine tasting 1

This was a good wine to start with. Most guessed correctly that it was a Chardonnay. When tasted, most agreed it was very full in the mouth and very smooth. Personally I prefer a Chardonnay with a lot more attitude and a longer after taste.

Panel's rating: 3,4 out of 5

Price: 59SEK
Country: Australia
Grape: Chardonnay

Colour: Straw | Gold, clear-yellow | Light golden yellow | Clear golden yellow.

Nose: Pineapple | Citrus with a little raisin | Fruity - pineapple with melon| Smells like butter and citrus | Very fresh and not so strong | Aromatic and fruity but a little sour.

Taste: Smokey | A little alcohol intensive with the taste of citrus | Buttery and spicy | Spice, Sweet and a bit anonymous | A bit acidic but mellow |Fruity yet sharp and a bit volatile.

Ruppertsbergen Riesling (2006)

Wine tasting 2

This was definitely the surprise of the evening and not everyone guessed correctly what it was. A really fantastic Riesling from Germany. It scored very highly, and is on my list to buy for a special occasion. I've always enjoyed fancy dark chocolate and Riesling together on a quite evening.

Panel's rating: 3,3 out of 5

Price: 59SEK
Country: Germany
Grape: Riesling

Colour: Light golden | A little more "green" | Whitish | Thicker and gold like | Colder golden white greenish | Yellow green.

Nose: Sweet citrus, a little bit spicy with some sweet apples | A bit less "smell" than the Chardonnay, alcohol | Too sweet | Like sweet apples | Sharp, heavy and full | Fruity.
Taste: Raisins | Elderberry and apple, a little tight | Sweet apple | Small spice, fruit, flowers and raisins | Mellow | Sweet.

Lat 42 Gran Reserva Rioja (2001)

Wine tasting 1

This wine is my choice for best buy of 2008. Fantastic aromas and a very smooth, deep taste that lingers on. Just my kind of wine. It does change character depending on when you have it, before a meal, with a meal or after a meal. I recommend it with an exceptional cheese. A properly matured wine at a very good price.

Panel's rating: 3 out of 5

Price: 79SEK
Country: Spain
Grape: Tempranillo

Colour: Ruby and full bodied | Blueish purple | Dark red | Black red | Almost black | Red with orange.

Nose: Cherry and vanilla, but a bit resin and spirits | Vanilla | Acidic and a bit gassy | Spirits and vanilla | Spirits | Very strong smell | Deep barrel wine smell.

Taste: Dill and stable leather | Alcohol intensive, a little bit tannins and leather | Spirits, resin and vanilla | Mellow and vanilla | Cherries and spirits | Strong and mature

Bourgogne - Couvent des Jacobins (2005)

Wine tasting 1

Another winner on the night, but one that I'm afraid most forgot shortly afterwards. It had everything and yet lacked that little something to make it memorable. I am buying this again though to have with a meal, because I find it intriguing and love the label story about Dionysus or Bacchus.

Panel's rating: 3,4 out of 5

Price: 105SEK

Country: France

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Colour: Ruby | A little lighter | Light | Lightish red | Ruby | Christmas red and ruby.

Nose: Wild stawberries, vanilla and caramel | Strawberry sweet, cinnamon fragrance with a caramel finish | Sweet smell of strawberries and caramel | Wild strawberries | Wild strawberries and cinnamon.

Taste: Butter caramel, light with less cedar | Short with a little caramel | Light with wild strawberries | Light and some mushrooms | Very light with a berry taste | A little volatile.