Porcupine Ridge Syrah (2008)

Wine tasting 5

According to the wine maker, this wine is called the "Wild One", because it is powerful and full bodied with concentrated flavours of Black Pepper, Raspberry, Mulberry and liquorice. It's not one of my favourites, because it's a bit over-powering and not real value for money at 98SEK a bottle. If I was going to spend that amount I would opt for their Porcupine Ridge Merlot, which is much smoother and tastier.

Panel's rating: 3,16 out of 5




Country: South Africa - Franschoek
Grape: 100% Shiraz
Price: 98 SEK

Colour: Dark purple colour.

Nose: Large, savoury, slightly smoky aroma with barrel character, elements of blackberry, violet, laurel and liquorice.

Taste: Tasteful, savoury, smoky wine with barrel character, elements of blackberry, violet, laurel and liquorice.

Kloster Eberbach Kabinett Rieling (2006)

Wine tasting 4

Every now and then there's a wine that surprises. Just when you have decided that it cannot be any good because the label is weird and the bottle is a strange shape and an ugly green colour it catches you off guard with its clear colour, wonderful smell and fantastic taste. This wine just got better and better throughout the night, which means it should be good with a meal. I am a fan of Riesling together with some hand made dark chocolate for a quite night at the fire or on your balcony looking at the sunset.

Panel's rating: 2,75 out of 5




Price: 96SEK
Country: Germany
Grape: 100% Riesling

Colour: Light yellow color

Nose: Scent fragrance with hints of green apple, mineral and citrus

Taste: Semi-Dry, very fresh, youthful flavor with hints of pear, green apples and citrus.

Sophia Cabernet Sauvignon (2007)

Wine tasting 4

It was the second time that this wine appeared at a wine tasting, and both times people were surprised by it. Not so much by the price, of just 52SEK, or that it comes from Bulgaria, but that it was really good. I'm a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon and this wine is on my list for the future. The label needs some work, as it appears cheap, but other than that I would recommend this wine for a night with friends watching movies or playing poker.

Panel's rating: 3,13 out of 5




Price: 52SEK
Country: Bulgaria
Grape: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Colour: Red blue to Ruby colour which harmonises with its taste and aroma.

Nose: Strong, slightly burnt aroma with hints of plums, grass and sweet liquorice. Well-balanced aroma of red and blue fruits.

Taste: Well structured and markedly nippy taste. Strong, slightly burnt taste with hints of dark berries, grass and sweet liquorice. Ruby red wine with excellent fruit character.

Lat 42 Rioja Gran Reserva (2002)

Wine tasting 4

Here's that wine again. It's been at 3 wine tastings now and there's such a mixed response from it every single time. This time it only scored 3 stars. Most people, however, love this wine and that includes me. The 2002 is really good and still such a find at 79SEK. I've said before, that this wine needs food, because it has a really strong smell and taste, with overall strong carachters, which feels overpowering if not tamed down with some food. Try a spicy Spanish dish or perhaps some Tapas, it work together really nicely. For glasses, try the smaller of these 3 from Granit.se for a traditional Spanish wine glass feel.

Panel's rating: 2,96 out of 5




Price: 79SEK
Country: Spain
Grape: 100% Tempranillo

Colour: Ruby colouring

Nose: Clear vanilla, mature, slightly synthetic, Plump fragrance of ripening tone, vanilla barrel tones and dried fruit.

Taste: Vanilla and dill, long, ripe, very Rioja for money, mature, drink now but can be saved, strawberry flavours, a veneer of vanilla and tobacco-spice.

Ruffino Orvieto Classico (2007)

Wine tasting 3

I am slowly but surely starting to discover a taste for Italian red wines, because it's not often that I get to taste Italian whites. Here's one that I thought was pretty good, and worth a try for a summer barbecue or a picnic. Needs to be really cold though.

Panel's rating: 10.88 out of 20

Price: N/A
Country: Italy
Grape: Grechetto 50%, Procanico 30%, Verdello 10%, Canaiolo bianco 10%

Colour: Straw yellow

Nose: Fresh and fragrant with delicate flowery notes of meadow flowers and clover accompanied by fruity hints of green apples and greengages.

Taste: Fresh and harmonious with good body and an aftertaste reminiscent of citrus fruits.

Sophia Cabernet Sauvignon (2007)

Wine tasting 3

Europe is one of the oldest wine producing regions in the world, but as soon as you ask people to mention some wine producing countries in Europe, they mention Spain, Italy or France. Here's a wine from Bulgaria and in a word, Fantastic. Don't let the price put you off. This wine is superb in all ways and worth a try.

Panel's rating: 12.38 out of 20

Price: 52SEK
Country: Bulgaria
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

Colour: Red blue to Ruby colour which harmonises with its taste and aroma.

Nose: Strong, slightly burnt aroma with hints of plums, grass and sweet liquorice. Well-balanced aroma of red and blue fruits.

Taste: Well structured and markedly nippy taste. Strong, slightly burnt taste with hints of dark berries, grass and sweet liquorice. Ruby red wine with excellent fruit character.

Graham Beck Pinotage (2008)

Wine tasting 2

I was really disappointed by this wine. I've written before that Pinotage is my favourite grape variety, because I like the strong wines it produces. This wine however lacked that strong flavour I was looking forward to. Graham Beck however is one of South Africa's best wine makers and I'm sure there's more to this wine. I'm buying another bottle soon which I'll try with some blue cheese and fig preserve, perhaps then I'll discover its true character.


Panel's rating: 10.88 out of 20

Price: 74SEK
Country: South Africa
Grape: Pinotage

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.

Dolce Vita Monica di Sardegna (2006)

Wine tasting 2

This was actually one of my favourite wines for the night, yet many said it was so-so. The Monica grape was totally unheard, and is one of only a handful grapes which are equally good as a table grape. It's relatively new on the market, yet I would recommend it for being a relatively good ecological wine.

Panel's rating: 3,1 out of 5

Price: 67SEK

Country: Italy

Grapes: 100% Monica

Colour: Ruby, Dark scarlett, Thick ruby, Purple

Nose: Cinnamon mixed with leather and raisins, Very earthy, Raisin bagels, Sharp and very rustic, A little resin and ripe fruit, Lots of cellar and barrel

Taste: A strong beginning of cherries with a very short after taste, Rustic and very strong in the beginning but settles too quickly, Peppery, Sharp with a sort of burning peppery taste mixed with figs, Strong cinnamon flavours with high acidity, Smooth finish.

Millésime Parallèle "45" (2006)

Wine tasting 2

I nearly bought this wine for the tasting, but in the end settled for wine number 4, the Corvina. I really expected more from this wine though. So did Alex, who bought the wine. 3 out of 5 still rates as a wine that's better than most. I would not buy this wine in the future, but would love to try it again one day.

Panel's rating: 3,1 out of 5

Price: 89SEK

Country: France

Grapes: 55% Grenache and 45% Syrah

Colour: Dark red, Dark purple-brown.

Nose: Liquorice and cherries but very smoky and earthy, Strawberries, Cigarette paper and very earthy, Smooth, Citrus.

Taste: Smooth with hints of cherries, Strawberries, Cherries with hints of tar.

Raza Malbec (La Riojana) (2007)

Wine tasting 1

Real value for money and finally an acceptable ecological wine.

Panel's rating: 3 out of 5




Price: 59SEK
Country: Argentina
Grape: Malbec

Colour: Dark red-brownish | From purple down to a dark red | Dark red | Burgundy purplish | Dark and strong | Close to purple | Currants

Nose: Alcohol, spicy with cherry and vanilla | Slightly acidic, clear, easy and healthy | Warm and sweet | Cherries and a bit sour | Dates

Taste: Cherry stones with lots of tannins | Light with a semi-long taste and tight cherry pips | Cherries with some tannins | Small spices at the end | Liqurice and sweet cherries | Sherry and vanilla | Savoury, bitter and volatile.