Cafe Culture Pinotage (2008)

Wine tasting 6

In short, buy this wine. Not because it is the best wine, but because it's so interesting and like a chameleon it changes the whole time. At first, the smell is fantastic. Imagine walking into a coffee roastery, layers of Mocha coffee that lingers in the air. Then moving onto the taste, which is deep, rich, creamy and really smooth. The wine was loved by all and was the first wine to almost score 4 1/2 stars. Pinotage however, is not supposed to be easy drinking. It's supposed to be strong, dark and powerful and should take a while before you get used to it. That's the reason I love Pinotage.

The problem with this wine is that it gets too much too soon. Way to much. From loving it in the beginning most hated it in the end, and most I believe won't buy it again. The coffee smell and taste becomes overpowering, and I'm scared people will think that this is what all Pinotage wines are like. Having said all of that, buy it and try it and let me know what you think. It surely is interesting.

Panel's rating: 4,24 out of 5




Country: South Africa (KWV)
Grape: 100% Pinotage
Price: 89SEK

Colour: Dark, blue red colour.

Nose: Large fragrance with distinctive character of toasted oak barrels, hints of coffee, dark berries and smoke.

Taste: Wine has distinctive character of coffee-caramel, sweet and hard toasted barrels, hints of tar, smoke and cherries. This rich and juicy Pinotage has concentrated ripe fruit and mocha flavours.

Some more info: Launched in 2007, to be a Pinotage that's based on coffee characters, or more closer to the point, Mocha. This accounts for its mocha and chocolate flavours – the richness of coffee beans, the smoothness of creamy chocolate and the freshness of ripe fruit. ”

Jacobsdal Pinotage (2004)

Wine tasting 6

Here we have my favourite wine in the world. OK not really but I love it. This is what a Pinotage is supposed to smell and taste like. It's a 2004 vintage, so 5 years in the bottle only made it so much better. We've tasted it before during wine tasting 1, where it also scored 4 stars. Have this wine one night with a cheese platter of strong blue vein cheeses and some preserves, just to bring the best out of it, you won't be disappointed.

Panel's rating: 3,84 out of 5




Country: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Grape: 100% Pinotage
Price: 110SEK

Colour: Deep ruby, garnet.

Nose: Large, slightly developed, fruity, burnt aromas with hints of barrel, tobacco, plums and meats. Plum and cherry. Subtle oak and vanilla spice.

Taste: Something developed, lightly smoked, tasteful wine, with hints of barrel, tobacco, tar pastilles and plums. Mulberry, raspberry and hints of cedar. No rough edges with fresh succulent fruit and great tannin structure.

Stellenzicht Pinotage (2006)

Wine tasting 6

During wine tasting 5 we tasted the Double gold Veritas award winning Stellenzicht Golden Triangle Shiraz (2005) which didn't score so high with the panel. This time around it was their Pinotage, which managed 4 stars. During the Veritas 2008 awards which is South Africa's premier award ceremony, no less than 6 wines from this farm scored bronze medals or better, including this wine, which scored a Silver medal. Really quality wines from a fairly unknown South African wine farm. If you can get your hands on a wine from their Cellar Master release, then buy some. It's really fantastic wines and still fairly well priced.

Panel's rating: 3,94 out of 5




Country: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Grape: 100% Pinotage
Price: 110SEK

Colour: Dense, blue red colour. Dark ruby colour.

Nose: Very fruity, slightly smoky aroma with barrel character, elements of dark berries, plums and chocolate. Mulberry fruit with rich plum, blackcurrant and earthy aromas.

Taste: Very tasteful, fruity, slightly smoky wine barrel character, plums, herbs and chocolate. Darker berry flavours on the mouth- filling palate with oak and fruit seamlessly integrated. The solid tannin structure and sturdy acidity will allow this wine to improve with further maturation.

Treasures Shiraz (2006)

Wine tasting 4

This wine is a new one to Systembolaget, but I haven't seen it since. It is still on their system though. A really fantastic all round wine. Smooth, well structure and if I should venture a guess, then I'd say it should be really good with a grilled meat dish with baked potatoes. It just felt like such a wine from the first taste, because of the strong barrel carachter in the smell and taste. It was loved by everyone at the tasting and for only 89SEK a real bargain.

Panel's rating: 3,83 out of 5




Price: 89SEK
Country: Australia
Grape: Shiraz

Colour: Dark red colour.

Nose: Very fruity aroma with barrel character, elements of blackberries, plums, spices and rubber.

Taste: Very fruity taste with barrel character, elements of blackberry, plum, spices, rubber and vanilla.

Robert Mondavi Zinfandel (2006)

Wine tasting 3

Here's a blended wine that consists mainly of Zinfandel, but also contains five other varieties. I'm not sure if the winemaker wanted to create a complex wine or had grapes left that he needed to use. This wine however has some very complex flavours and scored 4 stars from everyone at the wine tasting. Another good American wine and worth a try.

Panel's rating: 14.88 out of 20

Price: 82SEK
Country: USA
Grape: 77% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah, 4% Syrah, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec and Petit Verdot

Colour: Colour is deep and dark, not quite inky: the sort of colour of a ripe black cherry.

Nose: This wine has a deep, soft bramble berry character with a dash of spice and a pinch of black pepper. The aromas and flavours are so lush and concentrated that they never seem to end, just linger and linger.

Taste: Vibrant wild black raspberry, cranberry and blackberry character, with nuances of hibiscus tea, orange zest, allspice and heirloom rose. Jam, spicy taste with hints of barrel, the forest, herbs and vanilla.

Coto de Imaz Rioja Reserva (2004)

Wine tasting 3

One of the better Riojas on the market, but a bit pricey if you consider the Lat 42 Rioja for 79kr. I did however still love this wine, just because it is a complete wine with a wonderful bouquet and full flavours in the mouth.

Panel's rating: 14.94 out of 20

Price: 102SEK
Country: Spain
Grape: Tempranillo 100% from the Rioja Alta

Colour: Brick-cherry red
Nose: Aroma with slight hints of oak standing out over the ripe fruit. Developed, spicy fragrance with hints of barrel, plums, chocolate, leather and vanilla.

Taste: Tasty, tannic, fresh fruit. Pleasant to drink. Mature, perfumed Tempranillo fruit with round, complex flavours from long-aging in American oak casks. Developed, spicy taste with hints of barrel, plum, cherry, chocolate, leather and vanilla.

Lat 42 Rioja Gran Reserva (2002)

Wine tasting 3

I really love this wine. The 2001 was my favourite find of 2008 and now the 2002 is even better. This wine does however change character a lot and I would recommend this wine with food. It has a strong flavour and needs strong food to tone it down and compliment it.

Panel's rating: 15.43 out of 20

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.

Farnese Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (2005)

Wine tasting 2

This wine was also tasted at the first wine tasting, and although it scored a little lower this time, it was still the winner for the night. 85kr for a fantastic wine that's soft, smooth and basically and excellent wine. If you haven't tried this wine before, then buy it. You won't be disappointed. We tasted this wine during the first wine tasting as well, and also received 4 stars with a score of 4,2 out of 5.

Panel's rating: 3,8 out of 5

Price: 109SEK

Country: Italy

Grapes: 100% Montepulciano

Colour: Deep red scarlet, Very dark red, Scarlet to blue red, Very deep red with pink undertones, Scarlet,

Nose: Floral and earthy, Cherries and vanilla, Dark cherry chocolate, Smells of a garden, Jasmine, fruity and a bit yeasty, Liquorice and flowers, Oak barrel with a smell of flowers and vanilla, Full-bodied with a smell of oak and vanilla.

Taste: Smooth, chocolate with hints of cherries and plums, Soft taste that lingers forever, Pepper and vanilla, Alcohol taste with cherries and vanilla, Liquorice, Dark cherries, Spicy and velvety smooth.

Farnese Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (2005)

Wine tasting 1

This wine was everyone's favourite of the night, with no score lower than four. A good solid red wine. Exceptional aromas of flowers and berries. Smooth. Mellow. Just perfect.

Panel's rating: 4,2 out of 5

Price: 99SEK
Country: Italy
Grape: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Colour: Cherry red blueish | Blueish purple and dark | Red pinkish | Purple | Red, close to Cerise.

Nose: Dark red berries, vanilla and cinnamon | A little like cherries and vanilla | A deep smell and cinnamon | Fruity | Cinnamon | Flowers.

Taste: Round, soft tannins and juicy | Soft tannins | Really nice | Juicy and spicy | Sharp | Liquorice | Full and round.

Jacobsdal Pinotage (2004)

Wine tasting 1

My wine collection consists 50% just out of Pinotage, that's how much I love it. It is by far my favourite wine. Jacobsdal is one farm in South Africa that produces proper Pinotage wines, the other is Beyerskloof. I prefer strong, dark wines that feel as if they come from the deepest darkest parts of the barrel. Pinotage is that for me. The thing with it though is that because it's such a strong wine, you need to smooth it out a bit, with some blue cheese and fig preserve. The best way to enjoy this wine.

Panel's rating: 4 out of 5

Price: 105SEK

Country: South Africa

Grapes: Pinotage

Colour: It has begun to leave the blue | Dark red | Red to orange | Very dark red, purple, even blueish.

Nose: Burnt rubber, maybe plastic and gunpowder | Petroleum | Burnt rubber | Burnt smell and vanilla | Burnt rubber and gunpowder | Cherries and oil | Strong smell that lingers.

Taste: Light tannins and cherry stones | Dark berries, long taste, a tad bitter and long tannins | Tannins | Sharp | Brazillian nuts | Deep tannins with a long smooth taste.