Lat 42 Rioja 1999

One of my favourite wines of all times it has to be said. Had it the first time more than two years ago, when we tasted the 2001 vintage during the first wine tasting, where it scored 3 out of 5, then we tasted the 2002 vintage during the third wine tasting, where it scored 4 out of 5 and again the 2002 vintage during the fourth wine tasting, where it scored 3 out of 5.

This however is the 1999 vintage. I found it by chance at the beginning of the year, and bought ten bottles, of which this was unfortunately the last one. It's not often you find an 11 year old wine for close to 80kr, which is as good as this one. It's very woody and such a wonderful smell. I will admit that it's not everyone's cup of tea, but if you love Pinotage from South Africa, then you'll love this. Dark, and very bold.

For this wine we made a traditional lamb dish from South Africa called Biriyani. Originally from Malaysia, but have krept into the South African culture over a very long time. Lots of spices, mixed with the lamb, basmati rice and lentils, served with fresh coriander. The wine lasted long after dessert was done, and is fantastic after the meal all by itself as well. If you're into Spanish wines like I am, try this, but be careful, it is a bit wild. Tame it by making a spicy lamb dish like Biriyani.

Here's the link to Systembolaget. They currently have only the 2003 vintage in stock, which I have not yet tasted.

Below you can see that the cork is a little mouldy, not because the wine got air, but just because it's so old. 11 years. You can also see that in the colour of the wine. More brown than red. All the tannins are gone, yet the wine remains powerful in the nose and the taste.

Flat Roof Manor Shiraz Mourvèdre Viognier 2008

South Africa, here we come. I have a friend who always tries and finds a wine from South Africa that I haven't had. Today was another surprise from a well known wine farm in South Africa called Uitkyk, called Flat Roof Manor. The wine is named after one the Cape's three surviving, two storied, flat roofed 18th Century houses near Stellenbosch.

I wrote a month ago about a wine from the Darling district North of Cape Town that was a blend of Shiraz and Mourvèdre. This wine however is a blend of three well known grapes in the red grapes Shiraz and Mourvèdre, along with the white grape Viognier. Estelle Lourens, the winemaker, did a fantastic job. Those three grapes work really well together, the peppery, dry Shiraz mixed with earthy, fruity Mourvèdre and a dash of floral Viognier. It's smooth and very round in your mouth, with a long after taste of flowers and pepper.

To match this wine tonight, we thought we'd make a very traditional South African dish called Bobotie. It arrived with the Indonesian, malay slaves in the 1700s along with a host of new spices. This dish is excellent with yellow rise and raisins. The spices mixed very well with this wine, however, I'd like to try some more meatier dishes with the wine in the future.

Another bargain at 89kr, have a look atSystemBolaget.se

Zonnebloem Shiraz 2008

I have said this before, that after Pinotage, comes Shiraz. Well for me anyway. Tonight was roast night. Had a large piace of roast, rolled in ground pepper and rough salt after cooking, with butternut and mixed vegetables, roasted in the oven on the side. Butternut is a very much overlooked vegetable and so easy to cook.

With this meal we had a bottle of Zonnebloem Shiraz 2008. I thought the peppery meat would go well with a wine which is known to taste of pepper and spice. The first thing with this wine is the smell of fruit and spices, and then some more fruit on the taste, mixed up with hints of barrel and pepper. Some say coffee too, but that one is not what I tasted. The mix of pepper on the meat worked well with this wine, and made the vegetables taste sweeter. I would really like to age this wine for 5-8 years to see the potential, it would probably turn out fantastic.

Although there's a lot of wines competing for attention in this price range, it's worth a try. 82kr is well worth it, have a look at SystemBolaget.se

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. ”

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.

Terreno Chianti Clissico (2006)

Wine tasting 4

I'm not a fan of Chianti yet, but what I've heard is that you need to watch out what you buy, because as good as this wine can be, just so can it be really terrible. I'm also surprised when we don't finish all the wine in one night, and this wine was one that was left. I had it again the next day and it was as if I was drinking a different wine. This means that the wine does not want anything complex around it, perhaps just by itself or with a simple dish. I would decant the bottle in the future, because the wine seems to need a lot of air for it to settle down properly.

Panel's rating: 2,56 out of 5




Price: 89SEK
Country: Italy
Grape: 90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo

Colour: Dark colour, red blue

Nose: Spicy, fruity aroma with hints of barrel, cherry, chocolate and herbs

Taste: Spicy, fruity taste with barrel character, elements of cherries, herbs and dark chocolate

Masi Tupungato - Pasto Doble (2007)

Wine tasting 4

Here's a wine that was in a single word, weird. The label is plain with a sort-of hand written label and plain green colouring. On the night is was just so, so and scored 3 stars from everyone. There was half a bottle left when the night was done, which does not happen often. I tried the wine exactly a week later and it was fantastic. Smooth and very tasty. This for me just means that the wine didn't breathe enough when we had it. I would buy this bottle again, but decant it about 3-5 hours before having it. Not sure it'll work with a meal though, but perhaps some snacks and a night of playing cards.

Panel's rating: 3,09 out of 5




Price: 89SEK
Country: Argentina
Grape: 62% Malbec, 30% Corvina och 8% Merlot

Colour: Dark, purple Colour

Nose: Very fruity, spicy aroma with barrel character, elements of dark cherry, plum, licorice and tobacco

Taste: Fruity, spicy wine barrel character, plums, dark cherries, herbs, licorice and tobacco

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.

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.

Chateau de Seguin Grand Vin Bordeaux (2007)

Wine tasting 2

I've written about this wine before (Read here), when I had it at a new years party with some excellent cheese. I was very impressed then and vowed to buy it again. However the second time around it was not the same story. It only scored 2,6 out of 5, which shows that not everyone loved this wine. It lacked character and tasted weak. Perhaps I'll buy it again and judge it a third time with a good meal, just to be fair.

Panel's rating: 2,6 out of 5

Price: 89SEK

Country: France

Grapes: 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc

Colour: Brownish purple, Brown red, Brownish tones,

Nose: Raisins, warm plums, cedar and blackberries, Minty, Warmish and strong, Citrus, Warm smell, Sharp and fruity, Plums, Warm cider,

Taste: A very round taste, Coffee and cherries, Short taste of green peppers and pencil shavings, Short after taste, Cider and grass, Butterscotch and grass with hints of barrel.

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.

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.

Boira Sangiovese (2007)

As I've spoken about before, I tend to buy South African wines because I know more about them, than say Italian or French wines. So my point of reference is usually South Africa. My little sister however, has a totally different point of reference, which has nothing to do with the country, the grape or anything like that. Her point of reference is from an ecological point of view, or wines that are made in an environmentally friendly way. That is what she searches for when she's out buying wine.

She always has a new wine at home that falls into this category, that she's willing to share, and her drive to only buy ecological wines, has made me think about it more and more. I believe it's where we all should move towards. So far I've tried 6 different ecological wines from various countries, and have to be honest, they all still have a long way to go before they can be called great wines.

This weekend we had this one, called Boira. It's from Italy and made from the Sangiovese grape. It has so far been the best ecological wine I have had to date. We had it after a meal of Roasted pepper soup as a starter and then a tomato pesto pasta as the main meal. I really thought it was fantastic after the meal, as some wines tend to be and would recommend this wine if you, like my little sister, would like a good wine that's also an ecological wine.

Here's some tasting notes from the guys over at The Week, Wine Club. Bright red wine, almost Pinot Noir in colour, with rich burnt fruit flavours. Luscious well-balanced pure red wine with good minerality. A class example of what really good organic red wine should taste like—it feels very good—and is. Perfect for lunch or those rare outdoor dinners.

Chateau de Seguin

Coming from South Africa, I tend to drink mostly South African wine. It's most likely the same when you're from another wine producing country like France, Italy or say Agentina, that you tend to drink the wines from your own country. I don't think it's always necessarily that we think our countries make the best wines. Perhaps it is that we don't know enough about the other country's wines to make an informed decision when we buy, and hence just go with what we know. There is the language barrier to consider as well, with labels in Italien, French or Spanish, then the thousands of different grapes and the list goes on.

In Sweden we're lucky, in that Systembolaget, the government owned liquor outlet has wines from every wine producing region in the world, so they pretty much do a lot of the decision making on your behalf. I tend to still choose from what I know, but lately I've been introduced to other wines from other countries and I've started to look for some that I know now, when I'm out shopping. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, a grape variety from Italy or Bordeaux, a blend from France are my current favourites.

This new year I tried another wine from France, from a farm called Chateau de Seguin. The wine is called Chateau de Seguin Grand Vin De Bordeaux 2006. We had it with some really strong French cheese and the wine came across very smooth, with a taste that lingers in your mouth. Exactly what I want from a wine, with the South African Pinotage being my usual favourite.

Here's what the wine maker has to say: "This is our regular prizewinning wine, which is made acording to the best winemaking methods by our professional staff. It was the first wine made by the Carl family after they bought the Château de Seguin. The wine has aged for 6 months in oak barrels. and is bottle 18 month after the harvest."

My rating: 4/5, just perhaps because we've had lots of wine the whole night, and it stood out from the crowd. I'm going to put it into my basket next time I'm wine shopping to see what it's like the second time around.