L'Hereu de Raventós i Blanch Reserva 2007

I've said it before that I'm a fan of Cava and last night we tried a new Cava a friend found at Systembolaget, the local liquor store. If you don't know Cava, then let me see if I can help out. As you have an area in France called Champagne, so too is there an area in Spain called Catalonia, which makes Sparkling wines. If the wine is from that area, then it's allowed to be called a Cava. Read this article for more information on Cava.

If you like Brut, then try this Cava. Typically dry, typically fresh and a mix of winter apples on the nose. The taste is a mix of yellow apples and grapefruit. Very good indeed. Living in Sweden, I now get to try a lot of wines from other countries, which also means getting to know grape varieties I've never heard of. This Cava is a blend of 60% Macabeu, 20% Xarel-Lo and 20% Parellada.

Now it's not always we make food that suits a Cava or Sparkling Wine, but there are nights when nothing but a good Cava will do. Last night we made Alfredo Pasta, with baby Spinach, cream and Parmesan, accompanied by thin shaved beef wrapped around button mushrooms, dipped in flour, then fried. Such a lot of flavours mixed with a very dry Cava was really great.

Not bad for 99kr, see Systembolaget.se

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.

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.

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.