Uruka Tannat 2008

What a find, thanks to the South African winemaker Riaan van der Spuy. The wine is called Uruka, and the name is made up of the three first letters of the word Uruguay and the last two letters from the word South Africa in Afrikaans, "Suid Afrika". I have never heard of the grape Tannat, until I drank the wine, but apparently it is the most commonly used grape in Uruguay.

The colour is blood red to brown. The fragrance on the nose is very much like Shiraz, but with some liquarice mixed with white chocolate, if you can picture that. There's also a smell of spices with creamy caramel, oak and a hint of plums. It smelt fantastic. Really my kind of wine. The taste was chocolate and oak barrels and very peppery. The end tones raised the taste a lot, so instead of fading, it lasted a long time in your mouth.

For this wine we tried Lamb chops and Risotto with Funnel Chanterelle. It was a really great fit. A creamy red wine with Risotto.

The price is 89kr at Systembolaget which is a bargain.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Copertino Denominaxione di Origine (2001)

Wine tasting 1

Here's another surprise for the night, that no one could guess right. My guess is because it's also a properly aged wine, that gives it all the right characteristics. Although it still has strong smells on the nose, it is soft and round in the mouth. Exceptional value for money.

Panel's rating: 3,4 out of 5

Price: 66SEK

Country: Italy

Grapes: Negroamaro / Montepulciano

Colour: Red brick | Orange red | More ruby | Red with brick.

Nose: Resin with perfume, tobacco, prunes and earthy spice | Resin fragrance | Earthy | Resin | Blueberries.

Taste: Dry and warm, plum like | Soft and round | Resin and vanilla | Perfume | Pepper.