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

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.

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.

The third wine tasting

The third wine tasting was held with a totally new group than the first two. I decided not to add a theme to this tasting, just to see what kind of wines we end up with. No theme meant they could buy whichever wines they wanted, from any country and in any price range.

In the end we ended up with 2 white wines and 7 red wines, from Italy, South Africa, USA, Spain and Bulgaria. All in all a really fantastic group, and I hope we get together for another tasting really soon.

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.

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.

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.

The first wine tasting

The first wine tasting has come and gone, and it was fantastic. I learnt so much, and was introduced to so many new wines and new tastes. Just to recap, we were 8 people, which meant 8 wines. Each person gave me a bottle of wine of their choice one week before, which I then "prepared" for the night, after reading up on them a bit.  A blind tasting of 8 bottles of wine. The wines were from Australia, Germany, Argentina, Spain, France, South Africa and Italy. The prices ranged from 58kr to 105kr and we tasted 2 whites and 6 reds.

The night was also one where we had fantastic home baked bread and excellent cheeses to accompany each wine and give the taste buds a break in between each bottle. You can read more about the format here. Here's the "esteemed" panel, deliberating during the night.

Lat 42 Gran Reserva Rioja (2001)

Wine tasting 1

This wine is my choice for best buy of 2008. Fantastic aromas and a very smooth, deep taste that lingers on. Just my kind of wine. It does change character depending on when you have it, before a meal, with a meal or after a meal. I recommend it with an exceptional cheese. A properly matured wine at a very good price.

Panel's rating: 3 out of 5

Price: 79SEK
Country: Spain
Grape: Tempranillo

Colour: Ruby and full bodied | Blueish purple | Dark red | Black red | Almost black | Red with orange.

Nose: Cherry and vanilla, but a bit resin and spirits | Vanilla | Acidic and a bit gassy | Spirits and vanilla | Spirits | Very strong smell | Deep barrel wine smell.

Taste: Dill and stable leather | Alcohol intensive, a little bit tannins and leather | Spirits, resin and vanilla | Mellow and vanilla | Cherries and spirits | Strong and mature