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.

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.

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.

Turning Leaf Cabernet Sauvignon (2008)

Wine tasting 3

This is probably only my third or fourth American wine I've had in my life, so I don't really have an opinion on their wines. This one however was good. Really good. A typical weekend wine when you have some friends over and you haven't planned too much. It's got a good flavour and some really interesting characteristics.

Panel's rating: 14.06 out of 20

Price: 79SEK
Country: USA
Grape: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% other

Colour: Dark, Purple colour

Nose: It's delightful, with notes of black cherries, oak and brown spice. Very fruity aroma with hints of black currants, grass and vanilla.

Taste: Very fruity taste with hints of blackcurrants and vanilla. A full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon red wine offers complex and rich layers of dark berry and plum flavours, accented by vanilla, and spice.

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.

An elevated taste

I grew up in South Africa, and have lived in Cape Town from ten years. The one thing I've learnt, is that there's too much wine in the world, to know everything about them all, never mind having enough time to taste them all.

South Africa has its well known grapes, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc for the whites, and then Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage for the reds. There's a lot more, but these are the ones you find on most shop shelves, and the ones I know a little about. At least what they taste like. South Africans for instance only drink South African wine. There's so much of it, that there's not a lot of space for importing wine. So we're not really exposed to wine from other parts of the world. Since moving to Sweden however, I have been exposed to wine from every country that produces it.

I've had wine from Chile, Argentina, Hungary, China, Australia, Germany, USA, France, Spain Italy and countless others. The thing that I struggle with now, is to remember the names of all the grapes. There's so many, and so many blends. So a lot more has been added to the equation, than what I've been used to back home. So I am busy studying up a bit on all the new grapes, wine estates and names, and read all the wine reports I can find my hands on.

Here's one that I have in my Men's Journal magazine this month. The first wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Smith-Madrone in the Napa Valley, the second is a Malbec from Calomé Estate and the third is a blend of Shiraz and Viognier from Philip Shaw. We have some Viognier in South Africa, but it's mostly used to add to a blend, but I have not seen any Malbec. It is popular, and I've tasted it here in Sweden a couple of times, but it's not one of my favourites I need to add.

What I have learnt about it so far, is that it is originally from Argentina, and is now grown around the world. It was named after the peasant who introduced it to France and is one of the six grapes allowed into a blend of Bordeaux.