Spanish red wines

Torres San Valentin – easy to like and worth its price

Spain has a long wine history, and has gone through lots of modernisation lately. It is one of the world’s largest suppliers, and its most famous grape varieties are white airén and the black tempranillo and garnacha (grenache).

Torres San Valentin Garnacha (79 SEK, nr 12755 at Swedish Systembolaget) is made of 100 % garnacha (black grape variety) and has an alcohol level of 14 %. The producer is the Torres family, DO Catalunya, and this is one of the world’s most well-known wine producing families, active since the seventeenth century. The sweet thing is that this wine was created by Miguel Torres Carbó as a gift to his wife Margarita on Valentine’s day – hence its name!

The grapes are harvested in September, and the wine is fermented in steel tanks with some skin contact.

On the nose there is a lot of cherries, plums, raspberries and some liquorice and toffee notes. It has a youthful tone with medium intensity. It has a purple red colour, and on the palate you get a medium-bodied taste of red fruits like cherries and plums, with some liquorice and soft acidity.

This wine gets 89 points – mainly because it is well-balanced and well worth its price! To be served at 16-18°C, mainly with vegetarian dishes or light meal dishes. It can also be enjoyed on its own, or with several kind of cheeses like Gruyère.

Austrian red wines

Wildwux Austrian pleasant cuvée

Austria is quite a rare experience for me, but it is getting more common now in Sweden to find nice Austrian wines. This cuvée from Burgenland called Wildwux (2015) is spicy and well-balanced  and worth its price of 120 SEK (nr 2911). I give it 84 points.

The cuvée is made of 30% Zweigelt, 27% Sankt Laurent, 27% Merlot, 11% Blaufränkisch and 5% Pinot noir black grapes. Both Zweigelt, St Laurent and Blaufränkisch are typical Austrian grape varieties. This cuvée gives a mix of spices, herbs, bramble, raspberries and oak on the nose. The alcohol level is 13 %. Half of the wine has been matured in oak vessels for a year (50 % in French and 50 % in Austrian oak barrels).

Wildwux is produced by Birgit Braunstein KG, who took over the family vineyard in Burgenland in 2001 (in the area Neusidlersee). The family has grown grapes in these fields from 1632. The focus has for a long time been long term sustainability, and from 2016 it is biodynamic certified.

The wine is spicy and well-balanced. You can sense the oak, and some chocolate notes. Raspberries and blueberries are present – and the typical peppery sour cherry notes from Blaufränkisch! I personally enjoy it also on its own, at around 16° C, or with a cheese like soft white mold cheese. It will also combine well with lamb or pork dishes. Enjoy!

French red wines

Xavier Grenache vieilles vignes

Rhône is one of the most famous wine regions of France, and the red grape varieties you find there are typically Grenache and Syrah. Xavier Grenache vieilles vignes Organic 2015 (nr 2151, 95 SEK at Systembolaget) is produced from 85 % Grenache and 15 % Syrah, and it is organic. I give it 81 points.

The producer Xavier Vignon is famous for using the terroir (soil) of the grapes to enhance their flavours, and this wine is a great example of this. The wine is made of a selection of grapes from more than 50 years old vines, called ’vieilles vignes’.  The deep roots give mineral salts from deep down which results in rich tastes of dark fruits like cherries and raspberry, spices, lavender, cinnamon and minerality. The local tones with herbs and lavender from this region is also called ’garrigue’.

The alcohol level is 14,5 %, and it is best served at 16-18° C.

CHEESE: The spicy notes from this wine go very well with the Corsican cheese called Brin d’Amour. It is a goat/sheep cheese rolled in spices like Rosemary, Chili and other local spices/herbs. You can also use soft cheese and roll it is spices and herbs to get this effect, and it goes very well with the fruity and spicy character of this wine! But this wine would also go well with cheeses that are salty, a bit acid and have some spices/complexity – like the Swedish cheese ’Västerbotten’ or the French Gruyere!

FOOD: This wine can be enjoyed on its own, but is goes very well with spicy and grilled dishes (meat and/or vegetables).

Chilean white wines

Novas Chardonnay from Chile is fresh and crisp

Chardonnay is such a fantastic grape variety – you simply never know exactly how it will taste when you try a wine from a region that you never tried before! So when I sipped the first little mouthful of this Novas Gran Reserva 2014 from D.O Valle Casablanca (Aconcagua), Emiliana Organic Vineyards, I experienced something slightly new and very fresh!

Emiliana Organic Vineyards lies in Chile, and was founded in 1986. It is now one of the world’s largest producer of ecological wines. The grape variety is as mentioned 100% Chardonnay, and 30% of the wine has been oaked in French barriques for 4 months.

On the nose this wine is very fresh and fruity, with tropical hints of mango, pears and grape fruit as well as hazel nuts from the oak. On the palate the wine has rather high acidity, with quite a full body. It is well balanced, with notes of lemon, tropical fruits like grape fruit and melon as well as pears. It also has a pleasant finish. I give it 85 points – especially considering its price! In Sweden you can buy this wine at Systembolaget at the price of 89 SEK.

This wine is perfect with tasty fish and chicken dishes, with grilled vegetables for example. It would go well with most kinds of sea food as well. Or it can be enjoyed just as it is 🙂

Californian white wines

Magnificent Bonterra Chardonnay

Oh my….I am stuck right now in that ’Oaked Chardonnay obsession’ that many wine lovers seem to go through at one stage or the other….and then this completely magnificent organic Bonterra Chardonnay 2013 comes my way….and makes me completely happy!!! 🙂 This wine gets 86 points!!!

At Bonterra, Mendocino county, California, wines from 100% organic grapes have been produced since 1993. All their grapes are grown using certified organic practices, such as composting, cover crops, and biodiversity. These organic practices produce grapes that offer a quality of fruit and vibrancy of taste that allows the creation of wines that express the purity and intensity of each varietal’s unique character. Please see:

Bonterra

The Bonterra Chardonnay 2013 has an alcohol level of 13,5%. On the nose you get a very fruity aroma of citrus and apples, tropical fruit as well as cinnamon and butter, nuts and vanilla. 🙂

On the palate the wine gives you a very fruity flavour of tropical fruit, apricot, butter and nuts. A perfect vanilla creaminess from subtle barrel ageing in French oak.

This wine can very well be enjoyed on its own 🙂 But also with food – especially barbecued fish dishes or light meat. You can buy it at Systembolaget in Sweden (nr 16632) at 139 SEK – totally worth its price!!

Enjoy my friends….with awe 😉

Bonterrachardonnay

Austrian white wines

Organic Grüner Veltliner Biohof Pratsch

I visited Austria about a year ago – and that made me really appreciate their main  high-quality white grape variety called Grüner Veltliner, GV (30 % of all plantings in Austria are of Grüner Veltliner). I think that for some people you must take some time to get used to the sometimes special taste of the GV, and it can also give a broad variety of flavours: green grapes, salad, white pepper, honey, toast…depending on the soil and age etc.

Now I have tasted the organic Grüner Veltliner Biohof Pratsch 2014 (nr 2922 at Systembolaget, price 89 SEK). It is from Weinviertel in Niederösterreich, and the Biohof Pratsch has been producing wine in an organic way for more than decade – see:

Biohof Pratsch

The alcohol level is 12,5%. On the nose this wine has notes of green fruit like pear, stone fruit like peach and herbs. On the palate you sense a fresh acidity with citrus fruit, pear, gooseberry, pepper, nuts, and a crisp ending.

This wine can be enjoyed without food – but also goes well with Asian food, fish, seafood – but also with sausages and ham for instance! I would say that is expresses the grape variety Grüner Veltliner in a pleasant way – and I give it 88 points.

gruner

Spanish red wines

Beronia Rioja 2013 is ok but slightly sour

In Spain, in the Rioja region (North, on the River Ebro) there are three main areas – Rioja Alta is the larger area and this is where Bodegas Beronia is situated. The winery was built in 1973, and the grape varieties found are Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and Viura. From the beginning the owners have had a big interest for quality and ecology.

The ecological Beronia Rioja 2013 is made of 100% Tempranillo, the typical Rioja grape variety. On the nose it has the typical dill and dark cherries, with some oak as well as spice.

On the palate the wine also expresses some typical Rioja features – like dark cherries, oak and vanilla – however the finish somehow is too sour and there is too much acidity lingering in the mouth when you have tasted it. This is the main reason why for me this is a wine that is OK – but does not get higher rating than 79 points. The alcohol level is 13,5%.

The food to combine this wine with would be especially lamb and red meat.

You can buy Beronia Rioja at Systembolaget in Sweden (nr 12126) at 94 SEK.

Beronia

Spanish red wines

Easy to drink Organic Azabache Rioja

Spain also has a climate well suited for organic wines, and now I have tried the Azabache Rioja Crianza 2011 DOC (Denominación de Origen Calificada) – which can be bought at Systembolaget in Sweden for the price of 79 SEK (nr 2708). Considering both its price and its quite typical Rioja taste I give it 74 points!

In Rioja in Spain there have been vineyards for several thousand years, and after the phylloxera (vine pest) came to France in the 1870s many French wine growers moved southwards to Spain. Rioja was the first region to gain DOCa status, and lies on the river Ebro. There are 3 sub-regions, Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Alta and Rioja Baja. Viñedos de Aldeanueva is situated on the high slopes of the Mount Yerga. To qualify for the Crianza category in Spain, red wines must be aged for at least 24 months, of which 12 must be spent in small oak barrels for Rioja red wines.

This wine is made of 60% Tempranillo, 30% Garnacha and 10% Graciano. Tempranillo is Spain’s premier black grape variety, and has thick skin and is natutally low in acidity. Garnacha is the Spanish name for Grenache. Graciano is starting to rise again, and is used especially in the finest wines in Rioja to add powerful black fruit aromas, acidity and tannins.

On the nose of this wine you find the so typical ’Rioja dill character’, as well as quite intense notes of dark cherries, spices and herbs. You can also sense the oak character (12 months in French and American oak barrels).

On the palate you sense dark cherries and plums, dill again, some spices, chocolate and oak. It has quite a long finish with mature fruit. The alcohol level is 14%.

This wine I would say is good with tasty meat dishes of lamb and pork, but also game and matured cheeses.

Well worth its price!! 🙂

azabache

Californian red wines

Organic Californian Cab good with grilled meat

Wow, today was one of those days when we here in Sweden actually start believing in the Summer for real 🙂 And Summer time in Sweden absolutely means Grill time…

I would say that no matter WHAT you want to grill, meat or vegetarian, the special ’grill taste’ would go very well with this organic Californian Barra of Mendocino 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon! I give it 86 points on my tasting scale!

California has vineyards throughout most of its length, and the Mendocino County is situated north of Sonoma and Napa. The most widely planted black grape variety in California is the Cabernet Sauvignon. As a friend said recently – these wines really reflect some of the Californian sun 🙂 Charlie Barra decided, after having sold his wine to other wineries, to start his own wine production in 1997. Mr Barra truly believes in ecological wine making, without conventional chemicals.

This wine is made from 75 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 18 % Zinfandel and 7 % Petite Sirah. It can be bought at Systembolaget in Sweden for the price of 121 SEK (nr 22346).

On the nose you find the very typical Cab notes of dark cherries and blackcurrants and some herbaceousness. The wine has been aged in both French and American oak which you can sense (both toast, chocolate and vanilla).

On the palate you sense a wine with a balanced asperity with dark blackcurrants and dark chocolate as well as cedar and herbs. It has quite a long finish with distinct tannins.

This wine is best served with grilled dishes, as well as other tasteful dishes of red meat or lamb and game. Spicy sauces with creamy base will be great as well, and many creamy cheeses 🙂

Barra

Argentinian white wines

Spicy and fruity Viognier from Argentina

It is so interesting to try different grape varieties, from different parts of the world – and this organic Viognier Zuccardi 2014 from Mendoza, Argentina, is a pleasant surprise for me – especially considering its price (87 SEK at Systembolaget in Sweden, nr 6059)! I give it 81 points!

When we tried this wine at our dinner, our friends found it very pleasant to drink – even as an aperitif without food. The grape variety Viognier is well-known from Northern Rhône in France, together with Marsanne and Rousanne. The Viognier grape has a very exotic note of apricot, spice and floral aromas, and a rich mouthfeel – as well as quite low acidity but high alcohol level.

The Mendoza province dominates winemaking in Argentina, and produces more than 70 % of the wine. It is even one of the largest winemaking regions of the world. The Zuccardi family is today Argentina’s largest family-owned wine growers, and try to experiment with new grape varieties since the 1960’s.

On the nose you find an intense note of white flowers and stone fruits like peach and apricots, and some honey. This wine has not been oaked, in order to retain its fresh fruitiness.

On the palate you can taste ripe stone fruits like apricots and green fruits like pear. You also feel the floral notes as well as spicy tones – in a well-balanced mix. The alcohol level is 13 %.

This wine is good on its own, but you can combine it with dishes of light meat, chicken dishes, pork dishes as well as fish dishes. Also sallads are fine – as well as many Asian dishes thanks to the spicy tones. It is perfect to drink now but not so good for ageing!

So just enjoy it 🙂

Mendoza