Wines that have got 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP, part 2

Wines that have got 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP, part 2 of 3

Only the wines that still have aging potential (the largest majority of the wines here) and the few others that have no aging potential but are still in really good condition to drink are shown here. This applies regardless of the year in which the wine/wines was/were tasted. Note that if some wine has aging potential, it appears from the wine's description.

Wines that have got 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP Wines that have got 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP Wines that have got 4,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP Wines that have got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP

Part 1 of 3 Part 2 of 3 Part 3 of 3

Graham's, Late Bottled Vintage, 2014 (15 EUR/18 USD in Sweden) port wine, Porto, Douro, Portugal, 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP (85 points of 100 points) (07-08-2020 by Nenad Jelisic)

I do not remember when I last tasted such a good Graham's Late Bottled Vintage-port wine like this. Although the 2014 vintage was not so good, Graham's managed to make a really good port wine. The wine has a wonderful very sweet aroma that is filled with Crème de Cassis, dried red grapes, dried dates, dried figs, freshly ground ... Read more

Il Seggio, Poggio al Tesoro, 2017 (19 EUR/21 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy, 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP (85 points of 100 points) (07-06-2020 by Nenad Jelisic)

The last time I tasted such a good red wine in this price range from Italy as this was in December 2019 when I tasted Il Seggio Poggio al Tesoro 2016. This vintage is much closer to 4,0 NJP than the vintage 2016 thanks to a better tannin structure and a better balance. Unfortunately, nowadays, to be able to enjoy of a good ... Read more

Louis M Martini, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2016 (28 EUR/31 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, North Coast, California, USA, 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP (85 points of 100 points) (17-11-2019 by Nenad Jelisic)

Right now, this wine is the best US-wine under 300 SEK at Systembolaget (a government owned chain of all liquor stores in Sweden). The wine is also one of the best wines from the US that I have tasted in recent years when red wines under 300 SEK are in question. Louis M Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is an austere and nuanced wine. Austere thanks to its wonderful tannin structure and nuanced thanks to its wonderful balance between its tannins, fruitiness and acidity. The aroma is fruity and concentrated with dark roasted coffee, dried blue plums, vanilla, crème de cassis, cedar, blackberry jam, dark chocolate and white pepper. The flavour is austere and fruity with dried blue plums, tobacco, dark cherries, dark chocolate, coffee and white pepper. The wine is really good already, but it will be even better in a few years. It can be aged for 4 more years, i.e. until 2023. Such an austere, nuanced and tannin rich wine as this one will go very well with with grilled fillet of beef/entrecote with café de paris sauce and potato gratin or with reindeer stew with buttery mashed potatoes, or with grilled pork chops with grilled red peppers, red onions, tomatoes and béarnaise sauce or with hard cheeses such as Cheddar, Svecia, Västerbottensost, Parmesan and Grana Padano. Louis M Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 should be served at 18 to 19°C in Bordeaux glasses, if possible, from Orrefors, Kosta Boda, Spiegelau or Riedel. Another alternative is to serve it at 16°C (when room temperature is over 22°C) and then enjoy it when it starts to grow in the glass. The grapes for Louis M Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon come from several vineyards in the Alexander Valley, but mainly from Barrelli Creek, Frei Ranch, Stefani and Monte Rosso. Taking into account that the grapes for this wine come from several different vineyards, the soil on which the grapes grow is very varied. To preserve the fruit the grapes are picked and sorted by hand early in the morning. Then they are destemmed and pressed gently. The must is first cold-macerated for two days and then fermented in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperature for three weeks. After the malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged in both French and American oak barrels, 50% new, for 16 months and then in bottles for a few more weeks.

Fonseca, Terra Prima, Organic Port, NV (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden; 375 ml) port wine, Porto, Portugal, 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP (85 points of 100 points) (10-03-2019 by Nenad Jelisic)

It is a great sin that we do not drink more port wines in Sweden because the port wines are perfect dessert wines, they fit our cold climate and they almost always keep high quality. In the aroma of this port wine, dried grass, sweet spices, licorice, Crème de cassis, blackberries, strawberries, peppers and dried plums appear clearly. While in the flavour, black pepper, dark cocoa-rich chocolate, sweet spices, licorice, tobacco and dried dark cherries clearly show up. What is unique about Fonseca Terra Prima Organic Port NV is the aroma of dried grass and strawberries. I have tried port wines for over 25 years, but I have never before tasted a port wine that has aroma of dried grass and strawberries. From where these two scents come from is a mystery to me. The wine is a blend of seven different grape varieties: Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão, Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional. The grapes come from the producer's vineyard São João da Pesquira. The vineyard has 20 hectares and it has been grown organically for about The wine's production process is as follows: the grapes are harvested by hand, after the harvest, the grapes are delivered to the winery, destemmed and placed in the low stone tanks (lagares) where they are treaded by mechanized feet, then the must is fermented together with the skins in the stone tanks until it has an alcohol strength of 6 to 8% when it is fortified to 19 to 21% with 77% grape spirit. Then the wine is aged in large oak barrels from 4 to 6 years before it is released on the market. The wine will fit brilliantly with strong flavoured cheeses like Gorgonzola, Roquefort and Stilton. Or with less sweet cheesecake, cherry pie, blueberry pie and apple pie or with cocoa rich dark chocolate with orange, as Lindt Excellence Intense Orange, or cocoa rich dark chocolate with raspberry, as Lindt Excellence Raspberry Intense, or with pancakes filled with Nutella, very fine grated dark chocolate and walnuts or with chocolate fondant. Or just enjoy it without any food. I recommend that you start to drink this good port wine at 8°C (unlike what most of wine websites and the producer itself recommend) and let it slowly grows/opens in the glass while you drink it. If you can drink Fonseca Terra Prima Organic Port NV from Riedel Vinum Port or Orrefors Difference Sweet or Orrefors Elixir.

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