The wine of the month
During the first twenty one days of each month, NJ Wines presents the wine of the month. NJ Wines tastes hundreds of wines every month and among them, the wine of the month is chosen. The criteria that a wine will qualify as the wine of the month is that it has got at least 3,5 NJP in rating and that it stands out both by its quality and its aroma/flavour complexity. The wine shall also be available on the wine market.
August 2024: David Moret, Puligny-Montrachet, 2022 (83 EUR/92 USD; selling price to restaurants in Sweden i.e. pris exclusive VAT) white dry wine, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) (By Nenad Jelisic)
This is the best 100% Chardonnay-wine that NJ-Wines has tasted so far this year. It is absolutely fabulous. David Moret Puligny-Montrachet 2022 is a dry, fresh, fruity, full-bodied, spicy, complex and flavourful wine. The aroma, which feels almost perfumed, is big, spicy and complex. In it one finds butter, citrus fruits, ripe yellow fruits ... Read more
News and other things about wine
NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT JUNE 2024 (By Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in regular assortment June 2024. The wines got the following points (Note that the wines are arranged in alphabetical order, that the wines that have got more than 3,0 NJP, if any, are presented or will be presented under "Make sure to try these wines, wines that have got at least 3,5 NJP of possible 5,0 NJP", that NV = non-vintage wine, that Systembolaget = a government owned chain of all liquor stores in Sweden and that NJ Wines does not taste wines from Boxes, Paper-packaging and PET-bottles because NJ Wines believes that these types of packaging destroy the wonderful wine culture. The Boxes also make people drink much more than they should.):
1. Altitude by Duorum, 2022 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Portugal, 1,0 NJP, 2. Amare, 2023 (8 EUR/9 USD in Sweden) white dry blend wine, Portugal, 0,0 NJP, 3. Andica, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023 (11 EUR/12 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Chile, 2,5 NJP, 4. Bella Cosa, Merlot, 2023 (7 EUR/8 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Moldavia, 0,0 NJP, 5. Cecilia, Brut, NV (13 EUR/15 USD in Sweden) white dry blend sparkling wine, New Zealand, 1,0 NJP, 6. Cricova, 1952, Brut Alb, 2022 (7 EUR/8 USD in Sweden) white dry blend sparkling wine, Moldavia, 0,0 NJP, 7. Crudo, Rosé, Organic, 2023 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) rosé dry wine, Italy, 2,0 NJP, 8. Freixenet, Elyssia, Pinot Noir, NV (11 EUR/12 USD in Sweden) rosé dry wine, Spain, 1,0 NJP, 9. Glenelly Estate, Glass Collection, Syrah, 2022 (13 EUR/15 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, South Africa, 0,5 NJP, 10. Graach Himmelreich, Riesling, Spätlese, 2019 (26 EUR/29 USD in Sweden) white sweet wine, Germany, 2,5 NJP.
NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT MARCH 2024 (By Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in regular assortment March 2024. The wines got the following points (Note that the wines are arranged in alphabetical order, that the wines that have got more than 3,0 NJP, if any, are presented or will be presented under "Make sure to try these wines, wines that have got at least 3,5 NJP of possible 5,0 NJP", that NV = non-vintage wine, that Systembolaget = a government owned chain of all liquor stores in Sweden and that NJ Wines does not taste wines from Boxes, Paper-packaging and PET-bottles because NJ Wines believes that these types of packaging destroy the wonderful wine culture. The Boxes also make people drink much more than they should.):
1. Angeline Vineyards, California, Pinot Noir, 2022 (15 EUR/16 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, USA, 0,5 NJP, 2. Arniston Bay, Rosé, 2023 (8 EUR/8 USD in Sweden) rosé dry wine, South Africa, 1,0 NJP, 3. Basalte du Coiron, Syrah, 2022 (8 EUR/9 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, France, 1,0 NJP, 4. Bogle Family Vineyards, Chardonnay, 2022 (15 EUR/16 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, USA, 2,0 NJP, 5. Campillo, Blanco, 2022 (11 EUR/12 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Spain, 2,0 NJP, 6. Chavin, Languedoc, Blanc, 2022 (10 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, France, 2,5 NJP, 7. Crazy Cat, Red Blend, 2023 (8 EUR/8 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, South Africa, 0,5 NJP, 8. Dulce Marqués, Castaño Monastrell, 2022 (17 EUR/18 USD in Sweden; 375 ml) sweet fortified wine, Spain, 1,0 NJP, 9. Framingham, Sauvignon Blanc, 2022 (10 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, New Zealand, 1,5 NJP, 10. Herdade dos Lagos, Carapeto, 2022 (13 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Portugal, 0,5 NJP.
PROVINUM CELEBRATES 10 YEARS – THE BEST BIG WINE TASTING EVER (By Nenad Jelisic)
Wow! What a fabulous wine tasting! The best big (big = wine tasting where wines from many wineries can be tasted) wine tasting ever. NJ Wines has participated in big wine tastings where 10% of the tasted wines got 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP (85 points of 100 points). Like for example the wine tastings organized by the world's best wine magazine Decanter in London. NJ Wines has also participated in wine tastings at some exceptional wineries where 100% of the tasted wines got 3,5 NJP or more. As at Enjingi's winery in the Venje appellation in Croatia and Edi Simcic's winery in the Goriška Brda appellation in Slovenia. But NJ Wines has never before participated in any big wine tasting in Sweden and in the rest of the world where over 21% of wines got 3,5 NJP or more. And this happened during Provinum's 10 years anniversary in Stockholm on March 2, 2024. This says a lot about this brilliant wine tasting and Provinum's brilliant wine portfolio. Bravo Provinum!
Make sure to try these wines, wines that have got at least 3,5 NJP of possible 5,0 NJP
Sandrone, Vite Talin, Barolo, 2017 (299 EUR/323 USD; selling price to restaurants in Sweden i.e. pris exclusive VAT) red dry wine, Piedmonte, Italy, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) (By Nenad Jelisic)
Here we have an example of how a perfect Barolo wine should be. It is extremely difficult to find a Barolo-wine as this. NJ Wines has tasted thousands of Barolo-wines in all possible price ranges and at least 99% of those had a very prominent tannin structure that was not met by good fruitiness and concentration. Without checking ... Read more
Château Le Tertre Roteboeuf, 2020 (266 EUR/289 USD, the selling price to restaurants in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Saint Émilion, Libournais (Right Bank), Bordeaux, France, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) (17-05-2024 by Nenad Jelisic)
Château Le Tertre Roteboeuf 2020 is an absolutely fabulous Saint Émilion-wine. It is complex, flavourful, austere and nuanced, and has a fabulous balance between tartaric acidity, sweetness, fruitiness and tannins. Complex, sophisticated and incredibly perfumed aroma of bay leaves, vanilla, Cuban tobacco of the highest quality, ... Read more
Zenato, Amarone della Valpolicella, Classico, 2019 (43 EUR/46 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Veneto, Italy, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) (15-04-2024 by Nenad Jelisic)
It seems that since the 2017 vintage, which got 3,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (80 points out 100 points), Zenato has started making better and better Amarone wines. The 2018 vintage got 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (90 points of 100 points) and now this wonderful 2019 vintage get 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points). This is great news ... Read more
The world's restaurants
The restaurants, which NJ Wines has viisited, tried their food and wines as well as rated food’s quality, food's taste, how the food is presented and looks, wine selection, decor, atmosphere, service and cleanliness, are presented here.
Tuzla's restaurants, Bosnia and Herzegovina (By Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines visited many of Tuzla's restaurants during June and July 2022 and June and July 2023. The restaurants, which were visited, ranged from those specializing in just one dish to those that had a wide selection of dishes and could be opened in any city in Europe. As Bosnia and Herzegovina was occupied by many different empires, mostly by the Ottoman Empire (just over 400 years) and then by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, its food tradition has been greatly influenced by it. Furthermore, Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of three major religions, Muslims, Orthodox and Catholics, each of which has its own food traditions. All this makes Bosnia and Herzegovina a unique culinary place when it comes to food. And therefore, if you get the opportunity, you should definitely visit and try different cuisines in some of Bosnia and Herzegovina's cities such as Banja Luka, Mostar, Sarajevo or Tuzla. Also, people in Bosnia and Herzegovina are very nice and helpful.
Ekstedt, Stockholm, Sweden, 2,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP (By Nenad Jelisic)
Restaurant Ekstedt was the fourth restaurant in a row in Stockholm that NJ Wines visited and rated. Restaurant Ekstedt is owned by one of Sweden's most successful and influential chefs, Niklas Ekstedt, who became known through the cooking program Niklas Food on Swedish Television in 2005. After internships at several very famous chefs such as Charlie Trotter, Heston Blumenthal and Ferran Adrià, Niklas started in 2000, only 21 years old, his first restaurant, restaurant Niklas in Helsingborg in Sweden. From 2003, he also ran the restaurant Niklas Viken in the coastal community Viken north of Helsingborg. In 2007, Niklas opened the restaurant 1900 in Stockholm and with the move, the restaurants in Skåne were closed. In 2011, he opened the restaurant Ekstedt, which got a star in the prestigious Michelin guide in 2013 and has been retained it since then. A few years later, the restaurant 1900 was changed its name to Restaurant Niklas and then it was closed in 2017 when Niklas decided that he had to focus on his new restaurant (wine café) Tyge & Sessil and the restaurant Ekstedt. Since the beginning of 2018, Niklas owns restaurant Hillenberg in Stockholm. During 2018, Niklas was part of the cooking program "Four Hands Menu" and "New Scandinavian Cooking". He has also published seven cookbooks: Niklas cookbook (2004), Niklas in the middle of the week (2006), Niklas tastes (2008), Niklas Home cooked Swedish food (2011), Grill with Niklas (2013), Ekstedt over open fire: recipe for the analog kitchen (2017) and Niklas Christmas (2018). In addition to these seven cookbooks, he managed to write three more cookbooks with Henrik Ennart: Happy food: About how food and happiness are connected (2017), The blue food (2018) and Happy food 2.0: About how the meal and happiness go together (2018 ) and a cookbook together with Christian Daun: My child eats everything (2017). Niklas really has to like his profession a lot otherwise he would never succeed to do all this in just 41 years.
The Veranda, Grand Hôtel, Stockholm, Sweden, 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (By Nenad Jelisic)
There are not so many restaurants in the world that are located in a capital city and have such a fabulous view as this restaurant and the restaurant's big brother the Cadier Bar, which is on the opposite side of it. The view of the Royal Palace, the Old Town and the boats on Stockholm's current. Both restaurants are located in Sweden's most exclusive and very beautiful Grand Hôtel in Stockholm. While the Cadier Bar, which is named after Régis Cadier (French chef and hotel founder), is a restaurant where one comes mainly to be seen, and drink champagne, cocktail or beer, The Veranda is a restaurant where you come to eat good food and drink good wines. In the Cadier Bar, one can also order good food, the food comes from the same kitchen that makes food for the Veranda. During all years, which I have been visited the Cadier Bar, it has seemed that the visitors of the Cadier Bar are there to drink something or to take something that fits well with champagne or coffee. In addition to these two restaurants, the hotel has two restaurants of renowned Swedish chef Mathias Dahlgren: Matbaren (see my article from 05-11-2017) and Rutabaga.
Everything you need to know about Tuscany (By Nenad Jelisic)
The text excerpts from NJ Wines' extensive wine dictionary are presented here. The text excerpts will be changed one to four times a month. You can read about exciting wines, appellations, wine districts, wine regions, etc. by clicking above on the "Wine glossary and wine facts".
Tuscany, one of the most famous Italian wine regions. Tuscany has about 41 DOC-appellations, and 11 DOCG-appellations: Aleatico Passito dell'Elba, Brunello di Montalcino, Carmignano, Chianti, Chianti Classico, Montecucco Sangiovese, Morellino di Scansano, Suvereto, Val di Cornia Rosso (Rosso della Val di Cornia), Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The best and most famous DOCG-classified wines are considered to come from Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti Classico. Some of the most famous wines in the world, which are made of Bordeaux grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, originate from Tuscany. The DOC- and DOCG-rules do not allow the wines made of these grapes to be classified as DOC or DOCG and because of that they are classified as Tuscany IGT. These IGT-wines are called “Super Tuscan” and some of the most famous Super Tuscan wines are Masseto, Solaia and Tignanello. The world renowned Ornellaia and Sassicaia come from here too.
Tuscany grapes, Sangiovese dominates the red grape varieties and Trebbiano the white grape varieties. Since so called Super Tuscan wines became world famous, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc have begun to be planted more and more. Of the many local red grape varieties, Canaiolo, Colorino, Malvasia Nera and Mammolo are the most planted.
Tuscany soils, with consideration taken to the size of the wine region, it is easy to understand that the Tuscan soils are very diverse.
Tuscany the best vintages, 1975, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
Super Tuscan, a term used for: wines that do not meet the requirements to be classified as DOC-wines or DOCG-wines, wines that come from the Italian wine region of Tuscany and wines that are produced by, for the wine region of Tuscany, unapproved grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc or Merlot) or unapproved grape blends. The first so-called "Super Tuscan" wine was the Sassicaia (Cabernet Sauvignon with a little Cabernet Franc).
NJ Wines
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |