The wine of the month
Every 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.
February 2026: Steyer, Gewurztraminer, 2024 (approx. 14 EUR/16 USD; selling price on the internet excluding delivery costs) white semi-dry wine, Štajerska, Slovenia, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (28-02-2026 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
With this wine, one of the world's best winemakers of Gewurztraminer-wines (if not the best) confirms that he (Danilo Steyer) is, after that had been in the Twilight Zone for a long time and had produced mediocre Alsace-like sweet and uninspiring Gewurztraminer-wines, definitely on the way back. Back to absolutely brilliant dry ... Read more
News and other things about wine
DID YOU KNOW THAT (By Dr Nenad Jelisic)
Here, NJ Wines will present brief wine news and wine facts every month.
Champagne, has nearly 280,000 wine growing plots, which is tended by more than 16,000 growers, make up the area under vine in Champagne (34,300 ha). Most of these plots are very small, averaging a surface area of no more than 0,12 ha. That is barely larger than a tennis court. (03-02-2026)
Champagne, Pinot Noir and Meunier (blue grapes), and Chardonnay (green grape) are the grapes that are almost exclusively (over 99,7%) are used to make Champagne. Arbane, Petit Meslier, Chardonnay Rose, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are also used to make Champagne (under 0,3%). (03-02-2026)
Ausbruch, are sweet wines from the Austrian wine region Neusiedlersee. The following grapes are used for the production of these wines: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Muskat Ottonel, Gelber Muskateller, Gewurtztraminer and Furmint. Botrytis cinerea’s (Noble rot) attack on the grape skins is crucial in the production of these wines. Without fog and high humidity would not be Botrytis cinerea and Ausbruch sweet wines, and in the autumn, when the climate is hot and dry and the temperature difference between the air and the lake Neusiedl is greatest, when the Botrytis cinerea develops. The more the grapes are affected by Botrytis cinerea, the more they are susceptible to rain and, therefore, a heavy rain can destroy the entire vintage. Before, these sweet wines had a sugar content of 90 grams per litre, and today, they have the sugar content of between 130 and 150 grams per litre. Note that the Sauternes-wines themselves have a sugar content of between 120 and 130 grams per litre. (03-02-2026)
Auslese, is a wine class in the German highest wine classification "Qualitätswein mit Prädikat (QmP)" where the wines are divided into six different quality classes depending on the must weight (Öchlese; one Öchlese-degree corresponds to 2,0 grams of sugar per litre of wine to 2,5 grams of sugar per litre of wine). Auslese has a must weight of about 90 Öchlese-degrees, i.e. 180 grams of sugar per litre of wine to 225 g sugar per litre of wine. (03-02-2026)
AVA, is an abbreviation for American Viticultural Area, see American Viticultural Area. (03-02-2026)
NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT DECEMBER 2025 (11-01-2026 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in regular assortment December 2025. 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. Adega de Monção, Alvarinho, 2024 (9 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Portugal, 1,5 NJP, 2. Almodí, Especial, Garnatxa Peluda, 2023 (12 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Spain, 1,0 NJP, 3. Brown & Co, Chardonnay, 2024 (12 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Australia, 1,0 NJP, 4. Casa de Cambres, Reserva, Red, 2021 (12 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Portugal, 0,5 NJP, 5. Castello di Ama, San Lorenzo, Gran Selezione, 2022 (28 EUR/32 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Italy, 4,0 NJP, 6. Christina, Carnuntum, Organic, 2024 (11 EUR/13 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Austria, 1,5 NJP, 7. Domaine Helena, Mount St Helena Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023 (23 EUR/27 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, USA, 2,0 NJP, 8. Emily, Blanc de Blancs, NV (8 EUR/9 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry blend sparkling wine, Spain, 0,0 NJP, 9. Fonseca, Crusted Port, NV (23 EUR/27 USD in Sweden) port wine, Portugal, 2,0 NJP, 10. Grower's Club, Malbec, 2025 (7 EUR/9 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, South Africa, 0,0 NJP.
THE TOP 10 WINES 2025 AND THE BEST WINE 2025 (07-12-2025 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
This is the thirteenth year in a row that NJ Wines presents the year's 10 Best Wines and the year's Best Wine. During 2025, NJ Wines tasted a few thousand wines that were, and still are, available on the wine market. From all these wines, NJ Wines selected the year's 10 Best Wines and the year's Best Wine. The most important criterion in the selection was of course the quality of the wines, but also the availability of the wines today. Of the year's 10 Best Wines, three come from France, two from Croatia, two from Bosnia and Herzegovina, two from Portugal and one from Spain. This year, Croatia proved with the year's best wine and the year's third best wine that it belongs to one of the world's best wine-producing countries. Note that NJ Wines' wine tasting year always starts the first week of December of the previous year and ends the last week of November of the current year, i.e. for the wine tasting year 2025 it started the first week of December 2024 and ended the last week of November 2025. This year, seven wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2024, eight wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2023, three wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2022, no wine got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2021, four wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2020, two wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2019 five wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2018 six wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2017 no wine got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2016 one wine got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2015 one wine got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2014 no wine got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) and in 2013 one wine got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points). NJ Wines is very happy about the positive result, but NJ Wines does not believe that the global quality of wines has changed as much in a positive direction as the tasting results show. NJ Wines was just lucky to taste some of the world's best wines in 2025.
NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT SEPTEMBER 2025 (24-09-2025 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in regular assortment September 2025. 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. Abrigados, Reserva, 2023 (11 EUR/13 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Portugal, 1,0 NJP, 2. Acrobat, Chardonnay, 2023 (16 EUR/19 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, USA, 1,0 NJP, 3. Alsace, Grand Cru, Schlossberg Riesling, 2023 (21 EUR/24 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry wine, France, 2,0 NJP, 4. Altos de José Ignacio, Albariño, 2024 (13 EUR/15 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Uruguay, 1,0 NJP, 5. Antonelli, Montefalco Rosso, 2022 (14 EUR/17 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Italy, 1,0 NJP, 6. Casas Patronales, Maucho, Malbec, 2024 (9 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Chile, 1,0 NJP, 7. Cuvée No 7, Brut, Blanc de Blancs, NV (9 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) white dry sparkling wine, Brazil, 0,0 NJP, 8. De Bortoli, DB, Chardonnay, NV (10 EUR/12 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Australia, 0,0 NJP, 9. Deep Roots, Riesling, NV (9 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry wine, Germany, 0,0 NJP, 10. Dicey, Dice, Pinot Noir, 2023 (11 EUR/13 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, New Zealand, 1,0 NJP.
Make sure to try these wines, wines that have got at least 3,5 NJP of possible 5,0 NJP
Churchill's, Late Bottled Vintage, 2020 (23 EUR/27 USD in Sweden) port wine, Porto, Douro, Portugal, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) (31-01-2026 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
There is the fairy tale The Lord of the Rings, but there is also the fairy tale of the Churchill's Late Bottled Vintage, and this fairy tale seems never ending. It is extremely fascinating that a winery manages to produce a wine that seven years in a row receives 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points). In my 43 years as ... Read more
Vinogradi Nuić, Trnjak, 2021 (approx. 21 EUR/25 USD; selling price on the internet excluding delivery costs) red dry wine, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5,0 of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) (14-12-2025 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
Vinogradi Nuić Trnjak 2021 is a big, complex, powerful, spicy and tannin rich wine. In the aroma one can feel dried black cherries, dried prunes, milk chocolate, bay leaves, sweet tobacco, white pepper and crème de cassis. In the flavour one can feel black cherries, red oranges, cocoa-rich dark chocolate, coffee and black pepper. ... Read more
Palmer & Co, Blanc de Blancs, 2018 (43 EUR/51 USD in Sweden) white dry sparkling wine, Montage de Reims and Côte de Sézanne, Champagne, France, 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP (85 points of 100 points) (23-12-2025 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
Here we are talking about a really good champagne that is aroma rich, flavour rich, fresh and concentrated. Palmer & Co Blanc de Blancs 2018 should be drunk at all big celebrations (New Year's Eve, weddings, birthdays, etc.) or to when one wants to reward oneself and your loved one after a demanding work week or to when you ... Read more
Everything you need to know about Bordeaux Classification (21-02-2026 by Dr 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".
1855 Classification, the first "legendary" classification of Bordeaux wines (Bordeaux chateaux), which is still the most important and relevant. The wines were divided into five crus (cru = growth): 1. Premiers Cru, 2. Deuxièmes Cru, 3. Troisièmes Cru, 4. Quatrièmes Cru and 5. Cinquièmes Cru. 61 chateaux were classified. 1855 Classification of Médoc wines were revised in 1973 by Château Mouton Rothschild was elevated from Deuxième to Premiers Cru.
Premier Cru (also called 1er Cru), the highest class of wine according to the 1855 classification for the French wine region of Bordeaux; Premier Cru class of wine is lower than the Grand Cru class of wine in the French wine region of Burgundy. The following 5 châteaux belong to the Premier Cru: Château Haut-Brion, Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux and Château Mouton Rothschild (was classified in this class of wine in 1973).
Deuxièmes Cru, the second highest classification for Bordeaux wines according to the 1855 Classification. To Deuxièmes Cru belongs the following 14 chateaux: Château Brane-Cantenac, Château Cos d'Estournel, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Château Durfort-Vivens, Château Gruaud-Larose, Château Lascombes, Château Léoville Barton, Château Léoville-Las Cases, Château Léoville-Poyferré, Château Montrose, Château Pichon Longueville Baron, Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Château Rauzan-Gassies and Château Rauzan-Ségla.
Troisièmes Cru, the third French wine class of 1855 Classification. To Troisièmes Cru belongs the following 14 châteaux: Château Boyd-Cantenac, Château Cantenac-Brown, Château Calon-Ségur, Château Desmirail, Château Ferrière, Château Giscours, Château d'Issan, Château Kirwan, Château La Lagune, Château Lagrange, Château Langoa Barton, Château Malescot St. Exupéry, Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker and Château Palmer.
Quatrièmes Cru, the fourth, second last, French wine class of 1855 Classification. To Quatrièmes Cru belongs the following 10 châteaux: Château Beychevelle, Château Branaire-Ducru, Château Duhart-Milon-Rothschild, Château La Tour Carnet, Château Lafon-Rochet, Château Pouget, Château Prieuré-Lichine, Château Marquis de Terme, Château Saint-Pierre and Château Talbot.
Cinquièmes Cru, the fifth, the last, French wine class of 1855 Classification. To Cinquièmes Cru belongs the following 18 châteaux: Château d'Armailhac, Château Batailley, Château Belgrave, Château de Camensac, Château Cantemerle, (klassificerades i denna vinklass år 1856), Château Clerc-Milon, Château Cos Labory, Château Croizet Bages, Château Dauzac, Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Château Haut-Bages-Libéral, Château Haut-Batailley, Château Lynch-Bages, Château Lynch-Moussas, Château Pédesclaux, Château Pontet-Canet and Château du Tertre.
1855 Classification of Sauternes and Barsac, the wines were divided into three crus (cru = growth): 1. Premier Cru Supérieur, 2. Premier Cru and 3. Deuxièmes Cru.
Premier Cru Supérieur, the highest class of wine according to the 1855 classification for the French appellations of Sauternes and Barsac. To the Premier Cru Supérieur belong only Château d'Yquem.
Premier Cru (also called 1er Cru), the second highest class of wine according to the 1855 classification for the French appellations of Sauternes and Barsac. The following 11 châteaux belong to the Premier Cru: Château Climens, Château Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Château Coutet, Château de Rayne-Vigneau, Château Guiraud, Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Château La Tour-Blanche, Château Rabaud-Promis, Château Rieussec, Château Sigalas-Rabaud and Château Suduiraut.
Deuxièmes Cru, the third (lowest) classification for Sauternes and Barsac wines according to the 1855 Classification. To Deuxième Cru belongs the following 14 chateaux: Château d'Arche, Château Broustet, Château Caillou, Château de Malle, Château de Myrat, Château Doisy-Daëne, Château Doisy-Dubroca, Château Doisy-Védrines, Château Filhot, Château Lamothe, Château Lamothe-Guignard, Château Nairac, Château Romer du Hayot and Château Suau.
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