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.
October 2026: Nederburg, Noble Late Harvest, 2024 (12 EUR/13 USD in Sweden; 375 ml) white sweet wine, Western Cape, South Africa, 100 NJP (25-10-2026 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
Nederburg Noble Late Harvest 2024 is an absolutely brilliant sweet wine that achieves something that over 99% of sweet wines fail to do, and it is a perfect balance between the sweetness and the tartaric acid. Without it, it would be just a sweet wine, and not a fabulously sweet wine. The wine is one of the finest wines made ... Read more
News and other things about wine
DID YOU KNOW THAT, PART 10 OF 100 (23-10-2026 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
Here, NJ Wines will present brief wine news and wine facts every month.
Brettanomyces (Brett), a spoilage yeast that occurs because of a bad hygiene in wine cellar. It causes what are commonly described as stall and manure aromas and flavours in a wine. Brettanomyces is more common in red wines than in white wines.
Brut, it means that champagne contains less than 12 grams per litre of residual sugar.
Brut Nature, it means that 0 gram per litre of sugar has been added to champagne and that champagne contains less than 3 grams per litre of residual sugar.
Cahors, a French appellation that belongs the wine region Sud-Ouest (Southwest France). The appellation has 4,800 hectares. The average yield is low, 31 hl/ha. The most concentrated and the most ageable wines from this appellation come from its highest terraces. The wines, which are classified as Cahors Excellence or Charte de Qualité, must meet the following requirements: the harvest may not be higher than 40 hl/ha, the aging must last at least 18 months, and the wines have to pass a quality test. For some unknown reason, many of the best wine producers do not want to be with and meet these quality standards.
Cahors grapes, 85% Malbec, 13% Merlot and 2% Tannat.
Cahors the best vintages, 1982, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023.
Campofiorin, an Italian wine-making method. The Campofiorin-wine is made from the same type of grapes used for the production of Amarone, Recioto and Ripasso i.e. Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara. Unlike Ripasso (see Ripasso), part of the grapes are air dried and then fermented, a second time, with the wine of the fresh grapes. Campofiorin, the same as Ripasso, is a method invented by the wine company Masi.
Cannonau di Sardegna, an Italian appellation that belongs to the Sardinia wine region.
Cannonau di Sardegna, a DOC-wine. If the wine does not reach a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 13.5%, it is downgraded to Vino da Tavola-class and it must be sold as Cannonau without "di Sardegna". If the wine has been aged for two years and has an alcoholic strength by volume of at least 15%, it may be classified as Superiore. If the wine's alcoholic strength by volume amounts to 15% and the sugar content amounts to a maximum of 10 g/l, it may be classified as Naturalmente Secco.
Cannonau di Sardegna grapes, Cannonau, Carignano, Pascale, Bovale, and Muristello.
Canon-Fronsac, a French appellation that belongs the Libournais (Right Bank) wine district, which belongs to the Bordeaux wine region. The appellation has 300 hectares under vines. The average yield is 54 hl/ha. No chateaux, which belongs the Canon-Fronsac appellation, is classified.
Canon-Fronsac grapes, dominates Merlot (about 70%) followed by Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and a little Malbec.
Canon-Fronsac soils, clay and limestone.
Canon-Fronsac the best vintages, 1900, 1904, 1906, 1914, 1918, 1924, 1926, 1929, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1982, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
Carmignano, a DOCG-wine. The classification applies mainly red wine, but also includes the rosé wine Vinruspo and Vin Santo from the area. The wine must be aged for at least one year. To the wine may be called Riserva, it must be aged at least two years. Carmignano is made from the following red and white grapes: Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon (up to 10%), Trebbiano and Malvasia.
Carmignano grapes, Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon, Trebbiano and Malvasia.
Carmignano soils, rocky soils.
NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT SEPTEMBER 2026 (24-10-2026 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in regular assortment September 2026. 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. Bender, Riesling, 2025 (11 EUR/13 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry wine, Germany, 60 NJP, 2. Bishop's Peak, Pinot Noir, 2023 (19 EUR/22 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, USA, 70 NJP, 3. Castillo Monjardin, Garnacha, Organic, 2024 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Spain, 55 NJP, 4. Coca i Fitó, Natura, 2025 (13 EUR/15 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Spain, 70 NJP, 5. Colombes des Vignes, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Sainte Cécile, 2025 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, France, 55 NJP, 6. Côté Mas, Brut, 2025 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry blend sparkling wine, France, 00 NJP, 7. d'Arenberg, Hermit Crab, 2025 (11 EUR/13 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry blend wine, Australia, 65 NJP, 8. Dauvergne et Ranvier, Hermitage, Sélection, 2024 (35 EUR/39 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, France, 75 NJP, 9. Diente de Leon, Skin Contact, 2025 (10 EUR/12 USD in Sweden) white dry blend wine, Argentina, 00 NJP, 10. Fontanafredda, BollaCiao, NV (12 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry blend sparkling wine, Italy, 60 NJP …
NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT JUNE 2026 (19-06-2026 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in regular assortment June 2026. 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. Albades, Garnacha, 2024 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) white dry blend wine, Spain, 1,0 NJP, 2. Black Knight, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2024 (11 EUR/12 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Australia, 0,5 NJP, 3. Bon Courage, Prestige Cuvée, Chardonnay, 2025 (11 EUR/12 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, South Africa, 1,5 NJP, 4. Casa Santos Lima, Dão, Reserva, 2024 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Portugal, 0,5 NJP, 5. Contacto, Loureiro, 2025 (11 EUR/12 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Portugal, 1,0 NJP, 6. De Bortoli, Family Selection, Brut, Cuvée, NV (8 EUR/9 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry blend sparkling wine, Australia, 0,0 NJP, 7. Etna Rosso, Terre dei Miti, 2024 (18 EUR/21 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Italy, 0,5 NJP, 8. Famille Audu, Chardonnay, 2025 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) white dry blend wine, France, 0,5 NJP, 9. Gio, Rosso, Piceno, 2025 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Italy, 1,0 NJP, 10. Gorgeous, Brut, Rosé, NV (13 EUR/15 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry blend sparkling wine, South Africa, 0,0 NJP …
Make sure to try these wines, the wines that have got at least 85 NJP of possible 100 NJP
Domaine de la Janasse, Terre d'Argile, 2024 (19 EUR/22 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhône, Rhône, France, 95 NJP (02-09-2026 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
Domaine de la Janasse Terre d'Argile 2024 is the best Côtes du Rhône Villages-wine of the year so far, and probably the best Côtes du Rhône Villages-wine for the rest of the year. And it is definitely one of the best Côtes du Rhône Villages-wines that I have tasted. It is a big, aromatic, flavourful, rich, sweet spicy, complex and herbaceous wine. ... Read more
Vinarija Šimunković, Dingač, Reserva, 2017 (about 25 EUR/29 USD; selling price on the internet excluding delivery costs) red dry wine, Pelješac, Central and South Dalmatia, Croatia, 100 NJP (04-08-2026 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
Vinarija Šimunković Dingač Reserva 2017 is a fabulous, austere, sweet spicy and complex wine. It belongs to one of the over one hundred vintages/wines that I have tasted from the Dingač appellation (which is located in the Pelješac wine region, which in turn is located in the Central and Southern Dalmatia wine region), since 1984. ... Read more
Kracher, Red Roses, Beerenauslese, 2022 and 2023 (22 EUR/26 USD costs vintage 2022 in Sweden; 375 ml) (27 EUR/31 USD costs vintage 2023 in Sweden; 375 ml) white sweet wine, Burgenland, Austria, 90 NJP (23-08-2026 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
This is the first time that NJ Wines has written about two different vintages (2022 and 2023) of the same wine in one article. The reason for this is that there is almost no difference between its vintages. However, for some unknown reason, the 2023 vintage has been given a new name that lacks the word “Beerenauslese”, a new ... Read more
Everything you need to know about Chianti (22-10-2026 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".
Chianti, an Italian appellation that belongs to the wine region of Tuscany and that consists of eight DOCG-zones (DOCG appellations): Chianti Classico, Chianti Colli Aretini, Chianti Colli Senesi, Chianti Colli Fiorentini, Chianti Colline Pisane, Chianti Montalbano, Chianti Montespertoli and Chianti Rufina.
Chianti, several DOCG-types of wine. That the wine may be called Vecchio, it must be aged for two years, three years for the Riserva. Starting with the 2010 vintage there is a new wine class: Gran Selezione. For this class, the wine must be aged for 2 years and 6 months, of these 30 months at least 3 months in the bottle, and all the grapes must come from a single property. Three red grapes and two white grapes were usually included in the Chianti-wine. The proportions were as follows: Sangiovese 75-90% and Canaiolo Nero 10-20% (red grapes); Trebbiano and Malvasia 5-10% (white grapes) and a maximum of 10% of other grapes. Since 2006, it is forbidden to add green grapes. Nowadays, the Chianti-wine must consist of: 80-100% Sangiovese and 0-20% of one or more permitted grapes (Canaiolo Nero, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon). There are three schools: 1. traditional school, 2. middle school and 3. modern school. The traditional school ages wines in large oak barrels and rarely or never used 225 litre oak barrels (barriques). The middle school ages wines in large oak barrels and uses 225 litre oak barrels (barriques). The modern school is doing everything to get darker and more international customized wines. A good Chianti-wine can be aged for 10 to 20 years.
Chianti Classico, a zone within the appellation Chianti, consists of nine zones: Barberino Val d’Elsa, Castellina in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Gaiole in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, Poggibonsi, Radda in Chianti, San Casciano Val di Pesa and Tavarnelle Val di Pesa.
Chianti grapes, dominates Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero, Trebbiano and Malvasia.
Chianti Riserva, must be aged for at least 3 years, of which at least 3 months in the bottle.
Chianti soils, highly variable. The most sought after soils are galestro (slate) and alberese (a mixture of gravely clay and limestone).
Chianti the best vintages, 1975, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
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