The wine of the month
During the first seven 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 3,0 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.
July 2021: Louis M Martini, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2017 (30 EUR/35 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, North Coast, California, USA, 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (90 points of 100 points) (07-07-2021 by Nenad Jelisic)
Right now, this wine is the best US-wine under 2,000 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 NJ Wines has tasted in recent years when red wines under 2,000 SEK are in question. Louis M Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is ... Read more
News and more about wine
NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT JUNE 2021 (19-06-2021 by Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in regular assortment June 2021. 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, 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 try wines from Boxes, Paper-packaging and PET-bottles because NJ Wines believes that these types of packaging destroy wine culture):
1. Antxiola, 2020 (12 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Spain, 0,5 NJP, 2. Aquarella, Sauvignon Blanc, 2020 (8 EUR/9 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry wine, Spain, 2,5 NJP, 3. Ca' di Rajo, Sauvignon Blanc, 2020 (10 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry wine, Italy, 0,5 NJP, 4. Cala Civetta, 2018 (12 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Italy, 1,0 NJP, 5. Castel Mimi, Grande Reserve, 2019 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Moldavia, 0,5 NJP, 6. Cigarra, Gran Passo, Rosé, 2020 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) rosé semi-dry wine, Portugal, 1,0 NJP, 7. Delaire Graff, Swartland, Reserve, Chenin Blanc, 2019 (18 EUR/22 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, South Africa, 3,0 NJP, 8. Domaine Saint Thomas, Muscat de Rivesaltes, 2019 (10 EUR/11 USD in Sweden; 375 ml) white sweet wine, France, 2,0 NJP, 9. Dveri-Pax, Riesling, 2020 (12 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry wine, Slovenia, 2,0 NJP, 10. Greenock Estate, Pinot Noir Shiraz, 2020 (14 EUR/17 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Australia, 0,0 NJP.
NEW WINES IN TEMPORARY ASSORTMENT THAT WERE TASTED DURING MAY 2021 (05-06-2021 by Nenad Jelisic)
The tasted Systembolaget's new wines in Temporary Assortment, which were tasted during May 2021, got the following points (Note that the wines are arranged in alphabetical order and 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"; NV = non-vintage wine; Systembolaget = a government owned chain of all liquor stores in Sweden):
1. Agrelo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Catena Zapata, 2018 (16 EUR/19 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Argentina, 1,5 NJP, 2. Amy's, Moss Wood, 2018 (20 EUR/24 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Australia, 0,0 NJP, 3. Bonneterre, Thierry Germain, 2019 (17 EUR/20 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, France, 1,0 NJP, 4. Brancaia, Rosé, Casa Brancaia SRL, 2020 (14 EUR/17 USD in Sweden) rosé dry wine, Italy, 0,5 NJP, 5. Calera, Central Coast, Chardonnay, 2018 (24 EUR/27 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, USA, 2,5 NJP, 6. Causse du Bousquet, Mas Champart, 2017 (20 EUR/24 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, France, 0,5 NJP, 7. Château la Reyne, L'Excellence, 2019 (20 EUR/24 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, France, 1,5 NJP, 8. Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine, 2018 (30 EUR/36 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, France, 1,5 NJP, 9. Domaene Gobelsburg, Rosé, 2020 (12 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) rosé dry wine, Austria, 1,0 NJP, 10. G.D. Vajra, Rosabella, Rosato, 2020 (12 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) rosé dry blend wine, Italy, 1,0 NJP.
NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT MARCH 2021 (28-04-2021 by Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in Regular Assortment March 2021. The wines got the following points (Note that the wines are arranged in alphabetical order and that the wines that have got more than 3,0 NJP, if any, re 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"; NV = non-vintage wine; Systembolaget = a government owned chain of all liquor stores in Sweden):
1. Church Road, McDonald Series, Chardonnay, Church Road Winery, 2019 (17 EUR/21 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Nya Zealand, 3,0 NJP, 2. Costa, Gran Reserva, Cinsault Rosé, 2020 (10 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) rosé dry blend wine, Chile, 0,0 NJP, 3. Crama Trantu, Noblesse, Feteasca Regala, 2019 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Romania, 0,0 NJP, 4. Cuvée Prestige, Rosé, L'Altavilloise, Millésime, 2014 (27 EUR/32 USD in Sweden) rosé dry blend sparkling wine, France, 0,5 NJP, 5. Fiore, Sauvignon Blanc, 2020 (10 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Chile, 2,0 NJP, 6. Gaia, White Blend, 2020 (12 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) white dry blend wine, Argentina, 1,5 NJP, 7. Gemtree, Organic, Shiraz, 2020 (12 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Australia, 2,0 NJP, 8. Grand Tokaj, Szamorodni, 2017 (13 EUR/15 USD in Sweden) white sweet blend wine, Hungary, 1,5 NJP, 9. Istine, Chianti Classico, 2018 (15 EUR/18 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Italy, 0,5 NJP, 10. Kleine Zalze, Cellar Selection, Fairtrade, Red Blend, 2020 (10 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, South Africa, 0,0 NJP.
Make sure to try these wines, wines that have got at least 3,5 NJP of possible 5,0 NJP
Edi Simcic, Rebula, 2016 (24 EUR when purchasing in the winery) white dry wine, Goriska Brda, Primorje, Slovenia, 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (90 points of 100 points) (07-06-2021 by Nenad Jelisic)
This Rebula-wine, which was first tasted at the winery in 2019 and got 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP, and then tasted at home at NJ Wines 2021 and again got 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP, is for NJ Wines the world's best Rebula-wine. It seems that NJ Wines can not get enough of the brilliant white wines made by the winery Edi Simcic. The wines made ... Read more
Radgonske Gorice, Untouched by Light, 2016 (100 EUR when purchasing in the winery) white dry sparkling wine, Radgona-Kapela, Štajerska, Podravje, Slovenia, 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (90 points of 100 points) (06-05-2021 by Nenad Jelisic)
Here we have the world's most unique sparkling wine. Unique thanks to the fact that both its harvest and its entire production process (including aging and bottling) has taken place under darkness. To be able to work under such working conditions, workers wore night vision goggles. Last but not least, before any bottle is allowed to ... Read more
Tuffeaux, Damien Lorieux, 2018 (16 EUR/19 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Bourgueil, Touraine, Loire Valley, France, 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP (85 points of 100 points) (2021-05-09 by Nenad Jelisic)
Wow, what the Cabernet Franc wine from the Bourgueil appellation that is located in the Loire wine region. It happens very rarely that one tries such a really good wine that is made from 100% Cabernet Franc from the Loire wine region (Loire Valley) as this wine. A wine that has a rich, concentrated and fruity aroma, and, ... Read more
Tenuta Tre Gemme, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Riserva, 2015 (30 EUR when purchasing in the winery) red dry wine, Abruzzo, Italy, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) (03-04-2021 by Nenad Jelisic)
During my almost 40 years as a wine lover and more than 30 years as a wine connoisseur, I have never tasted better Montepulciano d’Abruzzo-wine. It is absolutely fabulous. Bravo Tenuta Tre Gemme! That a wine from Montepulciano-grape can reach such heights like this wine is absolutely incredible. Tenuta Tre Gemme Montepulciano ... Read more
Edi Simcic, Fojana, Sauvignon, 2016 (38 EUR when purchasing in the winery) white dry wine, Goriska Brda, Primorje, Slovenia, 4,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP (95 points of 100 points) (01-03-2021 by Nenad Jelisic)
So, I wrote in my notes when I visited Edi Simcic's winery and tasted this wine in July 2019. “Rock and Roll continues. A big and very complex wine. Buttery and rich in minerals. Big, complex, sweet spicy and fruity aroma. Big, complex, sweet spicy, fresh and bitter flavour. Very long, spicy, fruity, fresh and wonderful bitter aftertaste. ... Read more
Steyer, Steyer Mark, Cuvée, 2015 (20 EUR when purchasing in the winery) white dry blend wine, Radgona-Kapela, Štajerska, Podravje, Slovenia, 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP (85 points of 100 points) (06-03-2021 by Nenad Jelisic)
Steyer Steyer Mark Cuvée 2015 is a wine that consists of 50% Gewurztraminer, 25% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Gris. Its aroma is moderately perfumed, floral and fruity. While its flavour is very fresh and moderately fruity. In the aroma, one finds yellow apples, white flowers, yellow pears, nectarines and sweet spices. In the flavour, one ... Read more
Churchill's, Late Bottled Vintage, 2016 (19 EUR/23 USD in Sweden) port wine, Porto, Douro, Portugal, 5,0 of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) (04-02-2021 by Nenad Jelisic)
This is the best Late Bottled Vintage-port wine that I have tasted so far. And I have tasted many. This applies to both Churchill's Late Bottled Vintage and Late Bottled Vintage of all other port wine producers. It is unbelievable that five vintages in a row of one and the same wine got 4,0 NJP or more of the possible 5,0 NJP (2012: 4,0 ... Read more
Los Patricios, Chardonnay, 2016 (25 EUR/30 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Valle del Itata, Région del Sur, Chile, 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP (85 points of 100 points) (07-02-2021 by Nenad Jelisic)
If I should blind test this wonderful Chardonnay-wine, I would most likely say that it comes from the Meursault appellation in Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France. The wine is without a doubt the best Chardonnay-wine that I have tasted from Chile so far. The aroma is big, complex and full-bodied. In it one will find browned butter, ... Read more
Tommasi, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, 2016 (30 EUR/36 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Veneto, Italy, 4,0 of 5,0 NJP (90 points of 100 points) (04-02-2021 by Nenad Jelisic)
After many tasted Amarone-wines in the price range 160 SEK to 500 SEK during the last twelve months, here finally comes one that gets more than 3,0 NJP out of 5,0 NJP (more than 80 NJP out of 100 NJP). All the other tasted Amarone-wines in this price range got 0,0 NJP to 1,5 NJP. In addition, their quality varied from bottle to ... Read more
Poliziano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, 2017 (23 EUR/27 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Tuscany, Italy, 3,5 of 5,0 NJP (85 points of 100 points) (31-01-2021 by Nenad Jelisic)
This is a wine that really needs to be decanted. It really benefits from it by intensifying both its richness of aroma and flavour, especially its richness of aroma. In the aroma one can clearly find crème de cassis, dark cherry jam, roasted oak barrels, cocoa-rich dark chocolate, dried plums, cardamom, vanilla and freshly ground coffee. In the ... Read more
The world's restaurants
Here presents the restaurants that is considered to be the world's best restaurants. The restaurants, which NJ Wines has visited, tried their food and wine as well as rated food’s quality, food's taste, how the food is presented and looks, wine selection, decor, atmosphere, service and cleanliness. (NJP = Nenad Jelisic Points)
Note that due to the Corona Pandemic, NJ Wines has not had opportunity to visit and rate any restaurant since March 2020.
Ekstedt, Stockholm, Sweden, 2,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP (17-10-2020 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 (23-11-2019 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.
The Flying Elk, Stockholm, Sweden, 2,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (18-08-2019 by Nenad Jelisic)
A new Stockholm-restaurant-disappointment again, but it is not as big as the one with the Matbaren, Mathias Dahlgren at the Grand Hôtel, which got 1,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP on my last visit, the third visit. I think that the problem with The Flying Elk's low rating lies in the fact that Björn Frantzén's small restaurant empire has become too big too quickly. So fast big that Björn has transferred control and management of his new restaurants to significantly less talented part-owners/managers. Then, their poor management and control has led to that cooks, sommeliers and waiters have stopped caring or that they had employed the cooks, the sommeliers and the waiters who would absolutely not be employed. I assert this because Björn Frantzén, one of Scandinavia's absolute best chefs, would never allow that the food, the wines and the service would end up on this level, 2,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP. It is a pity that it is so as I wrote because Björn is really passionate about food and cooking and it proves his relatively short and very successful chef-history. Björn took his first steps as a cook through the practice at the restaurant Edsbacka krog (Edsbacka Wärdshus) in Sollentuna, Sweden. Then he worked among others at the restaurant Chez Nico (Nico Ladenis, London, UK, three Michelin stars) and the restaurant Arpege (Alain Passard, Paris, France, three Michelin stars). In 2008, together with pastry chef Daniel Lindeberg, he opened the restaurant Frantzén/Lindeberg in Stockholm. The following year, the restaurant got its first Michelin star and two years later it got its two Michelin stars. In 2013, Björn and Daniel went separate ways and the restaurant was renamed to Frantzén. In 2018, the Frantzén became Sweden's first restaurant to be awarded three stars in Guide Michelin. In 2019, Guide Michelin confirmed the restaurant's three star status. Today, besides The Flying Elk and Frantzén, Björn also runs Catering Frantzén, Studio Frantzén, Corner Club and Gaston vin. In addition to all this, Björn has managed to write a book together with Daniel Lindeberg, see above, (Frantzén/Lindeberg, 2012) and a book together with Göran Lager (The Flying Elk, 2016) and two own books (Glow with Björn Frantzén, 2014 and Björn Frantzén prepares food for peckish diabetics and other people, 2017). To achieve all this and be 42 years old is absolutely incredible.
All you need to know about Ornellaia e Masseto (18-07-2021 by Nenad Jelisic)
Here we will present text excerpts from NJ Wines' extensive wine dictionary. The text excerpts will be changed one to four times a month. You can read about other exciting wines, appellations, wine districts, wine regions, etc. by clicking above on the "Wine glossary and wine facts".
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia (it was renamed to Ornellaia e Masseto 2012), an Italian wine producer that produces two of Italy's best, most expensive and most sought-after wines: Ornellaia (140,000 bottles per year) and Masseto (32,000 bottles per year). It also produces two other red wines: Le Serre Nuove (190,000 bottles per year) and Le Volte (450,000 bottles per year) and a white wine Poggio alle Gazze (10,000 bottles per year). The wine producer has 97 hectares planted with grapes. The various vineyards consist of 66 different lots and are located at a height of 50 to 120 m above sea level. The average density is about 7,000 plants per hectare.
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia (Ornellaia e Masseto) grapes, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon (40 ha), 37% Merlot (36 ha), 12% Cabernet Franc (12 ha) and 10% Petit Verdot (9 ha).
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia (Ornellaia e Masseto) soils, a mixture of sand and clay.
Masseto, (red dry wine; which was first produced in 1987; 100% Melrot; The strange thing is that Masseto belongs to the second lowest Italian wine class IGT due to one uses, for the Tuscany wine region, an unapproved grape), Tuscany, Italy, the best vintages, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Ornellaia, a red dry blend wine that was first produced in 1985. The wine's exceptional high quality is achieved by: all grapes are hand harvested, are transported in small 15 kg boxes, and undergo a double selection, and that each grape variety and vineyard lot are fermented separately, macerated for 10 to 15 days and then aged in 225 liter French oak barrels (70% new) for 20 months and 10 months in bottle. Ornellaia has a great aging potential. The strange thing is that the wine, a few years ago, belonged to the lowest Italian wine class (Vino da Tavola) due to use/s, for the wine region of Tuscany, then unapproved grapes.
Ornellaia (red dry blend wine; 52% to 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, the rest consists of Merlot and Cabernet Franc; since 2003, 3 to 5% of Petit Verdot are used in the blend), Bolgheri DOC Superiore, Tuscany, Italy, the best vintages, 1990, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2016.
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