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.
September 2026: 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
News and other things about wine
DID YOU KNOW THAT, PART 9 OF 100 (09-08-2026 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
Here, NJ Wines will present brief wine news and wine facts every month.
Blanc de Blancs, French, means that the sparkling wine is made from pure Chardonnay.
Blanc de Noirs, French, means that the sparkling wine is made from pure Pinot Noir. Sometimes the Meunier-grape is also used in the production of this sparkling wine.
Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux (formerly known as Premières Côtes de Blaye), a French appellation that belongs to the Libournais (Right Bank) wine district which in turn belongs to the Bordeaux wine region. The appellation has between 4,500 and 6,000 ha planted with vines. The variation is due to official registry updates and varying regional definitions, which sometimes also include older satellite lists (then up to 6,500 ha). The permitted yield for the appellation is 52 hl/ha for red wines and 62 hl/ha for white wines. The actual yield varies between 35 and 50 hl/ha depending on the weather conditions of the specific vintage and use of different cultivation methods. The wines from here should be drunk three to five years old.
Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux grapes, Merlot is most widely grown (around 70%), followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (around 20%) and Malbec (around 10%). Also grown, in smaller quantities, are Cabernet Franc, Carmenère and Petit Verdot. According to the rules, Carmenère may constitute a maximum of 10% and Petit Verdot a maximum of 15% of the total blend.
Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux soils, vary greatly. The lowland areas are dominated by mixed soil that consists of sand, clay and gravel, while the hilly areas are dominated by clay, weathered limestone and limestone.
Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux the best vintages, 1900, 1921, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1934, 1937, 1943, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
Botrytis cinerea, botrytis cinerea is also called noble rot. Botrytis cinerea’s attack causes the water in the grape to evaporate while the sweetness, acidity and flavours get a higher concentration.
Botti, Italian, large oak barrels (from 500 to 10,000 liters) made in Slavonia in Croatia and Slovenia. They are mostly used for aging of Barolo and Barbaresco-wines.
Burgundy, both a French wine region and a Regional appellation that consists of 6 wine districts: Beaujolais, Chablis, Côte Chalonnaise, Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits and Mâconnais, and 84 appellations (AOC). Of these appellations, 33 belong to Grand Cru-appellations, such as Bâtard-Montrachet, Clos de Vougeot and Romanée Conti, 44 to Village appellations, such as Aloxe-Corton, Chassagne-Montrachet and Meursault, and 8 to Regional appellations, such as Bourgogne Aligoté, Crémant de Bourgogne and Mâcon.
Burgundy the best vintages for red wines, 1929, 1966, 1969, 1990, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022.
Burgundy the best vintages for white wines, 1962, 1966, 1969, 1989, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Burgundy Côte d’Or, a French appellation (Regional Appellation) that was created on the 31 of July 1937, and which is located in the wine region (Regional Appellation) of Burgundy. The appellation has 535,97 ha planted with vines. Of these, 340,40 ha are planted with Pinot Noir and 195,57 ha are planted with Chardonnay. The average yield is a low 32 hl/ha for Pinot Noir-wines and 35 hl/ha for Chardonnay-wines. In 2017, the producers of the Regional Appellation (wine region) of Burgundy, within areas located in the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, got the additional designation Bourgogne Côte d’Or, which by that becomes one more Burgundy with an Additional Geographical Denomination. This name is reserved for red and white dry still wines produced in 40 villages in the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits.
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 …
NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT MARCH 2026 (10-03-2026 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in regular assortment March 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. 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.
Make sure to try these wines, the wines that have got at least 85 NJP of possible 100 NJP
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
Argirio, Cabernet Franc, Podernuovo a Palazzone, 2022 (36 EUR/41 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Tuscany, Italy, 100 NJP (04-08-2026 by Dr Nenad Jelisic)
It is extremely difficult to find a good 100% Cabernet Franc-wine. Better to say, it is almost impossible. The Swedish wine importer Solid Wine succeeded in this almost impossible task. And it seems that for Podernuovo a Palazzone's owner and winemaker Giovanni Bulgari is not a big problem to create such a wine. Moreover, he does it ... Read more
Everything you need to know about Screaming Eagle (23-08-2026 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".
Screaming Eagle, an American winery, which is located in the Oakville appellation (AVA), which is itself located in the Napa Valley appellation (AVA), which is in turn located in the North Coast wine region of California. The winery has 18,1 hectares planted with grapes.
Screaming Eagle, an American cult wine from the Screaming Eagle winery. It is one of the most internationally known and rare red wines from the United States. It began production in 1992. Production is extremely small, only 8,400 to 12,000 bottles are produced, i.e. 6,300 to 9,000 liters per year. In 2000, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022, the wine was not produced. The fact that there is such a large difference between the yield and production is explained by the fact that all wine that does not meet the house's extremely high quality requirements goes to the winery's second wine Screaming Eagle Second Flight/The Flight [32% to 67% Merlot, 30% to 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 0% (vintage 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2018) to 22% Cabernet Franc)]. If you want the wine quickly, you have to pay at least 50,000 SEK for a 0,75 litter bottle, otherwise you have to wait for many years on the house's waiting list before you get, if you get, your three bottles for 63,000 SEK. You read that right; you can only buy 3 bottles for a price of 21,000 SEK per bottle. The wine is made from 75% to 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 0% (vintage 2005) to 20% Merlot and 2% to 11% Cabernet Franc. The grapes for the wine are hand-harvested in up to five rounds. The purpose of the repeated harvest is that only the absolute best and ripest grapes end up in the wine. Screaming Eagles has 24,28 ha and of these, 18,1 ha are planted with wine. The 18,1 ha are divided into 45 different lots, and the grapes from them are fermented in 45 different stainless steel tanks. Mostly the natural yeast, which comes from the vineyards, is used. After the fermentation, the grape mass is gently pressed and both the self-run wine and the pressed wine are stored separately in the aforementioned 45 stainless steel tanks. Then the wines are blended together and after that the wine is transferred to 225 litter, 60 to 75% new, French oak barrels (barrique) where it undergoes malolactic fermentation, and is aged for a period of about 20 months. Finally, the wine is bottled, without filtration and without fining, and aged for a few more months before it is released on the market. What characterizes this wine is the extreme selection that takes place both in the vineyard (up to five times) and in the wine cellar (selection of both grapes and wine from different barrels). As already mentioned above, if during the selection of wines, it is discovered that any wine from any oak barrel does not meet the house's extremely high quality requirements, it will go to the wine house's second wine Screaming Eagle Second Flight/The Flight. It began production in 2006, and only 6,000 to 9,600 bottles, i.e. 4,500 to 7,200 liters, are produced per year of Second Flight/The Flight. In 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022, Second Flight/The Flight was not produced. A Sauvignon Blanc-wine is also produced, but in very small quantities. Screaming Eagle can be aged well for 20 to 25 years.
Screaming Eagle [red dry blend wine; 75% to 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 0% (vintage 2005) to 20% Merlot and 2% to 11% Cabernet Franc)], Oakville, Napa Valley, California, USA, the best vintages, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2023.
Screaming Eagle, Second Flight/The Flight [red dry blend wine; 32% to 67% Merlot, 30% to 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 0% (vintage 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2018) to 22% Cabernet Franc)], Oakville, Napa Valley, California, USA, the best vintages, up to vintage 2011 none, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2021; not 2022 and 2023.
Screaming Eagle grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon dominates (11,7 ha) followed by Merlot (4,0 ha) and Cabernet Franc (2,4 ha). Small amounts of Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc are also grown. Currently, about half of the vines date from the mid-1990s, while the other half were planted after 2006.
Screaming Eagle soils, like the rest of the Oakville appellation (AVA), Screaming Eagle soils vary greatly. From blocky weathered red volcanic soil, gravelly sandy silty clay soil to gravel and clay.
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