Other news the past 12 months, part 2 of 2
BORDEAUX TASTING OF WINES FROM 69 CHATEAUX 2023, VILLA SOLLIDEN, STOCKHOLM (27-09-2023 by Robert Jonasson, Wines We Love, and Nenad Jelisic)
It does not happen very often that one gets to taste wines from 69 Bordeaux wine estates (chateaux) during one and the same tasting. Especially not in Scandinavia. Winefinder has again organized this traditional (annual) tasting of primary wines (En Primeur-wines) and older wines from Bordeaux. In this case, primary wines refer to wines from the 2022 vintage in Bordeaux. The wines from vintage 2022 were barrel samples. They will remain in barrel and bottle, before being released on the market, for about 12 more months. In addition to the primary wine, most of the wine estates (chateaux) also had an older wine as a reference. The tasting was held on the 5th of September 2023, at Solliden at Skansen in Stockholm.
The best primary wines (En Primeur-wines) of the Bordeaux tasting:
Domaine de Chevalier, Rouge, 2022, red dry blend wine, Pessac-Léognan, 4,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP (94 points of 100 points). Winefinder's price: 920 SEK ex VAT and excise duty.
Domaine de Chevalier always delivers well both on the red and white side. But this time it was the 2022 vintage of the red wine that really shone. I do not think that I have tasted a more open, accessible and perfect primary vintage (En Primeur-vintage) of Domaine de Chevalier. The vineyard is planted with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2,5% Cabernet Franc and 2,5% Petit Verdot. The wine itself consists of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Domaine de Chevalier Rouge 2022 will develop into a wonderful wine.
NEW WINES IN TEMPORARY ASSORTMENT THAT WERE TASTED DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2023 (17-09-2023 by Nenad Jelisic)
The tasted Systembolaget's new wines in Temporary Assortment, which were tasted during August and September 2023, got the following points (Note that the wines are arranged in alphabetical order, 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", NV = non-vintage wine, Systembolaget = a government owned chain of all liquor stores in Sweden and 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. Amayna, Syrah, 2020 (17 EUR/18 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Chile, 0,0 NJP, 2. Arzuaga, Gran Reserva, 2017 (29 EUR/31 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Spain, 3,0 NJP, 3. Bisci, Vigneto Fogliano, 2020 (18 EUR/19 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Italy, 1,5 NJP, 4. Bourgueil Trinch, Cathérine et Pierre Breton, 2021 (16 EUR/17 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, France, 0,0 NJP, 5. Bruno Cazes, Banyuls, 2014 (22 EUR/24 USD in Sweden; 500 ml) sweet fortified wine, France, 1,5 NJP, 6. Callejuela, La Hacienda de Doña Francisca, 2021 (17 EUR/18 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Spain, 0,5 NJP, 7. Campo Lavei, Valpolicella Superiore, 2020 (16 EUR/17 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Italy, 0,5 NJP, 8. Dandelion Vineyards, March Hare of the Barossa, Mataro, 2020 (17 EUR/18 USD in Sweden), red dry blend wine, Australia, 0,5 NJP, 9. DeAetna, Bianco, 2021 (15 EUR/16 USD in Sweden) white dry blend wine, Italy, 0,5 NJP, 10. Domaine Bott, First Flight, Syrah, 2020 (25 EUR/27 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, France, 1,0 NJP.
NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT MARCH AND JUNE 2023 (10-08-2023 by Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in regular assortment March and June 2023. 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. Alamos, Organic, Malbec, 2022 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Argentina, 1,5 NJP, 2. Aleixo, Reserva, Tinto Bairrada, 2020 (12 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Portugal, 1,0 NJP, 3. Alto Molino, Chardonnay, 2022 (8 EUR/9 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Argentina, 1,5 NJP, 4. Arbois Poulsard, Jacques Tissot, 2020 (13 EUR/15 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, France, 0,5 NJP, 5. Barolo, Massimo, Rivetti, 2018 (25 EUR/28 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Italy, 0,5 NJP, 6. Church Road, McDonald Series, Chardonnay, 2021 (12 EUR/13 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Australia, 1,5 NJP, 7. Château La Rame, 2020 (10 EUR/11 USD in Sweden; 375 ml) white sweet wine, France, 2,5 NJP, 8. De Martino, Legado, Semillón Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 (10 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) white dry blend wine, Chile, 1,0 NJP, 9. Florbela, Reserva, 2021 (10 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Portugal, 1,0 NJP, 10. Forstreiter, Ried Schiefer, Grüner Veltliner, Kremstal DAC, 2021 (14 EUR/15 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Austria 2,5 NJP.
