Other news the past 12 months, part 2

Other news the past 12 months, part 2 of 2

THE TOP 10 WINES 2023 AND THE BEST WINE 2023 (04-12-2023 by Nenad Jelisic)

This is the eleventh consecutive year that NJ Wines presents the top 10 wines. In 2023, 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 10 top wines of the year. 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 top 10 wines of the year come five from Italy, one from Croatia, one from Spain, one from Portugal, one from USA and one from France. This year, with the fourth best wine of the year, the sixth best wine of the year, the seventh best wine of the year, the eighth best wine of the year and the ninth best wine of the year, Italy proved that it once again belongs to one of the world's best wine-producing countries. Note that NJ Wines’ wine tasting year always begins the first week of December the year before and ends the last the week in November the current year i.e. for the year 2023 it started the first week in December 2022 and ended the last week in November 2023. This year, 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 pleased with the positive result, but NJ Wines does not believe that the global quality of the wines has changed as much in the positive direction as the tasting result shows. NJ Wines was just lucky enough to taste some of the world's best wines in 2023.

NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT SEPTEMBER 2023 (29-11-2023 by Nenad Jelisic)

NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in regular assortment September 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. Alba Rhino, Vinho Verde, 2022 (14 EUR/15 USD in Sweden), white dry wine, Portugal, 1,0 NJP, 2. Bio Riesling, NV (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden), white semi-dry sparkling wine, Germany, 0,0 NJP, 3. Cecchi, Chianti Classico, 2021 (15 EUR/16 USD in Sweden), red dry blend wine, Italy, 3,0 NJP, 4. Christina, Orange, NV (15 EUR/16 USD in Sweden), white dry wine, Austria, 0,0 NJP, 5. Diente de León, Criolla, 2022 (13 EUR/14 USD in Sweden), red semi-dry wine, Argentina, 0,0 NJP, 6. Digno, Riesling, 2022 (8 EUR/10 USD in Sweden), white dry wine, Chile, 1,5 NJP, 7. Elara, Treixadura & Godello, 2022 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden), white dry wine, Spain, 0,5 NJP, 8. Fincas Valdemar, Gran Reserva, Edición Especial, 2015 (22 EUR/25 USD in Sweden), red dry blend wine, Spain, 5,0 NJP, 9. Lenz Moser, Zweigelt, Eleganz, 2022 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden), red dry wine, Austria, 0,5 NJP, 10. Le Sablou, Bergerac, 2022 (8 EUR/9 USD in Sweden), red dry blend wine, France, 0,5 NJP.

See all 21 wines

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.