1. 2004 Müller Thurgau. 5,50 EUR.
Pale yellow. Pleasant pear-fruity nose with minerals. Fresh, medium full taste, pears and elderflowers, just a slight touch of sweetness. (11p)

2. 2004 Kerner. 5,50 EUR.
Pale yellow. A bit closed and did not open up. A touch of almonds and a touch of smoke. Medium full, spritzy, tart acidity (10p)

3. 2004 Silvaner. 5,50 EUR
Pale yellow. Quite nice fruit in the nose. Light, crisp taste, some fruit, not very distinct, finishes short (11p)

4. 2003 Riesling/Traminer. 5,50 EUR
Pale yellow. Quit rich, fruity, peachy flavours and a bit pafumed. Medium full, crisp taste, nice fruit and a decent aftertaste. Interesting blend (12p)

5. 2004 Weißburgunder. 5,50 EUR
Pale yellow. minerally, smokey nose. Sprizy, light, acidic but soem apply fruit. A bit short (11p).

Comments: Our first wines from this district. Hardly great but quite OKish. On the light side, and clearly from a cold district.

1. 2002 Palandri Cabernet Sauvignon. 103 SEK
Dark red, purple tinged. Rich, open flavours of cassis, oak and butter scotch. Full, tannic, ricgh acidity, cassis, nice aftertaste. (15p)

2. 2001 Vasse Felix Shiraz. 199 SEK
Dark red. Ripe, flavoury fruity nose with oak. Full, very fruity taste, fine acidity and tannic. (15p)

3. 2000 Fermoy Estate. Cabernet Sauvignon. 186 SEK
Dark red. Very fruity, young flavours, black-berries, cassis and oak. Full, very fruity taste, medium acidity, long aftertaste (16p)

4. 2002 Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 199 SEK
Dark red. At first a bit closed, with a barn-yardish nose. Opened up and displayed some interesting, quite complex flavours. Fruity taste, fullish, medium tannins and a pleasant acidity. Long aftertaste. (16p)

5. 2001 Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot. 199 SEK
Dark red. Ripe, fruity, spicy nose nose with some oak. Fullish, well balanced, chewy, fruity tase. Good aftertaste. (16p)

Comments: Good stuff, and the Palandri was excellent value. We had no problems in identifying the Cabernets, and it didn't take to long to go to Australia, despite that they were not so minty as they sometimes can get down under.

Tasting notes by Lars Jonsson:

1988. 195 DKK
Dark red, mature rim A classical Bx, earthy, cassis, full bodied, sun warm, cedar, elegance, mature Shorter in length than expected, Cabernet, plummy, old leaves, pleasant acid, high in tannin A good wine at its peak. Should be drunk now-2008. 15 p; Parker 90 p

1990. 190 DKK
Dark red, maturing, Slightly lighter and more elegant, cassis, black berries, oaky, few dimensions in the wine Long lasting, black berries and black currant, medium body, good acidity, good texture A good wine. There is obviously huge bottle variation, with some much better than others as Parker has rated it very low. 16 p; Parker 79 p Drink now-2012

1997. 65 EUR at the Chateau
An easy wine, lighter then the rest. Earthy, bordeauxish, with much Merlot and Cabernet, black currant, coffee. Long taste of pleasant cassis, velvety and meaty, marzipan, with some maturity Good acidity, tannin rich, 16 p; Parker 88 p. Probably not improving much by age. Drink now-2015

1999. 46,80 EUR at the Chateau -
Very dark, red coloured rim Compexoity on the nose, plums, Merlot and Cabernet, full bodied, black currant, leather, raisin, horse stable, oaky. The high percentage of Merlot (47%) and Petit Verdot (7%) could be noticed, probably adding complexity. Full bodied and long taste, fruity, black currant, good high acidity, mellow, good tannins, with elegance. 17 p; Parker 89 p. The best wine of this evening. Drink 2008-2015. We are most grateful to Mme May de Lencquesaing and her staff

1. 2004 Zavós. 59 SEK
Purple. Young, very fruity, juicy flavours, slightly spicy. Young, crisp taste, medium full, medium tannins, a bit short. May develop.(12p)

2. 1999 Gere Cabernet Sauvignon Barrique. 180 SEK
Dark red. Fine, quite fruity nose with cassis and some oak. Full, spicy, fruity taste, black-berries and cassis, medium tannins, good acidity. Well balanced, reasonable aftertaste (15p)

3. 1999 Gere Kopár Cab S, Merlot, Cab F. 290 SEK
Dark red. Fine, rich, still youngish nose with cassis oriental spices and balanced oak. Full, rich taste, plenty of fruit, very balanced taste, acidity and tannins in harmony. Good aftertaste (16p)

4. 1999 Vylyan Duennium Cab S, Merlot, Zweigelt. 182 SEK
Dark red. Good, fruity nose with cassis and some oak. Medium full, quite tannic but the fruit is drying out. Very promising on the nose, but slightly disappointing taste. (13p)

5. 1998 Vylyan Montenuovo Cuvée. Cab S, Pinot Noir. 190 SEK
Dark red. Corked.

Comments: Gere's wines were without a question very good but surprisingly expensive (purchased in Hungary!) The Zavos was good value if you like the style, but tasted more like a young Syrah. There a great potential in Hungary and it will be interesting to follow the future development.

1. 2004 Gran Araucano Sauvignon Blanc. J&L Lurton. 125 SEK
Light yellow. Very, fruity aromas of gooseberries, apricots and apples. Minerals. Crisp, medium full taste, grapefruit, spices, esters. (13p)

2. 2003 De Martino Sauvignon Blanc. 139 SEK
Light yellow. Quite a fruity nose, citrus. Crisp, nice taste, pleasant fruit, short aftertaste (12p)

3. 2004 Casella Estate Chardonnay. Victoria, Australia. 99 SEK
Medium yellow. Nice aromas of tropical fruit and almonds. Crisp, warm, fruity taste, almonds, quite a long aftertaste. (14p)

4. 2002 Nativa Chardonnay. Carmen. 89 SEK
Golden yellow. Lots of toasted oak on the nose, tropical fruits. Full, rich taste, smooth acidity, oak. Well structured, but a bit too much oak to my taste (13p)

5. 2003 Leyde Cardonnay. 149 SEK
Golden yellow. Strange, slightly oxidised nose with pears and melons. Mature, a bit od tatse, slightly waxy - should it be like this? (11p)

Comments: Quite good wines but the prices were rather high I think.

1,2,3,4. 2003 Johanninger Pinot Noir. Wg Johanninger, Biebelsheim, Rheinhessen. Deutsche Tafelwein. Not for sale - for scientific purposes only.
This was an odd tasting indeed, but an interesting one. We tasted a wine fermented with four different yeast strains. Yeast was delivered from Chr. Hansen, Denmark who supplies most European wine makers with yeast. Weingut Johanninger has also a homepage
My tasting notes are very similar: Medium red. Medium nose with some nice spicy fruit. Medium full, low tannins, high acidity on the tart side, alcoholic (14%) and a bit unbalanced to my taste. The fruit was good enough but the tart acidity and the alcohol killed the wine. Not my glass of wine but some in the group liked them better than I did. There were some differences between the glasses, and obviously the yeast can influence the final wine. The wine in the third glass was a bit smoother, with a reasonable aftertaste, and the from the fourth glass a pleasant tobacco-scented aroma emerged.

1. 1994 Ch La Garde. Pessac-Leognan. Bordeaux, France 149 SEK (Aug 1997.)
Dark red with a mature rim. Mature pleasant nose, some cassis, tobacco and oak. Fullish, very mature well-balanced taste, moderate tannins, pleasant aftertaste with some oak. Good, but perhaps past its peak. (15p)

2. 1994 Farnito. Carpineto. Cabernet Sauvignon di Toscana VdT. Italy 125 SEK (Sept 1997)
Dark red, mature. At first a bit closed but opened up. Fine bouquet with good fruit, tobacco and oak. Fullish, quite robust with juicy acidity, pleasant fruit and a long aftertaste. (16p)

3. 1998 Ch Lafleur­Gazin. Pomerol. Bordeaux, France 230 SEK (May 2002)
Dark red. Medium nose, a bit shy but pleasant flavours of dark berries, raisins and moderate oak. Fullish, velvety, well-balaced taste. Medium aftertaste. Quite tasty, but lacks intensity (15p)

4. 1997 Montiano. Merlot. Rosso Lazio IGT. Italy. 205 SEK (Dec 2000)
Deep red. High volatile acidity; acetic acid, ethyl acetate and even a hint of acetaldehyde. Full, acidic taste, low tannins and overripe fruit. Not rated.

5. 1999 René Barbier Seleccion. Cabernet Sauvignon. Crianza. Spain. 129 SEK
Bright dark red. Rich fruit flavours, cassis and oak. Full, very tannic taste. Lots of fruit, chewy, good acidity, long but very tannic aftertaste. Will it develop? (16p?)

Comments: The poor performance of the Montiano raises a few questions. There was nothing wrong with the bottle, level was good, the cork was OK and there were no signs of any leakage. Was it just an odd bottle or was it the result of modern wine-making? Over-extracted over-ripe fruit that is not backed up by structural elements? Parker has rated it 95p!! Hm.....

1. 1997 Ch Batailley. Pauillac. 229 DKK in 2000.
Dark red, browning rim. Nice, maturing, open bouquet with some cassis fruit and oak. Fullish, soft, fruity taste, some tobacco and smoke, quite a nice aftertaste (15p)

3. 1988 Cos d'Estournel. St Estephe. Price?
Very dark red, with a mature rim. A bit tight on the nose but quite aromatic. Full, mature, quite tannic, some fruit an a good aftertaste. (15,5p)

4. 1986 Haut Brion. Graves. Price?
Dark red. A bit closed on the nose, but with quite good, fruity flavour and some oak. Very tannic and tough, high acidity, rich mid- and aftertaste, leather, cassis and a long tannic aftertaste. Not really in balance (16).

5. 1983 Ch Giscours. Margaux. Price?
Dark red. Mature nose, raisins and some volatile acidity. Full, rich taste, burned raisins and did not develop. (15p)

Comments: Great names and good wines tasted blind, as always. The wines were very similar in style. The Haut Brion was a minor disappointment, there were lots of extract but it did not really shine. The tannins were on the bitter and tarry side. Will it ever come through? Parker has rated it as high as 96. My scores of the other wines were more consistent with Parker whose ratings where 84 (Batailley) , 83 (Figeac), 87 (Cos) and 86 (Giscours). We liked the Figeac better than Parker did, but one should expect more from this well-renowned estate.

Tasting notes by Anders Lidén:

1. Graham Beck Merlot 2002, Western Cape. SEK 89
Dark red some. Pleasant fruity nose with a dark berries, some smoked barrel. Good fruity taste, dark berries with balanced acidity and tannins. Still young 15 p

2. Neethlingshof Cabernet Sauvignon 2001, Stellenbosch. SEK 95
Dark red fruity flavoury nose with cherries. High acidity and tannins. A little tart aftertaste. Needs a few more years. 13 p

3. Veenwouden Classic 1996, Paarl. SEK 159
Dark red with mature rim. Bordeaux style in the nose with cassis and oak. Good taste with rich mature fruit balanced tannins and good aftertaste. 15 p

4. Kanonkop Paul Sauer 1996, Stellenbosch. SEK 183
Dark red with mature rim. Complex nose with cassis and oak. Good taste with rich fruit and balanced acid and soft tannins. Long good aftertaste. 16 p

1. 1991 Beringer Private Reserve, Cab S. 139 SEK
Deep red, well pigmented. Fine, delicate, intense mature bouquet with cassis and balanced oak. Full, rich taste, well balanced, reasonable aftertaste. (16p)

2. 1993 Philip Togni Cab S. 395 SEK
Deep red. Mature bouquet which developed well in the glass: leather, cassis, toasted oak. Full, rich fruity taste, well balanced acidity and tannnins, long rich aftertaste. (17p)

3. 1993 Beringer Cab S. 110 DKK dark red. Medium bouquet, raisins, slightly minty. Full, quite fruity, warm taste, good acidity and some tannins. Good aftertaste. (16p)

4. 1992 Beringer Merlot Howell Mts. Bancroft Ranch. 219 SEK
Dark red. Very mature, slightly cheesy nose but also some fruit. Fullish, high acidity with tannins. Finishes a bit short, definitly past its best. (15p?)

Comments: Good wines, very Bordeauxish and peaking by now. I have previously expressed some doubts about the ageing capabilities of Togni's wine (see here), but my concerns seems to be unfounded.

1. 2001 Ohitza. E. Brana. Irouléguy. 99 SEK
Medium-red. Warm, open bouquet, cassis and some oak. Fullish, quite tannic, good acidity, cassis, slightly burned. Attractive, but a bit short finish. 45% Tannat, 40% Cab Franc, 15% Cab Sauv. (13p)

2. 2000 Cuvée Charles de Batz. Dom. Berthoumieu. Madiran. 162 SEK
Very dark-red. Warm portish bouquet with blueberries and oak, but also some musty cellar-flavours. Full, tannic, chewy, fruity taste, well balanced, long aftertaste. Maybe an odd bottle?. 90% Tannat, 10% Cab Sauv. (15p?)

3. 2000 Ch Bouissel. Côtes du Frontonnais. 86 SEK
Dark medium-red. Young fruity, spicy, meaty nose - Syrah!. Medium full, moderate tannins, slightly bitter, good, clean fruit and a nice aftertaste. Negrette + Syrah + Cot (Malbec)(14p)

4. 1998 Le Credo. Dom. Cazes. Côtes Catalanes. 90 SEK
Dark medium-red. Fruity bouquet with dark berries, blackberries, cassis and oak. Full, quit tannic, good fruit, well balanced and a good aftertaste (15p)

5. 1996 Impernal. Côtes d'Olt. Cahors. 98 SEK Dark medium-red. A bit closed on the nose, but quite aromatic fruit and distinct minty flavours. medium full, medium fruit, quite tannic, a bit short (13p)

Comments: An interesting tasting of sound and well-made wines from some lesser-known districts.

1. 2002 Carabella Pinot Noir ¨Les Mères¨. Willamette Valley. Oregon. USA (320 SEK)
Medium-red. well developed, oaky, fruity nose. Full, oaky taste, lots of fruit. Crisp, medium tannins, nice aftertaste. (15p)

2. 2001 Couvent des Jacobins. Jadot. Bourgogne. France. 99 SEK
Medium-red. Medium nose, some fruit and flowery. Medium full, some tannins, high acidity, slightly bitter aftertaste. (12p)

3. 2001 Yering Station Pinot Noir. Yarra Valley. Victoria. Australia. 159 SEK
Medium-red. Rich, open flavoursome nose, red berries and some oak, not without complexity. Fullish, soft fruity taste, nice acidity, oak and a nice aftertaste (15p)

4. 2000 Estancia Pinnacles. Monterey. California. USA 229 SEK
Dark red. Massive fruity nose, plums and vanilla. Full, well balanced taste, very fruity and tasty oak (16p)

5. 1999 Villa Stephen Pinot Noir. Barrel Aged. Nemesnádudvar. Hungary. (100 SEK)
Dark medium-red. Peculiar flavours on the nose, plums, dark berries, oak, portish. Quite acidic taste, berries, plums - a bit controversial (12p?)

Comments: Tasty stuff, but hardly any bargains. They were quite oaky, almost Rioja-styled.

1. 2004 Casillero del Diablo Carmenère. Valle Central. 70 SEK
Dark purple. Young, very fruity nose, black-berries, oak. Full, well balanced fruity taste and a nice aftertaste (14p)

2. 2003 Mont Gras Carmenère-Shiraz. Valle Central. 68 SEK
Dark red. Interesting developing flavours, dark berries, blueberries, violets, vanilla. Full, rich, fruity taste but finishes short and slightly bitter. (12p)

3. 2004 La Vida Carmenère-Cabernet. Valle Central. 54 SEK
Dark purple. Interesting nose but a bit closed, dark berries, cedar, oak, not without complexity but loosing flavour after a while. Full, soft, nice fruity taste, but lacking backbone. (13p)

4. 2003 Tarapacá Carmenère. Maipo. 69 SEK Dark red. Mature, cellarflavours but good fruit, lost of toasted oak. Full, maturing taste, well balanced, good acidity. (14p)

5. 2004 35 South Carmenère. Lontué. 69 SEK Dark red. Medium nose, cassis. Full, tasty, soft taste but acidic aftertaste (13p)

Comments: Nice wines in a popular style. Lacking perhaps in structure and length they still represent good value for the money.

Tasting notes by Erling V. Jirle:
1. 2004 Vergelegen Sauvignon Blanc. Western Cape, RSA. 109 SEK
The nose a bit restrained, slightly fruity. Light colour. Fresh dry taste, typical Sauvignon grape taste in the aftertaste. Nice fish wine. (13p)

2. 2004 Bellingham Our Founder's Chardonnay. Coastal Region, RSA. 95 SEK
Strong aromatic nose. Medium yellow. Thick taste, almost a bit oily, with fruits. Well-balanced oak in the lingering aftertaste. Southern sunny type of wine with a lot of alcohol (14 %). (14p)

3. 2003 Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc. Marlborough, NZ. 99 SEK
Spicy strong nose with tropical fruits. Well-balanced, very enjoyable taste, fruity and thick. A nice small acidity in the aftertaste keeps it good even when it gets warmer. (15p)

4. 2002 Vidal Estate Reserve Chardonnay. Hawke's Bay, Australia. 179 SEK
Has a special nose with odours of sweat and some oak. Pleasant ripe taste with rather balanced oak-flavours and lots of tropical fruits. A classic southern chewy and alcohol rich (14 %) Chardonnay wine. But the aftertaste could have been longer. (14p)

1999 Fairhall Estate. Merlot Cabernet Sauv. Marlborough. 139 SEK
Dark medium red. Fruity nose, cassis, blueberries and oak. Full, quite tannic, fruity, oaky taste with crisp acidity. Well balanced, pleasant wine (13p)

2001 Millis Reef Cabernet Sauv. Gimblett Gravels. 156 SEK
Dark red. Fruity nose, dark berries, oak. Full, young, fruity taste, well structured, oak.(14p)

2002 Helmsman Cabernet Sauv. Merlot 249 SEK
Dark red. Fruity, oaky flavours, cedar and liquorice. Very oaky, fruity chewy taste, well balanced and a long aftertaste (15p).

2002 Peregrine Pinot Noir. Central Otago. 279 SEK
Dark red. Young, fruity, cabbagy nose with plenty of oak. Fullish, slightly jammy fruit, crisp, medium tannins, oak. (14p)

2003 Te Kairanga Pinot Noir Reserve. 289 SEK
Dark medium-red. Fruity, berry nose, typical Pinot. Fullish, well structured taste, crisp, fruity, quite long aftertaste. (15p)

Comments:Good, well made wines in a popular style, but a bit on expensive side. They were a bit oaky to my taste, and I wonder if the fruit will outlive all this wood.

1. 2002 Dom de Courteillac. Bordeaux Superieur. 99 SEK
Dark red. Young, promising, fruity nose, red and dark berries and a nice touch of oak. Mdeium full, high acidity, medium tannins, unpolished but some nice fruit. Short finish. Could improve with some age. (12p)

2. 2000 Ch Labadie. Côtes de Bourg. Bordeaux. 139 SEK
Dark red, purple rim. Fine, rich bouquet, with spicy cassis, pulms, raisins and oak. Fullish, soft tannins, good fruit, well balanced. Nice aftertaste. Good now, but will keep. An ambitious effort. (14p)

3. 2002 Ch Des Annereaux. Lalande-de Pomerol. 144 SEK
Dark red. Good, young, fruity nose, spices, raisins (Merlot). Full, rich, ripe, chunky fruit, well balanced, nice aftertaste, if not very long. Could develop further (14p?)

4. 2000 Villa Puccini. IGT Toscana. 84 SEK
Dark red. Interesting, spicy nose with fruit, leather and oak. Fullish, spicy taste, red and dark berries, quite tannic but balanced. (13p)

5. 2002 Sundance Cabernet Sauvignon. Lodi, California. 225 SEK (Bag in Box)
Dark red. Young, sweet-fruity nose, slightly vegetal. Soft, fruity taste, slightly sweet, tutti-frutti and liqourice. A decent, easy-going wine in a popular style. (11p)

1. 2001 Talus Shiraz. Lodi. California, USA. 69 SEK
Dark red. Nice, fruity flavours of dark berries. Fullish, some black currant, well balanced wine, moderate aftertaste. (12p)

2. 2002 Bellingham Shiraz, Coastal Region, RSA. 89 SEK
Dark red. Rich, quite intense fruit, creamy, some oak. Full, well balanced taste with good a grip, spicy fruit, nice aftertaste. Excellent value!(14p)

3. 1999 Nieto Senetinier Syrah. Mendoza, Argentina. 99 SEK
Dark red, maturing rim. Massive, rich bouquet with blackberries and oak. Full, aromatic taste tannins and turns a bit medicinal and vegetal. Probably past its best (13p)

4. 1998 Jacob's Creek Shiraz. Orlando. Barossa SA, Australia. 150 SEK
Dark red. Rich, intense flavours of cassis and oak. Full, rich tastetannins and well balanced acidity. Tasty and very attractive, but maybe a bit one-dimensional (15p)

5. 2000 Lievland Syrah. Stellenbosch, RSA 189 SEK
Dark red. Fine, maturing bouquet, quite complex: toasted oak, coffe, spices, olives, laurels, leather. Full, rich taste, spicy fruit, long aftertaste, but slightly tart acidity to merit further points. A classic Syrah - the most French-styled in this tasting. (15p)