Current exchange rates: 100 SEK = 11.09 EUR = 15.37 USD = 9.10 GBP

604. April 25, 2014: Ribera del Duero. Björn Aksell

1. 2003 Pesquera Reserva Especial. 289 SEK
Dark red, maturing rim. Mature bouquet, good fruit, dill and oak. Full, intense taste, medium tanninc, crisp acidity, well balanced, oaky aftertaste. Most Rioja styled. (16p)

2. 2003 Protos Crianza. 129 SEK
Dark red, red rim. Good but tight nose, dark berries some oak. Full, fruiyuy taste, quite tannic but with a rather short aftertaste (15p)

3. 2004 Protos Gran Reserva. 355 SEK
Dark red. Medium nose, not yet developed, a touch of brett?, Full, mature taste, tannic, good aftertaste (16p)

4. 2009 Aventino 200 Barrels. 159 SEK
Dark red, lots of pigmets. Lots of fruit on the nose, toasted oak. Full, oaky taste, good fruit, tannins and acidity, young and well balanced. The bargain of the evening! (16p)

5. 2011 Flor de Pingus. 599 SEK
Dark red. Very young, very rich, aromatic fruit on the nose. Nice oak. Full, fruity, taste, filling the mouth. Crisp and tannic, very young but a looong aftertaste. Clearly the best wine in the show, very promising but needs time (17pts so far...)

1. 2010 Pure Saint Laurent. Artisan Wines. Burgenland. 12%. 110 SEK
Dark red. Very fruity nose, dark berries, cherries, young, juicy. Medium full, creamy fruit, crisp, moderate tannins, well balanced. (14p)

2. 2011 Zweigelt. Umathum. Burgenland. 12,5%. 139 SEK
Dark purpe red. A bit closed at first, wine gums, slighly rubbery, animal notes but developed well in glass. Young, slighly burned taste, very fruity, well balanced. (13p)

3. 2009 Blaufränkisch Reserve. Krutzler. Burgenland. 13,5%. 199 SEK
Dark red. Rich, fruity taste, dark berries, cherries, toasted oak. Full, oaky taste, young fruity, aroatic, crisp acidity, firm tannins, good aftertaste (15p)

4. 2009 Pannobile. Gsellmann & Hans. 13%. Zweigelt/St. Laurent/Blaufränkisch. Burgenland. 199 SEK
Dark red. Fruity, youngish nose, aromatic, quite complex with a touch of oak. Full, well balanced, fruity taste, well handled oak, not without elegance. Good aftertaste (16p)

Comments: These wines were well liked by the tasters. The wines were also very food friendly and worked well with gulasch, or actually a pörkölt. Austrian wines, Hungarian food, why not listen to Under the Double Eaglewhile reading these notes? You may also enjoy this this version.
All wines were purchased at Handla vin, where you may find an interesting selection of Austrian wines

1. nv Catralvos. Palmela D.O.C. 102 SEK
Dark red, maturing. Quite rich with ripe fruity flavours. Full, crisp, young fruity taste, soft tannins, nice straight-forward, but with a somewhat short aftertaste (13p)

2. 2009 Casa de Santar. Reserva. Dão. 141 SEK
Dark red. Very fruity, some oak. Full, quite tannic, good fruit, good aftertaste. (14p)

3. 2010 Casal Mor Reserva. Dão. 56 SEK
Dark red. Fruity, spicy nose, absinth, oranges, a bit odd. Medium full, quite tannic, spicy medium fruit. Good for the modest price.(12p)

4. 2012 P. Lex Reserva. Sexto Sentido. Alentejano. 101 SEK
Dark red. Ripe fruit, a bit jammy, warm and some oak. Full, slightly jammy fruit, red berries, moderate tannins, and might improve with some age. Possibly one of the better celebrity wines in Sweden (Petter!)(13p)

5. 2011 La Garada. Reserva. Quinta do Cume. Douro. 91 SEK
Dark red. Fruity, warm, rich flavours with some oak. Full, soft, ripe, slightly jammy fruit, quite tannic. Good (13p)

1. 2008 Château Mont Redon. 235 SEK
Dark medum red, pale brick red rim. Rather fruity, juicy nose, red and dark berries. Medium full, crisp, moderate tannic, some fruit, maturing. Very drinkable but lacks finish. A bit disappointing in relation to the price (14p)

2. 2010 Xavier. 221 SEK
Dark red. Youngish, fruity nose, black currants and Earl Grey tea. Full, fruity and spicy taste, firm tannins but in balance. Good aftertaste (15p)

3. 2010 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret. 209 SEK
Dark red. A bit closed on the nose, a burned flavours and raisins. Medium full, crisp, ripe fruit, well balanced and a good aftertaste which fills up the mouth. Good aftertaste. Might have scored higher with a more developed bouquet . (15p)

4. 2010 Louis Bernard. 171 SEK
Dark red. Closed on the nose, some red berries and oak. Medium full, quite tannic and unfocused fruit. Not bad, but uninspiring (14p)

5. 2012 Le Hurlevent. 159 SEK
Dark red. Cherries and oaky flavours. Fullish, pleasant fruit, liquorice, with good acidity and tannins. Very drinkable but... (14p)

Comments: The author of these notes considers himsef as a great fan of Châteauneuf-du-Papes but was a bit disappointed when the wines were revealed. No doubt good wines but they seemed to lack something. Or was I only a bit unfocused after a week of hard work? So, please, take these notes with some precaution.