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Wine I like – A Seasonal Selection |
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By Alan Pembshaw
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Wednesday, 18 November 2009 |
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Alan Pembshaw rifles through the shelves at Alko and recommends wines for the period up to and including Christmas, from shiraz to sauvignon blanc– with prices in Swedish in case you’re going over the border.
As an Aussie in Finland, the New World wines of the Southern Hemisphere are a real treat. Finland has many wines not available in Australia–from Chile, Argentina, and South Africa, for instance. Over time, however, I find myself coming back to Australian wines and wines from New Zealand, and my current recommendations are almost exclusively those. Kiss me: I’m a koala.
Nugan Estate Durif 2007 €17.20
A rich, full-flavoured wine with deep purple tones, a higher alcohol level and riper taste.
Excellent wine and a good alternative if you’re looking for a new, unusual variety.
 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 €13.22 or 85 Kr (8.3€)
One of my favourites from Australia’s best red wine maker, Penfolds is a consistently good quality commercial, deep red with strong shiraz characteristics, good berry flavours and some pepper. It’ll benefit from a couple of years in the bottle but is ready to drink now. One of the best value-for-money wines available.
Note the difference in price between Sweden and Finland.
Banrock Station Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 €8.98
Another consistently good, full-bodied wine with a bit of tannin. Good value for money.
Rosemount Shiraz 2007 €13.02 or 85Kr (8.3€)
A very good example of a wine of Australia’s most important style, the shiraz, Rosemount has a deep red colour with typical strong berry flavours and a bit of tannin. It will benefit from another year or two in the bottle but drinks well now, and is excellent value for money, especially if you buy it in Sweden.
Peter Lehmann Barossa Shiraz 2006 €12.98 or 122 Kr (11.9€)
Another strong Australian shiraz, a year older than the Rosemount above, Peter Lehmann Barossa has developed further with fewer tannins and a smoother taste. The better wine of the two if you’re buying in Finland.
Yalumba Y Series Riesling 2008 9,98 € or 89Kr (8.7€)
Yalumba is crisp and tangy with a lovely citrus flavour, and has a floral nose and good acidity. A good commercial example of a typical dry Australian Riesling.
Vicar’s Choice Sauvignon Blanc 2009 85 kr (8.3€)
Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2009 99 kr (9.7€)
Finally, two excellent New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs available in Sweden.
1. Vicar’s Choice Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent example of a New Zealand classic. The 2009 vintage is crisp with a beautiful nose of freshly cut grass, crisp and clean.
2. Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc is another excellent example and this one is the biggest selling NZ wine in Australia. Again, the new 2009 vintage is a beautiful crisp, fresh wine with a hint of kiwi fruit and pineapple.
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