April wines

Thought I would post last month's wines early for once...

After a very warm March April turned out to be very cold -welcome to the upside down world. The much anticipated road trip to Österlen during Easter was mostly cold and miserable, but nevertheless the food and ambience at both Karlaby Kro and Brösarps Gästgifveri was perfect. This area of Sweden is definitely the pantry of Sweden.

During April I also attend a large wine tasting at the wine cellar trying some real excellent wines from Champagne, Alsace, Chablis and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. End result 18 new bottles to my own collection. Shellfish plateau and a divine bottle of Sancerre at Swea Hof ended that evening. So again it's been more drinking and discussing wines than writing it all down.

The Prickly Pear Viognier Marsanne 2009
I'm in love with wines from d'Arenberg and more and more of then are finding their way to Sweden. The Prickly Pear might not be one of their finest, but d'Arenberg's way of constantly trying new different things amaze me. And they are good at it. Light yellow colour. On the nose pear, grape, melon and hints of herbs. On the palate pear, white flowers, citrus and some oak.

Jacobsdal Pinotage 2009
Slowly I'm finding more and more wines from South Africa that are not bulk wines which is making me very happy. Dark red colour. On the nose plums, tobacco cedar and licorice. On the palate plums, blackberries, tobacco herbs and some vanilla.

Palmer Blanc de Blancs 2006
Probably my favourite champagne brand and good value for the money. Light yellow colour. On the nose floral aromas such as white flowers and honeysuckle together with almond. On the palate green apples, grapefruite and toasted notes of mocha.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine Mathieu 2009
The Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation has plenty of wines to try and this is yet another good and price worthy one. Dark red colour with blue hues. On the nose oak, cherries, plums and tobacco. On the palate spices, cherries, lavender, plums, blackberrries and some licorice.

Babylon's Peak Shiraz Mourvédre Grenache 2009
Another South African find far from the bulk wines that you usually find in Sweden. Dark red colour, almost black. On the nose plenty of spices together with plum and coffee. On the plate plums, raisins, pepper and smoked charcuteries.

Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru 2009
What to say about Grand Cru Rieslings? They are close to perfect all the time. The older the better. Light yellow colour. On the nose apples, citrus, herbs, grapefruit and minerals. On the palate again apples, herbs,mineral and grapefruit along with citrus.

Langhe Nebbiolo Pio Cesare 2007
One rough Italian, but oh so nice. Red brick colour. On the palate spices, oak, cherries roses and hints of violet. On the palate oak, species, plenty of cherries and sandalwood.

Trimbach Riesling 2008
Good old Trimbach. Never bad bottle and you always know what you get. Light yellow colour. On the nose pears, honey, peach and mineral. On the nose pear, mineral, honey and grapefruit,. Very fresh and crisp.

Sancerre Les Baronnes 2007
A lady at Copenhagen airport once told me that drinking Sancerre is like listening to when the angels sing. I quite haven't heard the angels sing yet, but a good Sancerre could be very close to heaven indeed. Yellow colour with hints of green. On the nose minerals, nettles, pear and citrus. On the palate again nettles, minerals, asparagus and some citrus.