The wine of the month
During the first twenty one days of each month, NJ Wines presents the wine of the month. NJ Wines tastes hundreds of wines every month and among them, the wine of the month is chosen. The criteria that a wine will qualify as the wine of the month is that it has got at least 3,5 NJP in rating and that it stands out both by its quality and its aroma/flavour complexity. The wine shall also be available on the wine market.
December 2024: Churchill's, 20 Years Old Tawny Port (52 EUR/54 USD in Sweden) port wine, Porto, Douro, Portugal, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) (By Nenad Jelisic)
Wow - what a brilliant wine! Here we have one more masterpiece from the legendary port wine house Churchill's. The wine house that NJ Wines has consistently given 4,0 NJP (90 points) or more from and including the vintage 2012 up to and including the latest vintage 2019. Of these eight vintages, five got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP ... Read more
News and other things about wine
THE TOP 10 WINES 2024 AND THE BEST WINE 2024 (07-12-2024 by Nenad Jelisic)
This is the twelfth consecutive year that NJ Wines presents the top 10 wines. In 2024, 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 sex from France, three from Italy and one from Portugal. This year, with the best wine of the year, the fourth best wine of the year, the six best wine of the year, the seventh best wine of the year, the ninth best wine of the year and the tenth best wine of the year, France proved that it 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 2024 it started the first week in December 2023 and ended the last week in November 2024. This year, eight wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), which is a new record, in 2023, 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 2024.
NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT SEPTEMBER 2024 (18-10-2024 by Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in regular assortment September 2024. 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. Boschendal 1685, Chardonnay, 2023 (13 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, South Africa, 1,0 NJP, 2. Calamoresca, Fiano, 2023 (10 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Italy, 0,0 NJP, 3. Castelo dos Mouros, Reserva, 2021 (10 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Portugal, 0,0 NJP, 4. Costa Casablanca, Pinot Noir, 2023 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Chile, 0,0 NJP, 5. El Coto, Crianza, Organic, 2020 (10 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Spain, 1,0 NJP, 6. Grandiosa, Special Selection, Bonarda, 2023 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Argentina, 0,0 NJP, 7. Idle Lane, Chardonnay, 2023 (14 EUR/15 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Australia, 0,0 NJP, 8. Jurtschitsch, Riesling, Platin, 2023 (13 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Austria, 0,5 NJP, 9. La Val, Albariño, 2023 (15 EUR/17 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Spain, 1,0 NJP, 10. Les Vignerons d'Aghione, Vermentinu, 2023 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, France, 0,0 NJP.
NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT JUNE 2024 (27-08-2024 By Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in regular assortment June 2024. 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. Altitude by Duorum, 2022 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Portugal, 1,0 NJP, 2. Amare, 2023 (8 EUR/9 USD in Sweden) white dry blend wine, Portugal, 0,0 NJP, 3. Andica, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023 (11 EUR/12 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Chile, 2,5 NJP, 4. Bella Cosa, Merlot, 2023 (7 EUR/8 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Moldavia, 0,0 NJP, 5. Cecilia, Brut, NV (13 EUR/15 USD in Sweden) white dry blend sparkling wine, New Zealand, 1,0 NJP, 6. Cricova, 1952, Brut Alb, 2022 (7 EUR/8 USD in Sweden) white dry blend sparkling wine, Moldavia, 0,0 NJP, 7. Crudo, Rosé, Organic, 2023 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) rosé dry wine, Italy, 2,0 NJP, 8. Freixenet, Elyssia, Pinot Noir, NV (11 EUR/12 USD in Sweden) rosé dry wine, Spain, 1,0 NJP, 9. Glenelly Estate, Glass Collection, Syrah, 2022 (13 EUR/15 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, South Africa, 0,5 NJP, 10. Graach Himmelreich, Riesling, Spätlese, 2019 (26 EUR/29 USD in Sweden) white sweet wine, Germany, 2,5 NJP.
Make sure to try these wines, wines that have got at least 3,5 NJP of possible 5,0 NJP
Château Duhart-Milon, 2018 (approx. 117 EUR/123 USD; selling price on the internet excluding delivery costs) red dry blend wine, Pauillac, Haut-Médoc, Médoc, Bordeaux, France, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points)
Wow - what a delicious wine! Château Duhart-Milon 2018 is a nuanced, austere, complex, sweet spicy, fruity and flavourful wine, which has a fabulous balance between tartaric acidity, sweetness, fruitiness and tannins. The complex aroma is characterized by vanilla, sweet tobacco, prunes, ripe dark cherries, cocoa, pencil shavings ... Read more
Domaine des Creisses, Les Brunes, 2021 (34 EUR/37 USD; selling price to restaurants in Sweden i.e. price exclusive VAT) red dry blend wine, Pays d’Hérault, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points)
Definitely the best Pays d’Hérault, Languedoc-Roussillon-wine that NJ Wines has tasted so far. An absolutely fabulous blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Domaine des Creisses Les Brunes 2021 is a big, austere, complex, sweet spicy, fruity and flavourful wine that has a fabulous balance between tartaric acidity, sweetness, ... Read more
David Moret, Puligny-Montrachet, 2022 (83 EUR/92 USD; selling price to restaurants in Sweden i.e. price exclusive VAT) white dry wine, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) (By Nenad Jelisic)
This is the best 100% Chardonnay-wine that NJ-Wines has tasted so far this year. It is absolutely fabulous. David Moret Puligny-Montrachet 2022 is a dry, fresh, fruity, full-bodied, spicy, complex and flavourful wine. The aroma, which feels almost perfumed, is big, spicy and complex. In it one finds butter, citrus fruits, ripe yellow fruits ... Read more
The world's restaurants
The restaurants, which NJ Wines has viisited, tried their food and wines as well as rated food’s quality, food's taste, how the food is presented and looks, wine selection, decor, atmosphere, service and cleanliness, are presented here.
Eskilstuna's best pasta place - Mocca Deli, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP, and Eskilstuna's best pizza place - Pizzeria Pepperoni, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP, Sweden (27-10-2024 by Nenad Jelisic)
During the last fifteen months, NJ Wines has tasted and rated food in all pizzerias and restaurants located in NJ Wines' city of Eskilstuna. NJ Wines visited all of these pizzerias and restaurants or ordered their food home. There are many restaurants in the town of NJ Wines, but even more so there are pizzerias. The quality and taste of the food varies greatly, from 0,0 NJP to 5,0 NJP. Unfortunately, most of the pizzerias and the restaurants have got 1,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP or even less. In this article, NJ Wines wants to highlight the absolute best when it comes to pastas and pizzas i.e. Mocca Deli and Pizzeria Pepperoni. What applies to over 99% of pizzerias and restaurants in Eskilstuna, including the best ones, is that one has to pick up salad, bread, drinks and food by him/herself. NJ Wines wonders why? The only logical explanation is that all these restaurants want to save money by having customers do jobs that their employees would do. In a lot of restaurants and pizzerias, the owners expect that the customer also clear the table after the meal. Note that this is nothing unique to Eskilstuna, the same applies to 99% of pizzerias and restaurants in Sweden. NJ Wines believes that this way of working is not good and means that many who are looking for a job in the restaurant and pizzeria branch never get it. However, NJ Wines understands that the very small pizzerias and restaurants cannot afford to hire more staff, but it does not have the same understanding when it comes to the large pizzerias and the restaurants.
Tuzla's restaurants, Bosnia and Herzegovina (26-12-2022 and 15-02-2024 by Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines visited many of Tuzla's restaurants during June and July 2022 and June and July 2023. The restaurants, which were visited, ranged from those specializing in just one dish to those that had a wide selection of dishes and could be opened in any city in Europe. As Bosnia and Herzegovina was occupied by many different empires, mostly by the Ottoman Empire (just over 400 years) and then by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, its food tradition has been greatly influenced by it. Furthermore, Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of three major religions, Muslims, Orthodox and Catholics, each of which has its own food traditions. All this makes Bosnia and Herzegovina a unique culinary place when it comes to food. And therefore, if you get the opportunity, you should definitely visit and try different cuisines in some of Bosnia and Herzegovina's cities such as Banja Luka, Mostar, Sarajevo or Tuzla. Also, people in Bosnia and Herzegovina are very nice and helpful.
Ekstedt, Stockholm, Sweden, 2,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP (17-10-2020 by Nenad Jelisic)
Restaurant Ekstedt was the fourth restaurant in a row in Stockholm that NJ Wines visited and rated. Restaurant Ekstedt is owned by one of Sweden's most successful and influential chefs, Niklas Ekstedt, who became known through the cooking program Niklas Food on Swedish Television in 2005. After internships at several very famous chefs such as Charlie Trotter, Heston Blumenthal and Ferran Adrià, Niklas started in 2000, only 21 years old, his first restaurant, restaurant Niklas in Helsingborg in Sweden. From 2003, he also ran the restaurant Niklas Viken in the coastal community Viken north of Helsingborg. In 2007, Niklas opened the restaurant 1900 in Stockholm and with the move, the restaurants in Skåne were closed. In 2011, he opened the restaurant Ekstedt, which got a star in the prestigious Michelin guide in 2013 and has been retained it since then. A few years later, the restaurant 1900 was changed its name to Restaurant Niklas and then it was closed in 2017 when Niklas decided that he had to focus on his new restaurant (wine café) Tyge & Sessil and the restaurant Ekstedt. Since the beginning of 2018, Niklas owns restaurant Hillenberg in Stockholm. During 2018, Niklas was part of the cooking program "Four Hands Menu" and "New Scandinavian Cooking". He has also published seven cookbooks: Niklas cookbook (2004), Niklas in the middle of the week (2006), Niklas tastes (2008), Niklas Home cooked Swedish food (2011), Grill with Niklas (2013), Ekstedt over open fire: recipe for the analog kitchen (2017) and Niklas Christmas (2018). In addition to these seven cookbooks, he managed to write three more cookbooks with Henrik Ennart: Happy food: About how food and happiness are connected (2017), The blue food (2018) and Happy food 2.0: About how the meal and happiness go together (2018 ) and a cookbook together with Christian Daun: My child eats everything (2017). Niklas really has to like his profession a lot otherwise he would never succeed to do all this in just 41 years.
Everything you need to know about Bordeaux, Part 6 of 6
The text excerpts from NJ Wines' extensive wine dictionary are presented here. The text excerpts will be changed one to four times a month. You can read about exciting wines, appellations, wine districts, wine regions, etc. by clicking above on the "Wine glossary and wine facts".
Graves, a French wine district (and appellation) that belongs to the Left Strand's wine area, which in turn belongs to the wine region of Bordeaux. The wine district consists of the following five appellations: Barsac, Cérons, Graves, Pessac-Léognan and Sauternes. The wine district has 7,018 ha of which about 70% is planted with red grapes, while the appellation Graves has 3,000 ha. The average yield of the appellation is 55 hl / ha. Graves got its name from its dominant soil, gravel (grave in French). The best wines from the wine region of Graves comes from Léognan and Martillac. Thanks to the good drainage properties of gravel, the Graves wines tend to be good, unlike those from the Médoc, during very rainy years. On the other hand, during the very hot and dry years, Graves wines tend be bad due to the severe water stress (the ripeness of the grapes become less due to the reduced photosynthesis).
Graves (the wine district's) the best vintages, 1900, 1904, 1906, 1914, 1918, 1924, 1926, 1929, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1982, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020.
Graves (the wine district's) the best wineries, Château Climens, Château Coutet (Cuvée Madame), Château Doisy-Daëne (L'Extravagant), Château d'Yquem, Château Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut Brion, Château Pape Clément, Château Rieussec och Château Suduiraut.
Barsac, a French appellation that belongs to the Graves wine district, which belongs to the Bordeaux wine region. It is known for its sweet wines. Botrytis cinereas’s (noble rot) attack on the grape skins is crucial in the production of these wines. Without fog and high humidity would not be noble rot and Barsac’s unique sweet wines, and in the autumn, when the climate is hot and dry and the temperature difference between the air, the Garonne river and its tributary the Ciron, is the greatest that the noble rot develops. The more the grapes are affected by the noble rot, the more they are vulnerable to rain and, therefore, a heavy rain can destroy the entire vintage. Before, these sweet wines had a sugar content of 90 grams per litre and today, they have the sugar content between 120 and 130 grams per litre. The allowed yield is incredible low, 25 hl/ha, while the average yield is even lower, 19 hl/ha.
Barsac grapes, Sémillon accounts for 60-90%, Sauvignon Blanc 10-30% and Muscadelle up to 10% of cultivated grapes in the appellation.
Barsac soils, gravel on limestone. In some parts of Barsac, the limestone is covered by sand and clay.
Barsac the best wineries (châteaux), Château Climens, Château Coutet (with wine Cuvée Madame) and Château Doisy-Daëne (with wine L'Extravagant).
Pessac-Léognan, a French appellation that belongs to the wine district of Graves, which in turn belongs to the wine region of Bordeaux. The appellation has 1,350 ha. The average yield is 50 hl/ha. 80% of the produced wines are red and 20% are white. Château Haut-Brion, which according to the 1855 classification was classified as Premier Cru, is located in in the appellation. The appellation's best wines come from the Léognan- and Martillac area. Thanks to the good drainage properties of the gravel, Pessac-Léognan wines, unlike those from Médoc, tend to be good during very rainy years. On the other hand, during very hot and dry years, Pessac-Léognan wines tend to, due to that the grapes suffer from water stress (the maturity of the grapes becomes less due to the decreased photosynthesis), be poor. The wines (chateaux) from Pessac-Léognan were classified in 1953 and then again in 1959. The classification, which was carried out in 1959, classed 13 châteaux as the best for red wines and 9 as the best for white wines. Later, at the request of Château Haut-Brion, the Château Haut-Brion was taken away from the nine classed châteaux for the white wines. In 1987, Pessac-Léognan got the appellation status, before that it belonged to the appellation of Graves.
Pessac-Léognan grapes, for red wines dominate Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot followed by Cabernet Franc while for white wines dominate Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon followed by small amounts of Muscadelle.
Pessac-Léognan soils, gravel intermixed with sand.
Pessac-Léognan the best wineries (châteaux), Château Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut Brion and Château Pape Clément.
Sauternes, a French appellation that belongs to the wine district of Graves, which in turn belongs to the wine region of Bordeaux. Sauternes is known for its sweet wines. Botrytis cinereas' (noble rot) attack on the grape skin is crucial in the production of these wines. Without fog and high humidity would not be noble rot and Sauternes unique sweet wines, and in autumn, when the climate is hot and dry and the temperature difference between the air and the Garonne river and its Ciron tributary is greatest is when the noble rot develops. The more, the grapes affected by noble rot, the more they are sensitive to rain and, therefore, a heavy rain can destroy the entire vintage. Previously, these sweet wines had a sugar content of 90 grams per litre, and today, their sugar content is between 120 and 130 grams per litre. The appellation has 2,002 ha. The allowed yield is incredible low, 25 hl/ha, while the average yield is even lower, 22 hl/ha. Sauternes consists of five municipalities: Barsac, Bommes, Fargues, Preignac and Sauternes.
Sauternes grapes, Sémillon accounts for 60-90%, Sauvignon Blanc 10-30% and Muscadelle up to 10% of the grapes grown in the appellation.
Sauternes soils, gravel on limestone. In some parts of Sauternes, the limestone is covered by sand and clay.
Sauternes the best wineries (châteaux), Château Climens, Château Coutet (Cuvée Madame), Château Doisy-Daëne (L'Extravagant), Château Rieussec, Château Suduiraut and Château d'Yquem.
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