Life is too short to drink bad wine

It is hunting season and wild game is widely available. The shiraz (Australia) grape or Syrah as it is called in Rhone (France) often provide a good match for such meat as well as steak. Peter Lehmann has a wide selection of wines and this Shiraz is reasonable as well as very good. Deep dark red colour. Big bouquet of sweet blackcurrants, mint and vanilla (12 months in american and french oak). Hint of black peppper. It provides a good solid mouthful with a slight "sweet" and warm aftertaste. Very good value for money and easy to like and drink, but be careful 14,5% alcohol! This wine is part of Peter Lehmann art series and comes with a handy screw cork. Peter Lehmann Barossa Shiraz ( Low price 124) always good quality price ratio Goes with most meat , pizza and aged cheddar. http://www.peterlehmannwines.com.au/experience/The-Wines/art-series/shiraz

Low price range Bordeaux wines are difficult to come across. Since the great 2005 and 2009 vintages, the Bordeaux prices have gone through the roof with first growth like Latour and Mouton Rotschild demanding ridicolous prices. It is has thus become more and more difficult to to get a touch of the typical Bordeaux smell and experience at reasonable prices. However do not despair as there are still some cheap good ones around. One suggested to me the other day turned out to be a very nice experience. The 2007 vintage prices are more reasonable than 2005 and 2009 and is easy drinking as well. With 80% Merlot the Ch Panet is less tannic than the young Medoc wines and has a lovely nose of dark berries, leather, liquerice and plums. Quite a good length and dry finish. Red meat and lamb. Ch Panet 2007, St Emilion, and affordable petite Bordeaux Low Price Range (170)

When we visited Vajra this summer we bought a mixed case of his wines. This Barbera is from a single vineyard called Bricco delle Viole. The colour is superb dark red and purple, a bit like ink. The nose is very elegant with cherries, chocolate, leather, plums and beetroot. The taste is "warm" and very fruity with a complex taste and good length. Perfect balance between acidity and tannins. A great Barbera, but be aware it is 14,5%! Try with cheese, white meat and lamb. Barbera d'Alba Superiore 2007, Vajra, Piemonte - an elegant Barbera  Medium price: NOK280 or 20€ The Vajra cellar.

Allesverloren (all is lost) has three different red wines for sale and they are all good. The estate is in Swartland in South Africa north of Cape Town. The Shiraz has an intense ruby color with lots of nice blackcurrant and spices on the nose. It is a very fruity, rich and full bodied wine. Crying out for lamb chops or a good steak. Allesverloren Shiraz 2008, South Africa, big wine for small bucks (NOK128) Allesverloren welcomes you

Found a bottle of this uncut diamond last week. It is not on the price list, they just happened to have a few bottles of it in the shop. Way too young to drink now but it was the end of a tough week and national footie on TV. Deep dark red colour with lovely discrete smell of brambles, pepper, raspberries, olives. The taste is firm solid and complex. The tannins are surprisingly soft but very much present. Lovely long taste quite smooth and fruity with just a touch of pepper. This is textbook Syrah from Cote Rotie and the price is not far off British standards. Buy , just buy cause with at BBR in London the price per bottle is 51£! Parker score 92p.... Cote Rotie 2006 Michel Ogier - because we are worth it. NOK ca 400. Worth every penny.

The worst rainy day in years and we were struggling down to Sandnes south in a car. Wine # 1 Medium red colour with smell of red berries, jam, chocolate, some flowers. The taste is very fruity, smooth and silky but lacks acidity and tannins. Very confusing signals. Overall a good wine with the smell being the most attractive but the taste is "boring" due to lack of tannins and acidity. Panel uncertain about grape but quite sure its from a "warm" country like California or down south. Felton Road Pinot Noir 2008, Central Otago New Zealand   Score 16,40 (DN 90) NOK 398,-  P-   There are other Pinot Noir to buy then.... Felton Road Wine # 2 Deep dark red colour with purple rim and an explosion of smells. Dark berries, mint, chocolate, vanilla, plums etc. The taste is a big big mouthful but very fruity, packed with firm but soft and smooth tannins. The panel is practical chewing the wine and are discussing Shiraz vs Cabernet Savignon from down under. Lovel

Wines like Vino Nobile di Montepulciano from Tuscany  normally starts at around 200 kroner (25€) but here is one that is more affordable and of good quality as well. The wine is made of more than 80% Sangiovese with some other local grapes added as well. It is full bodied wine with lovely smell of dark cherries, spices and leather. A good mouthful with good acidity, length and a dry finish. It feels a bit "warm" in the mouth as well. The wine will suit beef, lamb and deer. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Cantine Dei, 2007, Tuscany an affordable Nobile (158) Cantine DEI, Maria Caterina Dei, Montepulciano, Toscana, Italy

Pernand Vergelesses is the northernmost appelation in Cote de Beaune. Its just north of the A6  when you come from Paris.  Doudet Naudin  from Savigny les Beaune has created this wine which is a bit like Savigny les Beaune but got more depth, colour and taste than their neighbour appelation to the south. "Les Fichots" is one of the 6 original Premier crus (now 9). The wine is medium red with purple rim. Discrete, but attractive tones of red berries on the nose. The taste is less rustic than its neigbours, less "fat" than Beaune and less seductive than Chambolle. It is however very good value for money. Perfect balance which can balance your bank account as well cause for a mere 21€ this can be yours from the nearest Auchan. In Norway , hmmm a bit more.... Pernand Vergelesses 1er cru "Les Fichots" 2006 - perfect with deer and 2 year old comte. .. Its a beautiful day - U2 http://www.doudet-naudin.fr/index2_gb.htm

Burgundy tasting last night, or "Bergen de" as one could say if you like wine and is from Bergen. Started off with two white and continued northwards sticking to Patrice Rion's wines for the reds.  Prices ranging from 30 to 60 € per bottle and expected high quality all the way. As the evening went on the participants tried to match wine and music by using spotify......   Chassagne - Montrachet 2007 " Clos Devant" Lequin- Colin    Great white wine with crispy minerals and decent fatness. Chassagne - Montrachet 2007   1er cru "Les Baudines", Lequin-Colin Another step up. Very elegant. Lots of minerals and fruit (apricot). White for glorious days! "Hotel California" by Eagles Nuits St George "Vielles Vignes" 2006, Patrice Rion, First red. Elegegant dark fruits with silky tannins. Perfect start. "Dreamer" by Supertramp Chambolle Musigny 2006, Patrice Rion   Ever tried drinking silk? Great delicate red berr