Life is too short to drink bad wine

This is one of my favourite white wines. It comes from the small region called Rias Baixas west in Spain just north of Portugal. The grape is called Albarino and unlike many other Spanish white that may get too much warm weather this one is stylish and fresh with a lovely acidity. Pale yellow with green reflections. On the nose beautiful peach, flowers with some minerals and a touch of lime. The lime is there on the taste as well with a rather good length and well balanced attractive finish. Goes with seafood, mild cheese and birds. Albarino Pazo Senorans 2009, Rias Baixas Spain, low price 177, lively good value white from sunny Spain . .: Pazo de Señoráns - Our Philosophy :.

White wines from Meursault are normally more nutty than the ones from Chassagne and Puligny Montrachet. So is this one as well, but with a beautiful minerality. The wine is made up from three vineyards and has a lovely balance and a long dry finish. Although Meursault is one of the most expensive white wine districts in the world I find that the wines from here can sometimes be too oaky, dry and lack a bit of of fruit. Not my preferred style. This one from Ente though, has however more fruit and less of the "dry" elements and is a lovely wine according to my taste. Meursault 2002, Arnaud Ente, High price 40£, rising star from Meursault, watch out. 

This is a very basic but good Riesling from Alsace in France. Hugel is a big producer with many different wines. The wine has a lovely minerality and smell of ripe green apples. The acidity is good as well as the balanced dry taste. It is a kind wine that goes with most white fish, bird, cheese and seafood. Due to the kind acidity it can also be enjoyed as an aperitif. Riesling"Hugel" 2008, Alsace, good example of Riesling, low price 185. Hugel & Fils Official Site, fine french wines, Riquewihr, France, Alsace

90% Syrah mixed with 10% Marsanne to make this wonderful Hermitage from the plot called "Le Greal". Deep dark red colour and a charming smell of lovely dark berries with discrete pepper tones. On the palate it is fruit all the way, packed with soft tannins a big body and solid mouthful. The aftertaste is long velvety, fresh and fruity with a perfect touch of pepper to simply remind you that this is Syrah you are drinking now. Hermitage 2007 "Le Greal", M Sorrel, Medium price 37£, like a velvety Burgundy with pepper.

This wine comes from the granite vineyard La Bonnette just behind the town of Condrieu. This is a advanced textbook Viognier with medium to heavy body and beautiful golden colour. The lovely aromatic smell of peach , flowers and honeysuckle makes you dream about summer. If you have climbed the hills of Condrieu you will also understand the great mineral taste. In addition it expresses a big seductive viscosity (i.e it is fat) with a creamy moderate acidic long finish. Absolutely lovely stuff! Fantastic... Condrieu "La Bonnette" 2007, Rostaing, high price 40£, like sex in a bottle?

One of the better basic Chianti Classico according to my personal taste; deep red colour, lots of cherries with some plum and spices and a light but firm well balanced taste. Very drinkable and approachable without too much fuss. 100% Sangiovese and 12 months in oak. Low price 190 NOK and just above 10€ in the expensive Tuscany region (one of the few wines that was actually reasonably priced down there). Chianti Classico 2007 Villa Cafaggio, simple but good. Villa Cafaggio

Barolo area vineyard growing the Dolcetto grape by Michel Chiarlo. A beautiful Dolcetto it is as well. Wonderful purple colour. Great Dolcetto smell of cherries, flowers and hints of beetroot. Lovely juicy wine with perfect acidity and balance. Textbook Dolcetto with a firm aftertaste and a nice finish. Dolcetto wines should be drunk when young and served with risotto, pasta and white meat. Dolectto d'Alba 2009 "La Coste" By Michele Chiarlo, 10€, perfect lunch wine, serve slightly chilled Michele Chiarlo Vini   Classici del Piemonte

Having spent a long weekend in Firenze, Tuscany and compared it to the experience of Piemonte there are a few reflections worth noticing; 1) It is virtually impossible to find a good and reasonable Chianti Classico. 2) All the Chiantis have different styles and its very difficult to know what you will get unless you know the different producers from before. 3) The red wines are most of the time served too warm and cost too much 4) The wine prices in wine shops, the market or in supermarkets are equal to or higher than in Norway! 5) Stay with the local white wine Vernaccia as you will then get the wine at the right temperature and price. 6) Go sligthly outside the main tourist area to small resto's where the food and wine are cheaper and better. As an example I found only one Chianti Classico in shops that was cheaper than in Norway and one of my favourite super Tuscans cost 50 to 55€ per bottle in Firenze while in Norway the price is around 45€. But by all means it ...