Life is too short to drink bad wine

This is another great red Burgundy by Patrice Rion. Medium red colour and a delicious smell of red fruit, sweet vanilla and hints of chocolate. Super balanced long taste. Delicious fruit and a nice acidity. Soft tannins. Drinking perfectly now. Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru Lavaux Saint Jacques 2006 Patrice Rion Ca 40$

Andre Lurton is the man behind many good Chateaux's in Bordeaux and quality seems to be a common theme. This very reasonable Vin de France made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc is just perfect as an aperitif or with sea food. Young fresh, packed with apples, herbs, citrus and blackcurrant leaves. Refreshing, bone dry taste. Very good quality price ratio. Fumees Blanches Vin de France A. Lurton Low price ca 4€ or 110 NOK

This is a delightful Ripasso from Valpolicella. Dark purple red with lots of dark fruit. Quite a well structured, smooth, velvety taste with a great balance. Lovely seductive stuff! The Enoteca in Soave has a real good selection of wines and I Campi was a producer that had lots of good wines too. Valpolicella Ripasso "Campo Ciotoli" I Campi Low price Ca 12€

This is a splendid sweet white made from 100% Garganega (main grape in Soave) and the 2009 vintage got three glasses in Gambero Rosso! The grapes are pressed towards the end of March after going through the "appassimento" process since the harvest (October). The fermentation took place in oak barrels before being bottled after 10-12 months. Golden yellow color. The nose is packed with various impressions like figs, apricot, sweet citrus fruit and hints of coffee. Beautiful sweet taste with a great acidity and a long finish. Le Sponde 2009 Recioto di Soave Coffele Ca 30€

The oenologist Flavo Pra is setting his marks on the wines from I Campi and this Amarone took us by surprise. A super elegant wine packed with fruit and power and a big mouthful. Dark delicate fruit and a great balance. Deep ruby red color. A truly lovely wine. Serve at 18c. I Campi Amarone della Valpolicella 2009 High price 40-50€

This is a very elegant Amarone made by Coffele. Straight to the point and no overripe sweet fruit. Grapes are grown in Campiano and dried for three months in the special designed  "fruttaio" that can also be used for wedding receptions. After the "appassimento" process the fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks for 30-40 days. The wine is then matured 3 years in oak and two years in bottle before being released. Wonderful smell packed with dark cherries, plum, leather, cinnamon and pepper. Incredible elegant taste which is harmonious, long, full bodied, complex and velvety. A very good Amarone!! Amarone della Valpolicella 2008 Coffele Ca 45€

Sandrone is an excellent producer of various wines from Piedmonte. I found this Barolo Cannubi at the "Bottega del Vino" in Verona. This restaurant has the most amazing winelist with more than 26.000 bottles in their cellar. A truly great place for wine lovers. This Barolo from 2003 though is pure heaven with an enormous length and balance. It's balancing on a knife edge without giving any scars except for a wonderful experience of great pleasure. Barolo Cannubi Boschis 2003 Sandrone Ca 50€ or 110€ in a resto

No ordinary wines from Vosne Romanee someone once said. That's the case for this one as well. Lovely smell of delicate red fruit and smooth, long and velvety taste. This is brilliant stuff, but not cheap, but oh so good. Vosne Romanee 2011 Daniel Rion Ca 500 NOK or 40€

While visiting Soave last weekend we tasted the whole range of Coffele's wines (white plus red) This is a classic Soave with a mix of Garganega (75%) and Trebbiano and the cuvee is called Ca' Visco. Medium yellow colour with a very attractive aromas of tropical and citrus fruit. The taste is very fruity and fresh with a delicious acidity and also well balanced aftertaste with a lovely mineral finish. It's step up from the basic Soave, but only marginally more expensive. Serve with seafood and especially scampi. Soave Ca'Visco Coffele 188 NOK or 12€