Life is too short to drink bad wine

Coffele is well known for the lovely Soave they make but the Amarone they produce is just pure class. The grapes are; 75% Corvina, 15% Rondinella and 10% Molinara. A real block buster of a wine with 16% alcohol without being too powerful. Really deep dark red colour. Beautiful nose with plenty of dark fruit, coffee, chocolate and vanilla. Truly wonderful bouquet on the "dark" side. The taste is big, solid and powerful but also wonderful elegant with a very long aftertaste. A wonderful and impressive wine indeed. I wish all Amarone could be as classy as this one. Amarone della Valpolicella 2010 Coffele Ca 30€

It's not often one comes across an older Hermitage for less than 30€, but here it is. Dark red coloured wine a delicious dark fruit smell with some pepper on the nose as well. Lots of structure and fruit in the mouth with a compact well balanced aftertaste. Not a top Hermitage but it is very good value for money and is drinking really nicely right now and for the next 5 years. Hermitage 2007 Domaine des Martinelles Ca 27€

This is the basic Pinot Noir from Schug in California. Medium red coloured wine with a fine smell of cherries, red fruit and some flowers. Very surprising acidity on the taste and not "cooked" fruit at all. Good balance and fresh red fruit with dry tannins on a medium long aftertaste. Require a bit of food to balance the taste. Good value for money. Schug Pinot Noir 2014 Carneros Ca 270 kr or 20usd  

Pomerol wines are just delicious, but ever so expensive. This one called Ch.de Sales is of the inexpensive kind and it gives you all the indications of what Pomerol can deliver. 2003 was very warm vintage but that has not affected the wine too much as it still has a nice acidity. Dark red colour with brick reed rim. Dark fruit, plum, cherries, some mint and chocolate on the nose. Lovely fullbodied taste which very smooth and rustic at the same time. Ch de Sales 2003 Pomerol Ca 25-30€ pending the year

This one of my absolute favourites; Patrice Rion, Chambolle and premier cru Les Charmes. Delicious heavenly smell of raspberries, cherries, chocolate and some pepper. Very firm structured taste with a gorgeous balance and wonderful red fruit. It's a big solid and smooth wine with lovely firm tannins. Drink now, but will improve if you can wait for 5 years... Chambolle Musigny 1er cru Les Charmes Patrice Rion Ca 50€

Back in France and a bit of Champagne in the heat. We found this one in the wine section at Carrefour. Only 26€ for a very decent Champagne is not bad at all. Made from 40% Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and then 20% Pinot Meunier it has an expressive bouquet of citrus fruit, flowers and white fruit. Very fruity, clean and fresh taste with lovely bubbles and viscosity.  With 3 years on average on lees it has turned out to be a delightful wine indeed. Ayala Champagne Brut Majeur 26€

This one of the few Chianti Classico that we tried this time around. The basic version (non reserve) was not very good despite costing 16€ but this one which is a Riserva is really quite interesting although a bit pricy (25€). It displays lovely bouquet of dark fruit, coffee and some vanilla (the basic version is similar). Very seductive smell indeed. The wine has a firm body with lots of acidity which is well balanced by soft tannins. A very long and elegant taste. It's very approachable wine which is delightful to drink right now, but it's a bit pricy. Chianti Classico Riserva 2011 Campomaggio €25

This is a special wine based on an old version of Sangiovese called Sangioveto. The producer is Badia a Coltibuono (abbey of good harvest) located near Monti in Chianti. The 2001, which we had at the beautiful old monastery building now called La Collegiata (hotel, restaurant & wine bar) near San Gimignano, was quite an experience. Medium brick red colour (looked like an old Bordeaux). Elegant bouquet of sweet dark cherries, old cellar, dried fruit and some pepper. Big, solid wine with a perfect balance. Long and very elegant. In a blind tasting our thoughts would have gone to Bordeaux immediately. A beautiful wine in lovely surroundings. Sangiovese di Toscana 2001 Badia a Coltibuono IGT- Toscana

This is yet another IGT from Tuscany and this time it is a mix of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium dark red colour with a brick red rim. Lovely discrete smell of sweet red berries, chocolate and vanilla. Quite a powerful mouthful but the taste is soft and fruity with a lovely length and well balanced acidity. A very nice red for 15€. Ceppaiano Violetta IGT- Toscana