Life is too short to drink bad wine

It's been a long time since had a glass of Malbec. This one from Altimira in Uco valley in Mendoza was just brilliant. The grapes are grown at 1100 meters altitude with big temperature differences day and night. Wonderful dark red purple colour. It's nearly black in a way. The nose is packed with dark fruit, liquorice, dark chocolate, spices and flowers. Full-bodied taste with a great acidity and big firm but soft tannins. Big long and dry finish. A lovely and lively Malbec. Stored 12 months on big one year old barrels lightly toasted. Try with BBQ and most red meat. Ayni Malbec 2015 Bodega Chakana Altimira in Uco valley, Mendoza Ca 225 NOK

I had the 2005 not very long ago so I decided to buy a six pack of the 2006 as there was no more 2005 in the shops. This is the flagship of Muga in Rioja and the 2006 is just as  dark as the 2005 with  a gorgeous smell  of dark fruit, spices, tobacco and wood. The 2006 taste is just as big, solid, and packed with fruit and delicious tannins. Great balance and a very long we'll balanced aftertaste. Stunning dense wine. The wine can be drunk now but can still develop and  mature for at least ten more years. One of the best Riojas that I have ever tasted. A truly great wine!!! Prado Enea 2006 Rioja Ca 30€ or 370kr

This is the flagship of Muga in Rioja. A glorious Gran Reserva made from predominantly Tempranillo (80%) mixed with Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo. The wine is dark as ink with a gorgeous smell  of dark fruit, spices, tobacco and wood.  Superb stuff. The taste is big, solid, packed with fruit and delicious tannins. Great balance and a very long we'll balanced aftertaste. The wine can be drunk now but can still develop and  mature for at least ten more years. One of the best Riojas that I have ever tasted. A truly great wine!!! Prado Enea 2005 Rioja Ca 30€ or 370kr

Last, but not least, a big solid and complex wine from the llicorella soils of Priorat not too far from Barcelona. This is a "black" (dark) wine made from 75% Carinena and 25% Garnacha. Beautiful nose of ripe dark berries like blackcurrant, brambles, chocolate, vanilla and a bit of spice. A massive big taste; complex, long, fruity, big on tannins and alcohol but oh so smooth and elegant. A very concentrated wine which requires big solid red or wild food. Ferre Bobet 2006 Priorat Ca 360 NOK or 25€

This wine from Clos Triguedina in Cahors belongs to a category I would describe as "Black wine". It's of course red but oh so dark colour and smell. I tasted this 2006 called Prince Probus (100% Malbec) en primeur and it was one of the few en primers I actually liked. Finally 6 bottles have been brought back to Norway and tried out. Lovely dark colour and smell of black fruit and vanilla. Big solid taste with firm tannins that have started to softened. A big wine! Prince Probus 2006 Cahors, Ca 25-30€ Try with confit canard, magret de canard or lamb

2010 is a very good vintage all over France. So also in Rhone. Saint Joseph wines can sometimes be of variable quality but when you get vintages like 2010 most areas are a good bet. This 100% Syrah from  Doamine Les Hauts Chassis is a dark coloured wine filled with dark fruit and pepper. It's perfect with a pepper steak or entrecote with pepper sauce. A lively wine with lots of character on the dark side.. St Joseph, Domaine Les Hauts Chassis 2010, Ca 25€ "Lana del Rey - Video Games"

This bottle bought at BBR in London taught me two things: The Syrah grape in Rhone and the way it is used in St.Joseph and Cornas give really dark red wines filled with dark fruit and pepper. So the name on this wine "Vin Noir" is just perfect because thats what this is, it is a really dark wine screaming for some red meat or game. Secondly, there is light in the tunnel. What a funny name for a domaine! This dense fruity peppery wine can last a few more years without any problems as well. Ca 35£. Cornas 2007 "Domaine du Tunnel" by Stephane Robert "Adele- Rolling In The Deep"