Life is too short to drink bad wine

This has been one of my absolute favourites for a very long time. Unfortunately the wine has caught other's attention as well and the price has now shot through the roof as it happens with most good wines. Beaucastel owns 110 hectares (ca 140 football pitches) where it grows all the thirteen different garpe varieites that are allowed in Chateauneuf du Pape. The vines are older than 50 years and have been grown organically all the time. The grapes are fermented separately in different casks and cement tanks before they are blended in oak barrels for a year before being bottled. A very dark coloured wine that at first just smells of oak and dark fruit. It needs time to open up in the glass and we let 3 glasses with Beaucastel just breath for two hours before being drunk and they were just pure delight after that time. Dark fruit dried fruit, cellar, ripe red fruit, spices, cigar Long wonderfully balanced taste with massive but firm attractive tannins. It does seem to be 19 ...

This is a Chateauneuf-du-Pape light by Ogier. Pale to medium ruby color and a bouquet dominated by sweet strawberries and red fruit. Elegant fruity and nicely balanced taste that is ever so light bodied and velvety. A very good buy at ca 15€ or ca 215 NOk. Bois de Pied Redal 2012 Ogier Chateauneuf-du - Pape

This is a quite reasonable Chateauneuf du Pape (ca 200 NOK or 15€). The colour is medium ruby color which was a bit surprising. Nose of ripe black cherries and liquerice with a medium + body and finish with firm tannins. The wine can be drunk now but has definitely the potential for ageing (5-10 years). Chateauneuf du Pape 2010, Ogier Bring out the steak!

This is a reasonable Chateauneuf du Pape from the famous 2009 vintage. Medium to deep ruby color with a ruby rim. A clean nose packed with red fruit like raspberries and cherries. Still developing. Dry, medium acidity with high alcohol content and medium+ soft tannins. Full bodied wine with a good balance with some spice, red fruit and cherries. Medium to long finish. A nice wine drinking well now but will develop further. Domaine du Vieux Lazare 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape A warm wine with Syrah and Grenache.

Bought this wine from BBR in London. Totally unknown to me but Parker has apparantly given this wine 96 points which is the same as many Bordeaux wines from 2009 but at a ridiculous more expensive price. Deep dark color. Lovely smell of dark olives, pepper and brambles (all dark stuff). Very interesting nose. The taste is just enormous. Big. Full bodied. 15% alcohol. Looong. Very long aftertaste but beautifully balanced. A truly masterpiece. I need food! Lamb, duck or something from the BBQ! Chateauneuf-du Pape 2009, Domaine Usseglio Raymond Red Hot Chilli Peppers: Californication

I have had this in the cellar for some time and decided at 12 years old it was time to give it a try. It needed a bit of time to open up , but with a bit of patience it showed nice dried fruit on the nose with a long and very nicely balanced taste. The wine is a mix of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre. The taste is complex with a mix of cherries, blackcurrant and spices. Ch La Nerthe 2000, Chateauneuf-du Pape, 25€ Perfect timing at 12 years old...

Drinking magnum bottles are special. Especially at a restaurant. Could not resist choosing this 12 years old Chateauneuf de Pape by Janasse and what a delicious wine it was! Lovely brick red colour with a fantastic smell of old sweet strawberry jam and lots of delicate spices! Long velvety well balanced taste taste. Just perfect now! Chateauneuf du Pape 2000 Domaine de la Janasse Whats common sense gotta do with it?