Life is too short to drink bad wine

Malbec is a grape that used to be grown in Bordeaux. It is still used in southern France but it has sort of immigrated to Argentine where it is truly blossoming. The Hess Family who runs the Colome estate has developed a full bodied, dense and beautiful Malbec. The grapes are grown in high altitude in the Salta region. And when we talk about high altitude it is really high: between 2100 to stunning 3100m altitude. The wine is consequently of outstanding quality and a price of 250 NOK or around 20usd is well worth spending on this elegant wine. Dark purple colour. Lots of brambles, dark fruit, liquorice and spice on the nose. Massive taste, but very fruity and smooth tannins. A long and elegant finish. And what glass to use? We tried Riedel Cab Sauv and Syrah/Shiraz glasses and found the Syrah glass to work best. Malbec Colome Estate 2016 Calchaqui Valley Salta region, Argentine Ca 250 NOKor 20usd

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

2009 is one of the great vintages in Bordeaux and it was the year the prices sky rocketed thanks to the very good vintage, demand and rich investors. Finding a "reasonable" and good Bordeaux from that year can as such be a challenge. This chateau is normally good value for money and the 2009 should be drinking nicely now and over the next ten years. The colour is dark red and a discrete nose of dark fruit, plum, some wood and a hint of pepper. The taste is long with firm tannins and a good balance. The oak is still dominating the picture for my liking so perhaps it requires one or two more years before it has reach it's full potential. Try with lamb, cheese or meat. A decent Medoc below 25€ or 300NOK.

This is a wine made from 20-80 year old vines at more than 1000 meters altitude. It has been age 12-14 months in french oak barrels and it is best served at temperatures 14-16c. Medium dark red colour with a purple rim. Delicious smell of dark fruit like ripe cherries, plum and blueberries. Toasty character with some spice and chocolate. Big full bodied wine with with lots of fruit, soft tannins and a good finish dominated by black fruit. This is a full-bodied red and as far away from light red as you can get. Malbec Terrazas de los Andes 2015, Mendoza Argentina Ca 180 NOK or 12usd   

It's been a long time time since I have concentrated my efforts on Australian wines. I used to try an awful lot while living in the UK some 20 years ago, but since then it has mostly been in connection with Sommelier training. Margaret River which is in the western part of Australia is an emerging wine district with high quality wines. Often good value for money. It avoids the really hot temperatures due to the proximity to the sea. The wine is blended from the best batches grown on the Leston vineyard in the Wilyabrup sub region. Some of the grapes parcels had prolonged skin contact to extract maximum colour and tannin. The wine then spent 18 months in french oak barriques before being bottled. 40% new oak. This is a dense and big wine. Dark fruit, vanilla and plum on the nose with some sweet mint and cinnamon as well. Big mouthful with soft delicate dark fruit and ripe integrated tannins. A well made wine indeed. 46 Aussie dollars.