Life is too short to drink bad wine

This is a very smooth drinking red from Valpolicella. Ripassa wines undergo a second fermentation with left over grapes from the production of Amarone. This creates a very silky and fruity red with very soft tannins which makes it perfect for traditional dishes like rack of slated lamb and game (deer and reindeer). Dark red purple colour with lots of sweet red and dark fruit on the nose. The taste is big and very fruity and ever so approachable. Valpolicella Ripassa 2012 Zenato Ca 14€ or 199 NOK

This is the top wine from Occhipinti in Sicily where the grapes Frappato and Nero d'Avola have been combined in perfect harmony. Medium purple color  and a pronounced nose of sweet red berries in bedded some spices and darker fruit. Splendid taste packed with fresh red fruit, a great minerality and a delicious acidity. Juicy, long and Burgundy like. A truly great wine only just above 4000 bottles made…. Try with game or big dishes with poultry. Grotte Alte 2008  Cerasoulo de Vittoria DOCG Occhipinti, Sicily Ca 30-35€ or 350NOK Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti

I do not know much about Pierre Blanche, but I found this Cote Rotie in the wine shop the other day and I thought it was worth while trying. Seductive dark fruit and spice on the nose , but perhaps a bit one dimensional… The taste is well balanced with the same elements as on the nose with a nice fruity aftertaste. A good wine, but perhaps not great as one should expect from this corner of the world… Perfect with game and entrecôte with pepper sauce... Cote Rotie 2010 Domaine de Pierre Blanche Ca 25€ or 300NOK

This is a super lovely Hermitage which is drinking beautifully already now. Dense dark fruit with a small hint of spice (pepper) on the nose. Delightful full bodied taste packed with delicate dark fruit and a velvety long finish. This is just sooo delicious! Expensive , but this must be one of the top Hermitage available outside France. Hermitage 2010 Domaine du Colombier Ca 40-60€

The best red Burgundy was however my old favourite , Chambolle Muisgny. A premier cru by Domaine Taupenot-Merme. Very attractive nose of red fruit, vanilla and cherries. A just amazing balance with an aftertaste that goes on and on. A shame really to drink such wines a in small tasting glass as such wines truly need a big Burgundy glass to attract all the flavors. Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru " La Combe d'Orveau" Domaine Taupenot-Merme Ca 70-80€

This was one of the absolutely best Burgundies during the tasting. Delicious elegant flavors of cherries, chocolate and liquerice. A super balanced velvety long taste that begs for the glass to be refilled. Great stuff. Just buy…. Nuits St George "Clos de la Marechale" J F Mugnier Ca 70€

This premier cru from Monthelie by Leflaive also raised a few eyebrows. It was however getting bit late at this stage, but the taste was beautifully balanced and long. Dark fruits rather than red fruit on the nose with an overall complex style. Monthelie 1er cru Sur la Velle Leflaive Ca 40€

Boxing day and a depressive outcome of the football matches so why not just dig into bit of detailed wine drinking…? So we concentrated our efforts on Nuits St George and Gevrey Chambertin in Burgundy… Clos de Argillieres a bit more clay dominated while the soil in Lavaux St Jacques is more red clay soil. Both Pinot noir of course and both produced by Patrice Rion. Both medium red colour, with perhaps the Gevrey Chambertin slightly darker. The nose very different with the Clos des Argillieres more dominated by dark fruit and pomme granite while the Lavaux Saint Jacques is dominated by red fruit and wet wool. On the taste the Nuits St George is powerful with a lovely balanced and a nice minerality. The Gevrey Chambertin got more body and softness to it (perhaps because its two years older) with a lovely smooth finish. The 2009 has more tannins although they are very elegant and soft. Both delicious wines, the Gevrey Chambertin is drinking well right now whil...

A young and attractive Côte Rotie (100% Syrah) that is drinking very well already now. Perfect with game. Beautiful bouquet of brambles, some pepper and some dark fruit. Lovely balanced fruity taste and kind integrated tannins. A very nice Cote Rotie indeed.     

This is a Barolo from one of the top plots which is called "Cannubi". The wine is surprisingly forthcoming to be such a young Barolo. Cherries, plums, tobacco and hint of liquerice on the nose. The taste is surprisingly smooth with well integrated tannins. It's of course a big wine but less rustic than many other Barolo. But careful it carries a massive 15% alcohol! Barolo "Cannubi" 2008 Damilano, Ca 25€ Should go well with game

The Dead Arm Shiraz is one of my favourite Australian Shiraz. The increased popularity has also increased the price but it is still good value for money. In addition it can survive years for storage which will only smoothen the wine further. Served this one with filet of reindeer with a redwine-sauce and he combination was just superb thanks to the tender meat and the beautiful fruit of the wine. Black fruit, plum and some spice on the nose. Dark cherries, plum, licorice and spice on the palate. Big, solid and smooth taste with well integrated tannins. Dead Arm Shiraz 2008 McClaren Vale At least one side of the vine is growing grapes....

So inspired by the wonderful 2004 Barolo Triumviratum we decided to have the 2001 for dinner. Garnet red colour with orangey rim. Great nose as the 2004, but it did not open up as expected as it was perhaps a bit too warm. Lovely balanced taste with a long velvety finish. Not very often my wife drinks Barolo but this one went down easily! sign of quality!!! Barolo Triumveratum 2001 M Chiarlo, 120€ Great and elegant

Chiarlo's Barbaresco has been aged 18 months in large French oak barrels. Garnet colour with brick red rim, so typical Nebbiolo! The nose totally different from the Barbera with tones of pepper, spices and earth. Very delicate and and elegant dry full bodied taste. High tannins, acidity and alcohol. A lovely Barbaresco! Can be stored up to 15 years. Barbaresco 2009 Reyna M Chiarlo, 25€ Perfect with roast and game

Barolo from Cannubi fermented 15 days in oak barrels and matured 2 years in 55 hl oak barrels. Garnet colour with brick red rim. Bouquet packed with blackcurrant, liquorice, tobacco and mint. Great balanced taste packed with fruit, acidity and elegant tannins. Great structure and complexity. Barolo Cannubi 2009 M Chiarlo, 55€ Perfect with red meat, game and hard cheese.

The Cherequio is carefully selected with 50% green harvesting. Pale garnet red colour and a very complex nose of ripe fruit like blackcurrant, apricot and cherry. Same aromas on the taste with a long firm tannic finish. Surprisingly drinkable at this stage. Probably slightly better than Cannubi (breaks my heart to say that ) Barolo Cerequio 2009 M Chiarlo, 55€ Ripe hard cheese and red meat/game

What I can say? Just as I thought I had been drinking the peak of Barolo they served a Barolo Reserve made from the three vineyards Cerequio, Cannubi and Sarmassa. A wine that is produced only in the best years and matured for three years in large barrels and another three years in the bottle. Garnet red colour with orange reflections.  Complex smell of dark berries, raspberries, spice and tobacco.  Rich body with very elegant tannins and a well balanced, long finish.  A truly great wine. To be drunk between 10 and 20 years old. Barolo Triumviratum 2004 M Chiarlo, 90€ Big and wonderful

This is a great Cote Rotie which is not too expensive. Deep dark purple color. Lots of dark fruit, brambles and pepper. Fruity well balanced taste with soft tannins. Nice to drink now but can easily be kept 3-5 years. Try with game or red meat. Cote Rotie by Montez 2010 Ca 25€ Big wine wine but very easy drinking

Barolo and Barbaresco are normally not wines made for drinking without food. High in acidity and tannins it can be a tough wine to digest. It's also a bit pricy. Anyway, I had this in a resto the other day with some fillet of reindeer and I must say the match between food and wine was splendid! On it's own the wine was demanding and tough, but with the reindeer the whole experience was seductive and velvety! Barbaresco "Asili" 2005 Produttori del Barbaresco, High price Perfect with wild meat, game and lamb

This is a serious wine based upon Syrah and the white grape Viognier. It has been 42 months in new oak and the vines are around 75 years old. Beautiful aromas of red berries, blackberries and violet. The taste is velvety with a great balance and silky texture. Great stuff and one of the best Cote Rotie around. Only 400 cases. Cote Rotie "La Mouline" 2004 by Guigal Syrah is just a super delicious grape... High price > 40€  

Magnum bottles are brilliant stuff at parties. Nebbiolo with deer or game is also a good combination. The problem some times is that we drink Barbaresco too young. This 2007 opened up after some time in the carafe and the glass, but should have been kept another 5 years in the cellar really. Anyway, still lovely autumn leaves and dried fruit and all that with a firm balanced taste. Barbaresco 2007 "Montestefano", Produttori del Barberaresco Keep as long as you can ...in the cellar