Life is too short to drink bad wine

In need of light and fruity wine? Then this Pinot Noir from New Zealand would be a good choice. Urlar is apparently gaelic for earth and these guys have biodynamic certification. Here what they about the wine: The classic 2016 vintage delivers an elegant wine of dark red berry fruits, dried herbs, lifted red florals and subtle savoury notes.  The fruit is complexed by layers of whole bunch nuances, undergrowth, spices and earthy cedar.  Elegantly concentrated with fine tannins and a silky texture.  Beautifully suited to a rack of lamb or gamey dishes such as venison or duck. Urlar Pinot Noir 2016 Wairarapa, North Island Ca 230 NOK or 20€

It's  smooth. With a silky texture. Delicious smell. Overwhelmingly harmonic. Well balanced. Pricy. Worth every dollar.

Although Pinot Noir is a difficult grape to grow the areas around the world that produce good Pinot are expanding. New Zealand and Australia are two good places complementing the stars from Burgundy and California. And now Argentine. Barda Pinot Noir is from the southern area of Argentine called Patagonia. Rio Negro is the area where wine growers are experimenting with new grape varieties. This one is very classical with red and dark fruit, flowers, herbs and some leather. The taste is smooth and silky with some firm perhaps slightly dry tannins. A very nice Pinot indeed and when you take into account the price (230 NOK) it is very good value for money. Bodega Chacra Barda Pinot Noir 2015 Rio Negro 230NOK 

This is a bargain in the Norwegian wine shops as it is actually cheaper here than in Australia! The Pinot grapes come from the best sites in Adelaide Hills. Hand picked grapes, basket pressed whole bunches with stems. The wine is unfiltered and unfined. Beautiful nose of ripe cherries, crispy redcurrants and some dark fruit and spicy notes. Young juicy taste with a lovely acidity and a well balanced finish dominated by red and dark fruit. The wine will cellar well but it is so delicious now that any delayed gratification is almost academic. The velvet fog Pinot Noir Heirloom vineyards 2015 Adelaide Hills 40 australian $ or 199 NOK

Reasonable red Burgundies are getting rarer and rarer as prices are increasing every year thanks to increased demand and low yields. However, if one goes outside the core area of Cote de Beaune and Cote de Nuits it is possible to get good Pinot Noir at more reasonable prices. One example is this Mercurey by Domaine Faiveley. 100% Pinot Noir from hillsides in Cote Challonaise, just south of Central Burgundy. The wine is out in the 2015 vintage which is wonderful year for wine from this region. Medium dark red colour. Slightly earthy bouquet with dark fruit and raspberries. The mouth is dominated by more red fruit than dark fruit. Complex and quite an elegant but firm taste which is typical for this region. Medium + length with a nice mineral like finish.Medium  acidity and body. Medium (-) tannins. A very decent wine for just 20€ or 229kr.

Nuits St.George wines in Burgundy have almost always a dark and intense colour. Close Saint Marc is a premier cru which is just across the road from the Patrice Rion facilities. The Clos Saint Marc is just less than 1ha and only 4000 bottles a year are produced from around 60 years old vines. The nose is firm but delicate and dominated sweet raspberries, cherries and some earthy undertones. His wines are biodynamic and all the stalks are removed before fermentation. The taste is wonderfully balanced with lots of elegant red fruit with a long and complex finish. Stunning stuff as always from Rion! Nuits St. George 2009  Clos Saint Marc Patrice Rion ca 40€

Pinot Noir from the cool Sonoma Coast can now compete with Burgundy in quality and taste. All the "cooked" flavours that has been the challenge with Californian Pinot have disappeared and you are left with beautifully balanced wines that have a very decent acidity. Occidental has this basic Sonoma Coast version as well as one called Cuvee Catherine. Both are extremely good Pinot Noir but also a bit pricy very due to the low quantities. This one has a very elegant nose of ripe red fruit with a great minerality. The taste is packed with "chilled fruit" and a beautifully struck balance that goes on and on. It's a very elegant wine indeed! Occidental 2012 Sonoma Coast Ca 40$ or 500NOK

I am not going to make any comments to this delicious wine. Just read the quotes below: This is an impressive and immediately appealing wine displaying lush layers of pure red fruit, velvety tannins and a long palate-coating finish. Aromas of cranberry, pomegranate and plum flow from the glass, underscored by enticing notes of mahogany, fresh-tilled earth, mint and exotic spices. A classic expression of Gap’s Crown!  Retail Price:  $70 Accolades 93 Points | Wine Advocate “A stunner smelling of rose petals, braised meats, black currants and black cherries is the 2012 Pinot Noir Gap’s Crown Vineyard. This wine, aged slightly longer than most of their Pinot Noirs, is made from relatively new Dijon clones 115 and 828. It is a full-bodied, gorgeous Pinot Noir that should drink beautifully for up to a decade when it is finally released.” - Robert Parker 2012 Patz & Hall GAP’S CROWN VINEYARD – Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir – 91 Points; Outstanding; a wine of superior char...

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  

Wines from Sonoma Coast is just getting better and better. The cooler climate seems to be perfect for Pinot Noir and avoids the "cooked" and jammy flavours of many Pinot Noir from California. This Cline Pinot Noir is surprisingly reasonable (160NOK or 12usd) and is a very decent Pinot indeed. It's cheaper than most generic red Burgundy with more flavours and Pinot Noir touch than the basic Burgundy in a similar price range. Very seductive smell of red fruit, cherries and some herbs. Lovely velvety taste with some raspberries and cherry. If you are looking for an easy drinking Pinot, then look no further. This is a real bargain despite the unfavourable usd exchange rate.

First wine Medium dark red wine with red rim. Decent smell of dried fruit and ripe cherries. Quite attractive nose. Very soft but big taste. Some smooth tannins and a slightly unripe ripe finish. Good length with taste of dark fruit and cherries. Overall good quality although not fantastic. Score 16.60 Ch. Chantalouette Pomerol Ca 20€ Second wine Purpur red dark colour with long legs. Smell of horse, leather, farm and black currant. Well balanced taste of dark berries with very limited tannins. Smooth. Really nicely balanced wine that are drinking well right now. Bordeaux?? Score 18,50 Ch. Poujeaux 2004 Moulis Ca 25€ (back then)   Third wine Very dark red colour with purpur rim. Sweet red berries on the nose. Some flower and rose as well. Hints of chocolate. Dark chocolate and fruit on the taste. Very big and long. Lovely balance with smooth tannins and delicious acidity. Overall a very good and big Pinot Noir !!! (how wrong can you be...

This is wine number 1000 on this blog and the choice of wine number 1000 is not accidental. Chambolle Musigny by Rion is a pure meditation wine with a silky texture and balance that must be experienced in order to understand what the fuzz is all about. I have tried all the Chambolle Musigny's by Patrice Rion since the 2006 and every vintage has been of great quality. The purity, balance, smoothness and delightful taste is just amazing. The wine is so delicate that it is difficult to recommend any food with it and that's why it's for me a pure meditation wine. Serve slightly chilled in a big glass, lean back in the chair or sofa and just enjoy; sip after sip.... Stunning stuff for 39€. Wine does not get better than this, just more expensive.....

This is a magical Pinot Noir by Copain in California. Copain has many different Pinot's from different regions and this from Anderson valley is just pure silk. 6 years in the bottle has smoothened the wine without losing structure and acidity. On the nose it is packed with attractive and slightly sweet red fruit, but the taste is what makes this a top wine; Super smooth with silky tannins all the way. Silky long aftertaste and a wonderful balance. Just stunning! The price has increased lately due to increased demand and exchange rate effects. Expect to pay around 40-60$ pending on location.

This is a very decent Pinot Noir from the Anderson Valley in California. It's also reasonable priced as it compares pricewise to generic Burgundy Pinot Noirs. The colour is medium red. On the nose it has a mix of red and black fruit which is slighly spicy with a sweet undertone. The taste is fruity and harmonic with a firm but very soft aftertaste. It's a delicious wine although it is not as good as the other top Pinot's from the same producer. Try with white meat. Copain "Tous Ensemble" 2013 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley Ca 20$ or 250kr

This is just a lovely Pinot Noir from Anthill Farms in Sonoma Coast in California. The colour is light to medium red and the nose is both "fruity" and "refreshing" with delicious aromas of raspberry, red fruit, cellar and plum. The wine is also both light and full bodied with lots of red fruit and a great delightful acidity which is rare in Californian wines. Overall a superbly balanced wine competing with red Burgundy. Anthill Farms 2013 Pinot Noir Sonama Coast  Ca 350 NOK or 30$

This Anthill Farms Pinot Noir is from a single vineyard in Sonoma Coast called Campbell Ranch. It's pricier than the normal Anthill version and the colour is deeper leading towards more medium red. The bouquet is just incredible with a lovely "chilled" red fruit that just explodes in the glass. The taste is big, massive and intense with a great complexity and with lots of cold red fruit and a great acidity. This is just a very very nice Pinot and definitely a step up from the basic version which is also very good. Burgundy watch out! Anthill Farms Pinot Noir 2013 Campbell Ranch   Ca 450 NOK or 40$

This is a superduper drop dead gourgeous Pinot from the Sonoma Coast.The colour is rather medium to dark red suggesting maximum extraction and power. The nose is just wonderfully complex and big with lots of "cold" red fruit with hints of chocolate and some redcurrant. The palate is firm, solid, fullbodied, smooth with firm tannins. Lots of red fruit. Very direct in style and a great acidity to go with it. It's too early to drink now and should be kept for 3-4 years for maximum potential. Some other comments about this wine: “Readers who can find the Occidental Pinots should not hesitate to grab them, as they are truly magnificent.” Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media Running a successful winery for over 30 years with a long wait list just to get on to their mailing list to get an allocation of wine just wasn’t enough of a challenge for Steve Kistler and Mark Bixler. Kistler Vineyards built their reputation on Chardonnay, but many praise their smaller produ...

This is a "reasonable" Pinot Noir from New Zealand. Quite a dark Pinot colour with a nice smell of dark fruit, some pepper and herbs. The taste is fruity, lively and light with a quite distinct acidity towards the end. Quite a decent every day drinking Pinot for 180 kr or 15$. MOMO Pinot Noir 2013 Marlborough,  New Zealand

Pinot Noir from other parts of the world than Burgundy are often good and reasoanble alternatives to the "real" thing. This Pinot Noir from South Africa is mayne bot the most reasonable alternative but provides good value for money. Quite dark red/purple colour. On the nose it is quite intense dominated by plum and dark fruit. The taste is refreshing with plenty of dark fruit, great balance and a lively acidity and quite long aftertaste. A very decent and harmonious wine. Hamilton Russel Pinot Noir Walker Bay , South Africa High price

This is quite a dark Pinot Noir from the the Sonoma coast in California. Very often the California Pinot Noir are a bit sweet or "cooked" due to the high temperatures , but not so with this one. Very decent nose of brambles, dark fruit and some violet. Medium to long taste with a nice balance between acidity and soft tannins. Quite a full bodied Pinot with lots of structure on the palate. Radio Coteau "La Neblina" Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast  California Ca 380 NOK or 40$