Life is too short to drink bad wine

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.

This is a delightful and silky Shiraz from the Yarra Valley in Australia. The colour is deep and dark red with a purple rim. Lovely smell of dark fruit, herbs and some leather and smoke. A bit atypical Australian Shiraz which is why it is a bit fascinating to sample. The taste is very juicy and long with a surprisingly cool dark fruit and very soft tannins. A very decent Shiraz indeed! Try with game, lamb, entrecôte or cheese. 240kr or 20$.

This is a great 100% Grenache from a small area close to Priorat in Spain called Montsant. Alfredo Arribas is the producer of this wine which is only produced in 1985 bottles. This was bottle number 759. The nose has a fantastic intense and clean fruity smell. Red fruit, vanilla, roses, flowers. Super delicious taste with an elegant sweet and ripe fruit (bit like Zinfandel). A long and velvety full bodied taste with a nice acidity. Perfectly balanced and a wonderful length. The Grenache stems from 100 year pre-phylloxera vines and it's a truly great wine for 30-40 €. Try with steak. Tros Negre 2011 Alfredo Arribas Montsant

This is just a fantastic wine that I had with an entrecote the other day. 100% Carignan and super dark and complex wine. The producer Alfredo Arribas has made a wonderful dense wine. The production is limited to less than 2000 bottles. Deep dark colour and purple rim. Complex and attractive nose of dark fruit, leather, forrest, dark small berries (krekling). The taste is filled with fruit like dark berries and black currant. Big and long finish. Nice acidity and soft integrated tannins. A truly great wine with lovely balance. Tros de Clos 2011 Priorat 500NOK or 50€

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

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

Had this St.Emilion at Bistro44 in Antibes. Very dark purple colour with a nose packed with dark fruit (blackcurrant), coffee and dark chocolate. A young Bordeaux that requires further aging but still very drinkable thanks to the soft but still firm tannins. Well balanced taste that require food. Gravier Figeac 2010 St.Emilion Not bad at all...

Priorat wine region close to Barcelona is an emerging wine district with big fruity red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha and Mazuelo. This Reserva from 2008 is no exception : Dark purple colour and a big dark fruity nose packed with cedar and leather. The taste is big and fruity packed with firm, but kind tannins. Complex medium long aftertaste. A wine perfect with BBQ meat. Rotllan Torra Reserva 2008 Priorat, Ca NOK 190 or 15€ Big and well balanced

Stunning red from Portugal and the Douro. This 2001 is drinking perfectly now. Medium to deep ruby colour with garnet rim. Delightful nose of ripe dark cherries and dark chocolate. Beautiful balanced fruity taste, medium soft tannins and full bodied. A long finish. A very good wine for 29€! Quinta de Leda 2001 Douro Planet Wein, Berlin

100% Syrah from Bien Nacido in Santa Maria in California. Deep purple color with a nose of jammy brambles. The taste is big, delicate and packed with fruit. The wine is expensive, but Bonny Doon makes interesting wines that are worth a try. Try with red meat and game. Bonny Doon Syrah 2007 Bien Nacido, Santa Maria Valley, California Big massive wine. Ca 360 NOK or 40usd

This is a 100% shiraz (or syrah) based wine from Paarl in South Africa. Fairview has a special selection that includes bush vines from certain parts of Paarl that are of really high quality. Lovely dark ruby color with a delicate nose of brambles, sweet dark fruit and some pepper. Big fruity taste and 15% alcohol! A truly seductive wine that can match most Upper Rhone versions on price and quality. The Beacon Shiraz 2005 Paarl, South Africa Ca 20€ Bring on a nice 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.

A very good and reasonable wine. Deep dark purple colour.  Discrete nose of black fruit and hint of pepper.  Big fruity taste with firm but smooth tannins. High alcohol and medium acidity. Well balanced medium finish. Lovely wine.  Only 126kr or 6€. A bargain! Mix of Syrah and Grenache. Domaine de Perilliere 2011 Cote du Rhone Villages Very good value for money

One of the simplest Malbec versions around, but it does the trick. Deep dark blue-red color, smell of dark berries, leather and some herbs. The taste has a good balance although perhaps a bit short, but it warms you up and is a good fit with red meat, hamburger or BBQ stuff. Catena Malbec 2010, Mendoza, Argentine Ca 7-15€