Life is too short to drink bad wine

This is a monster of a wine and is so powerful that you might struggle to match food with it. But it is a fantastic wine that can be stored for a long long time or you can drink it now. 90% Tempranillo or Tinto del Pais as this version of the grape is called in Castilla y Leon. The remaining 10% is Syrah. The colour of the wine is intense deep blue red, already there you understand that this is a different animal. On the nose it is very complex packed with lots of dark fruit, plum, coffee, chocolate and spices. Wonderful stuff! The taste is big, solid, long, velvet tannins, soft, elegant and smooth. Massive big bodied wine that unfortunately blows most food away. Its probably just best on its own. Mauro 2010 Castilla y Leon (VdT) Ca 350 NOK or 30€

Pago de los Capellanes has invested lots of money in a new modern winery and visitor facilities. They have the 3 different levels of Tempranillo (Crianza, Reserva and Gran R) plus two single plots which are just amazing. The basic version which is enclosed has a lovely medium purple colour. The nose is delicate with lots of red fruit, cherries and hint of oak spices and some liquorice. As far as the taste is concerned it has a very elegant smooth and fruity aftertaste with super soft tannins and a delicious acidity. Nearly Burgundy like. The grapes are harvested in october when the day temperature is around 25c while at night it can be down to 5c (explains the acidity). Lots of new oaks been used but it is perfectly balanced with the fruit and it is thus impossible not to be impressed by their basic wine. Pago de los Cappelanes 2013 Ribera del Duero   Spain Ca 220 NOK or 15 €

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 a very big and robust wine from a small region in Ribeira del Duero in Spain. The combination of 90% Tempranillo and some Syrah has created a wine with lots of  structure and a big solid taste. The bouquet is just wonderful with dark fruit, chocolate and some tobacco. The aftertaste is long and fruity with a wonderful balance. A very elegant red that can withstand all type of meat, cheese and is probably perfect with BBQ. The price is around 25€ or ca 300NOK.

Wine # 1 Pale red colour with Burgundy rim. Say no more. This is Pinot Noir! On the nose packed with sweet red fruit like raspberries , hint of chocolate and some dried fruit. Very soft smooth and fruity taste with absolutely no resistance. Velvety tannins and low acidity. Perhaps a bit jammy. Very drinkable wine and the panel concluded it has to be new world Pinot Noir! (and we were right....) Anthill Farms Pinot Noir 2012 Sonoma Coast Score 18,0 (Price 380 NOK or 50$) Wine # 2 Very similar pale red colour as wine no 1. On the nose more darker fruit with hints of pepper. More complex smell as well. Definitely Pinot Noir again. The taste is better with more structure and acidity although it is still a bit "jammy" with some spices. A complex wine and the panel is dithering between new world and Burgundy. We were told Burgundy and then I said it had to be a warm year, not Volnay and not Montille as the producer. and it was in fact all those things...!! ...

This is a serious wine from Ribera del Duero in Spain. It's dark as the nights in north Norway during winter, but so warm and tasty as Provence in summer. Very pure nose mixed with red and dark fruit, plums, spices, minerals and some smoke. Delightful full bodied wine with a massive depth and freshness. Big soft tannins and a prolonged aftertaste. A truly delicious wine! Alion 2009 Ribera del Duero High price

Deep dark red colour and purple rim. Lovely smell of cherries, plum, leather. Quite an attractive and fruity nose. Lovely balanced taste with a great balance between tannins and acidity. Long aftertaste. Soft and elegant fruit. Very good start... Tempranillo??? Pago de los Cappellanes 2009 Ribera del Duero Score 17,60 Ca 200NOK or 15€

Deep purple red wine made from 100% Tempranillo. A dark wine packed with dark fruit, spices and some liquorice. Well balanced firm taste with apparent oak flavours. A reasonable and good wine that has been 12 months in french oak. Try with lamb or red meat. Celeste 2010 Ribera del Duero Ca 155 NOK or 12€

This is a very rare and robust red wine made from tempranillo 90% and Syrah. It belongs to the "table wine" category and is from Tudela de Duero in the western part of Ribera del Duero. BODEGAS MAURO  was founded just two years before Ribera del Duero became an officially recognized denomination of origin, and it falls just beyond the DO's official boundaries.  Mauro has been able to define a unique style featuring small productions of fruity yet powerful wines known for their unmistakably Spanish style and an ability to age well. Renowned winemaker Mariano García was the founder and he spent the first 30 years of his career making wines for the mythicical  Vega Sicilia winery). His sons are now captains of the Mauro flagship  -- that have earned a devoted following in Spain and beyond for their satisfyingly complex blends of toasted oaky notes and nuances of ripe fruit. With a continental climate that offers a wildly swinging range of te...

Bought this bottle for half price at the wine shop! That does not happen very often! Dark purple colour. Complex smell of dark fruit and oak. Big solid taste with dark berries. The wine is crying out for an entrecote! Very good wine for 180 NOK, but for the original price 340 I am not sure. 100% Tempranillo and from Ribera del Duero west in Spain. Vina Mayor 2003 Gran reserva, Ribera del Duero Big dense wine perfect with red meat

During the Decanter wine fair in London in November quite some time where spent at the stand hosted by Pago de los Capellanes (siblings on picture). The most surprising element was the high acidity in these wines from Ribera del Duero where the day temperature can be up to 40c in summer and is still a hefty 25c during harvest time in October. They are however saved by the low night temperatures in fall (down to 5c). Their normal Crianza and reserva are both beautiful wines and further up the ladder is the enclosed El Nogal that comes from a special plot with just walnuts. 22.000 bottles are produced from this 6 ha plot with purchase price around 40€. This is a substantial wine packed with blueberries, dark fruit, coffee, chocolate and a super delicious well balanced taste with a great acidity. A masculine and big solid wine. Lovely stuff! Another one,   El Picon, is from a plot shaped like a bird's beak, thus the name. Same characteristics as for El Nogal with ...

Let it be said immediately: this is just a very lovely red from Ribera del Duero in Spain. It is one of these dark red wines perfect for cold wet autumn days designed to bring back the warmth in your body. We met with Pago de los Capellanes last weekend in London at the Decanter tasting and they have some other wines in the portfolio really worthwhile trying out. The colour is deep purple and the nose are just packed with warm delightful flashes of dark fruit, chocolate and coffee. Delightful stuff which just makes you want to take a sip. And you won't be disappointed. Perfect harmony between fruit, acid and tannins. Dark again. Smooth. Soft. Big. Elegant. Pago de Los Capellanos 2009 Ribera del Duero, Ca 20€ Very yammy indeed.

This a wine from the warm climate of Ribera del Duero where also Tempranillo (Tinto Fino) is the dominating grape. Other grape varieties are allowed and thus this one is a mix of Tinto Fino, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep dark red colour and a lovely seductive bouquet of vanilla and red fruit. The taste is beautifully balanced and complex with a soft and elegant finish. A lovely wine indeed. Villacreces 2006, Ribera de Duero Ca 280 kr or 20€

This is just a super lovely red from Ribera del Duero in Spain. Dark red colour with purple rim. Packed with dark fruit like brambles, a bit of coffee and chocolate. Full bodied fruity taste with a lovely balance. Very drinkable with soft tannins. Great stuff! Condado de Haza 2009 Ribera del Duero, Medium price Goes with red meat , cheese or game

Wine two was very similar to wine number one. Lots of sweet flavors so it gotta be the new world! Deep dark red purple color. Mint and sweet dark berries. California? Quite a big wine with elegant tannins. Lopez Cristobal 2009 , Ribera del Duero Score 17.10 and ca 20€

Perfect lamb with the perfect wine. What more can be said? this Spanish flagship from the the Duero valley (on its way to Portugal) was just fantastic. 27 years old, but still keeping strong with beautiful flavours of earth, dried fruit and "Bordeaux" smell, just wonderful! All the tough tannins had gone, vapourated and only a soft smooth elegant taste matching both the lamb and the risotto was left. The price, I really don't know cause, its just expensive, very expensive, but oh so wonderful complex and good, but when you dont pay who cares? As U2 puts it: Its a beautiful day or shall I say night rather... Vega Sicilia Unico 1982 P+++ because once in your life time the king of Spain should be sampled...... Vega-Sicilia