Life is too short to drink bad wine

Castello de Farnatello has a basic Chianti and a Riserva on the market. Both of them are good value for money. We tried the Riserva the other day, in two different glasses; Riedel Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The Syrah glass is more closed at the top (to the right). The colour of the wine is medium red and the nose discrete smell of cherries, leather and nuts. Attractive acidity with a firm well balanced taste. This is perfect with lamb for ex. 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot has been added to the wine as well and that gives it more body than the pure Sangiovese. And which glass works best? The Syrah glass enhances the smell much more than the CS glass in which the wine seems much more closed. Chianti Riserva 2016,  Castello de Farnatello Ca 230 kr or 13euro

IGT wine from the Tuscany region based upon 100% Sangiovese from the hills nearby Florence. Dark red colour with brick rim. Dark fruit on the nose with cherries, vanilla, dried fruit and old barrels. Powerful wine , full bodied, but also lots of fruit and round nice tannins with a beautiful balanced aftertaste. A lovely wine. Notes are from blind tasting, score 18.20 Testamatta 2007 Tuscany IGT Ca 50€

This is the only single estate in Italy that has it's own DOC! The first time I had it was last week when I found out that one of the local restaurants (Sørensen oppe) had one bottle left. So I asked the wine waiter to set aside the bottle for me. A few days later on a sunny warm late summer day I turned up with a friend and reclaimed the bottle. We sat outside, on a tiny balcony, overlooking the Stavanger harbour, watching the sun go down drinking this stunning wine. Gorgeous aromas of dark chocolate, supple red fruit and lots of cassis. Old cellar, vanilla, ripe fruit. Simply wonderful! But the palate was out of this world thanks to a complexity, balance, body and length that really shocked the both of us. At the same time it was soft and elegant as well as big strong and firm. It had lots of fire power, but at the same time silky. A truly stunning wine. Worth drinking at least once! But of course there are no more 2001 left in Stavanger ....

This one of the few Chianti Classico that we tried this time around. The basic version (non reserve) was not very good despite costing 16€ but this one which is a Riserva is really quite interesting although a bit pricy (25€). It displays lovely bouquet of dark fruit, coffee and some vanilla (the basic version is similar). Very seductive smell indeed. The wine has a firm body with lots of acidity which is well balanced by soft tannins. A very long and elegant taste. It's very approachable wine which is delightful to drink right now, but it's a bit pricy. Chianti Classico Riserva 2011 Campomaggio €25

This is a special wine based on an old version of Sangiovese called Sangioveto. The producer is Badia a Coltibuono (abbey of good harvest) located near Monti in Chianti. The 2001, which we had at the beautiful old monastery building now called La Collegiata (hotel, restaurant & wine bar) near San Gimignano, was quite an experience. Medium brick red colour (looked like an old Bordeaux). Elegant bouquet of sweet dark cherries, old cellar, dried fruit and some pepper. Big, solid wine with a perfect balance. Long and very elegant. In a blind tasting our thoughts would have gone to Bordeaux immediately. A beautiful wine in lovely surroundings. Sangiovese di Toscana 2001 Badia a Coltibuono IGT- Toscana

This is yet another IGT from Tuscany and this time it is a mix of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium dark red colour with a brick red rim. Lovely discrete smell of sweet red berries, chocolate and vanilla. Quite a powerful mouthful but the taste is soft and fruity with a lovely length and well balanced acidity. A very nice red for 15€. Ceppaiano Violetta IGT- Toscana

This IGT comes from Il Burchino in Tuscany and is a lovely blend of 50% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. A low priced wine at only 10€ which is very drinkable indeed. Delicious smell of vanilla, chocolate, coffee and minerals. The taste is super soft, light and fruity making it perfect to be served chilled at lunch time. Il Burchino 2010 Toscana - IGT €10

This red wine comes from Tenuta Santa Lucia in Tuscany. It's made from 100% Ciliegiolo (which means cherry in Italian), a forgotten grape on the rise in among others Tuscany. Deep dark red colour and very dark smell of dark fruit and coffee. The taste is quite seductive with smooth spicy cherries and a very soft and fruity aftertaste. To understand the grape it's like a crossing of Merlot and Malbec. A very interesting variety indeed. Ciliegiolo 2013 Tenuta Santa Lucia  IGT - Toscana Ca €12

Where were you when Iceland beat England in Euro 2016? We enjoyed this Bordeaux blend called Fattoria di Travalda from Santa Lucia in Tuscany. yet again an IGT due to the blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and some Petit Verdot. A fullbodied (bit like Iceland..?) red which took a bit of time to open up. Big complex taste with elegant soft tannins and a perfect acidity. Lovely dark fruit on the nose and taste. Perfect wine for this enjoyable occasion! We need to buy another one for the quarter final... Fattoria di Travalda 2010 IGT- Toscana €22

This wine is from Tenuta di Burchino (not far from Pisa) which is also a part of the Castellani property. It's an IGT based on 100% Sangiovese and the 2010 vintage has already developed a brick red colour. The nose is very Bordeaux like with lots of red fruit, cherries, old farm and pencil. Lovely developed balanced taste with lots of body. soft and elegant finish. A very nice wine indeed at 18€. Genius Loci Sangiovese 2010 IGT- Toscana Tenuta di Burchino

Yet another IGT from Tuscany. This one is from the resort called Poggio di Casone and is made from 85% of the unusual grape called Teroldego and 15% Syrah. The result is a very dark wine, a bit like a mature Malbec from Argentina or Zinfandel in the California. Medium deep red colour. Lovely smell of dark fruit, coffee and vanilla. It's a big solid mouthful and a very long aftertaste. Lots of dark fruit and soft tannins. Nice balance between body and acidity. A very generous wine and a bargain 10.50€. La Cuttara 2011 Poggio al Casone IGT Toscana € 10.50

A bit of wine tasting going on in Tuscany at Poggio al Casone. The basic wine wit the same name is not fantastic, but this version with 20% Syrah and 80% Sangiovese is much better. Dark fruit on the nose with some pepper and a balanced quite fruity taste. Simple but good. Goes well with cheese and red meat. Casone 2010 IGT- Toscana 12.50€

This is a very dense dark and big wine from Tuscany.  Ruby red color with rich and intense tones. Beautiful aroma of herbs accentuated with generous notes of tobacco and wet earth (dry earth, as well), black currant and licorice. The palate reveals medium-smooth tannins and a rich structure and weight with an elegant finish. Requires food!! (lamb or game) Fontalloro is the most representative expression of Fèlsina’s Sangiovese. Fontalloro grapes come from vineyards straddling the border between Chianti Classico and the Chianti Colli Senesi denomination. The vineyards lying within the Chianti Classico appellation are in the highest area of Fèlsina while those in the Chianti Colli Senesi are lower down (407-330 meters above sea level). With a southwestern exposure, the grapes are influenced by diverse soil compositions: on the Chianti Classico side the soil is stony and calcareous; on the Crete Senesi side the soil is sandy, loamy and silty with pebbles and marine s...

This is a low cost red from a small appelation called Montecucco in Tuscany. Very attractive purple colour and a refreshing smell of spicy red and dark fruit. The taste is well balanced with a light to medium body. Smooth medium taste with a decent acidity. An easy drinking which is in fact very good indeed and for a price around 135NOK or just 6-7€...The grapes are Sangiovese 70%, Montepulciano 15% and Ciliegiolo 15%. Rigoleto 2012 Colle Massari Montecucco 

Blindtasting Revheim May 2013 Wine #1 Medium ruby colour with garnet rim. Discrete smell of red plum and some dried fruit. Red fruit on the taste as well , somewhat unbalanced taste with little acidity and tannins. Not exactly brilliant. Origin: Panel lost Chianti 2009, Buccianera, 15€ Score 14,40 

Clear medium ruby colour. Medium + nose of red berries, raisins, earthy flavours and jam. High acidity and soft tannins, medium+ body and intensity. Well balanced wine crying for food. Medium finish with hints of sour cherries. Will be perfect with fat food like lamb due to the acidity and structure of the wine. Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico 2009 Ca 180 NOk or 12 € Perfect table wine..

A very seductive Chianti Classico. Packed with cherries, leather, vanilla and spices. Quite a mouthful but very soft and attractive with smooth tannins. Very drinkable indeed. Peppoli Chianti Classico 2009 by Antinori Watch out for empty glasses...

This Brunello Montalcino by Angelini from 2004 is a big wine packed with oak. Wet wool, bark and dried fruit on the nose with an elegant firm taste. The tannins are solid but soft as the wine has already got 8 years on its back. The wine is screaming for food and I would guess red meat or lamb will fit the bill. Brunello (100% Sangiovese) is never cheap to buy and require an acquired to taste to fully appreciate the efforts behind and the complexity of the wine. Brunello Montalcino 2004, Angelini Think big, dry and solid. Ca 40€

This is a gorgeous and subtle Chianti Classico. The taste is very attractive and so easy drinking that the bottle empties faster than you think. Quite a deep dark color and a concentrated nose of cherries and herbs. This is biodynamic wine based upon 95% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Querciabella 2008, Chianti Classico 20€ to 30€ A majestic wine.. . Querciabella

This is a "table wine" from Tuscany in Italy. Please do not be fooled by the fact that it does not have a DOC or DOCG status. The producer Fontodi knows what he is doing and this 100% Sangiovese has among others appeared 3 times in the top 10 wines of the Wine Spectator. He produces 5000 cases each of this winewhich can be stored around 10 to 12 years. This 2001 vintage was still in good shape with lovely red fruit and wet wool on the nose.The taste is almost like a claret with firm tannins craving for some nice meat. Flaccianello della Pieve 2001, Tuscany One of the best IGT's around... Fontodi azienda vinicola nel cuore del Chianti Classico - Panzano Toscana