Life is too short to drink bad wine

This is a very good "Valpo" based upon the Corvina grape. At 189 kr or just 12€ it's a pure bargain. Beautiful medium dark red colour with a slight red brown rim. Medium + intensity on the nose with dark fruit, coffee, plum leather and sweet cherries. Lovely stuff! Full-bodied wine with medium acidity and soft smooth tannins. The first time I tried this was in Verona with a friend of mine and  I asked the waiter if he had an example of how a good "Valpo" could be. He came with this one and on the sommelier education this March I failed miserably when I got it in a blind tasting.... Bussola Valpolicella 2014 Ca 12€ A pure bargain !

Coffele is well known for the lovely Soave they make but the Amarone they produce is just pure class. The grapes are; 75% Corvina, 15% Rondinella and 10% Molinara. A real block buster of a wine with 16% alcohol without being too powerful. Really deep dark red colour. Beautiful nose with plenty of dark fruit, coffee, chocolate and vanilla. Truly wonderful bouquet on the "dark" side. The taste is big, solid and powerful but also wonderful elegant with a very long aftertaste. A wonderful and impressive wine indeed. I wish all Amarone could be as classy as this one. Amarone della Valpolicella 2010 Coffele Ca 30€

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

No ordinary wines in Vosne Romanee a wine expert once said. He maybe right and I have always been of the opinion that there are lots of ordinary reds from Valpolicella. So when I was at Trattoria Al Pompiere in Verona in the beginning of June, I asked the waiter for a very good Valpolicella and he came up with this one by Bussola. And to be honest it was a shock. Dense red color and a super delicious nose packed with ripe red fruit,  chocolate and coffee. Omg…wonderful balanced taste as well. Shocking stuff and 40€ in the rest….

This is a delightful Ripasso from Valpolicella. Dark purple red with lots of dark fruit. Quite a well structured, smooth, velvety taste with a great balance. Lovely seductive stuff! The Enoteca in Soave has a real good selection of wines and I Campi was a producer that had lots of good wines too. Valpolicella Ripasso "Campo Ciotoli" I Campi Low price Ca 12€

This is a splendid sweet white made from 100% Garganega (main grape in Soave) and the 2009 vintage got three glasses in Gambero Rosso! The grapes are pressed towards the end of March after going through the "appassimento" process since the harvest (October). The fermentation took place in oak barrels before being bottled after 10-12 months. Golden yellow color. The nose is packed with various impressions like figs, apricot, sweet citrus fruit and hints of coffee. Beautiful sweet taste with a great acidity and a long finish. Le Sponde 2009 Recioto di Soave Coffele Ca 30€

The oenologist Flavo Pra is setting his marks on the wines from I Campi and this Amarone took us by surprise. A super elegant wine packed with fruit and power and a big mouthful. Dark delicate fruit and a great balance. Deep ruby red color. A truly lovely wine. Serve at 18c. I Campi Amarone della Valpolicella 2009 High price 40-50€

This is a very elegant Amarone made by Coffele. Straight to the point and no overripe sweet fruit. Grapes are grown in Campiano and dried for three months in the special designed  "fruttaio" that can also be used for wedding receptions. After the "appassimento" process the fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks for 30-40 days. The wine is then matured 3 years in oak and two years in bottle before being released. Wonderful smell packed with dark cherries, plum, leather, cinnamon and pepper. Incredible elegant taste which is harmonious, long, full bodied, complex and velvety. A very good Amarone!! Amarone della Valpolicella 2008 Coffele Ca 45€

While visiting Soave last weekend we tasted the whole range of Coffele's wines (white plus red) This is a classic Soave with a mix of Garganega (75%) and Trebbiano and the cuvee is called Ca' Visco. Medium yellow colour with a very attractive aromas of tropical and citrus fruit. The taste is very fruity and fresh with a delicious acidity and also well balanced aftertaste with a lovely mineral finish. It's step up from the basic Soave, but only marginally more expensive. Serve with seafood and especially scampi. Soave Ca'Visco Coffele 188 NOK or 12€

This is sweet white from Soave. 100% hand-harvested Garganega grapes from the heart of the Soave region. The ripest bunches are put in small wooden cases and brought to the "fruttaio" where they are hang in special nets. During the following period (called appissemento) the imperfect grapes are removed before the dried grapes are pressed and fermented the following March. The result is a golden colored sweet white with a lovely perfume of apricots, honey, nuts and spices. The taste is sweet with a lively acidity and great balance. A delicious and seldom dessert wine (or blue cheese). Recioto di Soave Le Sponde 2007 Coffele in Soave Ca 25€ for 50 cl

This is a wonderful dry white wine from the small town of Soave in Italy. Pale straw colour with nice flavors of apple, lime and some minerals. The taste is well balanced with a surprising acidity and minerality with a medium body. Lovely stuff by Coffele in the volcanic hillside of Soave. It probably needs 3-4 years of storage to reveal the best and complex aromas. Soave Classico 2012 Coffele Brilliant white at only 150 NOK or ca 10€ 

Have you ever wondered what wine to have with the Norwegian traditional dish called Pinnekjøtt (dried rck of lamb). Well look no further. The Ripasso from Veneto has all the fruit and juice to survive the combination and is probably the most suitable red that will fit the bill. Packed with blackcurrant and sweet dark fruit and a very nicely balanced taste with enormous fruit and juice. Very drinkable indeed. Valpolicella Ripassa 2010 Veneto Ca 15€ or 200kr Bring on the Xmas dinner….

This dry white from Soave in Veneto is grown on steep volcanic hills and is made from the grape Garganega. Medium lime green colour. Nice smell of citrus fruit, apple, pear and chamomile. Quite a full-bodied white with a surprising lovely acidity. Low price 110 NOK Soave Piccolo 2011 Veneto

Left over Xmas chocolate with Recioto from Valpolicella is just a wonderful combination. Sweet cherries on the nose and a velvety slightly sugary taste. Best if served slightly cold. Lots of fruit in this wine and perhaps less dry fruit than other Recioto's. Recioto della Valpolicella 2008,  Great with chocolate and chocolate desserts and cakes. Ca 20€ for 500 ml bottles.

This is a very flexible, soft and elegant wine that goes with lots of different food. Dark red colour, dark fruit with smell of prunes, vanilla  and dried fruit. Long velvety taste with a slight bitter finish. Juicy character. Valpolicella Ripasso 2010 "Acinatico" by Accordini Ca 200 NOK or 15€. Try with lamb, rabbit or game.

Red wine with traditional Norwegian like rib of lamb or pork can be a challenge. Ripassa with it's fruitiness and slightly more sugar content is a good option to go for. Ripassa has gone through a second fermentation after having been mixed with left over skins/grapes from the production of Amarone or Recioto. Dark colour, with complex nose of dark cherries and chocolate. The taste is very juicy and smooth. Best red wine choice for most Norwegian Xmas dinners. Valpolicella Ripassa 2008 Zenato Just below 200NOK or 15€ 

This is a lovely red wine that goes with chocolate, chocolate cakes and desserts. Perfect meditation wine for Xmas and Easter. Sweet dark cherries on the nose with a sweet taste with a long balanced acidity. Very seductive indeed. Serve slightly chilled. Recioto della Valpolicella 2006, Accordini, NOK 250 for a 500ml bottle. Perfect chocolate wine.

I was served this white Recioto with the dessert at the restaurant De 4 Roser in Harstad the other day and what a lovely wine. Plenty of abricot, nutty and floral bouqet and a wonderful sweet taste with great acidity. 230 NOK or 15€ for a 50cl bottle. The grape is 100% Garganega. Perfect for Xmas! Recioto di Soave "Le Sponde", delicious stuff  

It can be a challenge to find wine that matches for example traditional Xmas food (in Norway rib of lamb and pork). I tried this Ripassa the other day to a leg of lamb and I must say that the wine was of outstanding quality and matched the lamb perfectly. Valpolicella Ripassa is like an Amarone light, as it is a normal Valpolicella that has been mixed with leftover skins and/or grapes from the production av Recioto and Amarone in order to start a second fermentation. The outcome is a bigger and more complex wine with soft tannins. The Ripassa made by Zenato is a very attractive wine packed with fruit, lovely dark cherries and chocolate on the nose and a wonderful smooth and juicy taste with a slight sweet aftertaste. The wine should be perfect with big heavy meat dishes like the "pinnekjøtt" and "svineribbe" or just in front of the fireplace. Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripassa 2007 by Zenato, Low price 190, a seductive Xmas wine Azienda Vitivinicola Z...

Xmas is approaching with advent calendar and lots of chocolate. A great wine with chocolate or chocolate dessert is a sweet red wine. In Valpolicella they dry the grapes after harvest and make two different wines out of these "raisins"; one dry red called Amarone and one sweet called Recioto. We are of course in the middle price range for such specialities, but for Xmas this is perfect. Lots of sweet cherries on the nose and a beautiful sweet lively cherry like taste. Great long taste and a good balance with slight bitter aftertaste. It's time to stock up for Xmas..... Recioto della Valpolicella, Accordini NOK 250 for 50 ml, perfect with chocolate and choco desserts.