Life is too short to drink bad wine

Bordeaux wines are becoming increasingly more expensive and the best value reds from that region are the smaller properties like the Verdignan. 2009 and 2010 are two excellent vintages and the wines from these vintages are drinking perfectly right now. The colour is deep dark red. The nose is discrete with nice dark fruit, some herbs and vanilla. Well balanced taste with firm soft tannins. A nice Bordeaux at around 270 NOK or 20€.

Patrice Rion is one of the masters of Chambolle and he has three different premier crus as far as I know. This one called Les Cras, Les Fuees and the famous Les Charmes. All of them are equally good and elegant although my personal favourite is Les Charmes. Optimum timing for drinking them are at least 5-7 years old to smoothen the tannins that are present in the younger years. This one from 2012 has lots of red fruit dominated by wild raspberries and cherries. Delicate taste with a lovely balance and soft tannins. A lovely wine that will improve even further with a couple of more years in the bottle. Chambolle Musigny 2012 "Les Cras" Patrice Rion  Ca 50€

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€

It's not often one comes across an older Hermitage for less than 30€, but here it is. Dark red coloured wine a delicious dark fruit smell with some pepper on the nose as well. Lots of structure and fruit in the mouth with a compact well balanced aftertaste. Not a top Hermitage but it is very good value for money and is drinking really nicely right now and for the next 5 years. Hermitage 2007 Domaine des Martinelles Ca 27€

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  

Pomerol wines are just delicious, but ever so expensive. This one called Ch.de Sales is of the inexpensive kind and it gives you all the indications of what Pomerol can deliver. 2003 was very warm vintage but that has not affected the wine too much as it still has a nice acidity. Dark red colour with brick reed rim. Dark fruit, plum, cherries, some mint and chocolate on the nose. Lovely fullbodied taste which very smooth and rustic at the same time. Ch de Sales 2003 Pomerol Ca 25-30€ pending the year

This one of my absolute favourites; Patrice Rion, Chambolle and premier cru Les Charmes. Delicious heavenly smell of raspberries, cherries, chocolate and some pepper. Very firm structured taste with a gorgeous balance and wonderful red fruit. It's a big solid and smooth wine with lovely firm tannins. Drink now, but will improve if you can wait for 5 years... Chambolle Musigny 1er cru Les Charmes Patrice Rion Ca 50€