January wines

With February almost over I guess the list of wines I tried in January is well overdue.

Irony Pinot Noir 2008
Wines from Russian River seldom disappoint you and this was no exceptions. Red colour with hints of blue. On the nose plenty of cherry and strawberry with some clove and savage. On the palate cherry, some rhubarbs, licorice and berry jam. Firm tannins and crisp acidity makes a very smooth finish.

Alamos Selección 2006
Argentina Melbec, as good as the original from France. or even better sometimes. Dark red colour with purple highlights. On the nose black cherry aromas with light hints of floras. On the palate a lot of cassis, blackberry and chocolate. Silky finish with tripe tannins.

Domaine de la Boissonneuse Chablis 2008
Chablis, the chalky and limey nectar of France. Golden green colour. On the nose plenty of citrus fruits and some vanilla in the end. On the palate lots of minerals, green apples and a slightly touch of herbs.

Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2009
The very first sniff made me think of long and warm summer nights sitting outside. Light yellow colour with hints of green. On the nose lots of nettles, tropical fruit and in the end some citrus. On the palate very crisp with again tropical fruits and nettles.

Piper-Heidsieck Brut
There is always a reason to drink Champagne. This time it was a snowy Saturday in January. A reason good as any other. Yellow colour. On the nose a fresh taste of bread, biscuits and apples. On the palate a very dry aromatic taste of red apples, bread, cardamom and some citrus.

Wolf Blass Presidents Selection Chardonnay 2008
One of many Oz findings at the wines hop at Heathrow Airport, T3. Light yellow colour with some hints of green. On the nose aromas of mango, banana and vanilla. On the palate a dry taste of fruit and oak with hints of vanilla and pineapple.

Arne Brimi Viltvin La Montagnette 2009
Gift from Oslo office when I left my old job last spring. Arne Brimi is Norway’s answer to Jamie Oliver (or is it the other way around…) Red dark colour. On the nose plenty of red berries and some spices. On the palate again red berries, spice and herbs. Somewhat short finish.

Fat Bastard Pinot Noir 2010
Slightly tipsy we stopped rather late at the convenience store at South Ken tube station in London the last Friday in January. The label said it all. We had to buy the bottle. Red colour. On the nose lots of red fruits with hints of floral notes. On the palate rich flavours of strawberries, raspberries finish with cherries. Smooth tannins makes a soft finish.

Finca Beltran Duo Tempranillo Malbec 2010
The plan was to have duck in China Town to celebrate the Chines New Year, but we ended up in a newly opened steak house on St Martin’s Lane. Not sure how that happened… Deep red colour. On the nose quite fruity with almost a toasted note. On the palate lots of red fruits with hints of spice finish with a cinnamon note. A round finish that went superbly with steak.