2007 Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Merlot

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net





2007 Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Merlot
#nb-26-10

Cold weather and steaks hot off the grill! What could be better? Last night we indulged ourselves with two inch thick, medium rare, filet mignons, and a bottle of 2007 Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Merlot. Many of you know the Blackstone California Merlot as a good solid choice for a value priced red wine, but the Reserve is a real step up!

The 2007 Blackstone is still a touch on the young side, and should take another twelve to eighteen months for the tannins to mellow out. This is a Cabernet drinker's Merlot with big hearty flavors of cherry and dark berries. The nose is exciting and entices you to linger over the glass before your first sip. The flavor of the wine with the steak was magnificent, and made for a great match. The wine was aged for twenty months in oak, which should give it a long life. While quite good right now, it should be at its best by the fall of 2012.

The Reserve Merlot gets a score of 91 from the "Wine and Spirits" magazine with the following quote: "The moderate 2007 season created wines like this cool, mouthwatering red. It's neither fussy nor ambitious; it just tastes clean and bright, lasting with the flavor of cherries slowly ripened in the shade." This Merlot is predominantly from the Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys of Sonoma County, California.

Serve this wonderful Merlot with steaks, chops, or red sauced pasta. Norm's score is 90.

This year for Christmas the "Chardonnay Queen" and I will be spending the holiday at our little cottage by the sea in Matlacha, Florida. While there, we will be fishing and eating fish, and consuming great quantities of wine, mostly white. We will have, however, our traditional Christmas Dinner of Chateaubriand and a hearty red wine! There will not be another edition of "Norm's Tasting Notes" until our return at the beginning of the new year. Until then, Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Price - $16 - $20
Score - 90

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his Blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/

Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:

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2008 Rodney Strong Reserve Chardonnay

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net





2008 Rodney Strong Reserve Chardonnay
#nb-25-10

Ever since my wife Mary, "The Chardonnay Queen", met Rodney Strong in the mid 80's, Chardonnay from his winery has always been her favorite. A very nice person gave her a bottle of 2008 Rodney Strong Reserve Chardonnay for her birthday in May, and we saved it for the Thanksgiving Feast this November.

The Reserve Chardonnay gets scores of 90 and above every year, and this was no exception. This 100% Chardonnay is predominantly from the Russian River area of Sonoma County, California, and has the big lush fruit flavors normally associated with the grapes grown there. The wine was aged for fourteen months in French oak, and underwent malolactic fermentation, which brings out that buttery and creamy texture that many of us love so much!

This year for Thanksgiving we had Cornish Game Hen instead of turkey, and the R. Strong Reserve was a most excellent match. This is a big full-bodied Chardonnay with bold fruit, tinged with mild citrus notes, and all of the typical apple and pear flavors of Chardonnay. As I said before the fruit is lush and succulent and finishes crisp and clean, with the presence of oak firmly established , but not over-powering. The taste just begs for another sip!

This Chardonnay was great with our Thanksgiving Feast, and would pair well with almost any fowl. The best combination would be with lobster or shrimp, with lots of butter and garlic! Norm's score is 92.

Price - $35 - $40
Score - 92

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his Blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/

Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:

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2008 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net




2008 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel
#nb-24-10

Old vines mean great wine! The 2008 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel really isn't great, just really good, but when you factor in the under ten dollar price, it is a great buy! The noted wine writer Wilford Wong scored it an 87 and said, "A joyous, table wine zin, the easy drinking '08 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin has plenty of character but without hard tannins that often make the older vines too hard; finishes well."

This is a hearty Zinfandel with aromas of blackberry, which sail into flavors of spice and rich laryers of dark berries. The finish has oak in it, but not overpowering, with jammy and peppery notes at the end. This wonderful Zinfandel is smooth enough for a plate of spaghetti, but with enough backbone to stand up to barbecued venison, or any other hearty meat dish.

Someone once asked me what was the best wine for barbecue, and I replied, beer or sweet ice tea. That was before my first taste of an old vine Zinfandel! The Gnarly Head old vines are grown down in Lodi, California, and are between 35 and 80 years old. They produce smaller quantities of grapes with more intense juice, which is the perfect match for any barbecue except chicken. The wine is just a little too powerful for chicken, but as I said before, it is great with spaghetti! Norm's score is 89.

Price - $8 - $10
Score - 89

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his Blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/

Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:

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Thanksgiving Special

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net





2010 Thanksgiving Special

Thanksgiving is the one day of the year when people who do not normally drink wine have at least one glass with their traditional Thanksgiving Feast. If you are going to have a glass of wine only once per year, make it a good one, since it is a long time between now and the next Thanksgiving Dinner! It is always difficult to select the perfect wine for this occasion, because the table offers such an array of aromas and flavors, but there are a few guidelines which will make this dinner more memorable than ever.

Here are a few suggestions for the standard Thanksgiving Dinner. If you like Chardonnay, choose one which is not bone dry, but rather one with a strong fruit presence. This will serve well with the white meat turkey, which can sometimes be a little on the dry side. Sauvignon Blanc is also a good choice if you like dry white wine with your meal. If you like red wine with your meal, choose a lighter style Pinot Noir, or one of the softer Merlots. For myself, I always go for a German Riesling, or one of the good domestic ones from New York State, or Washington State. The fruity, but dry finish of a good Riesling is perfect for that dry white meat turkey, which did not turn out as juicy as you had hoped for. Italian Pinot Grigio would also be a good choice for the same reason.

There is only one rule to adhere to: "The best wine to serve is the one which you like best." However, be prepared to have something different for those whose tastes may differ from yours. Also, please don't forget to consume large quantities of water with the feast, as it compliments both the food and the wine, and aids in digestion.

Below is a list of wines which I have written about during this past year, which would be good choices for your Thanksgiving Dinner.

Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay (California)
Louis Latour Grand Ardeche Chardonnay (France)
Simi Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc (California)
Chateau Ste. Michelle Horse Heaven Sauvignon Blanc (Washington State)
Geyser Peak California Pinot Grigio (California)
Brotherhood Riesling (New York State)
Wild Horse Central Coast Pinot Noir (California)
Santa Cristina Sangiovese (Italy)

I hope each and everyone of you has a happy and enjoyable Thanksgiving!

Norm


Norm's Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his Blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/


Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:

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2009 Just Chardonnay by Paul Sapin

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net






2009 Just Chardonnay from Paul Sapin
#nb-23-10

Recently a friend gave me a bottle of wine to taste. I had reccomended several inexpensive Chardonnays to him, and this was one which he had found at a local store, and felt it was as good as any of the recommended ones. It was French in the below ten dollar range, and we decided to taste it against a California Chardonnay in the same price range which we had enjoyed several times in the past.

We had a delicious meal of roasted chicken and green bean casserole, and sampled the two wines against each other along with our meal. The California wine was the 2007 Concannon Central Coast Chardonnay, and the French was the 2009 Just Chardonnay from Paul Sapin. Both wines have the typical apple-pear taste of Chardonnay, and are well rounded with a fruit forward nature. The Concannon is a deeper yellow in color partly because of being two years older and having been 50% oak aged for five months. The Just Chardonnay is 100% Chardonnay with no barrel aging.

Both Mary (the Chardonnay Queen) and I prefered the Just Chardonnay to the Concannon. It has a lighter, crisper finish, with no cloying aftertaste. It is more California in style than French, although like most French Chardonnay's it has a little less acidity than typical California Chardonnays. If you like an oak finish, you may not like it as well as some that do, but it is crisp and clean and is easy to drink. All of the Just Wines are 100% of the varietal, and have no barrel aging, or anything other than the grape itself.

For light fare such as our roasted chicken, the 2009 Just Chardonnay would be an excellent choice. Norm's score is 85.

Price - $8 - $10
Score - 85

Norm


Norm's Tasting notes can also be accessed at his Blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/

Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:

dawsontimes.com or
pineisland-eagle.com

2008 Bogle California Cabernet Sauvignon

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net






2008 Bogle California Cabernet Sauvignon
#nb-22-10

It takes a good farmer with good soil to grow good grapes. The Bogle familly has been farming the Sacramento River delta near Clarksburg, California for quite some time, in fact the family's history of farming in California goes back to the mid 1880's. Today their operation includes over 1200 acres under cultivation, with a number of metals and awards to attest to the winery's reputation for producing good wines at value prices.

The 2008 Bogle California Cabernet Sauvignon is a great example of their ability to produce good wine at an honest price. "The Wine Spectator" commented, that the wine "shows good richness and a range of flavors, with roasted herb, sage, dried currant and mineral notes. Full bodied and rustic, but serves up a tasty mix of unbridled Cabernet." - 87 Points. The "Wine Enthusiast" gave it a 90, and labeled it "a terrific value"

We paired this rich cherry and plum flavored Cabernet Sauvignon with a two inch thick Fillet cooked medium rare on the grill, with side dishes of grilled zukini, and penne pasta baked with cheddar cheese. The wine was wonderful with this meal. The aroma was enticing with scents of currant and cherry evolving into the plum and cherry flavors, which finished strong with lingering notes of cedar and oak.

The wine was aged for fourteen months in American Oak and comes in at a perfect 13.5% alcohol. Serve it with any meat dish or with aged cheese after dinner.  It would, however, be hard to beat that two inch steak! Norm's score is 88.

Price - $9 - $12
Score - 88

Norm

Norm's Tasting notes can also be accessed at his Blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/


Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:
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pineisland-eagle.com

2008 Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net






2008 Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay
#nb-21-10


This one gets the stamp of approval from my wife, Mary, "The Chardonnay Queen"!
It also gets 89 points from Robert Parker, 89 points from Stephen Tanzer, and 88 points from "The Wine Spectator". I am however going to up the score to a 90, since it was so delicious when served as a companion to my fabulous Coq au Vin!

The 2008 Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay is a superlative wine and almost perfect with a dish like Coq Au Vin. Our dinner consisted of the Coq au Vin, which was boneless chicken breast cooked in red wine (Merlot), fresh garlic, and butter. For this meal we added wild and long grain rice, and asparagus cooked in olive oil with sea salt, and alongside was fresh warm French bread.

The aroma of the Napa Chardonnay literaly leaped out of the glass with an abundance of fragrant tropical scents. The flavor was true to Chardonnay, with lots of apple and pear, but there was also a wonderful spiciness, which suggested roasted pineapple with a hint of cinnamon. This was a fruit forward wine with lush overtones and a clean and crisp finish which really stood up to the wine and garlic flavors of the chicken.

The quote from Robert Parker was, "A sleeper of the vintage as well as a stunning value, the 2008 Chardonnay Napa ranks alongside some of the great bargains in California." I truly enjoyed this wonderful Chardonnay, and would suggest it for your Thanksgiving Dinner, which is only a few weeks away. Norm's score is 90.

Price - $11 - $15
Score - 90

Norm

2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Merlot

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net





2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Merlot
#nb-20-10

The renowned wines from Chateau Ste. Michelle of Washinton State have gathered numerous acclaims for both excellence and value. Their northern most growing area is the Wahluke Slope, which is bordered on both the south and west by the Columbia River. Here we find the Indian Wells Vineyard where some of the state's best wines are produced. No exception is the 2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Merlot. This wine was scored a 92 by "Wine and Spirits" magazine and an 89 by the "The Wine Spectator."

I often tell customers that, "I taste bad wine so they won't have to!" This was not the case with the Indian Wells Merlot. This a lush and fragrant wine which is well balanced and not overbearing in any way. Its aroma is well rounded with both the the essance of cherries and dark berries. It is pleasing to the palate with tones of black cherry, plum, and a hint of cedar. This Merlot has a strong and lingering finsih which is not over powering, but begs for another sip!

It is a great value for a wine under twenty dollars, and would pair well with any grilled meat, or game dish. I think it would be a wonderful companion to roasted pheasant or duck, and would be a first choice for lamb. It is hearty but not overly so, and I would score it a 91.

Price - $14 - $18
Score - 91

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:

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2008 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net






2008 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon
#nb-19-10

I love the fall weather when the sky is dark blue, and the temperature range is between 45 at night and 75 during the day, with a dry cool breeze blowing. It makes me remember the first down run, the touchdown pass, and the big game. I also think of that big strike, and hauling in that five pound bass or that twenty inch speckled trout. What warms me up in this slightly chilly weather is that big glass of dark red wine served with a two inch thick steak, or a big bowl of venison stew, or of course, a big plate of spaghetti and meat sauce!

In light of the above, we decided to celebrate the fall with a big plate of spaghetti and meat sauce, and a bottle of 2008 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon. We have enjoyed the Seven Oaks Cabernet many times during the last decade, and it always scores in the high eighties to low nineties. The 2008 was no let-down, and I would give it a solid 88.

The 2008 Seven Oaks like many bottles labeled Cabernet Sauvignon is actually a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petite Sirah, 4% Syrah, and small amounts of Merlot, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and other reds. Very Bordeaux in style it is what I would call a Claret, or some might say a Meritage. It is 100% delightful, with more than a year of oak aging and an alcohol level of 13.5 %. The wine is a beautiful reddish purple in color and has the aroma of currants and cherries. The flavor swells in the glass to reveal black cherry, with overtones of other dark berries, and a wonderful nuance of plum, which finishes with toasty oak and vanilla.

The Seven Oaks was great with the spaghetti and kept growing larger and larger in the glass which climaxed the evening, with the last of the wine, when the meal was long gone. It is very good right now, but should be even better by 2015, if you can wait that long! My score would be an 88, but it might be over 90 in 2015.

Price - $12 - $16
Score - 88

Norm


Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:

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pineisland-eagle.com

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Horse Heaven Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net






2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Horse Heaven Sauvignon Blanc
#nb-18-10

I just got back from paradise, and man did I hate to leave! Paradise for the "Chardonnay Queen" and I, is our little cottage by the sea in Matlacha, Florida.

For those of you who don't know where Matlacha is, it is right offshore from Cape Coral, FL (Fort Myers), and is inside of the barrier islands of Captiva, Sannibel, and Pine Island. Matlacha is a small community of around 700 residents and has several very good restaurants, a thriving art community, and some of the best fishing in the whole state!

There were several good meals and a number of good bottles of wine, but the star of the trip was the 2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Horse Heaven Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. Now that's a long name for a bottle of wine, but this one is also long on taste! This wonderful Sauvignon Blanc accompanied a terrific meal at "Red's Fresh Seafood" on Pine Island. For starters, there was a succulent cup of crab and red pepper bisque, followed by a platter of both oysters and shrimp.

The Horse Heaven Sauvignon Blanc hails from Washington State and is a blend of 89% Sauvignon Blanc and 11% Semillon, and is a perfect 13.5% alcohol. The wine starts with a light lime citus aroma which melts into the taste of a little citrus, a little grassy, and a lot of ripe pear. The finish is clean and crisp, and sails on into the night.

The "Wine Spectator scored this one an 89, which is one point below the 90 bestowed on the 2008 vintage. I would have to agree, as I also subtract one point from the previous vintage, since I found this one to be a touch lighter. This wine is so tasty, you could sit on the back porch and consume the whole bottle by yourself! However, shared with someone special with a platter of fresh shellfish, makes for a wonderful evening.

Price - $14 - $18
Score - 89

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:

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Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net





2010 Fall Matlacha Vacation
#nb-17-10

My wife Mary, the "Chardonnay Queen", and I are headed to our little cottage by the sea in Matlacha, Florida, so there will not be a wine review for this week. We will be eating lots of fresh sea trout, bodacious amounts of fresh Gulf Shrimp, gobs of fresh crab, and bushels of Pine Island Clams.  We will be dining at several of the areas excellent seafood resturants, such as Reds, Sandy Hook, and Morettis'.
We will need awsome quantities of cold white wine to wash all this down with, so upon our return there will be a complete fishing, dining and wine report.

Price - Priceless
Score - 100

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:

dawsontimes.com or
pineisland-eagle.com

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net





2008 Bogle Old Vines Zinfandel
#nb-16-10

Big, fat, and jammy, and so good! No, I am not talking about a jelly roll, I am talking about the 2008 Bogle Old Vines Zinfandel. Mary the "Chardonnay Queen" said that "it tasted like somebody dropped a big old glob of blackberry jam into the middle of the glass!" Now everybody does not like "jammy", but I sure do! This Zinfandel is intense and very bold, with lots of big dark berry flavors swirling through it.

The Bogle Vineyards are located in the Sacramento Delta near Clarksburg, California, and the vines used to make this wine are about 45 to 80 years old. This Zinfandel has been aged for ten months in American Oak, which puts some tannin in its finish, and the wine is a sturdy 14.8% alcohol.

Many of the Italian immigrants who moved to California in the late 19th, and early 20th centuries, loved Zinfandel almost as much with their pasta as Chianti, and they planted a lot of Zinfandel throughout Northern California. Speaking of pasta, we enjoyed this bottle of Bogle Old Vines with a big plate of spaghetti covered with Norm's famous meat sauce. Spaghetti is always one of my most favorite meals, and this Zinfandel made it almost perfect!

This intense wine would also be great with any hearty stew, game meat, or barbecue. You won't find a better old vine Zinfandel in this price range. Norm's score is a 91.

Price - $10 - $14
Score - 91

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:

dawsontimes.com or
pineisland-eagle.com

2007 LOUIS LATOUR GRAND ARDECHE

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net






2007 Louis Latour Grand Ardeche Chardonnay
#nb-15-10

Another hot summer night, so for dinner we opted for a chilled seafood salad and a cold bottle of French Chardonnay. I often prefer French Chardonnays for this kind of meal because of their steely nature, imparted by the chalky soil that many grow in. This one was the 2007 Louis Latour Grand Ardeche Chardonnay from the south-centeral region of France, and more specificly the appellation Coteaux de l'Ardeche. It was a perfect match!

The negociant Maison Louis Latour has built an excellent reputation for themselves dating back to the 17th Century. Their wines are almost always above average, and this one drinks like a thirty dollar, or more, Burgundy! It has a fragrant nose with a slight citrus overtone. The flavor is the typical apple and pear taste found in many good Chardonnays, but what I like most is the crisp steely finish. The wine was fermented in oak and underwent 100% malolactic fermentation, but does not have the fruit forward characteristics often associated with this process.

Our seafood salad was a combination of shrimp, bay scallops, and poached salmon, served with seashell pasta spritzed with fresh lime juice and extra virgin olive oil, tossed and served well chilled over a bed of romaine. No further dressing was necessary. The crisp and clean Grand Ardeche served to complete a fabulous meal which only required the finishing touch of a small baguette of French Bread.
Norm's score is an 89.

Price - $12 - $16
Score - 89

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:

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pineisland-eagle.com

2006 WILD HORSE PASO ROBLES MERLOT

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net





2006 Wild Horse Paso Robles Merlot
#nb-14-10

Twenty-one months ago "The Wine Spectator" scored the 2006 Wild Horse Merlot an 85 with the following comments; "Ripe and zesty, with plum and roasted herb aromas and red currant and exotic Asian spice flavors. Drink now." A lot of you did. However there are still some bottles of the 2006 left in the market place, and what an improvement those couple of years have made for this wine.

We just had a bottle last night with some wonderful Beef Stroganoff, and my score would be a 90 at this point in its life. It is dark red in color with a nose of black cherry and currant. The flavors are complex with maturity, but have not lost any of their bright fruit zest. The combination of cherry and cassis swril together with the slight presence of spice, and flow into a well rounded finish of mild toasty tannin. So often we consume wine at too early an age, but four years old may be the perfect place in time to enjoy this Merlot.

Our recipe for Beef Stroganoff is hard to beat, but the Wild Horse would be a great choice for grilled steaks, or any skewered meat from the grill. Find a bottle an enjoy it before they all disapear! Norm's score is 90.

Price - $14 - $18
Score - 90

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:

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pineisland-eagle.com

2008 TOAD HOLLOW CHARDONNAY

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net





2008 Toad Hollow Francine's Selection Chardonnay
#nb-13-10

Toad Hollow Vineyard was founded by the brother of comedian Robin Williams, Todd (Toad) Williams, and former International Star Dancer, Rodney Strong, also know as the "King of Sonoma County" wine makers. Their first vintage of Chardonnay was produced in 1993 with 90% Mendicino County grapes and 10% from Sonoma County, and with no oak.

They adopted the slogan, "No trees were harmed in the making of this wine". It continues to be so today. They still use the 90-10 mixture of grapes at Toad Hollow, and the wine is fermented and aged in stainless steel.

The 2008 Toad Hollow Chardonnay has undergone malolactic fermentation, and was aged for eight months before its release. The wine comes in at 13.7% alcohol, and has a creamy texture on the palate due to the malolactic fermentation. Both "Dr. Toad" and the "Sonoma Wine King" have passed on to the great vineyard in the sky, but the winery continues to produce wines in the same fashion and of the same quality.

The 2008 Francine's Selection is bright and clean on the palate. The nose is of pineapple and tropical fruit, which flows on into a taste of apple and pineapple, and finishes clean and crisp with no cloying aftertaste. Another great summertime selection for a light, un-oaked Chardonnay to be paired with light fare, such as broiled flounder or a crisp southwestern chicken salad. Norm's score is an 86.

Price - $11 - $14
Score - 86

Norm


Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:

dawsontimes.com or
pineisland-eagle.com

2009 Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net

#nb-12-10




2009 Mezzacorona Italian Pinot Grigio

It seems like we just keep talking about this long hot summer, which has been so long and hot, that I have even had to cook steaks indoors a few times, rather than out on the grill. When it is hot, I like light and refreshing wines, such as the 2009 Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio, from Trentino-Valle dell'Adige near the foothills of the Dolomites Mountains in Italy.

Pinot Grigio is always a great choice for light fare in the summertime, and the Mezzacorona is a light and refreshing wine with good balance and a crisp finish. The color is pale yellow with a slight summer's fragrance of pear and tropical fruit, showing the way to flavors of citrus and melon. The stainless steel fermentation provides the clean and crisp finish, which melts into the summer evening with a light 12.5% level of alcohol.

Mezzacorona has been available in the Atlanta market area for quite sometime now, and continues to produce high quality wines at value prices. This Pinot Grigio would be a fine companion for shrimp or crab cocktail. Serve well chilled and enjoy as an accompaniment to food or by itself. Norm's score is 85.

Price - $8 - $11
Score - 85

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes also avaiable on line at either:
dawsontimes.com  or
pineisland-eagle.com

2008 Columbia Crest Chardonnay

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net




2008 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay
#nb-11-10

My wife Mary, the "Chardonnay Queen" scored it an 88 with the comment, "clean and well balanced". The "Wine Spectator" rated it at 89, and described it as, "polished, round and spicy". Robert Parker's "Wine Advocate" rated it a "Best Buy", and I found it clean and crisp and gave it a 90, mainly because its a really enjoyable bottle of wine for only ten bucks!

We are talking about the 2008 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay from the Columbia Valley of Washington State. Owned by Chateau Ste. Michelle, but not just a secondary label, Columbia Crest has brought to the table an array of wonderful wines in the value price range. The Chardonnay has been a "winner" and a favorite of ours for several years in a row!

This well balanced wine has a typical Chardonnay nose of apples and pears, backed by a suggestion of tropical fruit. The flavor is apple and pear all of the way, with a hint of butter, and subtle vanilla and toast in the finish. This wine would pair well with almost any chicken or seafood dish. If you want a real treat on one of these hot August dog days, team it up with a nice fresh Cobb Salad, or just sip it on the back porch after the sun goes down.

Price - $9 - $12
Score - 90

Norm

2009 Bodega Norton Malbec

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net



#nb-10-10

I usually cook my steaks on the grill, but with temperatures above 95 degrees, I decided to have an old favorite, steak and gravy with new potatoes I paired this meal with another old favorite, the Bodega Norton Malbec. Now this wasn't just any old steak, this was a two inch thick fillet mignon, cooked medium rare, and smothered in a rich brown mushroom gravy. It wasn't just any old red wine either. It was a bottle of 2009 Norton Malbec

The Bodega Norton Winery is one of the oldest vineyards in Argentina, originally planted in 1895. They have been producing Malbec wines there for many years, and I have also been enjoying their wines for quite some time now. They produce some very high quality Malbec wines at fairly expensive price levels, but this is their young vines Malbec at the entry price level.

Don't be fooled by the eight to ten dollar price range, this is a quality bottle of wine. The 2009 vintage is a very dark red in color and has an enticing nose full of plum and dark berry scents. The flavor is rich and bold with plum and berry flavors swirling together as they sail into a lengthy sweet tannin finish. The wine is 100% Malbec and comes in at 13.8% alcohol.

If you like Malbec, you will love the quality at this price range. If you have never tried a Malbec, this is a great place to start! The "Wine Enthusiast" scored the 2009 Norton Malbec an 86, and rated it a best buy. Norm's score would be an 87, but in six months it may be in the 88 to 90 range! If you don't want steak and gravy, pair this one up with any red sauce pasta dish and enjoy!

Price - $8 - $11
Score - 87

Norm

2009 Chateau Ste Michelle Sauvignon Blanc

Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
Norm's Tasting Notes
#nb-09-10
normwine@bellsouth.net






The best temperature to serve white wine is between 55 and 60 degrees, but when the outside temperature is above 90, I like mine a little bit colder, maybe even ten degrees colder. For these hot summer evenings, you could not ask for a better "back-porch" sipper than the 2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc, served cold at about 40 to 45 degrees.

This is a fruit forward wine displaying flavors of melon and citrus, with just enough acidity to round out the taste into a very refreshing summer time wine. The finish is crisp with a balanced after-taste which highlights the citrus flavors. I have been a long time fan of the Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, which is a value priced favorite of Mary the "Chardonnay Queen". The Sauvignon Blanc does not have the depth and complexity of the Chardonnay, but on a hot summer evening it is a better choice for sitting out on the back porch and enjoying a refreshing glass of wine.

Fresh grapes are plentiful this time of year, so grab a bowl of grapes and some soft white cheese like Brie, or even Gouda, and head for the back porch swing and a relaxing summer repast. We just paired this one up with some black seedless grapes and it was wonderful!

Price - $10 - $13

Score - 86

Norm

2007 Wild Horse Cabernet Sauvignon

Norm's Tasting Notes
#nb-08-10
normwine@bellsouth.net







As I have often said, I love steak on the grill with a good bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon! Last night I cubed up some fillet mignon, and skewered it with onion and grape tomatoes, and an orange teriyaki sauce. I braised the skewers on a very hot grill and served these wonderful steak ka-bobs with a bottle of 2007 Wild Horse Cabernet Sauvignon. Now if that doesn't make for a "mid-summer's night dream", then Billy was not the "Bard".

Wild Horse Winery and Vineyards is in Templeton, California just south of Paso Robles, and part of the Central Coast growing region. Warm days with nights cooled by Pacific Ocean breezes combine to produce some remarkable grapes, yielding very fine wines. The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon from Wild Horse is a delightful bottle of wine with big fruit up front, followed by a mild toasty oak finish. The nose is heady to say the least, and the flavor swirls with a cherry-berry roundness, which begs for one sip after another.

Like many Cabernets these days, this one is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, accented by the usual cast of characters, headed up by Malbec at 5%. It comes in at 13.9% alcohol and is smoothed out by its 12 months in the barrel. It was great with our skewered fillet, and would be perfect with any steak, or red sauce pasta dish. Norm's score is an 89.

Price - $16 - $19

Score - 89

Norm

Wine Ratings

Norm's Tasting Notes
normwine@bellsouth.net

Recent Wine Ratings





2008 Napa Cellars Chardonnay - 88
2008 Casillero del Diablo Malbec - 87
2007 Cupcake Vineyards California Cabernet Sauvignon - 87
2008 Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay - 88
2008 Simi Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc - 89
2007 Wlid Horse Central Coast Pinot Noir - 89
2007 Fontanafredda Briccotondo Barbera - 92

All of these wines have been tasted and written up on Norm's Tasting Notes.
( Enjoy a bottle with dinner tonight! )

Full articles can be read online at either:

dawsontimes.com
            or
pineisland-eagle.com

2008 Simi Sauvignon Blanc

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net





#nb-03-10
Sharing a good bottle of wine with old friends is one of life's special treats, and we had just such an occasion last night. The wine was the 2008 Simi Sauvignon Blanc, and it was an excellent choice for a hot Atlanta summer evening.

When we first opened the bottle it was a little too cold, which while being more refreshing, loses some of the flavor. The best temperature for white wine is at about 60 degrees which retains its refreshing nature, but still allows the wine to open up its bouquet.

The Simi has a wonderful bouquet with strong scents of apple, melon and citrus. The fragrance opens the door to swirling flavors of tropical fruit with grassy undertones. Depending on your palate you might notice either peach or melon as well. This Sauvignon Blanc has a good balance between fruit and acidity and has a bone dry, crisp finish, which is perfect for a hot summer night.

I love Sauvignon Blanc in the summer, and can suggest this one as an excellent pair for shrimp salad, or one of my favorites, fried flounder! The scores range from a 90 from the Wine News, to an 88 from the Wine Spectator, and an 87 from the Wine Enthusiast. Norm's score would be an 89.

Price - $11 - $15

Score - 89

Norm

Wine Scores

Norm's Tasting Notes can be read online at either:

dawsontimes.com - or - pineilsland-eagle.com

Dawson Times is an online newspaper published in Dawsonville, GA
which is in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains. In addition to
wine articles, there are lots of interesting articles about the area, including
local wineries and the gold rush town of Dahlonaga, GA.

The Pine Island Eagle is published in Pine Island, Florida, just off the coast
of Cape Coral and Fort Myers, FL. Lots of stories of local interest to the
SW Florida area, including the islands of Sannibel and Captiva. The prettiest
village in all of Florida is on Pine Island, and is named Matlacha, which is home
to a small arts and crafts community as well as several great local seafood
restaurants. It is also a fishing paradise.

Norm

Wine News

My name is Norm Bentley.
I write a weekly article about wine.

The title is "Norm's Tasting Notes"

If you like wine and want to know more about wine, or the pairing of wine with food,
you will probably enjoy reading these articles. There are scores, plus price ranges for
all wines reviewed.

These articles can be viewed on-line at either:

dawsontimes.com - or - pineisland-eagle.com

Norm