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

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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