2008 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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






2008 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
#nb-27-11



Over the years I have been fortunate to have consumed many wonderful vintages of the Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. There is nothing like a steak hot off the grill and a bottle of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon The 2008 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon certainly fits that bill, as we found out just the other night. This was a terrific bottle of wine with our steak dinner!

The following quotes are from The Wine Spectator and The Wine Advocate, which each scored this wine with an 89. I enjoyed this vintage enough to increase those scores to a 90.

"Notably herbal, showing bay leaf and mint notes, along with plenty of currant, earth, mineral and dried berry flavors to fill in the gaps. Full-bodied and firmly tannic, ending with complex black licorice and wet stone flavors. Best from 2012 through 2020. 93,000 cases made." - 89 Points - Wine Spectator

"The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, Mondavi's least expensive Cabernet Sauvignon, is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and other grapes. It has a healthy deep ruby/purple color, with a pleasant nose of black fruits intermixed with hints of charcoal and spice, delicious, sweet fruit, medium body, and nice suppleness and flesh. Given that discounters will probably price this wine in the low twenties, this could be an outstanding bargain. It is no doubt a tribute to the talents of their director of winemaking, Genevieve Janssens. Drink it over the next decade. " - 89 Points - The Wine Advocate.

Our steak was a perfect medium rare, and the 2008 Napa Cab stood right up to it with fragrant aromas of dark berries and cassis, which transfered into flavors of cherry, plum and cassis. The flavors intermingled, and then flowed into a full-bodied finish with subtle tannins, and a dry whisper, which denied the 15% alcohol content. If you like Cab and steak, you would have to search long and hard to find a better pair than this! From Napa, where "wine is bottled poetry".   Norm's score is 90.


Price: $20 to $25
Score: 90


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

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WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity

2009 Irony Monterey County Pinot Noir

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






2009 Irony Monterey County Pinot Noir
#NB-26-11



Grilled salmon and Pinot Noir, what a combo! Now, I will drink white wine with salmon at the drop of a hat, but as far as I am concerned, nothing beats Pinot Noir with salmon. Last night we opened a bottle of 2009 Irony Monterey County Pinot Noir to accompany our grilled salmon, and it was a great match.

Monterey is a good area to grow Pinot Noir, with warm days and cool Pacific breeze nights to nourish the delicate Pinot Noir grapes. The Irony opens up with a light nose of jammy berries and hints of cherry. The flavor starts out with a slight strawberry nuance, a favorite of mine in a Pinot Noir. It continues into a pronounced cherry flavor which remains solid into the finish, which lingers with a bit of vanilla. The wine was aged in oak for three months, which was just enough to impart a little of the oak into the finish.

The Irony is 89% Pinot Noir, 5% Petite Sirah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% other. The alcohol content is 13.5%. This is not an over-powering Pinot Noir and is a touch on the light side, which to me makes it the right style for salmon. It made our grilled salmon a wonderful meal, and I would pair these two any time. Norm's score is 87.


Price: $12 to $15
Score: 87


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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WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity

2009 Hess Select Chardonnay

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





2009 Hess Select Monterey Chardonnay
#nb-25-11


The 2009 Hess Select Chardonnay, from Monterey, California, is a continuation of a long line of impressive vintages from the folks at Hess. It is 100% Chardonnay, which has been aged in French oak for nine months, and comes in at 13.4% alcohol. The connerstone for the grapes in this bottle come from the Shirttail Creek Vineyard in Monterey.

Flavor highlights include pear, apple, and a touch of pineapple. The nine months in oak show through in the finish, which is clean and crisp. Fruit and acidity are well-balanced, making the finish mindful of another sip. This is a true Chardonnay in the value price range, and would pair well with a full meal, or just a bowl of fruit.

We enjoyed our 2009 Hess Select Chardonnay with a chicken pasta dish loaded with cheese and garlic. It was delightful!. This wine would also be a great companion with almost any lighter seafood dish, including Shrimp Alfredo. Norm's score is 88.


Price: $9 to $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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cumminghome.com
pineisland-eagle.com
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WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity

2009 St. Supery Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc

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




2009 St. Supery Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
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I recently had lunch with an old friend of mine who is in the wine business. We have known each other in the wine trade for over twenty years, and he is one of the good guys, an "honest salesman". We met for lunch at Ray's On The River, which is right on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. The heat was in the nineties and that river sure looked inviting on such a hot day.

I have been to Ray's many times in the past, but not for several years. I am happy to report that the lunch was as good as in the good old days, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. I had grilled Georges Bank Scallops and they were terrific The wine also was a great choice for the scallops, it was the 2009 St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley.

St. Supery has been in operation for several decades, and produces highly renowned estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. The winery is family owned by the Skalli's of France, who planted the vineyards in Bordeaux grapes in the early eighties. This Sauvignon Blanc is somewhat Bordeaux - like, although it is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, rather than a Bordeaux style blend, and possesses some of the California "grassy" characteristics found in Sauvignon Blancs from Napa.

The 2009 St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc opens with a heady bouquet, which transfers into mixed flavors of citrus and green apple, with the aforementioned grassy overtones. It is delighfully flavorful with a clean dry finish, and was an excellent accompaniment to my Georges Bank Scallops. The wine is well balanced between the fruit and the acidity and would be a good pair for almost any seafood dish.

I enjoyed my lunch with my old friend, and I enjoyed the wine so much, that I stopped on the way home to pick up a bottle to share with the "Chardonnay Queen" the next time we have Gulf Shrimp, which won't be too soon for me! (I really enjoy Sauvignon Blanc more than Chardonnay, but don't tell my wife.)

Norm's score is 90.


Price: $16 to $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:
dawsontimes.com
cumminghome.com
pineisland-eagle.com
thecherokeeconnection.com







WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity

2009 Big House Cardinal Zin

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





2009 Big House Cardinal Zin
#nb-23-11


Happy Independence Day everyone! Its almost 4th of July weekend, and that means barbecue, and there is hardly any other wine that goes as well with barbecue as an old vine zinfandel. I just sampled the 2009 Big House Cardinal Zin, and I think it would make a great companion for almost anything you take off of the grill.

The Cardinal Zin is a blend of 80% Zinfandel, 10% Mourvedre, 5% Carignane, and 2% Petite Sirah. The alcohol content is 13%. This is a big tasting Zinfandel with a jammy array of dark fruit flavors dominated by blackberry. It is a little peppery, with spice and subtle tannins in the finish. The finish is "lip-smacking good".

This is definately a barbecue wine, but would also be great with anything from pasta to burgers. If you like ribs for your 4th of July, this is the one for you!  Norm's score is 87.


Price: $9 to $12
Score: 87


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
cumminghome.com
pineisland-eagle.com
thecherokeeconnection.com







WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity