Champagne vs. Sparkling Wine

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






Champagne vs. Sparkling Wine
#nb-45-11



Break out the bubbly its almost New Year's!

Over the years I have heard many make the comment, "I don't really like champagne, so I don't think that I will get any this year for the 31st." When asked what kind of champagne they have had in the past, the answer is often Andre. Well Andre really is not champagne, its just inexpensive sparkling wine.

So what's the difference? Well Champagne is made in the Champagne Region of France and is fermented in the bottle , which is called Methode Champenoise, or in English "Champagne Method". Andre and other inexpensive sparkling wines are not fermented in the bottle using the Champagne Method, but rather they are fermented in bulk, which is often using the Charmat Method. This is a process which produces a usually much inferior sparkling wine. So if you don't want to pay French Champagne prices, look for the words "Champagne Method" on the bottle. There are some really good sparkling wines out there that don't come from France, and can't be called Champagne, but are still very enjoyable. You might find that you actually do like "Champagne".

Below are a few of my favorites:

Schramsberg from California - $30 to $36 per bottle
Mumm's Napa Cellars from California - $16 to $20 per bottle
Domaine Chandon from California - $16 to $20 per bottle
Korbel from California - $11 to $15 per bottle
Codorniu Cava from Spain - $8 to $11 per bottle


HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!


Norm

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

Norm's Tasting Notes available N>onN>line at either:
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WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity

2011 Christmas Special

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





Christmas Special
#nb-45-11


First let me say MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY DINING!...To make this happen you will need to make some good choices for your holiday meals. Below is a list of suggestions for which wines go best with which foods, that I put together several years ago. I hope this will help you with your holiday planning.

Grilled Steak or Beef Tenderloin - Cabernet Sauvignon
Lamb Chops or Pork Loin Chops - Merlot
Barbecued Ribs or Spaghetti - Zinfandel
Prime Rib or Roast Duck - Pinot Noir
Lobster, King Crab, Half Shell Oysters - Chardonnay
Oysters Rockefeller or Broiled Fish - Sauvignon Blanc
Shrimp Alfredo or Clams Marinara - Pinot Grigio
Baked Fish, Poached Flounder - Riesling or Pinot Grigio
Cornish Game Hens - Chardonnay or Pinot Noir
Grilled or Baked Salmon - Chardonnay, or Pinot Noir

The following is a list of some of the wines I have written about earlier this year which I would recommend as good choices for some of the above.

2009 B Side Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - 92 score
2007 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot - 91 score
2008 Bogel Old Vines Zinfandel - 91 score
2009 La Crema Russian River Pinot Noir - 95 score
2008 Rodney Strong Reserve Chardonnay - 92 score
2009 St. Supery Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc - 90 score
2010 Kris Pinot Grigio - 90 score
"Wild Card" - Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico -scores are almost always 90+ - Great with veal or any other Italian dish!

Whatever special dinner or wine you enjoy this year, I hope you have a:

Merry Christmas - Norm's Score - 100!


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

2010 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel

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






2010 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel
#nb-44-11


There is nothing like a big plate of spaghetti on a cold winter's night, and if you can't have a bottle of Dago Red alongside, try my American favorite for spaghetti, which is Zinfandel. The 2010 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel is the best of what have been some pretty good vintages over the last few years, and was made for spaghetti. The wine is made from old Zinfandel vines between 35 and 80 years old from the Lodi area of California.

This is a dark purple wine with a heady nose of jammy dark berries, which flow into robust flavors of black raspberry, blackberry and black cherry. The finish has an oak signature and comes in at 14.5% alcohol. This wine has the power and structure to stand up to any heavily spiced dish, especially anything in a tomato based sauce.

This wine was great with spaghetti, and would also go well with pizza or barbecue. Norm's score is 88.


Price: $8 to $11
Score: 88

Norm

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

Norm's Tasting Notes available N>onN>line at either:
dawsontimes.com
cumminghome.com
pineisland-eagle.com
thecherokeeconnection.com







WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay

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






2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay
#nb-43-11


There is something to be said for consistency, and both Robert Parker's "Wine Advocate" and the "Wine Spectator" scored the 2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay an 88. I am afraid I have to disagree and be inconsistent, and raise the score of this delightful bottle of wine to a 91. Perhaps I sampled this Chardonnay after a little more bottle age than the the two premier wine magazines, but I found this to be one of the best under twenty dollar Chardonnays I have ever tasted!

The other night my wife prepared her famous "Special Shrimp Scampi"(recipe location below), which is one of my most favorite shrimp dishes. The 2008 Indian Wells Chardonnay made it even better! This is a rich and smooth Chardonnay which abounds in flavors of melon and ripe pear, with Golden Delicious apple flavors swirling all about, and on into the finish. The finish is buttery with a strong crisp oak signature. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation to enhance the fruit and buttery character, and was aged sur lie for seven months in both French and American oak. The alcohol content is a perfect 13.5%.

Shrimp Scampi blasts you with butter and garlic (which is why I like it so much), and this wine is the perfect complement to this wonderful dish! I can't think of any seafood dish that this wine would not pair well with. It would also be great with duck a l'orange, or "Emeril's Favorite Roast Pheasant". Norm's score is 91.

If you would like the recipe for Miss Mary's Special Shrimp Scampi, it is on her blogsite at:
http://frommissmaryskitchen.blogspot.com/

Price: $15 to $19

Score: 91


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

Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir

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






2010 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir
#nb-42-11


We had broiled salmon the other night and a bottle of the 2010 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir. This Pinot Noir is a blend of 90% Pinot Noir, 6% Petite Sirah, 3% Syrah and 1% Merlot. Most of the grapes were grown in the Central Coast region of California, where the days are sunny and warm, and the nights are cool, with refreshing evening breezes coming in from the Pacific Ocean. The wine was oak aged, and has an alcohol content of 13.5%.

This is a very pleasant Pinot Noir, and a real bargain in the ten dollar price range. Most Pinot Noirs in this category don't even taste like Pinot Noir, but this one is a definite exception. The nose offers the aromas of black cherry and other dark fruits, which lead into a pronounced cherry flavor with a hint of black raspberry jam. The finish is clean with mild oak tones, and a lasting cherry presence at the end.

This wine was excellent with our salmon, and would also be great with prime rib, or chicken cacciatore. 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