2011 Maso Canali Pinot Grigio

Norm's Tasting Notes By: Norm Bentley North Georgia Wine Advisor normwine@bellsouth.net 2011 Maso Canali Pinot Grigio #nb-13-13   The 2011 Maso Canali Pinot Grigio is another in a long line of good vintages from Maso Canali. It comes from Trentino, Italy, and helps set the standard for what a quality Italian Pinot Grigio should be. Past vintages have received high scores from wine critics, and this one is no different.   The bouquet is a fragrant blossom, holding the combined scents of both fruit and flowers, with a trailing breeze of citrus. Fresh and invigorating, the flavors abound with tropical fruit, apricot, and apple. The finish is crisp, dry, and clean with a lingering taste of the apple, and a slight acidity which beckons you back for more. The wine is 100% Pinot Grigio, and has an alcohol content of 13%. Norm's score is 89.   We enjoyed the Maso Canali with a wonderful creation of Shrimp and Scallops Fra Diavolo with fettucine, lots of garlic, and prepared by the "Chardonnay Queen". It was superb! This wine would pair well with almost any seafood or fowl entree, and would also make a great "back porch sipper".   Score 89 Price: $15 - $19 Norm Norm’s Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/ Norm’s Tasting Notes available online at either: http://cumminghome.com/ http://dawsontimes.com/ http://pineisland-eagle.com/ WINE – God’s Proof of his love for humanity

2012 Santa Julia Organic Malbes

Norm's Tasting Notes By: Norm Bentley North Georgia Wine Advisor normwine@bellsouth.net   2012 Santa Julia Organic Malbec #nb-12-13 There has been a lot about Argentina in the news of late, but there is nothing new about how good the wines from Gaucho Land are. The world has known of, and enjoyed the Malbecs from Argentina for quite some time, and I recently sampled an organic version which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was the 2012 Santa Julia Organic Malbec from the Zuccardi family, who have been involved in the business since 1963 down in Mendoza, Argentina.   Over the years, Malbec, originally from Bordeaux, has become a favorite of mine, and those from Argentina are among the best red wine values on the market. I love the big rich fruit flavors, layered with earthy undertones, and big cherry dominance. The 2012 Santa Julia opens with a heady bouquet of summer blackberries, which transcend into abundant flavors of dark berries and black cherry. The finish is clean and lingering with a suggestion of vanilla and wood at the end. The alcohol content is 13%. This wine would be a great choice for the backyard barbecue, whether it be burgers or steaks. Norm's score is 88.   Score 88   Price: $10 - $14 Norm Norm’s Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/ Norm’s Tasting Notes available online at either: http://cumminghome.com/ http://dawsontimes.com/ http://pineisland-eagle.com/ WINE – God’s Proof of his love for humanity

2009 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot

Norm's Tasting Notes By: Norm Bentley North Georgia Wine Advisor normwine@bellsouth.net 2009 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot #nb-11-13 It seems like year after year the Columbia Crest folks come up with a quality Merlot at a good value price, and the 2009 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot is no exception. We opened a bottle the other night with before dinner appetizers for some guests at our house, and everyone was quite pleased, and surprised to find a wine of this quality in the under fifteen category.   The Columbia Crest brand is a secondary label For Chateau Ste. Michelle, and the wine comes from the Columbia Valley in Washington State. The Wine Spectator liked this one well enough for an 88 score, and had this to say; "Lithe, polished and approachable, with generous raspberry, cranberry, floral and white chocolate flavors that linger easily against refined tannins." The alcohol content is 13.5%.   I noticed cherry, raspberry, and blackberry highlights among the rich fruit flavors swirling throughout the wine, but did not detect the presence of cranberry. The finish is strong with subtle tannins, and the taste lingers in anticipation of another sip. Norm's score would be 89.   While we enjoyed the wine with cheese and other appetizers, it would be a good companion for grilled meats, preferably steak, or a hearty pasta dish. It is easy to see why Columbia Crest maintains such an elevated reputation, while others struggle to produce wines of this quality, even in the twenty dollar range.   Score 89   Price: $12 - $16 Norm Norm’s Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/ Norm’s Tasting Notes available online at either: http://cumminghome.com/ http://dawsontimes.com/ http://pineisland-eagle.com/ WINE – God’s Proof of his love for humanity

2009 Villa Antinori Toscana IGT

Norm's Tasting Notes By: Norm Bentley North Georgia Wine Advisor normwine@bellsouth.net 2009 Villa Antinori Toscana #nb-10-13   Dating back past 1385 when the house of Antinori joined the Italian Wine Makers Guild, the Antinori family has helped define the history, as well as the wines of Tuscany,  Tuscany is a beautiful countryside famous for its beautiful wines, and the 2009 Villa Antinori Toscana IGT is a classic example of Italian winemaking art. Like most Super Tuscans, it is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese, and a favorite style of wine for me, as well as many others. The color is a deep and intense red, with a bouquet as large as the sky itself, filled with the scent of cherries and dark berries. The flavor explodes from the glass with a burst of cherry and currant highlighted by chocolate and spice. The finished sails on, like a clipper ship on an around the world voyage. Needless to say, I found this wine to be most enjoyable and I will join other critics with a rating of high praise.  Norm's score is 91.   The wine is perfect with most meat and game dishes and would be a wonderful choice for a true Italian dish like veal Marsala, with a side of spaghetti marinara. Score 91 Price: $19 - $ 24 Norm Norm’s Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/ Norm’s Tasting Notes available online at either: http://cumminghome.com/ http://dawsontimes.com/ http://pineisland-eagle.com/ WINE – God’s Proof of his love for humanity

2010 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay

Norm's Tasting Notes by:Norm Bentley North Georgia Wine Advisor normwine@bellsouth.net   2010 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay #nb-09-13     Once again Columbia Crest, a secondary label for Chateau Ste. Michelle has produced another quality entry in the value price range. The 2010 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay is the fifth or sixth vintage in a row to rate in the high eighties or low nineties. The Wine Spectator scored this one an 89.   The opening bouquet is filled with the scent of a fresh fruit bowl of apples and pears joined with a wafting breeze of citrus drifting across the top. The flavor is abundant with green apples, and a slight influence of tropical fruit trailing off into a mild suggestion of lemon-lime citrus. The finish is well balanced between the acidity and the fruit, with a crisp and lingering aftertaste tinged with buttery oak. The wine was aged in both old and new French oak, with about one quarter of the juice done in stainless steel. The alcohol content is 13.5%.   We enjoyed this pleasant Chardonnay with a bay scallops and pasta Alfredo dish teamed with zucchini and yellow squash stir fry. This would also be a good choice for lemon-herb chicken or another well seasoned fish or fowl entree. Norm's score is 88.   Score: 88 Price: $9 - $12 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 WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity