2011 Raymond Napa Chardonnay

Norm's Tasting Notes By: Norm Bentley North Georgia Wine Advisor normwine@bellsouth.net     2011 Raymond Reserve Selection Napa Valley Chardonnay #nb-20-13       When you live with a woman whose nickname is the "Chardonnay Queen", and it's her birthday dinner, you had better select a decent bottle of wine for the occasion. I chose a bottle of 2011 Raymond Napa Valley Chardonnay to go with the salmon and tuna which I cooked for her on the grill. She and I were both pleased with the choice.   The first thing to hit your senses when you open the Raymond is the scent of honeysuckle mixed with ripe pear. The flavors combine the taste of pear with melon and tropical fruit, and a mild citrus breeze in the finish. This is a big fruit Chardonnay with lots of character, as it sails on into the night with a lingering vanilla oak signature highlighting its French oak aging. The alcohol content is high for a Chardonnay at 14.5%, but has no hot aftertaste.   This 100% Chardonnay was just right for salmon and tuna basted with butter and garlic, and grilled to perfection. The Raymond would be great with almost any seafood or fowl meal, and was an excellent companion for the "Chardonnay Queen's" birthday dinner!     Score: 90 Price: $16 - $20   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

2008 Isabel Mondavi Pinot Noir

Norm's Tasting Notes By: Norm Bentley North Georgia Wine Advisor normwine@bellsouth.net     2008 Isabel Mondavi Willamette Valley Pinot Noir #nb-19-13     This past week, the "Chardonnay Queen" and I celebrated our wedding anniversary with a visit to La Grotta, our favorite Atlanta Italian Restaurant, where we dined on a feast of Veal Marsala for me, and pan-seared sea scallops for her. My choice for a wine for both veal and scallops, was the 2008 Isabel Mondavi Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. It turned out to be a great match for both of our delicious Italian creations.   This Oregon Pinot Noir, at five years old, has really come into its own. It was a touch on the light side, which made it perfect for both veal and shellfish. There was nothing light about the impact of this wine on our senses. The nose was fragrant with the presence of cherries and spice which led into robust flavors of plum and cherry, with just a hint of strawberry. The finish was clean and subtle, with lingering reminders of its ten months in French oak. The alcohol content is 13.9%, and Norm's score is 93.   La Grotta is a fabulous restaurant with a wonderful array of Italian delights on its menu. The Isabel Mondavi Pinot Noir would have been a good match for most of them. Next to my Veal Marsala it might be best with the salmon. The "Chardonnay Queen" found it to be delightful with her Italian scallop selection.      Score: 93   Price: $25 - $30 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 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir

Norm's Tasting Notes By: Norm Bentley North Georgia Wine Advisor normwine@bellsouth.net     2010 Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir #nb-18-13     About ten years ago I began to notice that a number of the California wines that I was enjoying the most were originating from the Russian River Appellation of Sonoma County, California. Around that time I began to tell people to look for Russian River on the label, and regardless of the winery or the grape variety, you would have a good bottle of wine. I still stand by that statement. The climate and the soil of that corner of Sonoma County seem to be just right for growing grapes, especially Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.   The other night we opened a bottle of 2010 Rodney Strong Russian River Valley Estate Vineyards Pinot Noir to accompany a select piece of steelhead for the grill. We were not disappointed. This Pinot Noir is a beautiful brilliant red in color, with a nose that suggests currants and wildflowers. The wine has a strong presence of plum coupled with red berries in its flavor spectrum, and leads into a clean and pleasant finish, with tones of toasty vanilla and oak stemming from its eleven months of aging in French oak. The alcohol; content is 14.5%.   While the Rodney Strong Pinot Noir was excellent with our steelhead, it would also pair well with a thick cut of rare prime rib. Norm's score is 89.       Score: 89   Price: $20 - $25   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

2011 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir

Norm's Tasting Notes By: Norm Bentley North Georgia Wine Advisor normwine@bellsouth.net 2011 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir #nb-17-13 After two weeks of eating fresh fish, we were sufficiently gorged enough on seafood to want some beef for a change, and it just so happens that I have an excellent recipe for Beef Stroganoff. We chose a bottle of 2011 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir from New Zealand to accompany our meal, and had a delightful repast.   Pinot Noir from New Zealand has gained a lot of recognition over the last decade, and I have enjoyed several vintages from Oyster Bay. This one hails from the Marlborough region where the warm summer days are cooled by evening ocean breezes, The wine was aged for six months in French oak, and has an alcohol content of 13.5%.   This is a pleasant Pinot Noir, which is light but fanciful, with a strong fruit concentration highlighted by the fragrance of cherries. The flavor contains the presence of the cherries, combined with plum, and a hint of strawberry. There is an underlying herbal suggestion which I could not identify, which glides the wine into a lingering finish, with only hints of the sweet tannins. This wine was paired well with our Beef Stroganoff, and would also make a good companion for grilled salmon. Norm's score is 86.   Score: 86   Price: $11 - $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

Fish and Wine and Fishing

Norm's Tasting Notes By: Norm Bentley North Georgia Wine Advisor normwine@bellsouth.net   Fish and Wine, and Fishing #nb-16-13   Our visit to our "Little Cottage by the Sea" in Matlacha, Florida was one of the most memorable ever. We had given ourselves a Christmas present last year of a pro-guided fishing trip, and we cashed it in this April. We had the privilege to spend a day fishing with Captain Bill Russell of Matlacha, Florida, and what a trip! We caught big Trout and Redfish, and a couple of really big Snook. Bill is a great guy to spend a day fishing with, and really knows the best fishing spots in the local waters of Pine Island, Sanibel, and Captiva. We brought home lots of fresh fish to enjoy with some really good wines.   Captain Russell is pretty much a fishing legend in Southwest Florida, and that brings us to the best wine we enjoyed while we were there, which bears the signature of music legend, B.B. King. Just released this year, we were fortunate to be able to sample the 2011 B.B. King Signature Collection White. This is a 100% Verdejo from Spain and is perfect with fresh fish, or even as a great aperitif before dinner!   The nose is citrus and melon and leads to flavors of tropical fruit mixed with citrus and a hint of apple. I would describe the finish as off-dry, with a clean and crisp lingering aftertaste. This is a really good summertime wine for sipping or enjoying with fresh fish, or shellfish. A perfect companion for grilled speckled sea trout!   Score: 89   Price: $13 - $15   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