2008 Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley

North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net

2008 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Leone di Oro

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We had a small dinner party the other night featuring Italian fare and three good bottles of excellent Italian reds.  Two were in the fifty dollar plus range while one was closer to twenty  The surprise was that at around twenty, the 2008 Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Leone d' Oro stood up quite well to  the other two choices, which were twice as expensive.  It was wonderful, but I might have a small complaint about the length of its name. The predominate grape is Sangiovese, and I have found that most wines made from this grape, with the name Montepulciano in their title are quite good.

 

This Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is from the vineyards surrounding the village of Montepluciano in the famous Tuscany region of Italy.  The wine is dark purple in color, and the flavors abound, with a display of black cherries against a backdrop of herbs and assorted dark fruits.  The finish is firm with the presence of acidity coupled to sturdy tannins, and a lingering after-taste which is excellent with any spicy dish.

 

This is the perfect companion for chicken cacciatore, sausages and peppers, or some very spicy spaghetti.  This selection is further proof that price is not always the dominate factor in selecting a great bottle of wine for that special occasion!  Norm's score is 92.

Score: 92

Price: $20 - $25

Norm

 

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2013 Santa Cristina Umbria IGT

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley

North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net

2013 Santa Cristina Umbria IGT

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Umbria is pretty close to the middle of Italy and has been producing wines for many centuries.  The house of Antinori has also been around for many hundreds of years, but the taste of the Santa Cristina Umbria is hardly old-fashioned.  This is an excellent summer wine which pleases an array of palates, from the most sophisticated, to the least experienced novice.

 

When un-corked, the Umbria fills the room with the sweet bouquet of flowers and peaches, which announces that summer is indeed here!  The color is a pale yellow, but the flavor is not pale at all.  There is a bright display of melon and peaches, with a crisp citrus acidity to balance the flavors and texture into a full mouth-feel.  The finish is crisp and clean, and begs for another sip.  The predominate grape variety is Grechetto, and the alcohol content is a pleasant 12%.  Umbria is a great choice for fans of Pinot Grigio.

 

We enjoyed the Santa Cristina Umbria with broiled trout and a garden fresh salad, which combined greens and peppers with avocado.  This wine would also pair well with a seafood salad or a light sauced pasta.  Norm's score is 88.

Score: 88

Price: $8 - $11

Norm

 

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Available online at:

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Also AOL"The Patch" at:

Dunwoody, Buckhead, Sandy Springs,& others: dunwoody.patch.com/‎

 

WINE – God’s Proof of his love for humanity

 

 

2012 Mandolin Syrah

Norm's Tasting Notes

 

 

 

By: Norm Bentley

North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

 

 

 

 

2012 Mandolin Syrah

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When you open a ten dollar bottle of wine, you expect that it be decent, and make a good companion for your dinner.  If you are cooking a prime filet on the grill, you hope that it will be a little better than decent.  Imagine my pleasant surprise when I un-corked the 2012 Mandolin Syrah, and the first thing that entered my mind was, "this is a 90 plus bottle of wine"!  It was perfect with our two inch thick, medium rare, charbroiled filet!

 

I have always liked Syrah because of its rich, earthy and spicy flavors, and its depth of character.  It is surprising that more wine enthusiasts don't select Syrah for their steak, rather than Cabernet or Merlot.  The Mandolin is a deep purple in color with lots of blackberry and spice in the nose.  The flavors are rich and concentrated, with tons of blackberry mixed with a little plum, highlighted by earthy undertones which are accompanied by mild toasty tannins in the finish.  The alcohol content is 14.3%, but does not seem harsh.  Norm's score is 90+.

 

It was wonderful with our steak, and would also pair well with grilled game, or heavily sauced pastas. 

Score: 90

Price: $10 - $13

Norm

 

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Look for Norm's Tasting Notes on Twitter

http://normwine.blogspot.com/

  

Available online at:

http://pineisland-eagle.com

Also AOL"The Patch" at:

Dunwoody, Buckhead, Sandy Springs,& others: dunwoody.patch.com/‎

 

WINE – God’s Proof of his love for humanity

2012 Sterling Napa County Sauvignon Blanc

Norm's Tasting Notes

 

 

 

By: Norm Bentley

North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

 

 

 

 

2012 Sterling Napa County Sauvignon Blanc

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There is nothing like being in paradise, but having a great dinner and a good bottle of wine makes it even better.  We had dinner at the Tarpon Lodge (established 1926) at Pineland, on Pine Island Florida while on vacation, and enjoyed a superb meal.  We dined on grouper, shrimp, crab, and an excellent blue crab roasted corn chowder.  We crowned the event with a bottle of Sterling Sauvignon Blanc.  It just doesn't get much better than this, enjoying a great meal and listening to folks at surrounding tables discussing their day's quest for the mighty Tarpon, which takes place every year in the spring in the waters of Pine Island Sound and Boca Grand Pass.  People have been coming here for decades from all over the world to join in the hunt for the "Silver King".

It would be hard to not enjoy yourself in an atmosphere like this, and the Sterling Sauvignon Blanc helped add to the pleasure.  The wine opens with a delicate floral nose, with a slight citrus breeze.  The flavors are composed of apple and a bit of melon, underscored by a touch of grassy lemon.  The finish was clean and crisp, and begged for another sip.  Norm's score is 89.

The Sterling was excellent with our seaside fare, but would also pair well with fowl, or a big summer salad.

This would also be a good choice for steamed mussels, or clams in a savory broth.

Score: 89

Price: $13 - $17

Norm

 

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Available online at:

http://pineisland-eagle.com/

http://cumminghome.com/

http://dawsontimes.com/

Also AOL"The Patch" at:

Dunwoody, Buckhead, Sandy Springs,& others: dunwoody.patch.com/‎

 

WINE – God’s Proof of his love for humanity