Norm's Tasting Notes: August 2014

Thursday, August 14, 2014

2013 Anderra Sauvignon Blanc

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley

North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net

2013 Anderra Sauvignon Blanc

#nb-30-14

The House of Mouton Rothschild has a relatively new venture in Chile producing Bordeaux varietals with a Chilean signature. I recently sampled the 2013 Anderra Sauvignon Blanc from this Mouton Chilean vineyard and found it quite pleasing. Many of the vineyards in Chile date back several centuries, featuring mostly Bordeaux grape varieties planted hundreds of years ago.

The Anderra Sauvignon Blanc bursts open with a bouquet containing a basket full of flowers, surrounded by bountiful fruit scents suggesting citrus and pineapple. The flavors abound with tropical fruit and a slight grassy nature, complemented by a refreshing citrus breeze. The finish is fresh and clean and begs for another sip. The alcohol content is 12.5%.

This is an excellent summer wine, and would be a great partner for any salad or cheese and fruit assortment. The Anderra Sauvignon Blanc would also pair well with chilled shellfish, or even sushi. This would also be a good "Back Porch Sipper". Norm's score is 87.

Score: 87

Price: $10 - $13

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Thursday, August 7, 2014

2011 Trimbach Gewurztraminer

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley

North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net

2011 Trimbach Gewurtztraminer

#nb-29-14

This past weekend the "Chardonnay Queen" and I had reason for a small celebration, so we went to a well known upscale seafood restaurant for dinner. She had broiled tuna and I had broiled sea scallops. The food was pretty good, but over-priced, although we found a gem on the wine list which made our celebration quite a success! While our seafood was pricey, the bottle of wine which we chose seemed like a bargain at less than twice the price found in retail outlets, which is not bad for an upscale restaurant. The wine was the 2011 Trimbach Gewurztraminer from Alsace. This is a longtime favorite of mine, and I have enjoyed many vintages over the last few decades. It was a perfect choice for our broiled seafood dinner!

Gewurztraminer is known for its exotic and spicy nature, and the Trimbach showcased this feature with a blend of cinnamon and pepper highlighted by a slight mineral background. The flavors swirled in a current of apricot and melon, with a hint of prickly pear, which led to a fresh and crisp, spicy, dry finish. It is no wonder that France and Germany have contested for ownership of Alace over the history of the region, when such wonderful wines come from there.

Gewurtz, as many call it, can be many things to different people, but it is a distinctive variety which is a great alternative to the majority of white wines found in the marketplace today. Spicy and dry, it complements a variety of foods with shellfish being high on the list. For a summertime treat, pair a bottle with a fresh green salad and a fillet of grilled salmon. Norm's score is 91.

Score: 91

Price: $19 - $24