Saturday, December 26, 2015

Break out the Bubbly

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
 
The North Georgia Wine Advisor
 
2015 Happy New Year
#nb-48-15

 

"Champagne vs. Sparkling Wine"
Break out the bubbly its almost New Year's Eve!

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 New Year's Eve."  When asked what kind of champagne they have had in the past, the answer is often Andre, or some other bulk produced, low price sparkler. 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.  But, 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 - $25 to $32
Mumm's Napa Cellars from California - $18 to $22
Domaine Chandon from California - $17 to $21
Korbel from California - $11 to $15
Codorniu Cava from Spain - $10 to $12
Santa Margherita Prosecco from Italy - $27 - $23
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Norm
 
Available online at:
WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, December 10, 2015

2015 Christmas Special

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
The North Georgia Wine Advisor
2015 Christmas Special
#nb-47-15

 

First let me say MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY DINING!
 
Below is a list of suggestions for which wines go best with various foods.
Roasted or Baked Turkey  - Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay
Baked Ham - Rose or light Pinot Noir, or Chardonnay
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 top ten list of some of the wines that I have written about earlier this year, as well as their scores.
2014 Wild Horse Viognier – 92
2013 Acrobat Pinot Gris - 92
2013 Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay – 93
2013 Ferrai-Carano Chardonnay – 91
2013 Mark West Willamette Valley Pinot Noir – 90
2013 Vanderbilt Reserve Dry Creek Valley Merlot – 89
2012 Ruffino Aziano Chianti Classico – 90
2012 Root: 1 Carmenere – 92
2013 Coppola Diamond Collection Ivory Label Cabernet Sauvignon – 92
2011 Groth Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon - 93


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

Merry Christmas - Norm's Score - 100! 

Norm
Available online at:
WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity
 







Thursday, December 3, 2015

2013 Steelhead North Coast Red

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
 
The North Georgia Wine Advisor
2013 Steelhead North Coast Red
#nb-46-15

 
I like to fish and I like to drink wine, so the 2013 Steelhead Red suits me both ways.  Dan and Katy Leese, owners of Steelhead Vineyards contribute a portion of their bottle sales for the protection of Steelhead and Trout habitats, and also produce some tasty wines.  The North Coast Red is a blend of six grape varieties which come together in harmony to produce a sturdy red which paired well with our two inch thick medium rare fillet, hot off of the grill.
 
The primary grapes in this blend are Zinfandel and Syrah which aid in producing a nice wild berry aroma, which is backed by gobs of ripe fruit suggesting blackberry and plum.
The wine has strong earthy notes that definitely come from the Syrah.  The finish has a moderate taste of toasty oak, and the alcohol content is 14.5%.  This an easy to drink red with enough backbone to stand up to hearty fare such as grilled meat.
 
The Steelhead Red was great with our steak, and would pair well with spicy red-sauced pastas as well.  Some might like this wine with barbecue, but I will stick to my steak, since I prefer sweet Southern Ice Tea with my "Que".  Norm's score is 88.
 
price: $13 - $15
score - 88
 
Norm
Available online at:
WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity
 
 
 
 



Thursday, November 19, 2015

2015 Thanksgiving Special

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
The North Georgia Wine Advisor
2015 Thanksgiving Special
#nb-45-15

 
It is always difficult to select the perfect wine for Thanksgiving, because the table offers such an array of aromas and flavors, but here are a few guidelines which will make this dinner more memorable than ever. 

 If you like Chardonnay, choose one which is not bone dry, but rather one with a strong fruit presence. Sauvignon Blanc is also a good choice if you like dry white wine with your meal.  The fruity, but dry finish of a good Pinot Grigio is perfect for that dry white meat turkey which did not turn out as juicy as you had hoped for. If you like red wine with your meal, choose a lighter style Pinot Noir, or other red, such as the Carmenere mentioned below. 

Below is a list of wines which I have written about this year which would be good choices for your Thanksgiving Dinner.
 
 
2013 Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay - Score: - Price: $14-$18
This is a classic Chardonnay for an everyday price.  The bouquet reminds one of a basket of apples fresh from the orchard, accompanied by a spray of wildflowers.  The flavors are abundant with apple being the most assertive, with a touch of tropical fruit, graced by a hint of citrus in the background.  This is a well rounded Chardonnay which has the mineral backdrop characteristic of the chalky soil, and has a creamy mouth-feel leading into a crisp, but lingering finish.
2013 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay - Score: 91- Price $16-$21
The aroma bursts out of the glass and grabs you with the scents of apple and honeydew.  The flavor is complex, and yet simple, with the basic components of Chardonnay, that explode with apple and pear, with a little peach and a mild citrus breeze.  The balance is almost perfection, as the wine finishes with bold fruit and good acidity in a harmonious union of pleasure, leading to a crisp and clean ending which begs for another sip!
2013 Acrobat Pinot Gris - Score: 92 - Price: $13-$16
The wine opens with a flowery bouquet laced with a lemony citrus breeze, and a hint of melon.  The flavors swirl with an abundance of green apple and melon, with a complex background suggesting lemon zest and a trace of vanilla.  The wine highlights the perfect balance between big fruit and crisp acidity, and sails on into a clean and lingering finish.
2014 Wild Horse Viognier - Score: 92 - Price: $15-$19
The bouquet is framed by a dry peach scent, accented by light citrus, and a bit of Muscadine vine.  The flavor is forceful with a strong presence of tropical fruit, spicy mineral notes, and a heady dose of tangy lemon zest.  This is a big powerful wine with a lot of complexity and gobs of dry ripe fruit.  It reminds me of a cross between Chardonnay and Gewurtztraminer.
2013 Mark West Willamette Valley Pinot Noir - Score: 90 - Price: $20-$25
This is a light style Pinot Noir that is no lightweight when it comes to delivering a quality signature.  The color is a brilliant red with excellent clarity, and the bouquet jumps out of the glass to broadcast an array of aromas, highlighting cherry and strawberry.  The flavors swirl with cherry and plum, with an under-current of  strawberry, and just a touch of cranberry.  It is simply delicious!
2012 Root One Carmenere - Score: 92 - Price: $10-$14
The color is a most beautiful inky shade of purple, and when you open the bottle, the aroma leaps out of the bottle and grabs you by the nose and won't let go, filling the room with the essence of blackberry jam and Brer Rabbit's briar patch.  Speaking of jam, the flavors abound with a thick jammy character smacking of blackberry and dark cherry, with a hint of black current.  The finish is spicy with a bit of pepper, and just a touch of earthiness which lingers until the next sip.  The wine is good in both complexity as well as character, and is in perfect balance between the fruit and acidity.
 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND ALL OF YOURS!

 
Norm
Available online at:
WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, November 12, 2015

2013 Moobuzz Pinot Noir

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor
2013 Moobuzz Pinot Noir
#nb-44-15
 
We went out to dinner the other night with friends and upon returning home we decided to open a bottle of wine for a nightcap.  I chose a bottle of 2013 Moobuzz Pinot Noir which had been sent to me to sample.  I normally don't care for cute or strange names for wine, but the Moobuzz was quite tasty.  While we were enjoying the wine, one of our friends who likes wine, but does not have in-depth wine knowledge asked, "How do I know what flavors to look for in a Pinot Noir?"  The question set me to thinking.
 
I think it is harder today than ever before to define the different tastes in wine by variety.  First, many wines today are not 100% varietal, but have small amounts of other grapes blended in to achieve the taste or complexity the winemaker is trying to accomplish.  This is the case with the Moobuzz, which has 5% each, Syrah and Petite Sirah in its makeup.  Secondly, winemakers today have a variety of tools at their disposal which allow them to produce wines which achieve "certain" taste standards which "sell".  I have listed below the "old" standards which used to define the fruit flavors found in the four most popular red wines in America.  However, as I told my friend, "The only thing which really counts when tasting wine, is whether you like it or not".
 
The Moonbuz was quite pleasant with flavors of bright cherry, a little plum and just a hint of strawberry.  Norm's score is 88.
 
TASTE DEFINITIONS BY VARIETY:
 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON - Black Cherry, Cassis or Black Currant
MERLOT - Red Cherry, Blackberry, Plum
PINOT NOIR - Red Cherry, Raspberry, Strawberry
ZNFADEL - Blackberry, Raspberry
(Often wines are further defined by background notes such as; olives, bell pepper, chocolate. smoke, or the oak flavors imparted through barrel aging)
 
price: $15 - $20
score - 88
 
Norm
Available online at:
WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity
 
 
 
 

 

Thursday, November 5, 2015

2013 Vanderbilt Reserve Dry Creek Valley Merlot

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
 
The North Georgia Wine Advisor
2013 Vanderbilt Reserve Dry Creek Valley Merlot
#nb-43-15


 
The Biltmore folks in North Carolina are producing some pretty good California wines in small quantity under the name Vanderbilt Reserve Wines.  Their 2013 Dry Creek Merlot production is a modest eight hundred cases, but worth investigating if you can find it at your local retailer. 
 
The wine is a dark ruby red in color, and looks, as well as tastes more like a Cab than a  Merlot.  It is deep and complex in nature, with a rich cherry flavor highlighted by plum and just a hint of blackberry.  There are moderate tannins imparted by fifteen months in the barrel, and the alcohol content is 14.5%.  It finishes strong with the oak complemented by a lingering cherry presence.
 
We paired the Vanderbilt Reserve Merlot with a thick juicy New York strip hot off the grill, and an avocado and tomato salad.  It was excellent.  Norm's score is 89.
 
price: $24 - $29
score - 89
 
Norm
Available online at:
WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity
 
 
 
 


 
 

Thursday, October 29, 2015

2014 Ferrari-Carano Pinot Grigio

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
The North Georgia Wine Advisor
2014 Ferrari Carono Pinot Grigio
#nb-42-15

 
The wines of Ferrari-Carono have been household favorites for years, with the Chardonnay and Fume Blanc always getting accolades from the Chardonnay Queen and myself.  We sampled our first bottle of their Pinot Grigio with great anticipation, and we were not disappointed.  The 2014 Ferrari-Carano Pinot Grigio is an excellent entry into a category with ever-expanding popularity, and is going to rate on a lot of people's top ten lit of Pinot Grigios.
 
The wine opens with a delicate aroma of citrus and tropical fruit which leads to an explosion of big fruit flavors.  The taste suggests peach and melon in combination with apricot, underlined with a touch of lime.  The finish is crisp and clean with a hint of grapefruit rind at the end.  Fermentation was in stainless steel, which leaves this big fruit wine with no cloying aftertaste.  The grapes are 100% Pinot Grigio and 100% Sonoma County.  Norm's score is 90.
 
We enjoyed the Ferarri-Carano with grilled chicken and a fresh garden salad, but this wine would pair well with a wide range fare, and would stand well by itself.
 
price: $11 - $15
score - 90
 
Norm
Available online at:
WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity