2012 Vanderbilt Reserve Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

Norm’s Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

normwine@bellsouth.net                        

                                              

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

#nb-04-15

2012 Vanderbilt Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Yes, The Vanderbilt Biltmore House is in North Carolina, but no, this cabernet sauvignon is not made in North Carolina.  It is made at their winery in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California from grapes from the Dry Creek area.  And, yes, the 2012 Vanderbilt Reserve Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon is a solid California style Cab, and at the risk of repeating myself from other previous articles about California Cabs, it is great with steak.

 

The Vanderbilt Reserve opens with a heady nose full of blackberries and a bit of black cherry.  The color is excellent, and is a very dark purplish red, with good clarity.  The flavor has some cherry, but showcases the blackberry against a background of mild oak and a hint of peppery spice.  The finish is long and clean with a touch of oak which holds until the next sip.  The alcohol content is 14.7%

 

As I said before it is great with steak, a comment heard often enough to make the reader believe that we have steak almost every other night, which of course we don't.  However, when we do sear one on the grill, I do love to set a glass of good California Cab on the table beside the steak.  Like most good reds this Dry Creek cab would be great with almost any grilled meat, including venison.  Norm's score is 88.

 

 

score: 88

price: $22 - $27

Norm

p.s.  I tried to restrain myself from saying this, but I read  a review of this wine which said that the aroma contained the presence of banana blossoms and boysenberry pie a la mode, which just might be the most hilarious description of the smell of a Cabernet that I have ever heard.  Funny, I did not notice those aromas when I sampled it.

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Available online at:

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WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

2012 Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Chardonnay

Norm’s Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

normwine@bellsouth.net                        

                                              

 

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

#nb-03-15

2012 Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Chardonnay

 

I thought I would provide my readers with an insight into the Chardonnay favorites list of my wife, the "Chardonnay Queen".  First, her favorite winery for Chardonnay is Rodney Strong, with some prejudice, since she met the King of Sonoma County Chardonnay, himself, back in the late eighties.  She prefers the Russian River Reserve, but enjoys most of the other Rodney Strong labels as well, particularly the Chalk Hill.  However, her favorite "every day" Chardonnay is not even from Sonoma County, but instead the state of Washington.  She, and I both have been raving about the Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Chardonnay for years.  It is clearly number one for us in the ten dollar category for consistency over the years, and has become the yardstick to measure other Chardonnays in that price range.

 

I last wrote about the Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay a few years back when describing the 2010 vintage, which I had scored a 90.  Recently, I read a review of the 2012 vintage by the Wine Spectator, which had given it a score of 89.  Since we have enjoyed several bottles of that vintage during the past year, I thought I would voice my opinion, since I would score it a 90.

 

I would say the style is a little French and a little California, being neither too austere, nor too fruity.  It is full bodied and flavorful, without a sense of over powering the taste buds, but quite satisfying with a clean, and yet lingering finish.  The basic Chardonnay flavors of apple and pear are present in abundance with added traces of citrus and tropical fruit.  There is a touch of oak, and a bit of buttery mouth-feel to put you in quest of another sip.

 

Like most of the previous vintages, the 2012 is a great "back porch sipper", and also makes an excellent companion for a vast variety of table fare.  For a treat for friends, invite several over and open a few bottles of the Chateatu Ste. Michelle, and serve with slices of apple and pear and some soft cheeses such as Brie or Camembert.  You will love it, and so will all of your guests!  That is, if you enjoy Chardonnay as much as the "Chardonnay Queen". 

 

score: 90

price: $9 - $12

Norm

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Available online at:

http://pineisland-eagle.com/

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WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

2012 Waterstone Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Norm’s Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

normwine@bellsouth.net                        

                                              

 

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

#nb-02-15

2012 Waterstone Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Somewhat quietly over the last ten years, Waterstone has been making a solid reputation for their Napa Cab, with consistent scores in the ninety and up category.  The 2012 vintage is said by some to be the best yet.  This is a fine example of a Napa wine labeled as a Cabernet Sauvignon, being more aptly described as a Bordeaux style blend. The Waterstone's make-up is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, with 2% each, Syrah and Cabernet Franc, and 1% each, Malbec and Petit Verdot.  The alcohol content is 14.8% and the wine was aged for twenty-one months in French oak.  Norm's score is 91.

 

This Cab opens with a nose full of cherries and other dark berries.  The flavor is a robust and hardy presentation of cherry and currant.  It is underscored by a layer of plum, with a touch of wild berry, which drifts into a rich and concentrated finish, highlighted by a hint of spice and mellow oak.  This wine does not fade away, but continues to make its presence known until the next sip.

 

The Waterstone Napa Cabernet Sauvignon would be good with a steak fresh off the grill, like most Napa Cabs.  But in addition, this wine would make a great companion for Chateaubriand, to accentuate the French characteristics of the meal, at a price much lower than a comparable red Bordeaux. The Waterstone Napa Cabernet would also make an excellent choice for Beef Bourguignon, which is the way we enjoyed it.

 

score: 91

price: $23 - $28

Norm

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Available online at:

http://pineisland-eagle.com/

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WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

2012 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Norm’s Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

normwine@bellsouth.net                        

                                              

 

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

#nb-01-15

2012 R. Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Just hearing the name Robert Mondavi makes you think of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.  So we were pleased to pair a bottle of the 2012 Napa Valley Cab with a nice thick and juicy fillet from the grill, cooked a perfect medium rare.  This was not my first rodeo with a bottle of Mondavi Cab, and hopefully it won't be my last.

 

The wine opens with a strong bouquet of blackberry and a hint of spice.  The flavor is robust with a blackberry theme, backed with a touch of bell pepper, and a dash of mellow oak.  The finish is long and satisfying, and hangs with the steak all of the way, which is most pleasant.  The alcohol is 14.5%, which is a little high, but it does not impart any heat.  Norm’s score is 88, and would probably be 90, but I did not detect the taste of cherry, which I enjoy so much, and find that it is usually typical of a California Cab.

 

California Cabs are the perfect choice for a thick grilled steak, as well as a variety of other robust meals.  The paring is greatly enhanced when the Cabernet is from Napa.  

 

score: 88

price: $22 - $27

Norm

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http://normwine.blogspot.com/

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Available online at:

http://pineisland-eagle.com/

http://cumminghome.com/

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity