2013 Franciscan Napa Valley Chardonnay

                        

                                               

 

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

 

#nb-11-15

2013 Franciscan Napa Valley Chardonnay

 

I had lunch last week with an old friend who has been in the wholesale wine business for a long time, and he and I have known each other for most of that time.  He is one of the good guys, so I always enjoy seeing him again.  We had an excellent lunch at a local seafood restaurant, and of course I ordered a bottle of wine which is one of the ones which he sells, hoping it would be good enough to write about.  It was the 2013 Franciscan Napa Valley Chardonnay, and it was great with the shrimp we had for lunch.

 

The Franciscan is a beautiful pale yellow in color with a nose of fragrant apple and pear, underscored by a bright presence of lemon zest in the background.  The flavors abound with the taste of apple and pear which I love in Chardonnay, and are highlighted with the suggestion of vanilla and a somewhat mineral character toward the end.  The finish is crisp, with a creamy mouth-feel and just a touch of oak.  This a full-bodied Chardonnay and a classic California taste.  The "Chardonnay Queen" is jealous.

 

The Franciscan was great with shrimp, and would also make an excellent companion for crab, or lobster with lots of drawn butter.  Norm's score is 90. 

 

 

score: 90

price: $14 - $18

Norm

 

https://www.facebook.com/NormsTastingNotes

http://normwine.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/normswine

Available online at:

http://pineisland-eagle.com/

http://cumminghome.com/

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

2013 Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay

                                               

 

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

#nb-10-15

2013 Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay

 

 

Sometimes it is good to visit an old friend, and such was the case the other night when we opened a bottle of Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay, which happens to be one of the Chardonnay Queen's favorites.  I have not written about the Chalk Hill in three or four years, and the 2013 vintage is one of the best in a long time!  The wines from the chalky white soil in the region remind me of the great white burgundies from Montrachet, with their strong mineral character and crisp, and somewhat steely taste.

 

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. The alcohol content is 14%.

 

Adding the Rodney Strong Chalk Hill to a plate of Shrimp Scampi and fresh asparagus was delightful.  This Chardonnay tastes like Chardonnay, which is not as common as it once was, and means that it would pair well with anything you enjoy with Chardonnay. Norm's score is 91. 

 

 

score: 91

price: $14 - $18

Norm

 

https://www.facebook.com/NormsTastingNotes

http://normwine.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/normswine

Available online at:

http://pineisland-eagle.com/

http://cumminghome.com/

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

2013 Kris Pinot Grigio

Norm’s Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

normwine@bellsouth.net                        

                                              

 

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

#nb-09-15

2013 Kris Pinot Grigio

For a number of years the Kris Pinot Grigio has been a favorite at our house, especially when we are looking for a bit of a step up from our everyday choice for Pinot Grigio.  I last wrote about the 2011 vintage a couple of years ago, and was anxious to compare the 2013 against my notes from the previous sample.  I was delighted with the result.

 

The Kris Pinot Grigio opens with a nose full of flowers enveloped in a citrus breeze.  The flavors abound with the presence of green apples, apricots, and a touch of ripe melon.  The finish is long and clean and leaves a lingering taste of vanilla which sails on into the night.  This a bold, yet smooth wine which has the backbone to pair well with an array of food selections.

 

We enjoyed the Kris with a grilled fillet of salmon, accompanied with grilled zucchini and a fresh avocado and tomato salad.  This Pinot Grigio would also be great with steamed clams, or mussels, bathed in garlic butter and white wine.   Norm's score is 89.

 

 

score: 89

price: $12 - $15

Norm

https://www.facebook.com/NormsTastingNotes

http://normwine.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/normswine

Available online at:

http://pineisland-eagle.com/

http://cumminghome.com/

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

2012 Ruffino Aziano Chianti Classico

Norm’s Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

normwine@bellsouth.net                         

                                              

 

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

#nb-06-15

2012 Ruffino Aziano Chianti Classico

 

For me, a weekday treat is a plate of Italian food with a good bottle of Chianti.  It doesn't really matter what kind of Italian dish is served, or even what label the Chianti might be.  I love Sangiovese, the primary grape in Chianti, and as long as the label says "Chianti Classico", I know the wine will be better that the average bottle of "Dago Red".  I don't want to be considered a "Wine Snob", so let me also say that I have enjoyed many a plate of spaghetti with a bottle of "Dago Red", and a hunk of bread.  However, enjoying a bottle of Chianti Classico with your meal, can be the difference between "eating" and "dining".

 

In 2007 Ruffino celebrated its 130th anniversary of making wine in Tuscany, Italy, after their founding by Liario Ruffino in 1877.  They produced their first reserve Chianti in 1947.  They now produce several different levels of Chianti, including Aziano, which is one of my favorites in the value priced range. I have been in love with Ruffino Chianti since long before I can remember!  Maybe its because when I was a little boy in Napa, California, the family's favorite Italian restaurant was a place called Ruffino's, in downtown Napa, where I occasionally got a "sip" of Chianti with my spaghetti.  I last visited Ruffino's in Napa in 2000, but I do not believe it is still there.  I have enjoyed quite a few glasses of Ruffino over the years.

 

My last glass of Ruffino was this past Wednesday night, with a big plate of Eggplant Parmesan.  The wine was the 2012 Ruffino Chianti Classico Aziano and as expected, it was delightful!  The color is a deep ruby red with good clarity, and just looks tempting as you pour it.  The fragrance is a blend of red berries and cherries which transition into flavors of berries and herbs with a trace of spiciness.  Aziano is primarily Sangiovese with small amounts of Cannaiolo and Merlot blended in to round out the flavors.

 

This is a rich tasting Chianti with a value price, and will complement any pasta dish, and would be especially good with veal Marsala, but it would be hard to beat with Eggplant Parmesan. 

 

 

score: 90

price: $14 - $17

Norm

https://www.facebook.com/NormsTastingNotes

http://normwine.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/normswine

Available online at:

http://pineisland-eagle.com/

http://cumminghome.com/

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity