Norm's Tasting Notes

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2012 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel

#nb-29-15

About ten years back, a good friend of mine in the wine business introduced me to a winery out in Lodi, California which was producing some pretty tasty wines for a very reasonable price. My first experience was with the Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel, and I was quite impressed. Of course my salesman friend Tom, is one of the good guys, and I have always trusted his recommendations. Good wine for a good price is something we all search for, and so far the folks at Gnarly Head have not let me down.

The 2012 Old Vine Zin that we picked up the other day had a nose which was so rich in dark berries, that I thought I was out in the brier patch, and the flavor made you think that you had just dived into a bushel basket of hot juicy blackberries. The blackberry presence can best be described as jammy, with a touch of cherry and spice mixed in. The finish is long and clean with a small dash of toasty oak. We truly enjoyed this bottle, and I understand the 2013 vintage has just hit the market, and may even be a touch better.

We paired the Gnarly Head Zinfandel with Italian meatloaf, a family favorite, but I have enjoyed it many times in the past with a big plate of spaghetti marinara. Throw in a Caesar salad and some warm bread and you have a most enjoyable meal. The Old Vine Zin is also an excellent companion for baby back ribs, or other types of barbeque. Norm's score is 89.

score: 89

price: $ 9 - $11

Norm

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WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Thursday, July 23, 2015

2013 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2013 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay

#nb-28-15

Good everyday Chardonnays are always in demand, and Columbia Crest Grand Estates from Washington State's Columbia Valley always seems o be ready to fit the bill. It has been a household favorite with the Chardonnay Queen and I for many years, and the 2013 vintage is right on time for the hot summer of 2015.

We opened a bottle the other night to serve with a special chicken dish from the Queen's Aunt and it turned out to be a good companion for a special Wednesday night chicken dinner. The wine has a nice bouquet of wild flowers, crisp apples and spicy vanilla. The flavors swirl in the glass with the strong taste of Granny Smith apples, ripe pear, and a mild citrus breeze. The finish is clean, with a whisper of vanilla toward the end. The alcohol content is 13.5%.

The favorite Aunt's chicken dish combines the flavors of Dijon mustard, maple syrup and rosemary for a delightful and fragrant repast, which was a just right for the Columbia Crest. This wine would also make a good partner for grilled shrimp or crab salad. It would be a good choice for a "back porch sipper" as well. Norm's score is 88.

score: 88

price: $ 9 - $11

Norm

Available online at:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Thursday, July 16, 2015

2012 Chateau Magnol

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2012 Chateau Magnol

#nb-27-15

When I first got in the wine business many long years ago, California wines were just coming into prominence, and of course, French wines were completely dominate in the market place. For me, that meant red Bordeaux, or as named by the British, "Claret", and I sill love them today! Clarets are always a blend of grapes, and the Chateau Magnol is made up of 48% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12% Cabernet Franc, and hails from the Haut- Medoc of Bordeaux.

The Chateau Magnol opens with a heady nose of black currant and spicy dark berries. The flavors are rich and deep, with emphasis on the black currant against a background of raspberry and spice, with just a hint of cherry. The Cabernet Franc adds an undertone of earthiness. The finish is clean with a suggestion of its twelve months in oak, and begs for another sip. The alcohol content is 13%.

W enjoyed the Chateau Magnol with a thick juicy steak from the grill, a fresh garden salad, and a baked potato. It was a wonderful meal, with the Magnol being a perfect match for the steak. This wine would also pair well with a host of other foods, including rack of lamb. Norm's score is 89.

score: 89

price: $ 20 - $25

Norm

Available online at:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, July 10, 2015

2013 J. Lohr Riverstone Arroyo Seco Chardonnay

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2013 J. Lohr Riverstone Arroyo Seco Chardonnay

#nb-26-15

The "Chardonnay Queen" and I are always on the hunt for good Chardonnay at a reasonable price, and this one fits the bill. As I sometimes comment, "If it tastes like Chardonnay and has no bad characteristics, then it is a winner!" The J. Lohr Riverstone is that and more. It has a lot of character and has the complexity of wines far more expensive.

The wine is a pretty golden color with a lot of clarity, which opens with the scent of apples and tropical fruit and a whisper of vanilla. The flavors abound with accents on the apple complemented by a little touch of pineapple, and an undercurrent of juicy stone fruit. The finish is clean and relaxed with vanilla and oak tones leading to the next sip. The alcohol content is just under 14%.

This one would ,of course, pair well with a summer salad like mandarin grilled chicken, or lime grilled shrimp, but would also be a first choice for Fettuccine Alfredo.

score: 88

price: $ 10 - $12

Norm

Available online at:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Thursday, July 2, 2015

2011 Groth Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2011 Groth Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

#nb-25-15

Opening a bottle of the 2011 Groth Oakville Cab is like letting the Genie out of the bottle, as soon as you pull the cork, it is like you have been magically transported to the briar patch. Immediately the room is filled with the aroma of blackberries and cherries, which grabs you by the nose and pulls you toward the glass anticipating your first sip. I love Napa Valley Cab with steak, and after reading these comments from "The Wine Enthusiast", I couldn't wait. "Soft layers of blackberry, cedar and tannin are offered in this lean, lush red. The winery owner says it pairs well with steak, or as he puts it, A slab and a Cab."

So the "Chardonnay Queen" and I went out and got ourselves a two inch thick, one and a half pound rib-eye, big enough for two, and slapped that "slab" on the grill, and burnt it on the outside, leaving the middle nice and pink, and got down to the business of enjoying a "Slab and a Cab". Thank you, Dennis Groth. After the initial rush to the senses of the berry bouquet, the wine opens with a basket full of fruit flavors, dominated by black cherry and blackberry. This is a slightly soft, but elegant Cab, with subtle hints of vanilla oak imparted by its twenty two months in the barrel. The finish is long and lingering with mild tannin, and of course, it begs for another sip. Norm's score is 93.

The Groth Oakville Cabernet would pair well with a variety of foods, but in agreement with Dennis Groth, I've got to say that nothing beats a "Slab with a Cab".

score: 93

price: $ 40 - $50

Norm

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