Norm's Tasting Notes

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2014 Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec

#nb-30-16

Malbec has always been one of my favorite wines, and the ones from Argentina stand out for both their quality and their value. Trapiche is one of the most prominent wineries in Argentina, having vineyards nestled up against the foothills of the Andes, where Malbec seems to thrive better than anywhere else on the globe. The twelve months of oak cask aging lend toasty vanilla tones to this lush and complex wine.

The color is a beautiful deep red which attracts one to a heady nose full of dark fruit and spice. The flavors explode in you mouth with a pronounced presence of black cherry and plum, with well rounded notes of vanilla, spice and mild tannins. This a full bodied wine with complexities which seem to belie its value price mark.

Excellent with a thick rare steak, it would also make a great companion for a variety of other foods, including Beef Bourguignon, or a big platter of Peppers and Italian Sausage in Marinara sauce.

Norm's score is 88.

price : $10- $15

score: 88

Norm

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WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, July 22, 2016

2015 Cline North Coast Viognier

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2015 Cline North Coast Viognier

#nb-29-16

Viognier has always been one of my favorite "other" whites, so when I spotted one on the wine list at one of the local purveyors of fish establishments, I ordered it up to pair with my fresh ceviche. The Cline Viognier was great with my ceviche and the other seafood delights that my old friend, the wine sales manager, and I were enjoying at lunch the other day.

The Viognier grape is known for its aromatic fragrance and combination of herbal and stone fruit flavors. The 2015 Cline is a good example, with a pungent nose of peaches, orange blossoms, and a slight kiss of honeysuckle. The flavor of peaches and apricots with a strong background of vanilla leads to a pleasant crisp finish, which is quite refreshing on a hot summer day.

This is a great summer time wine which is excellent with treats like ceviche and oysters on the half shell. It would be an excellent companion for any type of seafood salad, especially crab. Norm's score is 89.

price : $11- $15

score: 89

Norm

Available online at:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, July 15, 2016

2015 Franciscan Estate Equilibrium

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2015 Franciscan Estate Equilibrium

#nb-28-16

Recently we were invited to our cousin's house for a sumptuous meal of home-made Shrimp Jambalaya, which was made even better with a bottle of Franciscan Equilibrium. The combination of the spicy shrimp and andouille sausage, with the fruity, off-dry wine was wonderful!

The Franciscan Estate Equilibrium is a white blend, which is two thirds Sauvignon Blanc, with the remainder being split between Chardonnay and Muscat Canelli. The result is a fragrant and fruity, off-dry white which is perfect for spicy dishes. The nose is very aromatic with the pronounced scent of green apples backed with honeysuckle. The big fruit flavor displays apple, pear and a little peach, backed by a slight citrus breeze. The finish is clean and refreshing, and begs for another sip. The alcohol content is 12.5%, and Norm's score is 89.

As I said, this wine is a perfect match for spicy food such as Jambalaya or barbecue, and would pair well with a number of Asian dishes like Shrimp Mango Tango, dishes featuring curry, or Thai Basil Chicken. It is also a great "back porch sipper"!

price : $19 - $22

score: 89

Norm

Available online at:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, July 8, 2016

2015 Lindeman's Bin 65 Chardonnay

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2015 Lindeman's Bin 65 Chardonnay

#nb-27-16

As I have been quoted many times in the past, "Sometimes the best characteristic in an inexpensive wine is the absence of bad characteristics". We don't always buy wines to fulfill standards such as varietal characteristics or scores in comparison with other wines in the same category. The Lindeman's Bin 65 Chardonnay is a best buy, in that, it is inexpensive, reliable, suits a wide range of palates, and has no bad characteristics. It is enjoyable and easy to drink

The color is clear and bright, and the nose has the distinct fragrance of muscadine vine and a bit of green apple. The flavor is apple with a lot of lemony background, and a touch of sweet melon. The finish is clean, and despite a fruity sweetness, leaves no cloying aftertaste. The alcohol content is 13.5%.

This wine would pair with a number of foods, especially "summer fare". My suggestion would be, however, to enjoy it chilled very cold as a refreshing beverage by itself, or perhaps paired with a soft cheese like Gouda or Muenster. Norm's score is 86.

price : $7 - $10

score: 86

Norm

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