Norm's Tasting Notes

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2014 Sonoma Cutrer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

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How can you go wrong with a platter of shrimp and scallops on pasta with Alfredo Sausce? The answer is you can't, but you can make it better by adding a good bottle of California Chardonnay! So we chose to throw in a bottle of Sonoma Cutrer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, and call it a feast! The occasion was just another Thursday night in Paradise at the "Little Cottage by the Sea" in Matlacha, Florida.

The Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay opens with a powerful nose broadcasting the scent of apple throughout the room. The flavors swirl with apple, pear, and a hint of peach. There is a slight presence of vanilla against a somewhat buttery texture and creamy mouth feel. The finish is dry and clean with just a suggestion of toasty oak. The alcohol content is 13.9% and Norm's score is 88.

This is an excellent choice for most any seafood fare from Lobster to our Shrimp and Scallops Alfredo. The Sonoma Coast Chardonnay would also pair well with Chicken Marsala.

Norm's score is 88.

price : $15- $19

score: 88

Norm

Available online at:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, September 23, 2016

2014 Chateau Ste. Michelle Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2014 Chateau Ste. Michelle Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc

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It is easy to admit that we all have favorite wines, which we are always eager to sample as the vintages change. The last time I wrote about this favorite, it was the 2011 vintage. So, as we prepared our pan seared scallops for dinner, I had great anticipation for the the Horse Heaven Sauvignon Blanc we were having with the scallops. Chateau Ste. Michelle has rarely let me down in the past, and once again was up to the task of turning a good dinner into a memorable one.

The 2014 Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc is clear, and a pretty pale golden in color, and has a wonderful bouquet of citrus and golden delicious apples. The flavors are robust and smack of apple, melon, and a mild citrus breeze with a tangy light spritz in the background. The finish is crisp and underscores a complex wine for simple tastes. The alcohol content is 13%, and Norm's score is 89.

This wine was excellent with our scallops as it would be with almost any seafood dish. This wine has a fresh crisp appeal which would be a perfect companion for a platter of fresh fruit and soft cheeses. Once again, kudos to Chateau Ste. Michelle.

price : $14- $18

score: 89

Norm

Available online at:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, September 16, 2016

2009 Marina Cvetic Iskra Montepulciano d' Abruzzo

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2009 Marina Cvetic Iskra Montepulciano d' Abruzzo

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It is only befitting that we have an Italian meal to pair with an Italian wine. So, when we sampled this 2009 Montepulcianno we set it beside the "El Biggerero Steak Italiano" for a feast fit for Caesar himself. The essence of this meal is steak with an Italian flavor coupled with Spaghetti and a wonderful Italian red wine, in this case the 2009 Iskra Montepuleciano d' Abruzzo. The recipe for Steak Italiano is listed below.

The wine opens with a heady bouquet of dark fruit, leading into flavors of jammy blackberry and black cherry. with a distinct under current of toasty vanilla. The flavors are well rounded and smooth with a pleasant lingering finish. The taste combination with the steak is outstanding, and Norm's score is 89.

EL BIGGERERO STEAK ITALIANO

Serve 4

4 – 6-8 oz Lean Beef Fillets - trimmed of excess fat

SAUCE:

2 oz red wine

2 oz. tomato juice
1 oz. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons butter
I teaspoon garlic powder

Combine sauce ingredients in small sauce pan and heat over low heat until butter is melted.
Heat cast iron skillet coated with olive oil to 400 degrees

Add steaks and cook for 4 min.. – pour half sauce over steaks and turn

Pour second half of sauce over steaks and cook additional 4 min.

Serve with Spaghetti Marinara, tossed salad with Italian Dressing, and fresh hot baguettes.

price : $27- $34

score: 89

Norm

Available online at:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, September 9, 2016

2012 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Chardonnay

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2012 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Chardonnay

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It is not often that we get a chance to enjoy a mature Chardonnay, since most are consumed in the first two years of their brief lives. The other night we enjoyed a special dinner, so we broke out a four year old Chardonnay which we had been saving for just such an event. It was a bottle of 2012 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Chardonnay which had been a gift from one of our best friends to the Chardonnay Queen.

We paired this wonderful wine with a seafood treat centered on a fillet of fresh red grouper. The grouper was sauced in white wine and garlic, and seared to a golden brown in both butter and olive oil. The fish was accompanied by fresh asparagus and whipped potatoes, and a fresh garden salad. The Chardonnay added to a fantastic taste sensation making our evening quite memorable.

The Gloria Ferrer had a good nose suggesting fresh fruit surrounded by a floral bouquet. The wine swirled with the flavors of pear and a little peach, backed by a buttery vanilla presence leading to a crisp and clean finish. The alcohol content is 13.5%, and Norm's score is 90.

It is a shame that we don't let more wine mature for an extra year or so, since the flavors become more rounded, and the structure is more complex with a smoothness not usually found in younger wines. This wine would be great with almost any seafood dish, but none better than our pan seared grouper

price : $15 - $19

score: 90

Norm

Available online at:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, September 2, 2016

2013 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2013 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon

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Located in Paso Robles, in San Louis Obispo County, California, the Hope family has been producing Liberty School wines since 1990. Paso Robles is a warm inland climate shielded from Pacific Ocean breezes by the coastal mountain ranges. The Liberty School wines have been consistent in quality for the last two decades and are marked by their traditional style, at a value price.

The wine has abundant fruit which smacks of black currant and black cherries, flowing into a lengthy finish, showcasing sweet and mild tannins, which sail on into the night. The Liberty School Cabernet would pair well with any grilled meat, or would be excellent after dinner, with fruit and extra sharp Vermont white cheddar cheese.

We enjoyed the Liberty School Cab with pizza, which was a change of pace for us, and a delightful one at that. This Cab goes with just about anything. Norm's score is 88.

price : $14 - $17

score: 88

Norm

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