Norm's Tasting Notes
The North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net
normwine@charter.net
This letter was sent to me by an old time customer from my retail days.
Thanks Dave!
Hi Norm
"I loved this review! Your descriptions are always terrific, and I loved your phrase about this Cab having "…a mellow oak finish which sails off into the night." Beautiful!
I have only had Rodney Strong once (at a restaurant) and I really enjoyed it. Your column reminded me of just how good this wine is. I have been in a sort of Cab Rut for several years, buying Sterling (Napa) and Joel Gott (both of which I really like) but without a lot of trying new ones. My wife, as you may recall, was the Chardonnay Princess (to your Queen) when we would come into the World Beverage store on Ga. 400 (you were always so helpful!!). You turned me on to a lot of wines (even a few local ones) that I would not have tried without your encouragement, including some of the Chilean wines (Root?), where I remember one afternoon you educating me about the extraordinary age of these roots. Anyway, I'm off to buy a couple of bottles of Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Cab (and, of course, my wife Lisa's Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve—her choice for "everyday" Chardonnay).
Still enjoying your columns. Thanks again for the great suggestions!
P.S. We sold our cabin up near Jasper last year (we miss the mountains but not the mortgage:). We've now got 6 grandkids (we had none when I first met you) and four of them are in the north Atlanta area. Do you live full-time in Florida now? Are you still fishing (specs and reds?). We've rented a house in the Port St. Joe area for this coming summer and I'm hoping to take my bass boat down for some good in-short fishing (maybe even get up into the Apalachicola River, where I'm told you can catch largemouth bass and redfish in the same water—what a blast that would be!). Anyway, hope you and the Queen had a Merry Christmas and that your New Year is full of peace and happiness. A toast to good health!"
David
Mary and I split our at home time between Thomaston, Georgia where we fish for Bass at West Point Lake and other local waters. The rest of our time is spent at our home in Matlacha, Florida where we fish for Speckled Sea Trout, Red Fish, and Snook. When we are not fishing, we put lots of delicious food on the table matched up with a lot of the wines which I write about. Mary, the "Chardonnay Queen is an excellent chef, and I also like to dabble in the kitchen using tried and true, as well as innovative recipes.
Over the years I have met many people in the Wide World of Wine, including many former customers like Dave, from my retail days. By the way Dave, that was Root One Carmenere from Chile, which is still a "winner", judging from my last bottle a couple of months ago. I would like to take this time to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and remind you all that the best wine out there is the one you like!
Norm
