Norm's Tasting Notes

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2015 Cigar Old Vine Zinfandel

#nb-08-17

When the Cigar Zin first hit the market a few years back, I thought great, a wine to accompany my Macanudo, a nice combination. Of course it is more than just a wine to sip while you enjoy your stogie. It is also an intense Old Vine Zinfandel which goes quite well with most grilled meats, including the two inch thick New York Strip I burned on the grill the other night.

Thick juicy, rare and perfect for a robust red like the Cigar Old Vine Zinfandel from the folks at Cosentino Winery.

The wine is dark red with good clarity, and has a spicy and jammy aroma. The flavor is cherry combined with blackberry with a little spice and a significant presence of ground pepper. There is a lot to notice in the finish including mild tannins with a hint of chocolate fading off into the night. The alcohol content is a sturdy 15.5% and Norm's score is 87.

Great with steaks and other grilled meat, it also is a good "Back Porch Sipper" to accompany your "Back Porch Puffer" !

price : $12- $17

score: 87

Norm

Available online at:

CummingHome.com | News and Events from Cumming and Forsyth County

Also available at AOL's Dunwoody Patch:

Dunwoody, GA Patch

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, February 17, 2017

2016 Toad Hollow Dry Rose

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2016 Toad Hollow Dry Rose

#nb-07-17

This one is also called "Eye of the Toad", and is a dry Rose made from 100% Pinot Noir. This is a wine which we have enjoyed in the past, and knew that it would be a good choice for our Valentine's Day Celebration. A friend brought us a big platter of steamed shrimp, fresh from the Gulf of Mexico, and we added in a couple of lobster tails, for a perfect Valentine present for the both of us. Even the Chardonnay Queen raved about this seafood extravaganza paired with Rose instead of Chardonnay!

The color is a gorgeous pink with orange tinges. The nose has a fresh scent of flowers followed by watermelon and peach aromas. The flavors are a mix of stone fruit and cherries, with a little strawberry, and a trailing hint of watermelon backing up the nose. The alcohol content is 11.5% and Norm's score is 89. The wine is clean, fresh and delightful.

The "Eye of the Toad" was excellent with cold shrimp and lobster, and would pair well with a variety of summertime fair. The fresh taste reminds us that spring is just around the corner. This one is definitely a "Back Porch Sipper".

price : $12- $16

score: 89

Norm

Available online at:

CummingHome.com | News and Events from Cumming and Forsyth County

Also available at AOL's Dunwoody Patch:

Dunwoody, GA Patch

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, February 10, 2017

2014 The Federalist Zinfandel

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2014 The Federalist Zinfandel

#nb-06-17

This Zinfandel from Lodi, California has all of the qualities which I like in a Zinfandel. Pair a good Zin up with a nice thick, juicy, steak and you have a terrific all-American meal.

The Federalist Lodi Zinfandel has a pleasant aroma of dark berries hinting of good things to come. The flavors swirl in the glass with an abundance of blackberry and black cherry, set against a backdrop of pepper and spice. The finish is excellent with a bit of tannin and lingering fruit at the end. The alcohol content is a respectable 14.5%, and Norm's score is 88.

The Federalist Zin was great with our steak, and of course would be excellent with a big platter of spaghetti.

price : $12- $16

score: 88

Norm

Available online at:

CummingHome.com | News and Events from Cumming and Forsyth County

Also available at AOL's Dunwoody Patch:

Dunwoody, GA Patch

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, February 3, 2017

2015 Les Dauphine Cotes du Rhone Villages

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2015 Les Dauphine Cotes du Rhone Villages

#nb-05-17

This Cotes du Rhone is not a Dago Red, but it still makes a pretty good spaghetti wine. So that is just what we did. We made up a big pot of marinara sauce and added some garlic bread with an Italian salad, and popped the cork for an enjoyable cozy dinner on a misty, chilly, winter night.

The 2015 Les Dauphine is 60% Grenache and 30% Syrah, with equal parts Mouvedre and Carignan for a typical Cotes du Rhone. The color is a brilliant ruby red with a bouquet full of pungent fruit aromas. The flavors showcase blackberries and currants with a jammy texture. The finish is clean with a mild presence of silky tannins. The alcohol content is 13.5% and

Norm's score is 86.

It was a good choice for spaghetti and would also make a good companion for grilled meats, chili or a hearty meat stew.

price : $9- $12

score: 86

Norm

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