Norm's Tasting Notes

normwine@charter.net

2015 Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir

#nb-45-18

The wine from Russian River is usually quite good, and the Pinot Noir from Rodney Strong and that region have always been "winners". The 2015 vintage is another example of good wine from good soil and climate. We enjoyed a bottle last night with grilled pork loin chops.

The nose is fresh and pleasing like a basket of ripe fruit. While cherry is the predominate flavor, there is a background of plum with a little strawberry as well. The wine is rich and textured and leaves a lingering after-taste which begs for another sip. The alcohol content is 14.5% and Norm's score is 89.

The 2015 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir is an excellent choice for most grilled meats, and would also pair well with prime rib, or cedar planked salmon.

score: 89

price: $18 - $21

Norm

Available online at:

http://cumminghome.com/

http://dawsontimes.com/

Also available at AOL's Dunwoody Patch:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, November 23, 2018

2017 Fritz Zimmer Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riseling Spatlese

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@charter.net

2017 Fritz Zimmer Piesporter Goldtropfchen Spatlese

#nb-44-18

The wines from the Piesporter Goldtropfchen region in Germany are among the best Rieslings in the world. The Spatlese, which represents the second picking when the grapes are a little sweeter, is a great choice for most fowl dishes. We served it with Cornish Game Hen, which was our Thanksgiving dinner this year and it was delightful.

The wine has a fragrant nose and flavors which broadcast rays of sunshine, which highlight a perfect mix of acidity and sweet fruit. The prominent taste ticklers are a combination of apple, peach, and pear, with a light touch of citrus, leading to a crisp finish. The last time I sampled this wine, I said it was "lip smacking good"! The alcohol content is 7.5% and Norm's score is 90.

You can enjoy this fine Riesling with Turkey, Chicken, or a big platter of ripe juicy grapes and soft French Cheese.

score: 90

price: $11 - $15

Norm

Available online at:

http://cumminghome.com/

http://dawsontimes.com/

Also available at AOL's Dunwoody Patch:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Thursday, November 15, 2018

2018 Thanksgiving Special

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@charter.net

2018 Thanksgiving Special

#nb-43-18

It is always difficult to select the perfect wine for Thanksgiving, because the table has such an array of aromas and flavors, but here are a few guidelines which will help make this dinner more memorable than ever.

If you like Chardonnay, choose one which is not bone dry, but rather one with a strong fruit presence. Sauvignon Blanc is also a good choice if you like dry white wine with your meal. The fruity, but dry finish of a good Pinot Grigio is perfect for that dry white meat turkey which did not turn out as juicy as you had hoped for. If you like red wine with your meal, choose a lighter style Pinot Noir. Other choices are Riesling and Viognier, both excellent with turkey.

Below is a list of wines which I have written about during the last year which would be good choices for your Thanksgiving Dinner.

2016 J. Lohr Arroyo Seco MontereyChardonnay - 94

2017 Stag’s Leap Winery Napa Viognier - 90

2016 King Estate Pinot Gris - 91

2016 Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc - 90

2015 Fritz Zimmer Piesporter Goldtrofpchen Riesling Spatlese - 91

2015 Nobilo Icon Pinot Noir - 90

2015 Ruffino Modus Toscana IGT - 94

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Norm

Available online at:

http://cumminghome.com/

http://dawsontimes.com/

Also available at AOL's Dunwoody Patch:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, November 9, 2018

2016 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@charter.net

2016 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel

#nb-42-18

The Zinfandels from the Lodi region in California continue to get better as the vines get older. I have tasted and written about Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin for over a dozen years, and consistently scored the vintages in the upper 80's, which is a great value in the ten dollar wine market! The wine is made from 35 to 80 year old vines, which produce intensely flavored fruit.

This is a big fruit wine which is rich and jammy with highlights of blackberry and plum. There is a hint of oak, but the finish is smooth and soft with a pleasant lingering aftertaste. The alcohol content is 14.5%, and Norm's score is 88.

This is a good wine for steak, but also great with barbecue or even spaghetti.

price : $9 - $12

score: 88

Norm

Available online at:

http://cumminghome.com/

http://dawsontimes.com/

Also available at AOL's Dunwoody Patch:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, November 2, 2018

2017 Stag's Leap Winery Napa Viognier

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@charter.net

2017 Stag's Leap Winery Napa Vioginer

#nb-41-18

The Stag's Leap Winery has had an excellent reputation for producing exquisite wines for many years, so when we dined at Emeril's Coastal Italian at Miramar Beach recently, we knew that this Viognier would make an excellent companion for the exquisite cuisine found at Emeril's. We had a variety of fish and shellfish, and the wine was a perfect match.

Viognier is aromatic and somewhat spicy, and this one was typical of the grape. The bouquet is fragrant with the aroma of citrus floating across a basket of ripe stonefruit. The flavors swirl through the glass with a strong presence of peach over shadowed by spice and citrus. There is also a mineral background which leads to a very crisp finish, which sails off into the night, begging for another sip. Norm's score is 90.

The Stag's Leap Viognier was worthy of a seafood feast at a top quality restaurant such as Emeril's Coastal Italian.

price : $24 - $30

score: 90

Norm

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