2016 Ruffino Modus Toscana

Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley 

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2016 Ruffino Modus Toscana

#05-2020

A wonderful wine from a winery which has been around for a long time, and is just another in my list of favorites from Ruffino.  I last wrote about the 2013 vintage of Modus Toscana, and now find the 2016 vintage to be living up to its past. with a tasty blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, in this moderately priced Super Tuscan.

The Modus has an enticing aroma of cherries and dark berries which lure you in for a sip.  It is a rich, full-bodied wine with plenty of flavor swirling around in the glass, featuring cherry, plum, and blueberry.  There is a bit of cocoa toward the end, with a lingering finish including mellow, toasty tannins, which sail off into the night.  The alcohol content is 14.5%, and Norm's score is 91.

This Italian blend is perfect with any pasta or veal dish and would make a great companion for a host of other selections as well.

score: 91

price: $18 - $23

Norm

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normwine.blogspot.com

AVAILABLE ONLINE AT:

Pine Island Eagle.com

Cumming Home.com

Dawson Times.com

ALSO AVAILABLE at: Dunwoody Patch

Dunwoody,Ga Patch

Wine - God's Proof of His Love for Humanity

2017 Dry Creek Fume Blanc

Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley 

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2017 Dry Creek Fume Blanc

#04-2020

Dry Creek Fume Blanc is a long time favorite, and the 2017 vintage continues to serve its past well.  The folks at Dry Creek have been producing their dry style of Sauvignon Blanc for more than forty years, and have influenced many other wineries along the way.  This style is clean, crisp and refreshing.

The nose has aromas of melon interlaced with citrus, and a touch of newly mown grass.  The flavors are abundant, with an emphasis on stone fruit assisted by the lemony citrus presence, which trails off to a mineral-like finish, which lingers on the palate.   The alcohol content is 13.5%, and Norm's score is 89.

This is a great wine for Fettuccine Alfredo, Shrimp Scampi, or Chicken Piccata.  It will also pair well with chicken, or seafood salads.

score: 89

price: $12 - $15

Norm

Facebook/Norm's Tasting Notes

normwine.blogspot.com

AVAILABLE ONLINE AT:

Pine Island Eagle.com

Cumming Home.com

Dawson Times.com

ALSO AVAILABLE at: Dunwoody Patch

Dunwoody,Ga Patch

Wine - God's Proof of His Love for Humanity

2018 Honig Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc

Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley 

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2018 Honig Sauvignon Blanc

#03-2020

A few weeks ago, we had dinner at the Tarpon Lodge, Pineland, Florida, which is one of our favorite places on Pine Island, and a very good restaurant in a quaint and historical location.  To accompany our choice of fresh Gulf Shrimp with Ravioli in a sauce with wild mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes, we added a bottle of Honig Sauvignon Blanc from the Napa Valley.  It made for a memorable occasion!

The 2018 Honig has an inspiring aroma of fresh stone fruit, which opens the way for flavors of melon, peaches and a little lemony citrus to sharpen the taste.  The balance between fruit and acidity is perfect, and the finish is crisp and clean, begging for another sip.  The alcohol content is 13.9%, and Norm's score is 91.

This Sauvignon Blanc, while great with our dinner, would go well with any seafood fare, and would make a great companion for Veal Piccata.

score: 91

price: $16 - $20

Norm

Facebook/Norm's Tasting Notes

normwine.blogspot.com

AVAILABLE ONLINE AT:

Pine Island Eagle.com

Cumming Home.com

Dawson Times.com

ALSO AVAILABLE at: Dunwoody Patch

Dunwoody,Ga Patch

Wine - God's Proof of His Love for Humanity

2017 Rodney Strong Russian River Rose of Pinot Noir

Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2017 Rodney Strong Russian River Rose of Pinot Noir

#02-20

First let me say that I read quite a bit of unusual rhetoric about this wine while I was researching it.  I found descriptions including celery, orange, and peach which I could not taste when I sampled it.  I also read comments by one wine writer about the difference between crew neck and v neck t shirts, and also drinking wine out of a juice glass while preferring champagne to other wines.  Like the rest of the world, the wine world gets stranger and stranger.  Let me just say this, the 2017 Rodney Strong Russian River Rose is a really tasty bottle of wine.

The wine opens with a bright floral aroma masking pungent scents of ripe red fruit.  The flavors swirl in the glass, displaying juicy cherry with backgrounds of strawberry and plum.  One of the best things about this Rose is the balance between fruit and acidity, making it delightful to sip, and each sip begs for another.  The alcohol content is 12.5%, and Norm's score is 92.

This Russian River Rose highlights all of the best characteristics of Rose with none of the usual drawbacks.  It is lovely to look at, as well as consume, and will help bring the category into focus!  We enjoyed our Rose with a wonderful seafood salad containing shrimp, lobster, and crab, prepared by the Chardonnay Queen.  Looks like a good New Year ahead!

score: 92

price: $16 - $21

Norm

www.facebook.com/Norm'sTastingNotes

www.normwine.blogspot.com/

Available online at:

Pine Island Eagle.com

Cumming Home.com

Dawson Times.com

Also Available at AOL's Dunwoody Patch:

Dunwoody, GA Patch

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

2016 Sterling Napa Valley Merlot

Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2016 Sterling Napa Merlot

#01-20

A long time favorite, the 2016 Sterling Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot is once again an extremely enjoyable bottle of wine, with the current vintage being one of the best in years.  Just be sure, that if you decide to sample it, that you don't confuse it with the less expensive, and lessor quality Sterling Vintner's Choice label which looks somewhat similar, but is not nearly the same wine.

This Merlot is great with grilled meat, or is simply wonderful to enjoy without food.  The nose is enchanting and draws you in toward a display of flavors which are in perfect harmony with each other.  There is black cherry, blackberry, and plum which are luscious and rounded, as they join in to lead you to a subtle, yet lingering finish.  Norm's score is 91.

This is one really good Merlot, which if you don't like, you must really not like Merlot at all!  Throw some meat on the grill and have yourself a feast to welcome in the new year. 

score: 91

price: $19 - $24

Norm

www.facebook.com/Norm'sTastingNotes

www.normwine.blogspot.com/

Available online at:

Pine Island Eagle.com

Cumming Home.com

Dawson Times.com

Also Available at AOL's Dunwoody Patch:

Dunwoody, GA Patch

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity