2018 Franciscan Monterey and Napa County Chardonnay

Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley 

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2018 Franciscan Monterey and Napa County Chardonnay

#09-2020

The 2018 Franciscan Monterey and Napa County Chardonnay used to be called Franciscan Estate Chardonnay, causing the Chardonnay Queen to state, "what's the difference, it is still a really good bottle of wine!"

The Franciscan Chardonnay has a fragrant nose of tropical fruit, citrus, and green apple.  The flavors range from pear, to sweet apple, and then into a little lemon.  The wine is delicate, and yet, has great depth, leading to a hint of toasty oak in the finish.  This delicious wine simply begs for another sip!  The alcohol content is 13.5%, and Norm's score is 91.

We enjoyed the Franciscan with shrimp and cheese tortellini in a sauce featuring olive oil, basil and Parmesan cheese, placed alongside a steamed artichoke. 

score: 91

price: $13 - $17

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 Stag's Leap Winery Napa Chardonnay

Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley 

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2017 Stag's Leap Winery Napa Chardonnay

#08-2020

Valentine's Day with the Chardonnay Queen, was of course, celebrated with a really good bottle of Chardonnay, and a wonderful dinner prepared by the Queen herself.  The entree was Lemon and Ginger Sea Scallops, and the wine was Stag's Leap Napa Chardonnay.  Almost Heaven, and we were not even near West Virginia, but rather in the middle of the Georgia ridge line of the Piedmont.  It still was as good as a "Rocky Mountain High"!

The Stag's Leap is a wonderful bottle of wine, with a nose as appealing as a Rocky Mountain meadow full of wild flowers.  The flavors are apple and pear, with just a wisp of honeysuckle, and a hint of citrus on the fringe.  There is a lingering kiss of oak, and a clean, crisp finish which sails off into the night.  The alcohol content is 13.5%, and Norm's score is 93.

If you don't like this one, then you just don't like Chardonnay.  It was great with the Queen's Scallops, and would pair well with just about any dish you might like with Chardonnay!

score: 93

price: $19 - $25

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 La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir

Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley 

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2017 La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir

#07-2020

Twas the night before Valentine's Day, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even my spouse.  There was me in my Chef's hat, with flour on my nose, and it was home-made Lasagna I sought to compose.  And, boy was it good, and so was the La Crema Pinot Noir we had to go along with it!

This a light and delicate Pinot Noir, but it stands up well to Italian pasta.  It has the scent of cherries and ripe plum, along with the taste of cherries and a little strawberry, attached to a background of raspberry.  Even though the wine is light, the finish is strong, with a lingering on the palate which begs for another sip.  The alcohol content is 13.5%, and Norm's score is 90.

This wine was great with the Lasagna, and would be most excellent with grilled salmon.

score: 90

price: $18 - $23

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 Louis Jadot Macon Villages Blanc

Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley 

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2018 Louis Jadot Macon Villages Chardonnay

#06-2020

So far this year I have issued five wine articles, and the "Chardonnay Queen" has called to my attention, that thus far none of them have been about Chardonnay, a situation which must be remedied.  So we are talking about a French Chardonnay from Burgundy.  It is the 2018 Louis Jadot Macon Villages Blanc.  It is a good choice, and a good representative of a French Chardonnay.

The Macon has a fragrant bouquet, delicate, yet enticing, with a combination of fruit and floral scents.  The flavors are typical of the varietal, and feature apple and melon with a kiss of citrus, and a nuance of mineral earth.  The wine is well balanced between fruit and acidity and has a refreshing finish with no oak.  The alcohol content is 12.5%, and Norm's score is 88.

This wine was excellent with our Chicken Alfredo and pasta, next to a fresh garden salad, and garlic toasted sourdough bread. This Chardonnay would also pair well with Crab Cakes., or Flounder.

score: 88

price: $11 - $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