2019 La Crema Monterey Pinot Gris

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2019 La Crema Monterey Pinot Gris

#05-2022

We made a big pot of homemade Seafood Chowder full of shrimp, scallops and crab, with a hot baguette of multigrain bread alongside.  We paired this with a bottle of La Crema Pinot Gris, for another cold winter feast.  Not a bad way to spend a Grey Day!

The La Crema is a little on the delicate side, with a pleasant nose of melon and stone fruit.  The flavors are tangerine and lime, with a little Meyer Lemon in the mix.  The finish is crisp and clean.  The alcohol content is 13.5%, and Norm's score is 88.

This would be a great choice for Chicken Piccata, and also Shrimp Salad Louie.

score: 88

price: $17 - $20

Norm

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2016 Castellani Chianti Classico Reserva

2016 Castellani Chianti Classico Reserva

#04-2022

It's Cold outside with a wintery mix, but inside its warm and cozy, with a dish of homemade baked lasagna on the table, and a good bottle of 100% Sangiovese Reserve Chianti sitting right next to it.  The wine is the 2016 vintage Castellani Chianti Classico Reserva, and its a good one!

The wine is dark red, with the aroma of dark berries and minerals escaping from the bottle.  The flavor is rich., with a strong backbone of cherry and plum encased in smooth tannins.  The finish lingers on the palate, begging for another sip!  The only real question is whether or not one bottle is enough for a big dish of lasagna.  The alcohol content is 13%, and Norm's score is 91.

This Chianti is perfect for lasagna, or any other pasta dish for that matter.  It would also be great with Veal Marsala.

p.s.  (this wine is available at an even better price at Costco)

score: 91

price: $15 - $20

Wine – God's Proof of His Love for Humanity

Enjoy Wine. Food, Family, Friends, and God's Love!

Norm

(Norm's Tasting Notes)

2018 La Crema Russian River Pinot Noir

2018 La Crema Russian River Pinot Noir

#03-2022

One of my favorite Pinot Noirs has for a long time been the La Crema from Russian River, and once again it does not disappoint.  This is a classic style Pinot Noir from one of the premier vineyard areas in the entire country.  It is pretty hard to beat Pinot Noir grown in Sonoma County's Russian River Valley!

The nose is elegant with the scent of both black and red fruits fresh from the orchard.  The rich flavor suggests plum, blueberry and dark cherry, with a touch of chocolate toward the finish, which has just a hint of oak.  This one certainly begs for another sip!  The alcohol content is 14.5%, and Norm's score is 90.

We have enjoyed this wine many times in the past with grilled meat, and it is also a great match for grilled salmon.

score: 90

price: $32 - $37

Wine – God's Proof of His Love for Humanity

2017 Obsidian Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 Obsidian Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon

#02-2022

I wrote about this wine about ten months ago, and scored it a 91.  This year for Christmas Dinner, we decided to pair it with our Chateaubriand, and it was so good, that I decided that I needed to up its score.  It was fabulous with our tenderloin feast!

The nose is potent, as it broadcasts the aromas of fresh picked dark berries,  with a touch of blueberry in the breeze.  The wine is rich and complex, and showcases the flavors of blackberry and black cherry, mingled with a little oak and a hint of chocolate.  The finish lingers on the palate, with the message that this one might even be better a few years from now!  The alcohol content is 14.6%, and Norm's score is 92.

This wine is excellent with any beef dish, but not limited to steaks and such.  You might want to team it up with a spicy Bouillabaisse for a real treat!

score: 92

price: $24 - $29

Wine – God's Proof of His Love for Humanity