2021 Frei Brothers Russian River Chardonnay

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

2021 Frei Brothers Russian River Reserve Chardonnay

#04-2023

The wines from Russian River in Sonoma County California never let me down,  This Chardonnay from Frei Brothers and Russian River, is another good example of an excellent wine from the region, particularly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which seem to thrive there.

Fresh tastes of apple and pear, with an orange citrus background, highlight a lush wine with a smooth mouthfeel, and a clean finish.  There is a creamy texture and a hint of buttery, for a most satisfying glass of wine!  The alcohol content is 14.2% and Norm's score is 89.

Great with grilled salmon, as we enjoyed it, this one would also pair well with Chicken a L'Orange, or Fettuccini Alfredo.

score: 89

price : $14 - $17

Norm

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AVAILABLE ONLINE AT:

Pine Island Eagle.com

ALSO AVAILABLE at: Dunwoody Patch

Dunwoody, GA Patch

Wine - God's Proof of his Love for Humanity

2020 Dry Creek Heritage Zinfandel

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

2020 Dry Creek Heritage Zinfandel

#03-2023

The Dry Creek Vineyard has always been a favorite choice for good wine, and also a great place to visit, if you are in the area.  This Heritage Zinfandel is sourced from old vines averaging 100 years old.  The grapes are mostly Zinfandel with a generous smattering of Petite Surah.  It reminds me of my childhood in Napa, when we ate at an Italian steak house which served an Italian favorite Californian wine made from Zinfandel grapes brought over by Italian immigrants in the old days.

The Dry Creek Heritage Zin has classic  Zinfandel flavors of blackberry, cherry, and plum with a dry and silky finish, which begs for another sip.  The alcohol level is high, but not hot, but rather pleasing at 14.8% and Norm's score is 91.

Great with a medium rare steak from the grill (our way), it can be enjoyed with a variety of foods including most Italian pasta dishes, and would be fantastic with Bouillabaisse!

score: 91

price : $19 - $24

Norm

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normwine.blogspot.com

AVAILABLE ONLINE AT:

Pine Island Eagle.com

ALSO AVAILABLE at: Dunwoody Patch

Dunwoody, GA Patch

Wine - God's Proof of his Love for Humanity

2022 Oyster Bay Pinot Gris

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2022 Oyster Bay Pinot Gris

#02-2023

This Pinot Gris hails from Hawks Bay in New Zealand, and is a good companion for the Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs which are usually associated from that down-under country.  We sampled a bottle the other night with grilled salmon, and thought it quite nice.

The nose is flowery, with subtle scents of citrus and fruit in the background.  The flavors are true to Pinot Grigio, and are a combination of stonefruit, apple, and a gentle hint of lemon zest, which adds crispness.  The finish is pleasing and clean, and the alcohol content is 12.5%, with Norm's score being 88.

A good back porch sipper, and also an excellent companion for fish and fowl, I would recommend it as good choice for Lobster Bisque or Shrimp Gumbo.

score: 88

price : $12 - $15

Norm

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normwine.blogspot.com

AVAILABLE ONLINE AT:

Pine Island Eagle.com

ALSO AVAILABLE at: Dunwoody Patch

Dunwoody, GA Patch

Wine - God's Proof of his Love for Humanity

2018 Schramsberg Brut Rose

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

2018 Schramsberg Brut Rose

#01-2023

Well, we have successfully rung in the new year, and we did our part of the ringing with a bottle of Schramsberg Brut Rose from northern California, which is fine champagne in every language, except of course French, where they insist on geography to describe excellent Bubbly.  Be that as it may, the French cannot produce a bottle of Champagne as good as this one for a mere fifty bucks!

A tight bead of tiny bubbles, coupled with a creamy texture, are showcased in a beautiful spectrum of colors which comes across as a brilliant blush pink.  The flavors are a mix of cherry, strawberry, peach and citrus, which lead to an extremely pleasant finish.  The alcohol content is 12.6% and Norm's score is 93.

Great with celebrations, this is a wine which also would be perfect with any cold shellfish dish, or even oysters on the half shell.

score: 93

price : $40 - $50

Norm

Facebook/Norm's Tasting Notes

normwine.blogspot.com

AVAILABLE ONLINE AT:

Pine Island Eagle.com

ALSO AVAILABLE at: Dunwoody Patch

Dunwoody, GA Patch

Wine - God's Proof of his Love for Humanity