2009 d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Red

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net






2009 d' Arenberg The Stump Jump Red
#nb-34-11


Making wine since 1927, the d' Arenberg Winery near McLaren Vale, Australia, has not only grown some pretty good grapes, they have grown themselves a pretty good reputation for making good wines as well. The 2009 The Stump Jump Red is a blend of 42% Grenache, 33% Shiraz and 25% Mourvedre and has the finesse of wines costing two or three times as much!

The wine opens with the aromas of red berries and plums, which become quite heady the longer the wine remains in the glass. The flavors suggest the plums plus blackberries, and a slight peppery undertone, supplied, no doubt, from the Shiraz. The wine has a firm grasp of your senses which lingers on into a smooth and mild finish of tannin and toasty oak, which serve to clean the palate and require closer examination in the next sip.

This is a wonderful bottle of wine, for not a lot of money, and is delightful with almost any grilled meat or spicy dish. The Stump Jump Red would be a perfect companion for venison stew with fresh warm sourdough bread. If the Fall weather gets you out to your grill, then take a bottle of The Stump Jump with you to consume while you are cooking. That is, of course, if you have another bottle available for the dinner. Norm's score is 89.

Price: $10 to $14
Score: 89

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his Blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/

Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:
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WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity

2010 Kris Pinot Grigio

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net






2010 Kris Pinot Grigio
#nb-33-11


A bouquet of flowers burst upon your senses like magnolias and gardenias on a hot southern night. The warm aromas of this Pinot Grigio descend to your taste buds with a blanket of rich fruit, suggesting peaches and melon. The 2010 Kris Pinot Grigio is full of flavor and creates a pleasant assault on your taste buds which continues on into a delightful clean finish, with faint memories of flowers and fruit.

Kris is a secondary label for the wines of Franz Haas, whose family-run estate has been producing wine from Italy since 1880. The Kris is 100% Pinot Grigio, and is made from grapes grown in the Delle Venezie, near Friuli, Italy. These grapes were harvested in September of 2010, and were fermented in stainless steel tanks to produce an un-altered Pinot Grigio taste which is clean and crisp. This wine will be best drunk in the next eighteen months. The alcohol content is 12.5%.

We enjoyed this delightful Pinot Grigio with a lemon-pepper roasted chicken, accompanied by fresh yellow crook-neck squash and baked potato. This wine would also be excellent with Pasta Alfredo, or a mild seafood dish like broiled flounder, with white clam sauce. This is also a top candidate for a "back porch sipper". Norm's score is 90.

Price: $12 to $15
Score: 90

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his Blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/

Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:
dawsontimes.com
cumminghome.com
pineisland-eagle.com
thecherokeeconnection.com






WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity

2009 Frescobaldi Remole Toscana

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net






2009 Frescobaldi Remole Toscana
#nb-32-11


Tuscany, Italy conjures up visions of sun-bathed rolling hills covered with grape vines, and smothered with romance. This area of Italy has been producing wine for more than 2000 years, and the Marchesi de' Frescobaldi has been making wine in Tuscany for more than 700 of those years. The 2009 Remole Toscana is a fine example of these wonderful wines, and is in the value priced category. This is a blend of 85% Sangiovese and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and comes in at 12.5% alcohol.

The Remole is a pretty ruby red in color, with a nose of cassis and blackberry. The flavors swirl in the glass with hints of blackberry, currant, and cherry, which sail into a clean, yet lingering finish. This is an easy drinking wine which is still young, and opens up considerably in the glass, so breathing it for a half hour before drinking would be suggested.

We enjoyed this Tuscan Blend with a big plate of spaghetti marinara with meat, and a green garden salad. This wine would pair well with almost any pasta dish, and would be a good substitute for Chianti. It would also be perfect with Chicken Caccciatore. Norm's score is 87.

Price: $10 to $12
Score: 87


Norm


Norm's Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his Blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/

Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:
dawsontimes.com
cumminghome.com
pineisland-eagle.com
thecherokeeconnection.com







WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity