2019 Acacia Carneros Pinot Noir

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2019 Acacia Carneros Pinot Noir

#18-2022

We usually serve Pinot Noir with beef or salmon, but the other night we enjoyed the 2019 Acacia Carneros Pinot Noir with our homemade baked lasagna, and it was a very good match.  Finding good Pinot Noir in the twenty dollar range can be a little IFie, but this one is a winner!

A bright cherry red in color, with a delightful nose, the flavors swirl in the glass, with black cherry and ripe plum being in the forefront.  The finish is long and lingering and begs for another sip.  The alcohol content is 14.5%, and Norm's score is 90.

Pair this one up with your cedar-planked salmon and you will be in culinary bliss!

score: 90

price: $19 - $23

Norm

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Wine – God's Proof of His Love for Humanity

2018 Simi Dry Rose Sonoma County

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2018 Simi Dry Rose Sonoma County

#17-2022

This year it was Ham and Rose for Easter Brunch with all the trimmings, including Deviled Eggs, and it was a great launch into Spring!  The 2018 Simi Dry Rose was a perfect companion for spiral-sliced Virginia Baked Ham.

The Simi is a collection of flavors, showcasing cherry and strawberry, and includes a bit of citrus, for a refreshing and dry finish.  The alcohol content is 13.5%, and Norm's score is 89.

It is time for picnics, and the Simi needs to be in your picnic basket beside the fried chicken and potato salad.  Viva La Spring!

score: 89

price: $14 - $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

2018 Villa Antinori Toscana IGT

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2018 Villa Antinori Toscana IGT

#16-2022

First you take a lean two inch thick fillet and soak it in red wine and garlic for a couple of hours, then you toss it onto a really hot grill for about five minutes per side, and then you set in on the table next to a really good bottle of red wine.  The choice this time was the Red Blend from Antinori, the 2018 Toscana IGT.  What a pair!

Sometimes called Super Tuscans, the designation Tuscana IGT identifies the wine as a blend of Sangiovese, and grapes more normally associated with Bordeaux, such as Merlot and Cabernet,  The blend produces a rich and mellow red wine which pairs well with a wide range of foods.  The flavors smack of cherry, blackberry, and a bit of blueberry, leading to a lingering finish with solid oak tones.  The alcohol content is 14%, and Norm's score is 92.

This wine is great with steak or any other grilled meat, but it actually begs for sauced fare, such as Veal Marsala, or Osso Buco. 

score: 92

price: $17 - $22

Norm

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AVAILABLE ONLINE AT:

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Dawson Times.com

ALSO AVAILABLE at: Dunwoody Patch

2020 Ferrai-Carano Chardonnay

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2020 Ferrai-Carano Chardonnay

#15-2022

We had a big, thick Grouper fillet seasoned with El Biggero's Special Spice, which we grilled and served with Pasta Alfredo and a fresh garden salad.  The feast was completed with a bottle of 2020 Ferrai-Carano Chardonnay from Sonoma County.  Grilling season is looking really good, and its still early spring!

The Ferrai-Carano is a long time favorite which showcases a classic flavor spectrum of apple, pear, and apricot, with a mild citrus breeze drifting through to its lightly spiced finish.  It is bright and crisp, and begs for another sip!  The alcohol content is 14.5%, and Norm's score is 90.

Great with grilled fish, it would be equally appreciated alongside a fried seafood platter, or a chilled shell-fish salad.

score: 90

price: $20 - $25

Norm

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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

2022 The Best of Pine Island

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2022 The Best of Pine Island

#14-2022

I don't need to wait for the votes to come in, since I already know that the "Best" Restaurant in Matlacha, Florida, or on Pine Island, is "The Blue Dog Bar and Grill"!  Whether it is Stone Crab or Mullet, or Shrimp Tacos or Soft-Shell Crab, this place does it all in the finest "Old Florida" tradition.

The owners, John and Jessie, are two guys you would like to call "Friend", and the food is worth coming back for.  There are a lot of good places to eat on Pine Island, but "The Blue Dog" is definitely number one!

Don't just take my word for it, go see for yourself. 

score: 100

price: $$ - $$$

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