2023 Napa Cellars Sauvignon Blanc

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2023 Napa Cellars Sauvignon Blanc

Uno June - 2025

Fried Red Snapper and Grilled Shrimp make for a really good meal.  Add a bottle of Napa Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, and you have a great meal!  When the fish and shrimp are "Fresh Catch of the Day', its simply wonderful!

The Napa Cellars Sauvignon Blanc is neither "California Style Grassy" nor "New Zealand Style Grapefruity".  It is a little grassy and a little citrusy, a little fruity, and a little crisp.  It is big on accents of Myer Lemon, Orange Blossoms, and Ripe Melon, and it is real big on flavor and clean finish!  The alcohol content is 13.8%. and Norm's score is 91.

This is a terrific wine for any kind of seafood, prepared in any style, from hot to cold, or even raw!

score: 91

price : $17 - $22

Now, that's just the way I see it, and you can tell them I said so!

Here's looking at you Kid!

Norm

normwine@bellsouth.net

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

2023 Ferrari-Carano Sonoma Fume Blanc

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2023 Ferrari-Carano Sonoma Fume Blanc

Uno May - 2025

In 2020 I published a list of the Top Wines that I had tasted during that year which I had scored a 90 or above.  I am re-tasting several of the current vintages of those wines to see how they rate five years later.  The Ferrair-Carano Fume is the third from that list for this year.  The complete list from 2020 is shown below.

2023 Ferrari-Carano Sonoma Fume Blanc:

We enjoyed our Fume Blanc with a sauced dish of Salmon and Shrimp,  Artichoke, and a fresh baked Baguette.  This fresh and crisp white opens with a nose of citrus and tropical fruit.  The flavors include Myer lemon, stonefruit, and maybe a hint of grapefruit.  The finish is clean, and sails off into the night!  The alcohol content is 13.9%. and Norm's score is 90.

The previous vintage was a 2019 with a 91 score, while this 2023 gets a 90. This is definitely a "Go To" white wine for almost any food or occasion, including "Back Porch Sipping"

score: 90

price : $16 - $20

2020 Wines with a 90, or above, score from Norm

2017 Rodney Strong Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 Louis Martini Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 Sterling Napa Merlot

2017 Oak Farm Lodi Zinfandel

2016 Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir

2018 Cakebread Napa Valley Chardonnay

2018 Landmark Overlook Chardonnay

2018 Fritz Zimmer Piesporter Goldtropfchen Spatlese

2018 Cline North Coast Viognier

2018 Honig Sauvignon Blanc

2017 Joel Gott Oregon Pinot Gris

2016 Ruffino Modus Toscana

2016 Francis Ford Coppola Black Label Claret

2019 Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc

2019 J Vineyards California Pinot Gris

2018 Napa Cellars Napa Valley Chardonnay

2016 Rodney Strong Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2018 Coppola Director's Cut Cabernet Sauvignon

Norm

normwine@bellsouth.net

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

2019 Sterling Heritage Collection Napa Valley Merlot

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2019 Sterling Heritage Collection Napa Valley Merlot

Dos April - 2025

In 2020 I published a list of the Top Wines that I had tasted during that year which I had scored above 90.  I am re-tasting several of the current vintages of those wines to see how they rate five years later.  This Sterling Merlot is the second from that list for this year.  The complete Top Twenty from 2020 is shown below.

2019 Sterling Heritage Collection Napa Merlot:

In a bit of a departure from our traditional Easter Dinner, The Chardonnay Queen prepared an excellent Roasted Beef for our feast. The Sterling Merlot was perfect!  A deep and complex merlot with ripe cherries, currants, and a hint of blackberry, the 2019 Sterling Merlot has staying power, and a memorable finish, which begs for another sip!  The alcohol content is 14.7%. and Norm's score is 91.

The previous vintage was a 2016 with a 90 score, while this 2019 gets a 91.  A lot of other merlots wish they tasted like this one.

score: 91

price : $27 - $32

2020 Wines with a 90, or above, score from Norm

2017 Rodney Strong Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 Louis Martini Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 Sterling Napa Merlot

2017 Oak Farm Lodi Zinfandel

2016 Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir

2018 Cakebread Napa Valley Chardonnay

2018 Landmark Overlook Chardonnay

2018 Fritz Zimmer Piesporter Goldtropfchen Spatlese

2018 Cline North Coast Viognier

2018 Honig Sauvignon Blanc

2017 Joel Gott Oregon Pinot Gris

2016 Ruffino Modus Toscana

2016 Francis Ford Coppola Black Label Claret

2019 Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc

2019 J Vineyards California Pinot Gris

2018 Napa Cellars Napa Valley Chardonnay

2016 Rodney Strong Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2018 Coppola Director's Cut Cabernet Sauvignon

Norm

normwine@bellsouth.net

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

2021 Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2021 Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir

Uno April - 2025

In 2020 I published a list of the Top Wines that I had tasted during that year which I had scored above 90.  In the next few months I am going to re-taste several of the current vintages of those wines to see how they rate five years later.  The first will be the Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir. The complete Top Twenty from 2020 is shown below.

2021 Rodney Strong:

As I have said many times in the past, it is hard to beat wine made from Russian River grapes, and the Rodney Strong is a case in point.  The nose is fragrant and introduces you to flavors of cherry and plum leading to a finish with a little spice, and mild tannins.  The alcohol content is 14.5%. and Norm's score is 92.

The previous vintage was a 2017, and this 2021 is even better with a 92 score, and still in the twenty dollar range, which is quite affordable for a California Pinot Noir of this quality.

score: 92

price : $17 - $22

2020 Wines with a 90, or above, score from Norm

2017 Rodney Strong Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 Louis Martini Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 Sterling Napa Merlot

2017 Oak Farm Lodi Zinfandel

2016 Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir

2018 Cakebread Napa Valley Chardonnay

2018 Landmark Overlook Chardonnay

2018 Fritz Zimmer Piesporter Goldtropfchen Spatlese

2018 Cline North Coast Viognier

2018 Honig Sauvignon Blanc

2017 Joel Gott Oregon Pinot Gris

2016 Ruffino Modus Toscana

2016 Francis Ford Coppola Black Label Claret

2019 Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc

2019 J Vineyards California Pinot Gris

2018 Napa Cellars Napa Valley Chardonnay

2016 Rodney Strong Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2018 Coppola Director's Cut Cabernet Sauvignon

Norm

normwine@bellsouth.net

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