Norm's Tasting Notes

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2014 Kenwood Sonoma Chardonnay

#nb-08-16

We arrived at the Little Cottage by the Sea in Matlacha, Florida this week and were greeted by rain and near gale force winds. Of course the best course under these conditions was to cook a good seafood dinner and open a bottle of Chardonnay. We prepared Scallops Linguine Alfredo accompanied with a fresh tomato and avocado salad, and soon forgot all about the weather.

The wine we chose was the 2014 Sonoma County Chardonnay from Kenwood. The majority of the grapes in the bottle are from Russian River, one of the best places in the world to grow Chardonnay. The Kenwood has a fragrant nose with a fresh apple scent. The abundant fruit flavors swirl with the presence of apple and citrus with a bit of pineapple, and just a hint of vanilla. The finish is clean with a very small taste of oak, with no real lingering effect. Norm's score is 87.

The Kenwood Chardonnay was great with scallops, and would also pair well with chicken or shrimp. It would also be a good "back porch sipper" for those warm nights ahead in the next couple of months.

price: $11 - $16

score - 87

Norm

Available online at:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, February 19, 2016

2011 Nipozzano Riserva Chianti Ruffina

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2011 Nipozzano Riserva Chianti Ruffina

#nb-07-16

Being involved in wine and food for most of my life has led to some pretty fine dining experiences over the years, and I have a few restaurants which have become favorites for many long years. One such place is Alfredo's of Atlanta. It is that little Italian place that has been there for decades and holds special memories for many in the Atlanta area.

We were distressed to hear that Alfredo's will be closed and possibly moved to a new location sometime later this year, so some good friends and I made reservations to dine there at least one more time. There were six of us, and we had a wonderful meal with most choosing either veal or chicken. I had the Veal Marsala, with a small side of Spaghetti Marinara, my long time Alfredo's favorite. It was delish!

The wine we chose was the 2011 Nipozzano Riserva Chianti from Marchesi de Frescobaldi, which I know was scored 90, or above, by most of the big name wine critics, including James Suckling who gave it a 91. Mr. Suckling's comment was, "A chewy, rich red with blueberry and blackberry character, a full body and a firm tannin backbone."

My thoughts were, big and round, with soft, but full bodied flavors of dark cherry and blackberry, with a touch of spice and a lingering finish suggesting subdued tannins. It literally exploded in my mouth as a willing companion to the veal. Norm's score is 92. Thanks Alfredo's, and thanks Frescobaldi!

price: $19 - $25

score - 92

Norm

Available online at:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Thursday, February 11, 2016

2013 The Seven Deadly Zins Zinfandel

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2013 The Seven Deadly Zins Zinfandel

#nb-06-16

The town of Lodi, California is sometimes referred to as "The Zinfandel Capitol of the World". Others might know it as that place about halfway between Los Angles and San Francisco, which was immortalized in the Creedence Clearwater Rival song when the lyrics wailed "Oh Lord I'm stuck in Lodi again". I could think of worse places to be stuck, especially if I am stuck with a bottle of The Seven Deadly Zins from the Michael David Winery.

Famed wine critic Robert Parker liked the 2013 Seven Deadly Zins so much that he scored it a 90, and said, "Loads of ripeness, fruit, glycerin, and medium to full-bodied silky mouthfeel make for a delicious effort." It is a rather soft style despite being aged in American oak, and coming in at 15% alcohol. Norm's score is 89.

Jammy blackberry and black cherry flavors swirl throughout the glass and explode in you mouth like a basket of warm fruit straight from the briar patch. There is also an underlying hint of coffee and spice will a bit of tannin for backbone. The finish is clean and sturdy, an requires further attention.

This is a quality Zinfandel at less than fifteen dollars per bottle, and was a great match for our slow-cooked pork tenderloin, bathed in Norm's Original Homemade Barbeque Sauce.

price: $13 - $18

score - 89

Norm

Available online at:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Thursday, February 4, 2016

2014 Hahn California Cabernet Sauvignon

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2014 Hahn California Cabernet Sauvignon

#nb-05-16

This is the fifth article for the year of 2016, so it is definitely time to talk about a Cab, my personal favorite in the world of wine. I am always looking for a good one in the less than twenty dollar range, and I have found one that I can hardily recommend. The 2014 Hahn California Cabernet Sauvignon fills the bill at less than fifteen dollars. This is a Central Coast wine, with the grapes mostly from Lodi and Paso Robles.

The color is most appealing, in a dark shade of ruby red. The nose is full and sweet with cherry and currants being the predominate scents. After about thirty minutes of breathing time, the flavors burst open with a display of rich cherry and blackberry with jammy undertones, backed by mild tannins and a hint of cassis. The finish is clean, but lingering, which beckons you back for more. Norm's score is 89, but considering the price its more like a 92.

We had a wonderful sixty plus degree evening in late January to crank up the grill and char a two inch thick New York strip to a perfect medium rare. The steak and the Hahn Cab were meant for each other! This is a hard to beat Cabernet Sauvignon for less than fifteen bucks.

price: $11 - $15

score - 89

Norm

Available online at:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, January 22, 2016

2014 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Fume Blanc

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2014 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Fume Blanc

#nb-03-16

This Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc is called Fume Blanc at the Robert Mondavi Winery, and has been a standby at our house for many years. Fume means smoke in French, but the wine is not smoky, nor is it French, but it is somewhat Bordeaux in style especially with the addition of 6% Semillon to the Sauvignon Blanc.

The Chardonnay Queen has always liked this wine, and commented that this one was more old style Fume Blanc than some of the previous vintages. The wine opens with a pleasant bouquet of flowers and ripe fruit underscored by a slight citrus breeze.

The flavor is filled with the big fruit taste of peach, pineapple and a touch of lemony grassiness leading into a crisp finish with a mineral background which cleanses the palate. The alcohol content is 13.5%. Norm's score is 88 with the Chardonnay Queen giving it a slightly higher mark.

We paired this one with a homemade concoction called Mojo Asian Lime Shrimp, and it was delightful! I think the Mondavi Fume Blanc would also be great with Oysters Rockefeller.

price: $18 - $22

score - 88

Norm

Available online at:

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Friday, January 15, 2016

2013 Bogle California Chardonnay

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2013 Bogle California Chardonnay

#nb-02-16

The Chardonnay Queen is always in quest of a really decent everyday Chardonnay for less than ten dollars per bottle. Her choice for most of the year of 2015, and still continuing into 2016, is the 2013 Bogle California Chardonnay. Bogle has been recognized for more than a decade as a producer of quality, value priced wines, with their California Merlot getting most of the attention. The "Wine Enthusiast" magazine rated this Chardonnay at 89, and the Chardonnay Queen has upped that score to 90. After that high praise, I asked her to give me her description and opinion of the wine, and she had this to say.

"The 2013 Bogle has the light golden color normally associated with Chardonnay that invites further inspection. The nose is predominately apple with a bit of pear, and just a hint of citrus. There is a strong flavor of apple balanced with vanilla, and a touch of peach. All flavors combine to provide a full rounded finish."

The Bogle comes in at a pleasant 13.5% of alcohol, leading to big fruit flavors, and ending in a clean crisp finish, This wine will pair well with most fowl and seafood dishes, and is definitely a good "back porch sipper".

price: $8 - $11

score - 90

Norm

WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity

Saturday, January 9, 2016

2013 Chalone Monterey County Pinot Noir

Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley