2010 Louis Jadot Macon Blanc Villages

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





2010 Louis Jadot Macon Blanc Villages
#nb-21-11



The house of Louis Jadot, founded in 1859, has been providing the world with good French wine at a decent price for about one hundred and fifty years now. While I haven't been around that long, I have been around long enough to have sampled a few hundred of their wines over the years, and the Macon Villages has always been a personal favorite.

There are forty three communes within the Maconnais which are allowed to use the term Macon Villages for the Chardonnay which they produce. The soil there is rich in limestone, which imparts a distinctive mineral flavor to the wine. The Louis Jadot Macon Blanc Villages is made from grapes sourced from these forty three different areas.

The 2010 Jadot Macon is typical of the Chardonnay produced there. The nose is bright and delicate with floral notes. The wine has been fermented in stainless steel to bring out the zesty fruit flavors of apples, melon, and a hint of citrus. The finish is clean with no cloying aftertaste, and no oak presence, of course, because of the stainless steel fermentation.

We enjoyed this bottle of wine with a delightful shrimp and pasta dish, served with a sauce of wasabi and ginger. The Jadot Macon was an excellent companion with enough backbone to stand up to the wasabi and ginger, and a finish which was not overbearing.

This would also be a great back porch sipper on these hot summer nights. Norm's score is 87.

Price: $11 to $15
Score: 87


Norm


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

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WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity

2008 Castle Rock Central Coast Chardonnay

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




2008 Castle Rock Central Coast Chardonnay
#nb-20-11


One of our favorite meals is Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo, which is very simple to make, since it is just shrimp, fettuccine, and Alfredo cheese sauce, oh, and a lot of fresh garlic, about three cloves worth. A few weeks back we enjoyed this "favorite" with fresh Gulf Shrimp, and a bottle of 2008 Castle Rock Central Coast Chardonnay.

The Central Coast of California is producing some very good wines at value prices. The warm sunny days with cool evening breezes from the Pacific Ocean are accounting for some good Chardonnays, and the Castle Rock is no exception. The wine opens with a delicate nose suggesting flowers interwoven with fresh melon. The flavors are ripe pear and melon, with citrus undertones, which lead to a crisp finish and a touch of vanilla toasty oak. This wine has been barrel fermented, but is not over powering with oak, but rather just the right touch. The alcohol content is 13.8%.

This is a delicious summertime Chardonnay, and can be enjoyed with fish or fowl, or as an afternoon treat served with a bowl of fresh ripe fruit and cheese. Norm's score is 88.


Price: $10 to $14
Score: 88

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

2009 Robert Mondavi Napa Fume Blanc

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




2009 Robert Mondavi Napa Fume Blanc
#nb-19-11


The fishing in Matlacha, Florida in May of 2011 was only fair, but the dining was superb!
We of course consumed great quantities of seafood and numerous bottles of really good wine, and an occasional cold beer with oysters on the half shell. We even provided ourselves with a terrific dinner of fresh spotted sea trout. However the biggest treat of all, was being invited to dinner with our neighbors for a feast of home cooked Chicken Milanese with lemon, butter and garlic sauce. It was fabulous, and so was the bottle of 2009 Mondavi Napa Fume Blanc which we enjoyed along with this wonderful Italian dish!

Several decades ago when California Sauvignon Blanc was having personality problems, a number of wineries began to designate their Sauvignon Blanc as Fume Blanc, in order to emphasize the dry nature of the wine. One of these wineries was Robert Mondavi, and we have enjoyed many vintages over the years of their Napa Fume Blanc.

The 2009 Napa Fume Blanc is a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon and has a delicate pale straw color, with an alcohol content of 13.8%. The nose is bright and sunny with notes of flowers, pineapple and citrus. The flavor is complex, and yet simple, with the pinneaple and citrus being complemented by nuances of apple and melon, leading into a crisp lingering finish. The flavor is not to bold, but sturdy enough to stand up to the garlic and butter sauce in the Chicken Milanese.

Our Neighbors provided us with a delightful feast, which was highlighted by the Napa Fume Blanc. This wine would pair well with almost any seafood or fowl dish, and would make an excellent accompaniment to Shrimp Scampi! Norm's score is 90.


Price: $13 to $17
Score: 90


Norm

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

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WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity

2008 Ruffino Chianti Classico Aziano

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





2008 Ruffino Chianti Classico Aziano
#nb-17-11


In 2007 Ruffino celebrated its 130th anniversary of making wine in Tuscany, Italy, after their founding by Liario Ruffino in 1877. They produced their first reserve Chianti in 1947. They now produce several different levels of Chianti, including Aziano, which is my favorite in the value priced range.

I have been in love with Ruffino Chianti since long before I can remember! Maybe its because when I was a little boy in Napa, California, the family's favorite Italian restaurant was a place called Ruffino's, in downtown Napa, where I occasionally got a "sip" of Chianti with my spaghetti. I last visited Ruffino's in Napa in 2000, but I do not believe it is still there. Later when I was about twelve, we used to visit Spano's Italian-Seafood Restaurant in downtown Columbus, Georgia. Spano's was opened in the 1880's and lasted until the 1990's. Visits there for a Saturday plate of spaghetti often included a three ounce glass of Ruffino Chianti to accompany my lunch. So you might understand that I am well acquainted with Ruffino Chianti.

My last glass of Ruffino was this past Tuesday night, with a big plate of homemade spaghetti with marinara sauce with meat. The wine was the 2008 Ruffino Chianti Classico Aziano and as expected, it was delightful! The color is a deep ruby red with good clarity, and just looks tempting as you pour it. The fragrance is a blend of red berries and cherries which transition into flavors of berries and herbs with a trace of spiciness. This Chianti finishes strong with enough tannin to cut through the acidity found in tomato sauce. Aziano is primarily Sangiovese with small amounts of Cannaiolo and Merlot blended in to round out the flavors. The alcohol content is 13%.

This is a rich tasting Chianti with a value price, and will complement any pasta dish, and would be especially good with veal Marsala. Norm's score is 89.



Price: $12 to $16
Score: 89

Norm


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


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WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity

2010 Robert Mondavi Private Selection California Riesling

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





2010 Robert Mondavi Private Selection California Riesling
#nb-16-11


Not many wines pair well with ham, but Riesling does. The salty, sweet flavors of the ham are complimented by the fruity flavors of the Riesling. For our Easter Ham this year, we enjoyed a bottle of 2010 Robert Mondavi Private Selection California Riesling. The grapes in this bottle were grown in Monterey County and include small amounts of Gewurztraminer and Muscat Canelli, as well as the White Riesling. The wine is 12%alcohol.

Riesling tastes more like eating a ripe grape than any other variety. The Mondavi has an aromatic bouquet suggesting peaches and apricots. The flavor is abundant with apples and peaches, with a slight nuance of lemon citrus. The finish is fruity, but balanced with enough acidity to give it a clean and crisp lingering aftertaste.

Our ham dinner included fresh green beans, honey glazed carrots, and the all time favorite Southern Comfort Food, homemade macaroni and cheese. The Mondavi Riesling was great with this assortment of flavors! This wine would also be a perfect companion to ripe grapes and a soft cheese like Gouda, for sipping on the back porch on a hot summer's day.


Price: $9 to $12
Score: 88

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his Blog: N>htN>N>tp: //normwine.blogspot.com

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WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity

2009 Santa Carolina Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

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





2009 Santa Carolina Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon
#nb-15-11


Having been born in Napa, California, I have confessed on many occasions that I have a strong preference for Napa Cabs, and since Cabernet Sauvignon is my favorite wine, I have sampled quite a few over the years. It is, therefore with no small acclaim, that I now say that there are Cabs from Chile for twelve or fifteen dollars which will best a lot of Napa Cabs in the twenty dollar range!

I sampled the 2009 Santa Carolina Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile recently, and would say it is one of those wines. This is a bold and elegant Cabernet with a big nose, and an abundance of rich dark fruit. The flavors swirl with cherry, currant, and a hint of chocolate, and sail on into a lingering mild oak finish. The wine spent nine months in small French and American oak barrels where it developed this balanced finish between the fruit and the oak.

We enjoyed this wonderful bottle of wine with skewered cubes of filet mignon, and chunks of pineapple and onion basted with teriyaki sauce. These kabobs were cooked to a perfect medium rare, and served with yellow saffron rice. The Santa Carolina Cab was great with this meal, and was proof of the fine value in wines from Chile. Norm's score on this one is a 90.

Price: $11 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:
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WINE - God's proof of his love for humanity

2009 Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay

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



2009 Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay Chardonnay
#nb-14-11


My wife Mary is known as "The Queen of Chardonnay" because she loves Chardonnay wines and really has a discerning palate when it comes to these wonderful white wines, which are the number one selling grape variety in the world. Her favorite Chardonnays come from the vineyards of Rodney Strong, and we have enjoyed many wonderful vintages from several of the different Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards.

The Chalk Hill vineyard is located in Sonoma County, and is known for its chalky white soil, which is similar to Montrachet in Burgundy, home to some of the best Chardonnays in the world. The 2009 Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay is clean and crisp, with a mineral background from the chalky soil, and a good representative of this style of wine.

The aroma of this straw colored wine is that of pears and melon, which lead into these flavors blending together with the taste of crisp green apples for a true chardonnay character. The wine was barrel aged for ten months and finishes with a hint of oak. Malolactic fermentation produces a creamy texture which compliments the aforementioned clean and crisp taste.

We wanted to pair this wine with an appropriate meal, so we went online at www.rodneystrong.com/recipes and borrowed a recipe for "Sauteed Honey Ginger Grilled Salmon", which helped us produce a delightful dinner. The wine and the salmon were a perfect match, and once again we enjoyed another treat from the folks at Rodney Strong.

Price: $15 to $20
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:
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Wine - God's proof of his love for humanity