2020 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2020 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay

#09-2022

Salmon from the grill, fresh avocado salad, a warm baguette, and a bottle of Chardonnay, not bad for a Tuesday!  The salmon was from Scotland, the Chardonnay from Washington State, and the grilling was done in Georgia.

The Chardonnay from Indian Wells is a little on the tropical side with flavors of pineapple and mango supporting the more traditional presence of apple and citrus.  The wine is pleasant and clean with very little lingering effect.  The alcohol content is 14%, and Norm's score is 87.

This wine from Chateau Ste. Michelle is a good choice for summer seafood salad, or baked lemon chicken.

score: 87

price: $15 - $18

Norm

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ALSO AVAILABLE at: Dunwoody Patch

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Wine – God's Proof of His Love for Humanity

2018 Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2018 Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

#08-2022

We don't always get the opportunity to indulge in the upper tier wines, so when friends share a special bottle, it is meaningful to say the least!  We had that opportunity recently,

when our host opened a bottle of Cakebread Cab, one of my favorites, and a real treat!

Long famous for their Cabs, the 2018 Cakebread Napa Valley Cab is, of course, another winner!  It is a classic style showcasing flavors of black cherry, cassis, blackberry, and maybe a hint of plum.  The finish is long lasting, with subtle tannins and a beckoning call to come back for more.  The alcohol content is 14.8%, and Norm's score is 92.

Of course, any good Cab is great with a slab of beef, but you might want to pair it with just you and a glass!  You might also want to age it for a few more years to experience its full potential, and then again, maybe not.

score: 92

price: $75 - $90

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

2019 Jean Louis Grande Reserve Cotes-du-Rhone

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2019 Jean Louis Grande Reserve Cotes-du-Rhone

#07-2022

On a recent cold winter night we enjoyed a delicious Hungarian Goulash, made from prime beef and good organic paprika.  On the table next to it was a bottle of Cotes-du-Rhone, one of my long time favorites.  Most Cotes-du-Rhones are a blend of Syrah and Grenache, and a cousin to their better known Chateauneuf du Pape wines.  This one from Jean Louis can look their cousin straight in the eye and not blink!

Pulling the cork releases the aroma of a basket of fresh red and black berries.  The flavors swirl in the glass with an abundance of black cherry and raspberry, with an underlying tone of earthy spice.  The finish is complex and lingering, and pulls you back for more.  The alcohol content is 15%, and Norm's score is 90.

This wine is a true bargain at less than fifteen dollars per bottle, and in addition to hearty meat stews, if would be great with Veal Parmesan.

score: 90

price: $10 - $15

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

2019 Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Label Sauvignon Blanc

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2019 Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Label Sauvignon Blanc

#06-2022

It's always a treat when the Chardonnay Queen whips up a new recipe, and this time it was Chicken Cordon Bleu.  We paired it with the 2019 Coppola Sauvignon Blanc for a most enjoyable repast.  You might say it was a Blanc and Bleu Evening!

This entry from the Coppola Diamond Collection is an every day wine with gourmet connections.  The nose is bright and inviting with a mix of grapefruit citrus mingled with the floral scent of jasmine.  The flavors combine well with melon, stone fruit, and citrus all present.  The finish is crisp and cleansing.  The alcohol content is 13.5%, and Norm's score is 88.

This Sauvignon Blanc would be a good match for oysters on the half shell as well as clams or mussels in wine sauce.

score: 88

price: $12 - $16

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

2019 La Crema Monterey Pinot Gris

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

normwine@charter.net

2019 La Crema Monterey Pinot Gris

#05-2022

We made a big pot of homemade Seafood Chowder full of shrimp, scallops and crab, with a hot baguette of multigrain bread alongside.  We paired this with a bottle of La Crema Pinot Gris, for another cold winter feast.  Not a bad way to spend a Grey Day!

The La Crema is a little on the delicate side, with a pleasant nose of melon and stone fruit.  The flavors are tangerine and lime, with a little Meyer Lemon in the mix.  The finish is crisp and clean.  The alcohol content is 13.5%, and Norm's score is 88.

This would be a great choice for Chicken Piccata, and also Shrimp Salad Louie.

score: 88

price: $17 - $20

Norm

Facebook/Norm's Tasting Notes

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

2016 Castellani Chianti Classico Reserva

2016 Castellani Chianti Classico Reserva

#04-2022

It's Cold outside with a wintery mix, but inside its warm and cozy, with a dish of homemade baked lasagna on the table, and a good bottle of 100% Sangiovese Reserve Chianti sitting right next to it.  The wine is the 2016 vintage Castellani Chianti Classico Reserva, and its a good one!

The wine is dark red, with the aroma of dark berries and minerals escaping from the bottle.  The flavor is rich., with a strong backbone of cherry and plum encased in smooth tannins.  The finish lingers on the palate, begging for another sip!  The only real question is whether or not one bottle is enough for a big dish of lasagna.  The alcohol content is 13%, and Norm's score is 91.

This Chianti is perfect for lasagna, or any other pasta dish for that matter.  It would also be great with Veal Marsala.

p.s.  (this wine is available at an even better price at Costco)

score: 91

price: $15 - $20

Wine – God's Proof of His Love for Humanity

Enjoy Wine. Food, Family, Friends, and God's Love!

Norm

(Norm's Tasting Notes)

2018 La Crema Russian River Pinot Noir

2018 La Crema Russian River Pinot Noir

#03-2022

One of my favorite Pinot Noirs has for a long time been the La Crema from Russian River, and once again it does not disappoint.  This is a classic style Pinot Noir from one of the premier vineyard areas in the entire country.  It is pretty hard to beat Pinot Noir grown in Sonoma County's Russian River Valley!

The nose is elegant with the scent of both black and red fruits fresh from the orchard.  The rich flavor suggests plum, blueberry and dark cherry, with a touch of chocolate toward the finish, which has just a hint of oak.  This one certainly begs for another sip!  The alcohol content is 14.5%, and Norm's score is 90.

We have enjoyed this wine many times in the past with grilled meat, and it is also a great match for grilled salmon.

score: 90

price: $32 - $37

Wine – God's Proof of His Love for Humanity