Norm's Tasting Notes: 2006 Chalone Vineyard Monterey Cabernet SauvignonThe 2006 Cabernet opens with a nice nose of jammy berry scents, followed by bold flavors of blackberry and currants. There is also a slight nuance of black cherry which melts into a mild toasty vanilla finish, which lingers on the palate...
Georgia Wine Country Festival Expands To Three June WeekendsThe 10th Anniversary Georgia Wine Country Festival, held at Three Sisters Vineyard, will include unique musical guests every weekend, farm exhibits, folk art, and vendors...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2008 Columbia Crest Grand Estates ChardonnayThis wine starts with big fruit flavors of green apples and pears, with a nice creamy feel, and proceeds into mild vanilla and oak. The finish is clean and crisp with a slight lemon zest flair...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2008 Robert Mondavi Napa ChardonnayThis chardonnay is as fresh as spring to the nose, and backs up its abundant bouquet with swirling flavors of pear and pineapple. The finish is fresh and clean with a slight citrus note...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2008 Francis Coppola Diamond Collection ClaretThe 2008 Coppola Claret has big rich flavors of cherries and dark berries, but it also possesses the earthy undertones of the Malbec and Cabernet Franc. This is a complex, but easy to drink red wine, with layers of fruit cascading into mellow tannins, and a lingering finish...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2008 Santa Rita 120 Cabernet SauvignonThe flavor of this wine is typical for Cabernet Sauvignon and swirls with cherry and dark berries. It is complex with a lot of fruit and finishes with a little touch of olive, and mellow tannins...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2007 Blackstone Sonoma Reserve MerlotThis is a Cabernet drinker's Merlot with big hearty flavors of cherry and dark berries. The nose is exciting and entices you to linger over the glass before your first sip...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2008 Rodney Strong Reserve ChardonnayThis is a big full-bodied Chardonnay with bold fruit, tinged with mild citrus notes, and all of the typical apple and pear flavors of Chardonnay...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2008 Gnarly Head Old Vine ZinfandelThis is a hearty Zinfandel with aromas of blackberry, which sail into flavors of spice and rich layers of dark berries. The finish has oak in it, but not overpowering, with jammy and peppery notes at the end...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2010 Thanksgiving SpecialIt is always difficult to select the perfect wine for this occasion, because the table offers such an array of aromas and flavors, but there are a few guidelines which will make this dinner more memorable than ever...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2009 Just Chardonnay from Paul SapinIt has a light, crisp finish, with no cloying aftertaste. It is more California in style than French, although like most French Chardonnay's it has a little less acidity than typical California Chardonnays...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2008 Bogle California Cabernet SauvignonThe aroma was enticing with scents of currant and cherry evolving into the plum and cherry flavors, which finished strong with lingering notes of cedar and oak...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2008 Beringer Napa Valley ChardonnayThe aroma of the Napa Chardonnay literally leaped out of the glass with an abundance of fragrant tropical scents. The flavor was true to Chardonnay, with lots of apple and pear, but there was also a wonderful spiciness...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Horse Heaven Sauvignon BlancThe wine starts with a light lime citus aroma which melts into the taste of a little citrus, a little grassy, and a lot of ripe pear. The finish is clean and crisp, and sails on into the night...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2010 Fall Matlacha VacationMy wife Mary, the "Chardonnay Queen", and I are headed to our little cottage by the sea in Matlacha, Florida, so there will not be a wine review for this week...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2007 Louis Latour Grand Ardeche ChardonnayIt has a fragrant nose with a slight citrus overtone. The flavor is the typical apple and pear taste found in many good Chardonnays, but what I like most is the crisp steely finish...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2006 Wild Horse Paso Robles MerlotThe flavors are complex with maturity, but have not lost any of their bright fruit zest. The combination of cherry and cassis swril together with the slight presence of spice, and flow into a well rounded finish of mild toasty tannin...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2008 Toad Hollow Francine's Selection ChardonnayThe 2008 Francine's Selection is bright and clean on the palate. The nose is of pineapple and tropical fruit, which flows on into a taste of apple and pineapple, and finishes clean and crisp with no cloying aftertaste. Another great summertime selection...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2008 Columbia Crest Grand Estates ChardonnayThis well balanced wine has a typical Chardonnay nose of apples and pears, backed by a suggestion of tropical fruit. The flavor is apple and pear all of the way, with a hint of butter, and subtle vanilla and toast in the finish...
Norm's Tasting Notes: 2009 Bodega Norton MalbecThe 2009 vintage is a very dark red in color and has an enticing nose full of plum and dark berry scents. The flavor is rich and bold with plum and berry flavors swirling together as they sail into a lengthy sweet tannin finish...