2025 Christmas at the Biggers-Greer Plantation

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2025 Christmas at the Biggers-Greer Plantation

       (Home of The California Cabernet Kid and The Chardonnay Queen)

                           Holiday Menu 

CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER:

Lobster Bisque

Seafood Salad (lobster, shrimp, scallops)

Warm French Baguette

Raspberry Sorbet

Wine: 2021 Grigich Hills Estate Napa Valley Chardonnay = 93

CHRISTMAS DINNER:

Chateaubriand

Roasted New Potatoes

Fresh Grilled Asparagus

Carrots in Orange-Honey glaze sauce

Fresh Baked Yeast Light Rolls

English Trifle

Wine: 2017 Beringer Chabot Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon = 93

Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!

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

2025 Top Ten Christmas List

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

Norm's Top Ten Christmas List 2025

Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas with some good wine choices for your holiday celebrations!

NORM'S TOP TEN CHRISTMAS WINE LIST 2025

2022 Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc = 91

2016 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon = 94

2021 Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir = 92

2019 Sterling Heritage Collection Napa Valley Merlot = 92

2023 Napa Cellars Sauvignon Blanc = 91

2022 Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Claret = 91

2022 Decoy California Merlot = 92

2022 Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Estate Cabernet = 93

2023 Louis Jadot Macon Villages = 91

2023 J. Lohr Estate Riverstone Chardonnay = 91

and if you can afford it...

2022 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, Napa Valley= 95

Merry Christmas!

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 Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2021 Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel

Uno December - 2025

The Bogle Old Vine Zin is one of my "Go To" wines for going on two decades, and it has never let me down, whether paired with steak, spaghetti, or even a hamburger!  We enjoyed the 2021 vintage with a big plate of spaghetti and fresh avocado salad.

The Bogle is rich and jammy, with the smell of a summertime berry patch.  The flavors broadcast Blackberry and Black Raspberry in a blast to your senses, and trail off into toasty tannins, which cut right through spaghetti, or any other spicy sauced fare!   The alcohol content is 14.5%. and Norm's score is 90.

A bottle of Bogle is a perfect match for Beef Stew, Spaghetti, or any grilled meat, including Barbecue.  Don't forget, "Old Vine means Good Wine!"

score: 90

price : $11 - $16

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 J Lohr Estate Riverstone Chardonnay

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor 

2023 J Lohr Estate Riverstone Chardonnay

Dos November – 2025

The other night we enjoyed a Bodacious Seafood Salad with sauteed shrimp and scallops combined with avocado, tomato, and mixed lettuces, with a spicy Rémoulade dressing. We added a bottle of J Lohr Chardonnay and had a feast suitable for the Chardonnay Queen and all of her Minions!

The 2023 J Lohr is a welled rounded, and buttery Chardonnay with tons of big juicy fruit, and a complex and satisfying finish. The flavors feature apple, peach, and a burst of lemon zest toward the end. The alcohol content is 14%. and Norm’s score is 91.

Some suggestions for your upcoming Thanksgiving Day Dinner:

• 2023 J Lohr Estate Riverstone Chardonnay

• 2023 Napa Cellars Sauvignon Blanc

• 2023 Louis Jadot Macon Villages

• 2023 Ferrari-Carano Sonoma Fume Blanc

• 2022 Acrobat Willamette Valley Pinot Gris

• 2023 Decoy California Sauvignon Blanc

• 2021 Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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

Here’s looking at you Kid!

2023 Decoy California Sauvignon Blanc

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2023 Decoy California Sauvignon Blanc

Uno November - 2025

This is not the first vintage we have sampled from Decoy, which is a secondary label of Duckhorn Vineyards, But, like two previous vintages of their Sauvignon Blanc, it is a big, lush and juicy wine with an enveloping presence.  We paired it with an end of the season, steamed artichoke, and a shrimp and avocado salad.

The flavors abound with the presence of green apple, Myer lemon, and melon, rounded out with a bright and crisp citrus rush at the end.  The wine is bursting with flavor, and begs for another sip!  The alcohol content is 14.1%. and Norm's score is 90.

Th1s Sauvignon Blanc is a winner in the under twenty price range, and an excellent choice for most seafood and fowl dishes.  It would also make a good companion for Fettucine Alfredo as well.

score: 90

price : $16 - $21

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

2022 Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2022 Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Dos October - 2025

Having Rodney Strong for dinner, is like sitting down with an old friend you haven't seen for quite some time.  Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Cab, and a two inch slab of prime tenderloin is just such an occasion!  Both were superb!

This big, bold Cab is long on flavor, and has great legs, well earned by its eighteen months in the barrel.  The flavors are impressive, with Black Cherry, Currant, and a touch of Plum.  The tannins are assertive, yet mellow, and the finish sails off into the night.  The alcohol content is 14.5%. and Norm's score is 93.

This Cab is so good with a Slab, that you might be convinced that it costs a lot more, proof that you don't have to spend fifty, and up, to get a really good California Cab!

score: 93

price : $20- $27

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 Cline North Coast Sauvignon Blanc

 Norm's Tasting Notes

by Norm Bentley

The North Georgia Wine Advisor

2023 Cline North Coast Sauvignon Blanc

Uno October - 2025

Summer may be almost over, but its not too late to savor this excellent summer wine, now, or at any time of the year.  We celebrated the end of summer with a delicious steamed artichoke, with some three cheese ravioli and a bottle of Cline Sauvignon Blanc, which was superb!

The Cline North Coast Sauvignon Blanc is clean, crisp, and refreshing.  The flavors are both simple, and yet complex, with an abundance of apple and lemon zest, backed by a clean mineral, and somewhat austere finish  The alcohol content is 13%. and Norm's score is 91.

The choice of Sauvignon Blanc and artichokes was spot on, but as stated earlier, this is a great summertime wine which begs for a fresh salad, or chilled shellfish.

score: 91

price : $14 - $18

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