As we continue to celebrate Norton in the month of January, we are reviewing Adam Puchta & Son Wine Company’s 2008 Norton Vintner’s Reserve. This Norton is a dry full-bodied wine that starts with a big burst of flavor and slowly fades away.
About:
Located 2 miles south of Hermann, Missouri, Adam Puchta & Son Wine Company was established in 1855 and is the oldest family farm winery in Missouri. Another cool thing? The winemaker today is the great-great grandson of the founder, Adam Puchta.
The Varietal:
Oh, Norton, my love. Norton is definitely my favorite grape in the Missouri region. It’s rich, dark berry flavors combine with spice, earthiness and oak. It’s definitely a rich, full-bodied dry red wine. Want to know more about the Norton grape, like where did it come from? Check out my review of the The Wild Vine: A Forgotten Grape and the Untold Story of American Wine.
The Pour:
The Adam Puchta Norton is a deep ruby red color and pronounced legs when you swirl:
The Sniff:
This Norton has aromas of berry – raspberry & blackberry, vanilla and oak.
The Taste:
The cool thing about Norton month, is it shows how one grape varietal like the Norton, can be made to emphasize different flavors. This Norton acted this way: Big “BAM!” of berry flavor at the beginning and then it slowly decreases, leaving you with a dry after taste. Now, what causes this? It’s due to the wine being high in tannins and alcohol. High in tannins is often compared to the taste of a strong cup of tea – a woody taste. This can be from the aging process in oak barrels and as the wine ages it will decrease. Norton wine can be aged in your cellar for 10 to 15 years.
From Adam Puchta’s website:
A distinctively complex dry red wine characteristic of the wines made famous by Adam Puchta in the 1800’s. French & American oak aging intensifies the richness. The bouquet exhibits rich cherry, red raspberry & vanilla qualities & subtle hints of spice, tea & licorice in the background. Wonderful with dark chocolate.
Pairs with:
Nortons pairs with red meat like, steak, barbecue and lamb. It also complements dark chocolates, strong cheeses such as blue and Cheddar, and spicy seafood. We also regularly pair this with pasta and red sauce based dishes.
Wine Varietal: Norton
Wine
Producer: Adam Puchta
Produced and Bottled: Hermann, Missouri
Price: $17.99
Alcohol: 12.5%
Website: www.adampuchtawine.com
Glass used: Vinum XL Riedel Cabernet Sauvignon glass
This month's wine book club pick is:
