We talk about Zinfandel being the ultimate American wine, but as I've mentioned on here before, Zin is actually a cousin to grapes from Croatia and Italy, and it probably came from Croatia. Today's Wine of the Week showcases a truly American grape varietal: Norton. Unlike most wine grapes, which are from the Vitis vinifera species, Norton (also called Cynthiana) is part of the Vitis aestivalis family. Many winemakers think it's the best indigenous American grape for making wine that's rich, full-bodied, and flavorful. Because it's a hardy grape, Norton thrives in growing regions all over the U.S., most notably Missouri but also Illinois, Virginia, and other states. And since it's so dark, Norton has more of those magic compounds in the skin, resveratrol, than other red grapes, according to researchers.
Still, I admit I was skeptical, at least a little bit, before actually trying the wine. I mean, don't all wine snobs have just a bit of an attitude about American wine that doesn't come from the West Coast? And now I'm here to officially eat my words, because Norton blew me away.
Tasting notes for Norton - Wine of the Week after the jump.
I tried three Norton wines from Missouri, and the very first taste was absolutely astounding. The wine is deeply dark (hence all the extra resveratrols), dry, and fruity, a cross between a well-made Merlot and an almost-sweet Zinfandel.
At first I thought maybe my expectations were too low, because I was prepared to taste a sweet, cloying middle-America wine that's way too expensive for the actual quality, but then my husband came in and started tasting the wine without even bothering to look at the labels. "What is this stuff? It's amazing," he raved. OK then, it's not just me. And best of all? You just can't beat the prices.
My favorites:
1. Augusta Winery Norton 2004 ($16), a dark, dry, fruity wine with a wonderful finish. At just 13 percent alcohol, it tastes much richer because of the grape's heavy body.
2. St. James Winery Norton Reserve ($10), another well-made Norton that's fruity and deep. The alcohol is higher (15.1) but it's well balanced.
Some of these wineries ship their stuff out, but a lot of it is drunk right in Missouri. (Guess they know what a good wine is when they drink it.) Have you had Norton? Is it as good as I think it is?
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