Two New Pre-Halloween Treats!! Wood Family Vineyards
The first treat is Wood Family 2019 Para Mas Amigas Chardonnay. A regular for summer time crowds, is “Para Mas Amigas” means “for more girlfriends”. This was not on purpose, but some rusty Spanish made it thus! She was trying to say “for my girlfriends”. She has made many friends, of both sexes, all enjoying her Chardonnay. Rhonda Wood who for three years in a row has won either a Double Gold Medal, Best of Class, Gold Medal from the SF Chronicle Wine Competition and who knows how many other accolades, is about to release her 2019 Chardonnay this coming Friday, September 25th. This Chardonnay has many of the familiar characteristics of previous years. The wine has lingering tropical fruits, peach and pear in the palate. A portion under goes 100% secondary malolactic fermentation, but allows a final mix, to allow old world and new world Chardonnay to coexist in harmony. In a recent conversation, Rhonda stated she blended her Chardonnay from both “tightly grained barrels and loosely grained barrels” into the final production wine. For the 2019 Chardonnay, she incorporated a higher mix of new French oak barrels, which imparted a new twist on an already exquisite wine. A little bit less “buttery” but the same big mouthful feel/texture and imparting some mild “Sauvignon Blanc type” lemon citrus for enjoyment. The previous three years this wine made “The Best of the Year” on my annual report. Destined to win many more awards in the coming months upon “official release”.
This was paired with some fresh sautéed scallops, fresh fettucine and broccoli cooked in olive oil and topped with parmesan cheese. Also accompanied were farm fresh sliced Beefsteak tomatoes with olive oil and drizzled with a balsamic reduction.
The second treat is her 2018 Cabernet Franc. Always a perennial favorite but never has made my “Best of the Year”, but this year could be the year when the calculations get tallied in December. On the eyes a dark ruby red and medium heavy viscosity. On the nose blackberry, cherry and violets were dominant. On the palate, plum and caramel pipe tobacco engulfed the mouth with milk chocolate. The finish was medium with soft edges and extremely smooth with an earthiness, an absence of any strong pyrazines and a soft and smooth landing with a hint of vanilla. This was released the first week of September.
Don’t get tricked and pass up two very good treats!!
Sláinte,
Michael
California Wines & Wineries 