2021 Wood Family Chardonnay Release August 28th
We are almost ready for fall, which is beginning to be my favorite time of the year! Harvest has begun in August and will continue through September with work continuing all the way into November. Fall is also the demarcation for the beginning of football season, new shows on television, new car introductions, saying goodbye to the hot days of summer and best of all the ushering in of some wonderful holiday traditions like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. We now can add the release of the annual Wood Family Chardonnay “Para Mas Amigas” which will be released August 28th.
The Winery
Located in eastern Livermore Rhonda has been a mainstay of the Livermore Valley for over two decades. You can read more on her background from airline pilot to award winning winemaker at:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2016/02/10/wood-family-vineyards-2/
Here is a partial listing of her current winning wines:
- 2021 “Pink Pearl” Rose – Best of Class – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2021 Albariño – Best of Class – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 Cabernet Franc – Double Gold – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 LVVC – Gold – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 “Viva” Cabernet Sauvignon – Gold – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 Merlot – Gold – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 “The Captain” Red Blend – Gold – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 “Big Wood” Zinfandel – Gold – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 “Woody’s” Cab Cabernet Sauvignon – Silver – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2018 “Especial” Cabernet Sauvignon – Silver – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2018 Clone 30 Cabernet Sauvignon – Silver – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 “El Loco Rojo” Bordeaux Red Blend – Silver – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 GSM – Silver – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 ‘Muy Bueno” Zinfandel – Silver – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
The Wine
Rhonda Wood, owner and winemaker, has consistently made award winning wines and truly one of my favorite Chardonnay’s for the last six years. While always delicious and winning awards, with caramel and full secondary malolactic fermentation creating a tinge of buttery finish, each year has a slight change. The 2020 introduced a new slant of her Chardonnay with a modicum of citrus introduction. And every year she has won Gold, Double Gold and Best of Class at various competitions around the United States.
So when doing this review of her 2021 Chardonnay I wanted to compare to her 2020 Chardonnay which I have written about previously. The 2021 came in with about 98% of the same “deliciousness” as her 2020. The slight changes were twofold, the first being a more “mouth filling” slightly heavier body due to more stirring of the lees during barrel fermentation. The second was a hint of an ever slight sweetness on the finish. The balance of the wine was almost identical in color (golden yellow), aroma (fresh brioche), taste (pear and apple) and a beautiful finish! I was so please that this wine was as “comfortable and inviting” as her previous vintages once again. It is like coming home from a hard day at work and collapsing in your favorite recliner!
The Food and Wine Pairing
Paired this evening with a lemon garlic shrimp recipe. Ingredients included linguine, olive oil, unsalted butter, minced garlic, crushed red peppers, dried oregano, baby spinach, Parmesan cheese, large shrimp, chopped parsley and lemon juice. The combination of the mouth filling Chardonnay “calmed” the red peppers and the lemon juice frolicked with the citrus qualities in the wine. A wonderful food and wine pairing!
So now that fall is on the horizon, you can also be assured that awards will be forthcoming for this vintage of Chardonnay!
Sláinte,
Michael
California Wines & Wineries 