2021 Wood Family Vineyards Chardonnay – A Great Pairing Wine
The Winery
Located in eastern Livermore Valley, Rhonda Wood owner & winemaker, has been producing award winning wines for over two decades at Wood Family Vineyards. 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/
and
Here is just 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
- 2021 Chardonnay – 91 points Wine Enthusiast
- 2020 “The Captain” Red Blend – 94 points Wine Enthusiast + Editor’s Choice
- 2020 GSM – 93 points Wine Enthusiast + Editor’s Choice
- 2020 Petite Sirah – 93 points Wine Enthusiast
- 2019 Cabernet Franc – Double Gold – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 LVVC – Double Gold – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 Syrah – 95 points + Double Gold Orange County Wine Fair
- 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
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine has truly been 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. Her 2021 Chardonnay is 98% of the same “deliciousness” as her previous vintages yet with even more body and fullness. 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 Asian pear 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! This wine was as “comfortable and inviting” as her previous vintages once again. The bottle sells for $32.
The Food and Wine Pairing
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Chardonnay was paired with a lemon garlic shrimp pasta dish. It consisted of whole wheat spaghetti, shrimp, olive oil, unsalted butter, garlic cloves, dried oregano, spinach, crushed red pepper, chopped parsley and lemon juice. Topped off with fresh Parmesan shredded cheese. The “lightness” of the meal paired wonderfully with this exquisite lightly oaked Chardonnay. Having the wine at home with a meal reconfirmed my voting it for the Best Wines Tasted for several years now!
Generally speaking we always have her Chardonnay in the cellar, especially for warmer weather, but for the first time in my record keeping of red verses white wines consumed, in March we consumed an equal amount of white wines (a lot being Wood Family Chardonnay) as it went with so many different dishes.
Sláinte,
Michael
California Wines & Wineries 