2023 Wood Family Vineyards Chardonnay – A Study in Consistency
Background
Rhonda Wood has been making award winning Chardonnay for at least 7 years in a row and before. I personally have enjoyed this wine extensively for the same amount of time. It has also won my Best Wines tasted during the year for the same amount of time. Over the last 7 years, as a testimony of her quality of Chardonnay, I have purchased 8-14 cases a year. What I also find interesting while a thread of flavors are evident year to year, the nuances of the wine do change with the “terroir” of the year.
By the way when one is consistent in a sport they are called All Star, consistent in horse racing they are known as a thoroughbred, consistent in car racing they are called a champion, etc. All those accolades and more are indeed worthy of Rhonda’s Chardonnay and several of her other wines.
I have called in the past Wood Family Vineyards Chardonnay the “Utility Player of Wines” as it goes so well with so many dishes. In reviewing stories I have written about the Chardonnay food pairings dishes that include: Asian chicken wraps, swordfish, seared Ahi tuna, baked stuff chicken, stir fried chicken with Bok Choy, baked butterflied chicken with Swiss cheese, blackened Mahi Mahi, Tempura chicken with noodles, shrimp Pad Thai, Firecracker chicken, seared scallops and many more dishes.
The Winery
Photo from Wood Family Vineyards
Wood Family Vineyards, located in eastern Livermore Valley with Rhonda Wood owner & winemaker, has been producing award winning wines 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
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes a bright and deep golden color. Swirling the wine in the glass, you immediately see the thick and rich texture of this wine. On the nose when cold, a slight lime note wafted in the senses, but as it warmed up, green apple and a tinge of green tea was present. On the palate most notable was the weightiness of the wine in the mouth. Honeydew melon was the dominant flavor with both a buttery brioche dough and soft lemon zest and almond coming to the party. Also on the finish a fresh star fruit quality was present. This year the butter scotch finish was not present yet the wine encapsulated the mouth with freshness.
The 2023 comes from two vineyards with 70% being Wisner and 30% being from Kalthoff Common area. These are in opposite sides of Livermore. Barrel treat was 100% French oak with 32.5% being new 30% being once used and the balance being neutral. The wine was aged 9 months and 900 cases were produced. The lees were stirred once every two weeks for five months. It will be released on August 4th for $36/bottle and comes in just slightly higher alcohol than the 2022 at 14.6%.
The 2022 Wood Family Vineyards Chardonnay won Double Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and fully expect the 2023 to do the same!
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired this evening with a chicken Piccata dish. Ingredients included fresh ground black pepper, egg whites, whole wheat bread crumbs, butter, white wine, chicken broth, capers and lemon juice. Accompanied by a baked Russet potato and fresh garden salad. Plated with lemon slices that were drizzled on to the chicken filet. The 2023 Wood Family Vineyards Chardonnay was a perfect match for the food. The honeydew melon, along with the lemon zest and brioche in the wine was both simpatico and a little polarizing, to make each bite delightful.
Sláinte,
Michael