2022 CULMINATION Cabernet Franc – A New Wine
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
The word culmination is defined by the “end point or final stage of something you’ve been working toward or something that’s been building up”. Synonyms are apex, climax, peak, pinnacle, summit or zenith. Wood Family Vineyards, having made dozens upon dozens of award-winning wines, decided to launch a second label. The second label is the culmination of intense understanding of the vineyard management, grape harvesting, production techniques, barrel choices and wines their customers desired. Simply stated the culmination of decades of intense knowledge and experience was more than appropriate to call the new label CULMINATION!
So why this new label? Often a second label is the function of selecting grapes from a particular row in the vineyard, special barrels, pricing profiling or ageing considerations. From conversations with Harrison Wood VP and Rhonda Wood the winemaker, the second label is much more than augmenting their current production. The CULMINATION label is reserved for a completely different selection and techniques producing some of the same varieties they produce at Wood Family Vineyards. For example, their Wood Family Vineyards award-winning Cabernet Franc (Gold Medal, Double Gold Medals, etc.) come 100% from the One Oak Vineyard. The CULMINATION Cabernet Franc comes from two vineyards, White Cat and Sachau. The combination of the two, plus different barrel and longer aging provided a unique and new tasting experience. Their intention is to introduce an elevated experience beyond their current offering and tasting room enjoyment. The CULMINATION wines will be targeted at wine connoisseurs and those wanting a more intimate experience with possible food pairings. Many new and exciting announcements will be forthcoming over the next few months including a CULMINATION EXPERIENCE.
The first two wines being offered in December will be the CULMINATION Cabernet Franc and CULMINATION Red Blend, a proprietary and changing blend. This story is about their new label CULMINATION, specifically the 2022 Cabernet Franc and the Red Blend will be forthcoming soon. More wine varietals to be considered are on the drawing board.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
As mentioned earlier this wine is from two vineyards in Livermore. White Cat Vineyards from Crane Ridge contributed 42% and the remaining 58% from the Sauchau Vineyard. This Cabernet Franc provides a truly remarkable flavor profile of Old-World verses California Cabernet Franc meeting. Many California Cabernet Franc wines are dark, robust, bold and earthy. French Cabernet Franc wines are typically elegant with softer silker tannins. CULMINATION Cabernet Franc pulls these two contrasting flavor profiles and presents them united in the same bottle. A great analogy for this wine is a gymnast on a balance beam requiring both grace and strength in a routine.
On the eyes the core center of the glass being an enticing dark color, yet at the rim is showing a lighter purple ring. On the nose, violets and dark fruits waft into the senses. I did notice that having left it open for an hour, more aromas were present. On the palate, here the gymnast analogy comes into play with not brutish force stating “take notice of me” but underlying structure and finesse coming into play. Dark fruit of raspberries and blackberries with a tinge of blueberries developed a full and complete play in the mouth. The finish was intriguing with initially soft and rounded tannins then developing into robust tannins- the combination of Old-World and California styles coexisting simultaneously. The wine can be sipped alone with its mellowness and yet bold enough to enjoy with a meal. This wine is for serious and discerning imbibers of Cabernet Franc.
For the 2022 Culmination Cabernet Franc only 150 cases were produced. It will be released in December 2024 at $80/bottle and at 13.7% alcohol. The barrel treatment was 36% new French oak and most of the balance used French oak with small quantity being neutral American oak. It was aged in barrels for 18 months. One of the unique characteristics of this wine will be its ability to be aged 10-15 years in my opinion.
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 lightly tenderized and marinated flank steak. It was marinated for four hours in 50% Chaka marinade and 50% Black Pepper marinade. Sprinkled with a Black Pepper Rub and stir fried in hot oil. Ingredients include garlic, snow peas and white mushrooms being added towards the end of the stir fry. Served and topped with bits of green onions. Accompanied by long grain and wild rice and a fresh garden salad. The salad included baby tomatoes, green onions, pepitas and bacon.
The food and wine pairing were spot on with the full dark fruit of the wine contrasting with the peppery meat, it was like a volleyball match with flavors traversing across the mouth rather than a net! The surprisingly strong tannins enveloped the meat, and the mushrooms provided the earthiness normally found in California Cabernet Franc.
I look forward to tasting it again in December when it is released.
Sláinte,
Michael