2022 Cuda Ridge Wines, S & M Served For Valentine’s Day!
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
No S & M is for Sangiovese and Malbec!! Larry Dino, owner & winemaker, sent me this bottle a couple of weeks ago to enjoy on Valentine’s Day. He has been producing this blend for 14 years based on a serendipity event. Larry Dino was consulting with a small family grower, and he suggested planting Sangiovese or Malbec on the property. The grower planted both and it turned out not having enough wine of either varietal to fill a barrel. They combined the two and were going to use it for home wine and friends. When it went to bottle, they liked it so much, they decided to bottle it. Each year the percentage varies but generally keeping the Malbec to 25-40% so as not to overrun the lighter Sangiovese. This 2022 vintage uses 75% Sangiovese and 25% Malbec. The 2022 was aged 18 months in American oak.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This is a mysterious wine, in that these two rather different wines come together as easily as peanut butter & jelly sandwiches! On the eyes an iridescent maroon color that appears to be light, but that is the mystery starting to unfold. On the nose a combination of all these two varieties have to offer: Sangiovese with black fruit, pepper and spices and Malbec with oak, vanilla and dark fruit. On the palate, the fruits and spices combine to provide not just dark fruits, but also strawberries and cherries. The finish provided graceful smooth tannins and yet a sharp acidity found with Sangiovese. The wine came in at 14.4% alcohol and is priced at $42/bottle. This blend has won Gold Medals from the SF Chronicle Wine Competition in previous years.
Another great job by Larry Dino.
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
Tonight’s dinner was a quiet Valentine’s dinner at home. The meal centered around a slow cooker red wine braised short beef ribs. First the ribs were seasoned and braised in a large skillet. Then moved to the slow cooker with the following ingredients: kosher salt, black pepper, olive oil, quartered baby mushrooms, sliced yellow onions, minced garlic cloves, red wine, beef broth, dried oregano, dried thyme, dried rosemary, dried marjoram and bay leaves. Then cooked for 8 hours. When pulled out of the slow cooker, the meat fell off the bones. Accompanied by Parmesan risotto with additional fresh Parmesan cheese added. Also served was seasoned and sauteed asparagus. A real treat was the sourdough French bread bought fresh from a new bakery in Sonora, Two Acre Farms that was one of the best tasted!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The wine and food were excellent with the acidity working on the Parmesan cheese, the beef ribs and various spices added to the slow cooker. The boldness of the Malbec complemented the beef, the garlic, the mushrooms and added a tinge of smokiness to the ribs.
Pairing the 2021 Cuda Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon was a perfect match for this delicious and scrumptious meal.
Background
Photo from Cuda Ridge Wines Facebook page
Perhaps an odd winery name but you must understand how Larry Dino came up with the name. Larry and Margie Dino, the proprietors with Larry being the winemaker, were discussing what to name their newly formed winery. Larry was in the process of restoring a 1970 Barracuda (or ‘Cuda) and one of his friends mentioned his Cuda and the ridge that was off in the distance. Voila the winery name was formed. Now for looking under the hood about Cuda Ridge Wines.
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The winery was formed in 2007 in Livermore at 2400 Arroyo Drive, Livermore, California. The vision for Cuda Ridge Wines has been from the onset to produce premium wines that are small lot and hand-crafted Bordeaux-style wines. Cuda Ridge’s current production is 2400 cases. Cuda Ridge Wines produces the following Bordeaux varietals: Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Carménère, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. He also has non-Bordeaux wines which include Sangiovese, New-World style Cabernet Sauvignon, and the S&M blend.
To view the list of their awards by varietal click this link: https://cudaridgewines.com/awards_notes/
Sláinte,
Michael