2022 Culmination Clone 30 Cabernet Sauvignon – Special Treatment For a Special Wine
photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
photo ©Michael Kelly
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!
photo ©Michael Kelly
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 aging 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 completely different selections and techniques producing some of the same varieties they produce at Wood Family Vineyards. 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 five wines in their CULMINATION portfolio are: Cabernet Franc, Proprietary Red Blend, Sauvignon Blanc, “Hot Lips” Blanc de Blanc and Clone 30 Cabernet Sauvignon.
This story is about their new label CULMINATION 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 30.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
photo ©Michael Kelly
The 2022 Culmination “Clone 30” Cabernet Sauvignon is a very limited offering of only 92 cases. The grapes were from their estate One Oak Vineyard. The grapes/wine went through a special handling, 76% were fermented in small open top bins and 24% were fermented in new French oak barrels. They took the heads off the barrels to do punch downs. After pressing, the “open top bin” grapes, now juice, was put back in a tank for 48 hours to settle and then placed in oak barrels. The 24% was put back in the previously new French oak barrels and the 76% was placed in new oak barrels for 18 months. They then blended the two separate batches and put them in oak for another 12 months.
The result of this special handling was to produce as Rhonda Wood stated, “bold tannins, smoother integration and mouthfeel plus retained acidity and color”.
photo ©Michael Kelly
When first opened, this wine’s coloring was a dark red and royal purple with medium heavy viscosity. The color was a bit mesmerizing with clarity and distinction. On the nose violets waft into the senses along with enticing dark fruit. Once on the palate, surprisingly, blueberries were the dominant fruit producing an elegant and smooth wine. Tannins were very present, yet not jagged or edgy but more caressing in the mouth. The finish provided a textual feel with layers of enjoyment with a vanilla note concluding each sip.
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
Even on a cold foggy day and evening, the BBQ was fired up for filet mignon steaks this evening. Seasoned with applewood smoked salt, wood fried garlic seasoning, mesquite seasoning and Flatiron BBQ Rub pounded in the steak on both sides. This rub contains chipotle, ancho, habanero, thyme, toasted onion, smoke ghost peppers, roasted garlic and paprika!
photo ©Michael Kelly
Seared on the BBQ at 1500 degrees and served medium rare. Plated with Blue cheese crumbles and accompanied by a small Russet potato and a fresh garden salad with Blue cheese, fresh bacon, onion and cherry tomatoes.
A delicious meal and perfectly matched food and wine pairing!
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
https://californiawinesandwineries.com