2022 Cuda Ridge Wines Malbec With Baked Chicken Cheese Enchiladas
Background
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Malbec as a grape possesses an inky dark color and robust tannins. This purple grape is also one of the six grapes allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux wines. This thick-skinned grape needs more sun and heat than other known varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. Livermore Valley is great location for this varietal. Besides ripening mid-season during harvest, it provides a plum flavor characteristic to wines in blending or as a standalone varietal. The key to Malbec is its rich, dark and juicy fruit.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Malbec has always been a favorite wine. While having had Cuda Ridge Wines regular Malbec in the cellar for a few years, I was again pleased opening this bottle.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine, when poured into the glass possessed a glistening magenta coloring with a medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose, aromas of black fruits and earthiness wafted into the senses awakening the imbiber. Once on the palate, blackberries, blueberries and black plums were the dominate and rich flavor profiles that swirled about coating the mouth. Secondary flavors of exotic spices of cloves paired with a distinct earthiness. On the finish, light toasted wood with present tannins yet smooth and silky. Very well-balanced and structured layers of enjoyment.
This is 100% Malbec coming from the White Cat Vineyard in Livermore. The wine is aged in Pennsylvanian American oak, with 50% being once used and 50% neutral. The wine was aged 19 months in barrels and comes in at 14.5% alcohol and is sold at $40/bottle.
As an aside we contrasted the wine with a well-known Argentina Malbec, that was good but not nearly the fruit of Cuda Ridge Malbec. Cuda Ridge Malbec will be our go to Malbec of choice in the cellar.
This wine most definitely will make my annual list of Best Wines tasted in 2026.
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
Dinner with this wine was a dish not paired before with Malbec. Decided on baked chicken cheese enchiladas. Thinking the spiciness of the dish would be nicely paired with the fruit of the wine to help cut through the red tomato salsa.
The enchiladas ingredients included salsa with chunky Pico de Gallo, grated cheddar cheese, shredded cooked chicken slow cooked in salsa during the day, corn kernels, cumin, dried oregano, cayenne, kosher salt, black pepper, sliced scallions and packed into wheat low carb tortillas then baked. The recipe calls for sour cream and cream cheese, nor that I like on this dish, so my wife cooked hers with them and mine without! Served with Pico de Gallo baked on the top of the enchiladas and toasted yellow corn.
The enchiladas have always been one of our go to dishes and tonight was no exception as they were delicious. The Malbec with its fruit surrounded the spicy enchiladas with each succulent bite. A very good food and wine pairing and will be a repeat for sure!
The Winery
Photo from Cuda Ridge Wines
Larry Dino, the winemaker at Cuda Ridge Wines and is the owner along with his expert wine taster Margie Dino, now has all six modern Bordeaux varietals available at the tasting room.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
One of the solid and simple marketing ideas that Larry devised is his coloring scheme: White label for his Reserve wines, Black label for his non-Bordeaux wines and purple label for his Bordeaux varietals.
The list of awards for all his other wines is extensive and would direct you to his website to view the dozens and dozens of noteworthy awards.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly