2020 Cuda Ridge Wines Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Larry makes his Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon in the “non-Bordeaux style” being more of a New World style with fruit forward, bolder style with the alcohol being higher than the Purple Label offering. This 2020 is a blend of two vineyards being White Cat Vineyard (75%) and Smith Ranch (25%). The barrel treatment is 71% American Oak and 29% French oak and aged for 18 months. The wine comes in at 15.9% alcohol and was released on June 25th 2022. Only 363 cases were produced.
The wine when first poured into the glass was a deep intense purple color yet with magenta hues around the rim. A medium heavy wine when swirled in the wine glass. On the nose aromas of violets waft into the senses with an allure to partake in the wine. On the palate, there is a lot going on with this wine. First dark fruits of dark cherry and blackberries are dominant. Secondary flavor of raspberries rush in and are counterbalanced by subtle tastes of cedar. The finish imparts a structured and well-defined assemblage of the parts coming together. A soft undertone of cocoa and sweet/tart blueberry completes the tasting of this broad grandiose wine.
This wine won a Gold Medal at the SF Chronicle Wine Competition in 2023. The current release is 2023 and is listed at $46/bottle.
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 large juicy ribeye steak from Nebraska bought at Chuck’s Fine Meats in Mesa. The steak was seasoned and then seared at 1500 degrees on an infrared BBQ and served medium rare. The steak was so large, my wife and split the steak! Accompanied by a baked Russet potato and then halved.
This was an excellent food and wine pairing with the wine enveloping each bite and enriching the taste of the meat.
The Winery
Photo from Concannon Vineyards
In August 2026, Cuda Ridge Wines was acquired by Lemmon Family Vineyards and now operates in their own tasting salon at Concannon Winery in Livermore. For the complete story you can read at:
Larry is still the winemaker for Cuda Ridge Wines continuing to make his excellent wines.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
https://californiawinesandwineries.com