2022 Cuda Ridge Wines Cabernet Franc – A Gestalt Experience!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
The German word Gestalt, initially usedin psychology and now in modern German, emphasizes that the whole of anything is greater than the sum of its parts. It can also mean the way a thing has been “put together”, completed or as a whole. Yet there is no exact equivalent in the English language. One of the Gestalt principles is usually formulated around closure or completeness.
With this in mind, we have all had a wine at some point that was perfectly “complete” and greater than its parts when presented and tasted. This is how best I can describe the 2022 Cuda Ridge Wines Cabernet Franc, as it is definitely “greater than its parts and was a complete experience”.
To learn more on Gestalt psychology and principles click on this link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_psychology
The Winery
Cuda Ridge pouring at the Cabernet Franc wine event in April, 2024. Photo ©Michael Kelly
The winery was formed in 2007 in Livermore at 2400 Arroyo Drive, Livermore, California. Larry Dino as the winemaker and his wife Margie as chief wine taster. 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 a non-Bordeaux style lineup of wines which include Sangiovese, New-World style Cabernet Sauvignon, and a blend called S&M. I have tasted many of his wines over the years but until recently never sat down and went through a complete tasting and I was so pleased with the experience.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Cuda Ridge has been on the fast track in making excellent and award winning wines. Here is a partial listing of his recent flagged awards:
5th Annual International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition
2021 Cabernet Franc – Double Gold and Best of Class by the Professional Judges.
SF Chronicle Wine Competition
2021 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon – Gold Medal
2021 Little Dog Vineyard Carménère – Gold Medal
2020 Estate Petit Verdot – Double Gold
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
At the beginning of the article, I mentioned its “completeness” or Gestalt. This wine, for me, not only had all the key characteristics of a well-made Cabernet Franc, as a whole, it even was larger than the components of the varietal. Yes it had fruit, pyrazines (herbaceous bell pepper notes), tannins, complexity and an alluring finish and additionally hit the palate with a bullseye! First on the eyes, a dark and alluring maroon, purple coloring and medium heavy viscosity in the glass. On the nose, aromas of black cherries and violets waft into the senses. On the palate the symphony of flavors comes bursting forth like different parts of the orchestra. Blackberry, raspberries and cherries are the dominant flavors with secondary flavors of vanilla pipe tobacco, earthiness all in a well-structured and layered enjoyment of savory and appealing flavors. On the finish the juicy fruit is counter-balanced with acidity and defined pronounced tannins on the roof of the mouth and back teeth. This wine is akin to a high end Swiss Army knife, with tools/instruments to appease any need. Truly a remarkable wine.
The 2022 Cuda Ridge Wines Cabernet Franc comes from two sections of the White Cat Vineyard, one being 30 year old vines and the other being 11 year old vines. They are combined to enhance the flavor profile with each having unique nuances. The wine is 92% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. The wine will be released the end of June at $45/bottle. It was aged for 18 months in 100% French oak: 45% being new, 30% being once used and 25% being neutral barrels. The wine came in at 14.7% alcohol.
In April 2024, Cuda Ridge Wines 2021 won Double Gold and Best of Category ($31 to $50) from the Professional Judges. Expect his 2022 to rival or exceed his 2021 accolades!
This wine made my list of Best Wines tasted in 2024 immediately! That yearly list comes out mid-December.
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
Picked the 2022 Cuda Ridge Wines Cabernet Franc to enjoy this evening with a marinated and BBQ’ed tri-tip steak. Marinated for 24 hours in a Chaka sauce and quickly seared and then served medium rare. Accompanied by halved roasted Brussel sprouts drizzled with a Balsamic vinegar reduction. Also accompanied by a fresh garden salad. The Cabernet Franc was perfectly matched with its bold flavors and strong tannins to easily glide through the meat. The herbaceousness of the Brussel sprouts coupled with the wine played beautifully off one another. Absolutely one of the more enjoyable meals of 2024 paired with an exceptional wine.
Sláinte,
Michael
2022 Wood Family Vineyards Petit Verdot – A Bold & Structured Wine
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Photo from https://www.bravenewworld.wine/
First, what is Petit Verdot? The literal translation is “little green one”. This is because it is a late ripening grape from the Bordeaux region in France. It is a commonly used grape in blending, usually in small amounts to add color, tannin, structure and herbaceous notes of violet and sage. Today it is common to see 2% to no more than 10% in many Cabernet Sauvignon’s and other wine blends. More recently Petit Verdot is being seen as a 100% bottled varietal.
Key characteristics of Petit Verdot is its boldness and high noticeable tannins which pairs and complements rich fatty foods.
The Winery
Photo from Wood Family Vineyards Facebook
Rhonda Wood, winemaker at Wood Family Vineyards, makes some exceptional wines from Livermore, California. The background on the winery can be found in another story at:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2021/11/06/2018-wood-family-vineyards-chardonnay/
Rhonda and the family winery are small in comparison to some of Livermore’s known name wineries but have been regarded for years as one of the top-quality wine producers.
From high in the sky to down to earth wines!! Yes Rhonda Wood, winemaker/owner of Wood Family Vineyards used to fly planes (US Airways) but now can be found in the vineyards tending vines. She and husband Michael (with their two sons), have a winery in eastern Livermore. Rhonda started making wine in 1996. Besides sourcing wine on their property, they have 17 specific vineyards which are manicured to their specifications throughout Livermore’s ideal climate.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
I was smitten some time ago with Rhonda Wood’s Petit Verdot. From the beginning I was taken back and savored every sip so much I walked out with a case of Petit Verdot back in 2021. Now the update today is that her 2022 release coming out the end of June is even better! It is a combination of 94% from their estate vineyard and 6% from the Smith Ranch. It was aged in 33% new French Oak.
First on the eyes this is a cavernous dark wine, almost black. It possesses a medium heavy viscosity when swirled in the glass. On the nose intense aromas of red (cherry), black fruits (plums) and violets greet you. On the palate, the predominant trait are chewy cherries, but not sweet! Followed by leather, tobacco, anise and a slight vanilla quality. The finish was enduring and the tannins were ever present but not overtly obtrusive.
This wine is “so delicious” bold and strong, it was also enjoyable as an after-dinner wine.
I am certain to have more 2022 Wood Family Vineyards Petit Verdot in the cellar!
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 on a warm summer evening with a BBQ’ed hamburger with the trimmings! First an artisan bun with ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomato, purple onion and smoked Gouda cheese. Accompanied by a fresh garden salad. Normally don’t have Gouda on a hamburger, but even Wine Access suggested a smoked Gouda cheese and they were spot on. Even indulged with a couple of additional slices with the wine as it was spot on. The wine with its layered structure and penetrating tannins provided a perfect food and wine pairing. It also elevated a simple hamburger to a great meal.
Sláinte,
Michael
2021 Iron Hub Chardonnay with Seared Yellowfin Tuna – A Winning Combination
Background
Visited Iron Hub a couple of weeks back to purchase their “Clockspring Vineyard” Zinfandel and Chardonnay. We were fortunate enough to do an extensive tasting of many of their wines including their 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, 2022 Roussanne, 2020 Sangiovese, 2020 Esola Zinfandel, 2020 Old Vine Zinfandel, 2020 Syrah and their 2021 Chardonnay. All were delicious and enjoyable. But two wines really stood out as exceptional.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Their current 2021 Chardonnay was equally as good as previous vintages, picked up another case of this delicious wine and their Old Vine Zinfandel.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Chardonnay typically does not do well in the warmer climate of Amador County and when first offered it I was taken back. It was explained that the vineyard for this wine is in Amador County but located at a much higher elevation called Spanish Creek vineyard in the Sierras at an elevation of 2700 feet. The cooler climate is ideal for producing exquisite Chardonnay grapes.
The small lot 2021 Chardonnay on the eyes was a golden straw color with medium viscosity. The first aromas on the nose, was like a lightning strike! Fruits of green apple and pear shouted out their presence in the glass. Secondary flavor of dry apricots were also present. From the first sip a creamy textural wine with previously mentioned fruits came together like a well-orchestrated symphony. Added to the mix was vanilla which was just slightly present on nose and became infused in the glass with gentle oak overtones. The finish was long, poised and glamorous like a family portrait with a hint of brioche. It sells for $34 a bottle and for my money an excellent price for such a high quality wine. It comes in at 14.7% alcohol.
Aged in 34% new French oak barrels and the remainder being neutral French oak. Held in the barrels for 12 months and went through 100% malolactic fermentation. Immediately, this wine made my annual list of Best Wines Tasted in 2024 (list out mid-December).
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 a seared Yellowfin tuna steak. Seared for a few minutes on each side on the BBQ. Served medium rare on the inside. Garnished with black sesame seeds and drizzled with a “special sauce”. The sauce included soy sauce, toasted sesame seed oil, honey, kosher salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, wasabi and ginger. Plated with sauce, green onion shavings and a side of extra soy sauce and wasabi. The food and wine pairing was absolutely terrific with the rich texture of the tuna and spices contrasting with the mouthful feeling and fruit of the Iron Hub Chardonnay.
The Winery
Photo from Iron Hub Winery
The winery was founded by Tom Jones from Lava Cap Winery fame in the Apple Hill area near Placerville. Tom completed his master’s degree in Viticulture & Enology from UC Davis, and for almost 30 years developed award-winning wines. Tom and his wife Beth’s new endeavor began in 2014 with the purchase of the 33 acre property that had been known as Amador Foothill Winery. Having control of the grapes from vineyard to bottle was key in his quest for quality control with 17 acres planted in vines.
The name of the winery came about from Tom’s mountain sojourns in the area. On an adventure he discovered an antique, hand-forged wagon wheel hub in a remote area. Thus this small winery on Steiner Road drew a parallel with his goal of making small lot artisan wines similar to the craftsmanship of the “iron hub” he found on a walk. The beautiful new tasting room was opened in December 2017.
Sláinte,
Michael
pureCru Wines CFM Cabernet Franc Blend is a Winner!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
pureCru was the People’s Choice winner at the 5th Annual International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition in the “Blend Division”. They were up against a strong field of contenders and with their 50/50 Cabernet Franc & Merlot blend won in a taste off from the judges. Additionally their Cabernet Franc in the California Division ($76 to $100) received a Double Gold Medal & Best of Category from the People’s Choice Judge’s and a Gold Medal from the Professional Judges.
The Winery
Mitch Cosentino is the owner and winemaker for pureCru Wines. From his first vintage in 2007 of pureCru he endeavored to create small artisan wines with carefully watching over every aspect of the grapes life cycle from vine to bottle. His wines are sought after and allocated to private clients and wine collectors exclusively for each vintage. His background includes some 43 harvests from around the world.
Currently they are producing a variety of wines. Their white wines include a blend featuring Torrontes from Lodi, a blend from Napa of Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc and their Signature MC Chardonnay. Their reds include Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, MC Signature CFM blend, MC Sangio Vetta (Sangiovese), PureCoz a proprietary blend from Napa and M.Coz a “Bordeaux style blend”.
Photo from pureCru website
The wines can be tasted with reservations at The Studio, Feast it Forward located at 1031 McKinstry in downtown Napa.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The wine is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc from St Helena and 50% Merlot from the Oak Knoll district.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes a dark brick red with brooding coloration. On the nose, aromas of spices (clove) and soft vanilla pipe tobacco combine with blackberries wafting out of the glass. Once on the palate the fruit of Merlot mingles elegantly with the Cabernet Franc like a Viennese waltz. The contrasting varietals provide a spicy and alluring elixir beckoning additional sips. The finish showcases it’s full body and provides a long satisfying conclusion.
Barrel aged in French oak for 38 months with a very limited production quantity. It is listed on their website for $60/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
This wine was selected specifically for this carne asada dish. The marinade consisted of fresh chopped Jalapeño peppers, olive oil, soy sauce, fresh squeezed orange and lime juice, minced garlic cloves, cilantro, ground cumin, kosher salt, ground black pepper marinated for 24 hours with a flank steak. The steak was seared on the BBQ with an infrared ceramic burner at between 1200 to 1400 degrees for about 3-4 minutes a side. Topped off with fresh minced Jalapeño peppers, additional fresh marinade sauce and a modicum of fresh squeezed lime juice. Accompanying the meal was a half Yukon Gold potato, fresh garden salad with bacon and broccolini. The Carne Asada was flavorful and spicy with the wine providing with the Cabernet Franc sufficient tannins to “cut through” the meat and yet enough Merlot to embrace the spiciness of the dish. An excellent food and wine pairing.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
I can’t wait to taste some of his other exquisite wines!
Sláinte,
Michael
2023 Wood Family Vineyards Barrel Aged Sauvignon Blanc
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Wood Family Vineyards introduced their new Sauvignon Blanc on April 28th, 2024. What makes this different than their current Sauvignon Blanc which is produced in stainless steel tanks, they made a barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc. This entailed making 4 barrels in neutral oak barrels and 1 in an Acacia barrel. After 3 months, they transferred the wine from the Acacia barrel to another neutral barrel. They continued aging the wine in oak for an additional 5 months before bottling.
The great fact of the matter, Sauvignon Blanc wine lovers now will have a choice in two distinct profiles going forward. Best to describe their stainless steel Sauvignon Blanc first and then below under “The Wine” describe this new offering.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The first thing you notice is a different bottle. The stainless steel Sauvignon Blanc bottle is clear with a screw cap. The barrel treated version has the colored glass bottle and a cork top.
Generally speaking the specific Acacia wood barrel and stirring of the lees makes the wine feel creamier and much broader on the palate. This is exactly the taste and texture Wood Family Vineyards targeted for this wine. Still the same basic flavors of the stainless steel but some slight nuances. The 2023 Barrel Aged Sauvignon Blanc picked up besides texture qualities, it also mellowed out or tempered the stronger notes of the grapefruit and citrus. The aging also provided a secondary aroma and herbaceous flavors not found in the stainless steel. Also present was more lemon grass and a tinge of vanilla on the finish which was so refreshing and contrasting to the citrus qualities. The wine ends up being refreshing, high in acidity, complex and creamy. This is precisely the qualitative difference Rhonda Wood was striving to make showcasing the barrel aging offering. The release price is set at $40/bottle and is 13.6% alcohol with only 135 cases being produced.
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 BBQ’ed and quickly seared Atlantic Salmon. Rather than marinating the fish, I constructed a pasta/sauce to add while BBQ-ing. Also drizzled on the salmon when plated. It consisted of wasabi, fresh ginger, minced garlic, low sodium soy sauce, sesame seed oil, honey, and fresh ground black pepper. This wine was chosen for the meal so as to envelope the tangy sauce with the mouthful and creamy Sauvignon Blanc. The combination of the tangy sauce on the fish with the Sauvignon Blanc was excellent. Accompanied by sautéed asparagus, artichoke and a fresh garden salad. A great food and wine pairing!
Sláinte,
Michael
2021 LXV Wines Cabernet Franc – Continue Their Winning Ways!
Background
Photo ©Michael Kelly
For two years in a row their wine has won many awards at the Annual International Cabernet Franc Competition. First they won Best of Category ($76 to $100) as well as Double Gold Medals by the Professional Judges. The judges also awarded it Best Cabernet Franc for the California Division and Grand Sweepstakes winner overall! This is a commendable feat when going up against so many excellent wines, priced up to almost $200, from around the world!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The People’s Choice Judges also awarded Double Gold Medals for the California Cabernet Franc wines. Winning this many awards from two sets of judges, confirms it’s pedigree as a thorough bred and standout wine.
The Winery
Photo from LXV Wines website
A unique experience from a unique culture to the wine industry. Neeta Mittal is the owner of LXV Wines. It started in India in a village south of Mumbai, where her mother lives and frequently visits the spice market to find fragment herbs for Tandoori Masala. The goal of Neeta is unconventional in that her goal is to open up as she states “the restrained jargon of pH and acidity” to flavors and senses. The LXV Wine experience at the tasting room in Paso Robles was named to the Top 10 by USA Today. The end goal is to create at their tasting room “a movement that inspires and heightens moments, and that transcends the personal, business and community”. Lofty goals for sure and she is obtaining them often. I was privileged to enjoy a home cooked meal a few times with their various Cabernet Franc wines, and the creativity and uniqueness was far beyond any typical food and wine pairing.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Just as unique was how they found Paso Robles! Her husband Kunal and she on a flight wanted to land at Oceano’s county airport, but being fogged in, they detoured and landed at Paso Robles. They immediately made the most of this unexpected arrival and connected with the people of Paso Robles. The land also reminded them of India.
They hired consulting winemaker Jeff Strekas with his background from Napa and Bordeaux style of wine making that was a match for Neeta and Kunal. Jeff’s creativity and willingness to experiment in new varietals that Neeta enjoys has proven excellent. Additionally Jeff has adapted to Kunal in his love for Cabernet Franc. The vineyards are situated mostly around Paso Robles on some of the most pristinely manicured and hand selected vineyards.
The tasting room just off the main square in downtown Paso Robles has three separate areas to taste their exquisite wines- the main tasting lounge, the Cellar room and the outdoor patio. At each location, besides the wine, flavor samples are available with simply exotic spices and aromas. For example Irish Monk – dulse flakes, miso, pink peppers, amchur, cardamom and black vanilla. Another is Chai Garm Chai – black tea, tulsi, green & black cardamom, star anise, cloves, fennel, rose petals. Currently seven other tastings are available with various wines.
Today they offer besides a variety of “Bordeaux influenced wines”, and others like Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Syrah and many more
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The 2021 LXV Wines Cabernet Franc was even better than their winning 2020! On the eyes an enticing dark cavernous purple coloring. On the nose, raspberries and lavender reach out to the senses with spectacular display of fragrances. On the palate is where the wine shines with fruit including blueberries and vanilla. The finish shows a depth of structure and spices of white pepper and sage. Unique is the smoothness of caressing velvety tannins let present enough to handle meat (story below). So uniquely smooth and enjoyable. Their notes include “structure of Chinon (France) and the aromatics of Bourgueil! Laced with herbaceousness, blessed with copious fruit”. In the production, the grapes were fermented 17 days using short and gentle pump-overs to avoid over-extraction. Aged in 40% new French oak barriques and puncheons for 20 months. While having a wide ranging taste it is only 14% alcohol.
The 2021 LXV Cabernet Franc was released in August 2023 and sells for $100. The 2021 Cabernet Franc wine from LXV Wines made my list of Best Wines Tasted for 2024 that is published annually in December. Only five barrels were produced. The grapes came from Portico Hills Vineyard located in Santa Barbara County.
Map from website “Visit the Santa Ynez Valley” (https://www.visitsyv.com/)
Los Alamos Valley is the home of Portico Vineyards characterized by cool nights and warm days, allowing grapes to achieve both concentration and balance. It is located in Santa Barbara County. The area has multiple slopes with many acres planted in 10% to 25% slope. The hilly topography with sandy soil promotes great drainage and produces award winning wines. Currently from Portico Vineyards, 26 wineries are using their award winning grapes.
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 a BBQ’ed and seared filet mignon steak served medium rare with crumbled Blue Stilton Cheese from the United Kingdom topping the meat. Accompanied by halved roasted Brussel sprouts, and drizzled with reduction balsamic vinegar. Also a Santa Fe southwestern salad was served. A wonderful and enjoyable meal with the wine while being silky smooth, had enough tannins to handle the meat.
Sláinte,
Michael
2022 Wood Family Vineyards Chardonnay for National Chardonnay Day!
The Winery
Pictures from Wood Family Vineyards
Wood Family Vineyards, located in eastern Livermore Valley with Rhonda Wood owner & winemaker, has been producing award winning wines for over two decades. You can read more on her background from airline pilot to award winning winemaker at:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2016/02/10/wood-family-vineyards-2
Recently at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (largest in North America), Wood Family Vineyards won the following awards and not all are listed:
2019 Cabernet Franc – Double Gold
2021 Malbec – Double Gold
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon “Clone 30” – Double Gold
2021 El Loco Rojo Red Blend – Double Gold
2021 The Captain Red Blend – Double Gold
2022 Chardonnay – Gold
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First off, my apologies to Robert Louis Stevenson:
“In the glass, the juice glistens of golden perfection,
A sculptured artwork displaying the winemakers’ vineyard reflection
Of quality, detailed preciseness and caressing hands.
Aromas abound from the origins of the vineyard of dreams
Conjoined with the bountiful fruits of the vine, apple & pear flavors
With an undercurrent of almonds, light citrus and encased in a brioche wafer.
The finish of exquisiteness frames the sip and beckons again to the taster.
But enough, as it is time to partake and enjoy this invigorating elixir”.
-ode to Rhonda Wood’s Chardonnay by Michael Kelly
It is a great wine with fruit flavors and with a medium heavy viscosity. Coming in at 14.1% alcohol and is priced at $34/bottle on their website. This wine has made by annual Best Wines Tasted in a given year for the last five years!
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 marinated and seared Swordfish. It was marinated in a wasabi and ginger sauce consisting of fresh ginger, shallot, garlic clove, mirin, low sodium soy sauce, wine vinegar, honey, fresh wasabi and paste with fresh ground black pepper. Marinated for 7 hours and then seared a few minutes on each side. Topped with a salsa of fresh chopped Mango and Mandarin oranges. The salsa and fish were excellent with the Wood Family Vineyards Chardonnay. The combination of the tangy marinade and sweet fruit was a beautiful contrast. I would next time “cut down” the soy sauce, mirin and wine vinegar to make the marinade a bit thicker and increase the measurements of ginger and wasabi to spice it up a bit. Still a great food and wine pairing!
Sláinte,
Michael
2020 Vermilion Valley Vineyards Chardonnay
The Winery
From Vermilion Valley Vineyards Website
I recently did several stories on Vermilion Valley Vineyards and The Winerie at Sandusky (both labels are the same ownership and winemaker). The Vermilion Valley story was on how delicious their Pinot Noir and who knew this high quality of Pinot Noir could be grown in Ohio.
Another story was on a wine seldom seen in California and many have never tasted, Lemberger wine.
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2024/03/10/the-winerie-at-sandusky-2021-lemberger-wine
Vermilion Valley Vineyards has 100 planted acres in four different locations. With micro climates, this allows all his wines to be 100% estate grown. What is interesting about Ohio is that some 370 wineries exist but only 900 acres of grapes are planted! Doing some simple math, removing the five largest vineyards in the state, you are left with each winery having a one acre parcel! Thus many wineries in Ohio rely on importing juice from various areas like the Central Valley of California and Washington. That is one of many unique characteristics of Vermilion Valley Vineyards and their estate wines.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes a very pale yellow straw coloring and very bright. On the nose a slight tinge of orange blossoms wafted up to the imbiber. On the palate, orange blossoms, coupled with a “lemon tart” filled the mouth. The second malolactic fermentation provided enough roundness to the wine to soften it up. On the finished, toasted oak was very dominant with a hint of vanilla to balance it. This Chardonnay had a few similar citrus characteristics as their Sauvignon Blanc.
The website shows it listed at $22/bottle and comes in at 14% alcohol.
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 a lemon caper chicken. Using both flour and panko with garlic salt, pepper and fresh squeezed lemon juice. Accompanied by steam broccoli and a fresh garden salad. The food pairing was good as the lemon chicken reflected the “lemon tart” in the wine. The medium heavy viscosity of the wine also coated each bite with buttercream.
Sláinte,
Michael
2019 Brick Barn Estate Winery – Fatalist Cabernet Franc Grand Sweepstakes Winner
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
This wine won so many awards at the 5th Annual International Cabernet Franc is was amazing! First they won Best of Category ($101 and up) as well as Double Gold Medals by the Professional Judges . The People’s Choice Judges also awarded it Double Gold Medals, Best of Category, Best of Show for California Cabernet Franc wines and Grand Sweepstakes verses all divisions. While Brick Barn had submitted in prior compettions with their regualar Cabernet Franc winning many awards, this is truly a remarkable feat for this first time entry of Fatalist Cabernet Franc!!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Santa Ynez Valley AVA
Map from https://carrwinery.com/
The AVA is unique to California as it is a long, east-west valley with both cool and warm climates. This allows for a range of varieties to be grown from Pinot Noir closer to the ocean breezes/fog to Cabernet Franc/Sauvignon to the eastern regions. Many Rhone grape varietals also have thrived in this versatile appellation such as Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Roussanne and Viognier.
The Winery
Norman and Kathleen Williams started with a vision for taking his 40 acres acquired in 1968. Today the property, Buell Ranch, has expanded to 1,060 acres with 35 acres planted in vineyards. Their inaugural wines were produced from the 2015 vintage and they opened the tasting room in 2018. For a “more recent winery” they have garnered a real presence in Santa Ynez Valley.
Their “terroir” is unique being between the Pacific Ocean (only 10 miles away) and the warmer inland valley. This allows both the cool marine elements of morning fog and breezes to co-mingle with the warmth of the summer months. The net effect is ripening occurs steadily with closing down for evening, producing great natural acidity and layers of structure/complexity for the grapes.
Picture from Brick Barn Estate Winery
The winemaker is Adrian Bolshoi who upholds the vineyards “non-invasive farming practices” that allow the vineyards to speak for and show their distinct personalities. Thus minimal interventions are the hallmark of their wines. They use a variety of vessels in the making of their wines, including neutral oak barrels, new oak barrels, oak puncheons, stainless steel, and concrete. The reason being to highlight each wine’s fermentation process, which express the varietals full characteristics.
Today their award winning white wines include: Chardonnay (various), Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino and Viognier. Their red wines include: Cabernet Franc (& a Reserve), Grenache, Pinot Noir (various), a Rhone Blend and Syrah. Additionally they produce their Fatalist label featuring the finest barrels and tedious management and craftsmanship. Those wines in the Fatalist lineup include: Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah.
For both the standard and Fatalist offerings the awards are too numerous to list and can be found at:
https://www.brickbarnwineestate.com/wines/accolades/
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
They first introduced the Fatalist Cabernet Franc with their 2017 vintage. The 2019 is now their second release. First on the eyes a deep royal purple and maroon coloring and medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose dark cherry bursts into the olfactory senses with a floral aroma quickly following. On the palate upon the first sip, the dark cherries spring forth with an appropriate amount of fruit, cedar and a faint vanilla pipe tobacco and rhubarb. The finish provides stately pedigree tannins but come across with a velvety but persistent presence. The end result being an extremely smooth and balanced wine!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Only two barrels of this exquisite wine were produced using Russian oak. It is listed at $180/bottle and comes in a remarkable low 13.6% alcohol content for such a big and bold flavor.
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 a BBQ’ed filet mignon served medium rare. Topped with a slice of white mushroom with an aioli sauce of wasabi and ginger. Accompanied by halved Brussel sprouts roasted and drizzled with balsamic reduction and a fresh garden salad with blue cheese dressing. A wonderful food and wine pairing!
Sláinte,
Michael
2020 Ehret Family Winery, Bella’s Cabernet Sauvignon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Winery
Picture from Ehret Family Winery
The Ehret Family Winery owners are Pierre and Susan Ehret with their three children Alex, Christian and Isabella. They established the vineyard and started producing grapes in 1996 at the Bavarian Lion Vineyards. It is one of the largest estates in Knights Valley consisting of 1800 acres of both hillside and valley floor terrain. Currently 500 acres are planted in vineyards allowing the balance to provide an ecosystem for plants and birdlife to dwell. From 1996 they sold their fruit to some of the more well-known wineries throughout Napa and Sonoma counties. In 2005, they selected the highest quality grapes and started their family brand, Ehret Family Winery. Today they produce various Cabernet Sauvignon’s, Red Blends, Zinfandel, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc wines. Their tasting room is located in Healdsburg at 422 Healdsburg Ave and appointments are required.
Knights Valley is located in Northern Sonoma County between Alexander Valley and over the Napa Valley border next to Calistoga.
The winemaker is Erin Green who has been there since 2015. Previously Erin has had experience at Sonoma-Cutrer, Vinewood Cellars and Napa Wine Company. She has also blended wines for various premium projects such as Bryant Family, Colgin Cellars, Martinelli Winery and Pahlmeyer. From 2000-2012 Erin was the winemaker and Director of Winegrowing at Pahlmeyer.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine in 2019, previous vintage, was rated at 99 points and won Best of Class at the International Women’s Wine Competition. It was also rated 98 points and Best of Class at the North Coast Wine Challenge. The 2020 will continue to win similar accolades for its beautiful taste.
First on the eyes a deep maroon and with lively purple hues around the rim. On the nose, one of the most aromatic Cabernet Sauvignon’s this year! The fruits burst into the sense like a cornucopia overflowing with blackberries, black cherries and blueberries. Truly one of the most fragrant Cabernet Sauvignon’s. On the palate, besides the aforementioned juicy fruits, a full body elixir presented itself with layers of fruit and spices. Black cherry was dominant yet secondary flavors of peppercorns, plums and pepper were noticed. On the finish, one of the longest in recent memory with firm and hugging tannins. The balance of fruit forwardness and acidity was near perfect. The dry wine, but with so much fruit, provided a level of sweetness but not residual sugar.
The wine goes for $85 for the 2019 but no price yet for the 2020. For the 2020 only 139 cases were produced. Aged 18 months in 68% new French oak barrels. The 2020 is composed of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot. This is the quintessential Sonoma or Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon! It comes in at 15.5% alcohol level.
This wine definitely made my annual list of Best Wines Tasted during the year!!
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 with a seasoned and seared ribeye on the BBQ at 1450 degrees. Served medium rare and accompanied by an artichoke and fresh garden salad. The seared charred finish on the ribeye was met with the fruit forwardness of the wine to be embraced and yet with enough tannins to stand up to the beef. Truly a wonderful food and wine pairing last evening.
As a side note, the wine was so exceptional, left two glasses in the bottle and invited friends over to enjoy this wine. Both thought it was spectacular similar to our conclusion. We continued to talk and I went back to the cellar to pull two other Cabernet Sauvignon’s I have rated very highly. Both were 2014, Ledson, Napa Valley “Stagecoach Vineyards” and Tate Wines, Mt Veeder. All were delicious but the unanimous winning wine was still Ehret Ella’s Cabernet Sauvignon.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
As summer approaches, enjoy the BBQ-ing season!
Sláinte,
Michael