culmination
2022 CULMINATION Proprietary Red Wine Blend
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
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!
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.
The CULMINATION blend wine will be released in early April. This is the second release of the CULMINATION blend.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Only occasionally one comes across an exquisitely smooth wine with just the right edginess of tannins, this is one of them! The Wood Family Vineyards has produced consistently very good Cabernet Sauvignon wines, but this is on a different stratosphere of quality. In tasting and reviewing this wine, this is the pinnacle of wine making with Livermore Valley grapes. This wine once reviewed, in my opinion, will rate between 95 and 98 points!
First on the eyes a deep almost purple/blackish coloring and with medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose juicy black and red fruits fill up the olfactory senses immediately with an ethereal aroma of blackberries and black cherries. Again, leaving this wine open for a good hour allowed the fruit profile on the palate to fully mature with blueberries and blackberries. The experience of intense fruit flavors of both red and blue fruits conjoined made this wine “melt” in the mouth with a robust taste. Clove and French oak were also noted with a faint tinge of vanilla. On the extremely long finish, oak and soft new leather rounded out the tasting experience with exquisite tannins. The tannins entered the palate with texture and some jaggedness, then once fully appreciated, became soft and embracing. It reminded me of the adage, Spring coming in as roaring lion and leaves like a docile lamb! This wine is for serious and discerning imbibers of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
For the 2022 Culmination Red Wine only 58 cases were produced. It is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon from two different vineyards, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot. It will retail for $100/bottle and it came in at 14.4% alcohol. The barrel treatment was for 34 months in French oak barrels.
One of the unique characteristics of this wine will be its ability to be aged 15 years in my opinion with strong fruit and firm tannins. This wine will make my annual Best Wines tasted in 2026 without hesitation.
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 seasoned and then seared filet mignon steak. The filet was barbequed to medium rare. Accompanied by a baked Yukon Gold potato, Brussel sprouts drizzled with Balsamic glaze and a fresh garden salad.
The food and wine pairing were spot on with the filet mignon meeting the fruit forward characteristics of wine and tannins.
Sláinte,
Michael
2023 CULMINATION Cabernet Franc a Cut Above and for Discerning Cab Franc Drinkers!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
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 in 2024. 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 and offering? 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 a complete selection process and techniques producing some of the same varieties they produce at Wood Family Vineyards with extraordinary attention to detail. For example, their Wood Family Vineyards award-winning Cabernet Franc (Gold Medal, Double Gold Medals, etc.) come 100% from the One Oak Vineyard.
The previous CULMINATION Cabernet Franc came from two different vineyards. This year all the grapes were harvested from their estate vineyard.
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 like their sunset dinners with CULMINATION WINES this year, called the CULMINATION Experience in the vineyard that was recently held.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
As mentioned earlier, this wine is from their estate vineyard in Livermore. 82% came from their original vineyard One Oak and the remaining 18% came from their second planting on their estate. The 2023 Cabernet Franc provides a truly remarkable flavor profile of Old-World verses California Cabernet Franc meeting. Many California Cabernet Franc wines are dark, robust, bold and earthy. French Cabernet Franc wines are typically elegant with softer, silker tannins. CULMINATION Cabernet Franc pulls these two contrasting flavor profiles and presents them united in the same bottle. A great analogy for this wine is a gymnast on a balance beam requiring both grace and strength in a routine.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
On the eyes the core center of the glass being an enticing dark color and medium viscosity. On the nose, violets and dark fruits waft into the senses. I did notice that having left it open for an hour, more aromas were present. On the palate, here the gymnast analogy comes into play with not brutish force stating “take notice of me” but underlying structure and finesse coming into play. Dark fruit of raspberries and blackberries with a tinge of blueberries developed a full and complete play in the mouth. The finish was intriguing with initially soft and rounded tannins then developing into robust and stately tannins. There was also a flinty and minerality presence at the conclusion. The wine really is a food companion wine with its strong tannins. This wine is for serious and discerning imbibers of Cabernet Franc. This is your California Cabernet Franc without training wheels!
At the 6th Annual International Cabernet Franc Competition, their initial 2022 CULMINATION Cabernet Franc took a Gold Medal from the Professional Judges.
For the 2023 Culmination Cabernet Franc only 150 cases were produced. It is scheduled to be released in December 2025 at $80/bottle and at 14% alcohol.
The barrel treatment was 32% new French oak and most of the balance used French oak. It was aged in barrels for 19 months. One of the unique characteristics of this wine will be its ability to be aged 10-15 years in my opinion.
This wine just made my annual list of Best Wines Tasted for 2025 with its fruit and robust tannins hitting my precise target!
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 seared and BBQ’ed filet mignons to medium rare and topped with Blue Cheese, butter and chive dollop. Accompanied by sliced Russet potato wedges, seasoned and baked with Parmesan cheese. Also sauteed mushrooms and steamed broccoli. The food and wine pairing were excellent with the full dark fruit of the wine enveloping the meat and tannins cutting through the rich meat. The strong tannins stood up to the meat and the mushrooms enhanced the earthiness; a key characteristic found in Cabernet Franc.
I look forward to tasting it again at the formal release in December 2025.
Sláinte,
Michael
2024 Culmination Sauvignon Blanc Aged in Barrel – What is Beyond Perfection?
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Last year the Wood Family Vineyards produced their inaugural release of barrel aged Sauvignon Blanc. They have continued to do so again this year and have elevated this release to their second or premier label called Culmination. This is now the third wine being offered in the series.
The Wine – “Wine if bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The grapes come from the historic Louis Mel Ranch that was established in 1884. Mrs. Mel was friends with the Marquise of Chateau d’ Yquem and was able to secure cuttings from there. This will be the second release of Rhonda Wood’s Sauvignon Blanc aged in barrel. The wine is fermented in three barrels with one being an Acacia barrel aged for 7 months. The other two barrels were aged in neutral French oak. They were kept separate until tanked for bottling and aged on the lees and stirred every two weeks.
This is like no ordinary Sauvignon Blanc I have experienced in my wine life! I heaped praises on it last year (https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2024/04/24/2023-wood-family-vineyards-sauvignon-blanc-a-new-offering/), only to have the wine elevated even further with this release!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes this is a deeper golden color than ordinary stainless steel fermented wine with a much thicker viscosity, noticeable in the glass. On the nose dominate aromas of honeysuckle and lemon grass waft gently into the senses arousing the imbiber to take the first sip of this exotic elixir. Once on the palate, bright and lively flavors burst forth of lemon and lime, but not like a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, much more subdued and yet energetic and content to be second fiddle in the tasting profile. Lemon custard and tropical passion fruit, along with stone fruits of peach and apricot, softly coat the mouth. On the palate the intriguing and unique textural feel in the mouth was astonishing. Finally, concluding the sipping experience, the acidity is counterbalanced by a brioche note, making for a mildly tart, yet graceful finish, possessing finesse to produce an enjoyable drink.
The alcohol level is 14% and the price for this is $50/bottle, which is a bit higher than your average Suavignon Blanc, but this is anything but ordinary! Set to be released mid-June, this will surely sell out quickly for its flavor profile and uniqueness with only 75 cases produced.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine will make my annual Best Wines Tasted in 2025 due to its unique and mouth filling presence and flavors. In my opinion, following Wood Family Vineyards for 25 years, this may be the best wine Rhonda Wood has produced across the lineup, and she has won a tremendous number of awards!
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
The food pairing was also a bit unique with two entrées last evening. First up was sushi from a new store of both tuna and salmon. Both were very good. I have always had a glass of wine with sushi or sashimi to help kill off any bacteria (told so from many friends in Japan or sake). Only had one small portion with the sushi as wasabi, ginger and soy sauce would be too much to either be complimentary or too contrasting.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
However, the second entrée was a great summertime pasta salad. It was comprised of bow tie pasta, Northern Italian dressing, freshly cooked pepper bacon, fresh spinach, black pepper, Himalayan Sea salt, cherry tomatoes and onion. Chicken breasts were cut into small pieces and cooked on the stovetop with mesquite seasoning. They were combined and served. This wine caressed each morsel and bit of the salad and enlivened the meal perfectly. An excellent food and wine pairing.
The Winery
Photo from Wood Family Vineyards website
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 the link below and their website.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2022 CULMINATION Cabernet Franc – A New Wine
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
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!
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 ageing 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 a completely different selection and techniques producing some of the same varieties they produce at Wood Family Vineyards. For example, their Wood Family Vineyards award-winning Cabernet Franc (Gold Medal, Double Gold Medals, etc.) come 100% from the One Oak Vineyard. The CULMINATION Cabernet Franc comes from two vineyards, White Cat and Sachau. The combination of the two, plus different barrel and longer aging provided a unique and new tasting experience. 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 first two wines being offered in December will be the CULMINATION Cabernet Franc and CULMINATION Red Blend, a proprietary and changing blend. This story is about their new label CULMINATION, specifically the 2022 Cabernet Franc and the Red Blend will be forthcoming soon. More wine varietals to be considered are on the drawing board.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
As mentioned earlier this wine is from two vineyards in Livermore. White Cat Vineyards from Crane Ridge contributed 42% and the remaining 58% from the Sauchau Vineyard. This Cabernet Franc provides a truly remarkable flavor profile of Old-World verses California Cabernet Franc meeting. Many California Cabernet Franc wines are dark, robust, bold and earthy. French Cabernet Franc wines are typically elegant with softer silker tannins. CULMINATION Cabernet Franc pulls these two contrasting flavor profiles and presents them united in the same bottle. A great analogy for this wine is a gymnast on a balance beam requiring both grace and strength in a routine.
On the eyes the core center of the glass being an enticing dark color, yet at the rim is showing a lighter purple ring. On the nose, violets and dark fruits waft into the senses. I did notice that having left it open for an hour, more aromas were present. On the palate, here the gymnast analogy comes into play with not brutish force stating “take notice of me” but underlying structure and finesse coming into play. Dark fruit of raspberries and blackberries with a tinge of blueberries developed a full and complete play in the mouth. The finish was intriguing with initially soft and rounded tannins then developing into robust tannins- the combination of Old-World and California styles coexisting simultaneously. The wine can be sipped alone with its mellowness and yet bold enough to enjoy with a meal. This wine is for serious and discerning imbibers of Cabernet Franc.
For the 2022 Culmination Cabernet Franc only 150 cases were produced. It will be released in December 2024 at $80/bottle and at 13.7% alcohol. The barrel treatment was 36% new French oak and most of the balance used French oak with small quantity being neutral American oak. It was aged in barrels for 18 months. One of the unique characteristics of this wine will be its ability to be aged 10-15 years in my opinion.
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 lightly tenderized and marinated flank steak. It was marinated for four hours in 50% Chaka marinade and 50% Black Pepper marinade. Sprinkled with a Black Pepper Rub and stir fried in hot oil. Ingredients include garlic, snow peas and white mushrooms being added towards the end of the stir fry. Served and topped with bits of green onions. Accompanied by long grain and wild rice and a fresh garden salad. The salad included baby tomatoes, green onions, pepitas and bacon.
The food and wine pairing were spot on with the full dark fruit of the wine contrasting with the peppery meat, it was like a volleyball match with flavors traversing across the mouth rather than a net! The surprisingly strong tannins enveloped the meat, and the mushrooms provided the earthiness normally found in California Cabernet Franc.
I look forward to tasting it again in December when it is released.
Sláinte,
Michael