Livermore Cabernet Sauvignon
McGrail Vineyards and Winery – Meeting with Mark Clarin, the Winemaker
Photo from McGrail Website
Met with Mark in mid-July when in California. He is the winemaker at McGrail Vineyards located at 5600 Greenville Road in Livermore, California. Heather McGrail was unfortunately tied up with family members but spending a few hours with Mark provided a lot of information and a few laughs! Had stopped by when they first opened in 2008 and they had one wine to pour, their Cabernet Sauvignon. As they say, time marches and on this day, I had to circle their large parking lot three times to find a parking space as they had so many guests!
We sat out on the patio while McGrail Vineyards was having their Bubbly & Beats event, but we were able to find a reasonably quiet table to converse. We started our discussion with a taste of their Sauvignon Blanc grown at a vineyard just down the street. This was an excellent wine crisp, light and airy grapefruit and on this warm day a perfect “patio pounder” at 13.2% alcohol. This received my highest rating along with the next wine.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
While we discussed various business topics like production volumes, number of varieties produced, Mark’s background, etc., he asked which wines I was interested in tasting. Their wine list is extensive and opted to focus on just a couple even though so many were desirable. First up was the 2022 “A JÓ ÉLET meaning “the good life”. Made with 100% Hungarian barrels and aged for 30 months. Mark mentioned the cost of these selected Hungarian barrels ran about $5,900 each! The wine was dark red in color and well balanced with lots of black fruits (cherries, blackberries), with baking species wafting into the senses. A great Cabernet Sauvignon and sells it for $59/bottle. This and one other wine rated my highest scores for the day!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The next wine we sipped on was 2022 Shamus Patrick Red Blend. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc in classic Bordeaux Blend style. On the eyes a royal purple in coloring, aromas of plum and “Christmas spices” abounded. On the palate, an ultra-smooth drinking wine, with the pedigree of each grape varietal leaving a pleasing impression. The finish provided caressing tannins and made for a soft conclusion on each sip.
For the record, any wine named Shamus, the name of one of our previous West Highland Terriers, automatically made it a shoe in for being an excellent wine!
Continuing the Irish wine tasting, tried the Slainte Red Blend. While not revealing all the mix, one thing Mark mentioned was that it contained 23% of Touriga National which is something that is unique in violet floral aroma and strong tart earthy notes and dark fruit. Touriga is a great wine and very much underappreciated in the United States.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The balance of the conversation center around Mark’s background. He started in 1979 at Wente and by 1989 was Cellar Master. He then traveled to Europe in 2002 and picked up more traits on winemaking. In 2006 he attended University of Davis which landed him a job at Bonnie Doon Winery in Santa Cruz. In 2009 he officially joined McGrail Vineyards and Winery. Today their current lineup includes six white and Rosé wines and ten red wines and red blends. They also have a sparkling wine. Mark’s background and use of vineyards and barrel treatments showed tremendous creativity for his art form of making many delicious wines.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
At this point we were running short on time but managed to sneak in their 2022 Cabernet Franc that was entered into the 7th Annual International Cabernet Franc Competition in 2026 in the $61 to $70 Category. It received Double Gold Medal from the People’s Choice Judges and Best of Category! It also received a Silver Medal from the Professional Judges. A very smooth and silky Cabernet Franc and one that could easily be enjoyed by itself sitting next to an evening outdoor firepit or with selected foods.
The last topic, in which he referred me to Heather, was specifically how they were addressing and enticing the younger generations of wine drinkers. More to come on that topic later.
At the conclusion of the time, I was amazed by what was accomplished at McGrail Vineyards and Winery with Heather and Mark since my early and first visit. I was also happy to see the Irish Shamrock on each bottle!
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
“Ten Years After” Tasting Party of 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Wines
We were invited to a unique wine tasting venue on Saturday at Tremayne’s Concetta Wine Shop in Modesto. Paul Tremayne hosted the event at his wine shop/wine tasting/office (in the process) and Rick Eason provided the wines from his cellar. There was a nominal charge for this event.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The intent was to see how some very good wines held up over ten years. This was a blind tasting, and the wines were revealed at the conclusion of the event. This was a very interesting and informative tasting.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Wines were priced from $75 to over $300 a bottle buying them today. Each participant had eight wines already poured for the first flight and then a second flight of six wines was poured. Everyone rated their two best wines from each flight and the worst one from all fourteen wines. A simple vote by a raised hand determined which were the winners and losers.
The top wines that held up the best, surprisingly were not the most expensive. Coming in first place was the Nth Degree by Wente Wines from Livermore at $95. Others rating top honors were Beringer Winery – Steinhauer Ranch, Berringer – Private Reserve, Seaver GTS – $220-$300, Selah – $135. All the wines were drinkable, but a few were “over their prime” and on a slippery slope downwards. Those included Mt Brave – $100-$150 95pts, Karl Lawrence Cellars $75-$85 94 pts, Faust $139, Silver Oak Cellars Napa Valley $150-$175, La Jota Winery $250 95 pts, Silver Oak Cellars Alexander Valley $150-$160, Gemstone $179 – 93 pts all receiving the lower scores.
The balance of wine “in the middle ratings” included Far Niente $170-$350, Seaver NLS Diamond Mtn, BV Georges De LaTour $140-$197.
Concluding the afternoon tasting was a treat of two Cabernet Sauvignon wines being 1996 wines and one 2006. The first was Dunn Vineyards from Howell Mtn and a 1996 Silver Oak Cellar Napa Valley. The third wine was a 2006 Berringer Private Reserve. By a show of hand, recorded Dunn Vineyards held up the best by an overwhelming majority.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
I very much appreciated attending this event and thank you Paul and Rick. Another mention should be for Tom Bender who coordinated this event.
Key take aways from this event are: 1) know how long to hold a wine 2) know how to store a wine for optimum enjoyment 3) price alone is not a criterion for longevity of a bottle.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2023 Wood Family Vineyards “VIVA” Cabernet Sauvignon – A Crowd Favorite
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
To start with the word “VIVA” is an exclamation of support meaning “long live” and “hurrah”. It is appropriately named as the 2023 Wood Family Vineyards “VIVA” Cabernet Sauvignon is a wonderful and crowd favorite wine. It falls between some of the stellar Napa Cabernet Sauvignon (and now Wood Family Culmination Cabernet Sauvignon) and many commercial & grocery store daily wines! There are days where a big and bold Cabernet along with mouth-puckering tannins is too much to have as a standalone wine. Conversely a “milk toast” commercial/grocery store Cabernet doesn’t provide enough fruit, balance and tannins to be enjoyed with a hearty steak. Now the solution appears with “VIVA” Cabernet Sauvignon by Wood Family Vineyards. This wine is mellow enough to enjoy by itself but can also pack enough punch to go with a meal.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Thus, the versality with the “VIVA” Cabernet Sauvignon. For those occasions where a softer, more refined and gentler Cabernet Sauvignon is required this Wood Family Vineyards “VIVA” Cabernet Sauvignon is spot on! Rhonda Wood does make your bigger and heartier Cabernet Sauvignon’s (“Especial”, “Clone 30”, “Woody’s Cab”, The Runway blend and now Culmination) for those characteristics and for heavy food and wine pairings. She calls those Cabernets “fork & knife Cabernets”. I call them “chewy or grippy Cabernets”. Each has its place and now “VIVA” provides a perfect mid-point Cabernet for the wine aficionado.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
On the eyes a deep and bright purple and maroon color stands out in the glass with a medium viscosity. On the nose aromas of cherries and flowers (violets) waft gently into the senses. I have stated this before and it is again true for the 2023 vintage that on the palate this wine cuddles up like a down comforter on a cool winter evening. While tannins are present, they are absent of harshness or overwhelming oak layers upon layers to debunk. Vanilla, cranberry, raspberry and a hint of blueberry swarms about to provide a compelling wine to sip and enjoy. The finish is medium length and harmonious. Alcohol percentage is 14.4% and aged in French oak with 27 barrels being produced. This wine will be released in Q4 of 2025. It is 100% Estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
It is a very well-balanced wine with fruit, tannins and acidity in precise equilibrium.
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 ribeye steak served medium rare. The idea was to pair this “mellower” Cabernet Sauvignon with a juicy steak to see if it could handle the meat. Indeed, it did with sufficient tannins to cut through the ribeye. Accompanying the meal were small red potatoes cut in half, seasoned and roasted. Also seasoned and roasted were halved Brussel sprouts. A delicious meal with no compromise with the mellower 2023 “VIVA” Cabernet Sauvignon.
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 about her background from airline pilot to award winning winemaker at:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2016/02/10/wood-family-vineyards-2/
and
Her awards are extensive and too numerous to list here in this article and would refer you to their website at the bottom of this article.
Sláinte,
Michael