Livermore Valley Winegowers Association
2023 Wood Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc – Strong, Bold and Wonderfully Intense!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Livermore Valley has undertaken a strategic direction to focus on Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc wine varietals. Wood Family has been producing Cabernet Franc for two decades and their experience shines wonderfully with their varietal of Cabernet Franc.
First on the eyes a radiant purple/maroon coloring with clarity. On the nose, upon pouring into the glass, a bouquet of violets and cherries burst into the olfactory senses. With anxious anticipation of the first sip, one is pleasantly rewarded with raspberries and red cherries being dominant flavors. Secondary flavors of subtle strawberries and pencil shavings. On the finish, peppery notes and slight moist forest floor notes complete a wonderous and filling sip. This vintage provides stronger tannins than previous years and yet the balance of fruit, acidity and tannins provide a long lasting and intense finish. Truly a great representation of the quality of Livermore Valley’s Cabernet Franc.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine will be released on August 23rd, 2025 and will sell for $45/bottle. Twenty-five barrels were produced using three vineyards in Livermore Valley with the majority from their estate vineyard. Barrel treatment includes new French oak and new Hungarian oak. The alcohol level is 14%.
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 chosen to go with baked Pork Tenderloin this evening. We generally enjoy Pinot Noir wine mostly with Pork Tenderloin but decided to try this Cabernet Franc. This evening used a dry rub on the Pork Tenderloin consisting of brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, sea salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning and a pinch of Chili powder. The pork tenderloin with the rub was first seared in a skillet and then baked. The pork slices were drizzled with Cherry Pepper Sauce. Accompanied by a fresh homemade macaroni salad with black olives, purple onions, and diced Serrano peppers. A fresh garden salad with green onions, cherry tomatoes and roasted pepita seeds was served.
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:
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 Kelly
2018 Wood Family Vineyards “One Oak Vineyard” Merlot and a New Food Pairing
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This 2018 Merlot is one fierce wine and not a weak or wimpy Merlot. The color in the glass is your first clue this is a different Merlot. The color is dark purple/maroon and intriguing with a medium heavy viscosity on the eyes. On the nose, chocolate covered berries, ripe plum and vanilla waft into the senses. On the palate, it is a bit of a paradox as this is both your warm and cuddly drink that is relaxing and comforting to sip yet with some grippy tannins. Yet you are awakened with the first sip to an explosive mouthful of Bing cherries, plums, with subtle earthy tones of bramble and minerality. The finish has a textural feel, and a complex layered structure continues to enhance the wine experience. The words chewy and masculine almost come to mind in describing this beautiful wine. While having so many brawny characteristics, it still presents at the conclusion as elegant and charming. This is a Merlot to absolutely enjoy today, with or without food. Alcohol is 14 % with 242 cases being produced. The wine is 100% Merlot and aged 20 months in French oak barrels. This is worth seeing if they have any additional bottles for sale! This wine will make my annual list of Best Wines Tasted for 2025! The current vintage is their 2022 and is $38/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
When your neighbors surprise you and drop off their just picked garden bell peppers and tomatoes, it seems only natural to make stuffed bell peppers! So, tonight’s meal was a new recipe calling for the bell peppers to be filled with beef, rice and veggies for an all-in-one meal. A slight twist was adding Italian sausage for more flavoring. The ingredients were olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, ground beef, chopped purple onion, minced bell pepper, finely chopped garlic cloves, diced zucchini, diced fresh tomatoes, white rice and shredded pepper jack cheese. Accompanied by a fresh garden salad with cherry tomatoes, green onions and candied almond slices. This combination was great with the wine’s smooth fruity notes and the stuffed meat (ground beef and Italian sausage) in the bell pepper. This recipe will be a standard this coming winter as “comfort food” on a cool night.
The Winery
Picture from Wood Family Vineyard, Rhonda and Harrison Wood
Over 20 years ago, I believe this was one of Rhonda Wood’s first wines produced and continues to be a crowd pleaser. Now her 2022 Wood Family Vineyards “One Oak Vineyard” Merlot will most definitely be an award-winning wine. Located in eastern Livermore Valley with Rhonda Wood owner & winemaker. 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
Sláinte,
Michael
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