Livermore Valley Wines
2022 JMC Cellars LVVC Blend
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
What is LVVC? LVVC stands for Livermore Valley Vintners Collective a group of winemakers in Livermore Valley who showcase what can be achieved solely with Livermore grapes. Each year a “framework” of grape selections and percentages are announced. Each of the participating wineries make their wines according to the strict framework (usually one varietal with a percentage) and up to several grapes with a minimum and maximum percentage. This allows each winery to have “similar expressions” of the blend yet allowing individual creativity.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This year’s requirement was to have a min/max of 35-40% Cabernet Sauvignon and balance being up to five varieties with no more than 25% of any other. The wineries participating this year for the 2022 release were: Fenestra Winery, JMC Cellars, Las Positas Vineyards, Page Mill Winery, Rosa Fierro Cellars and Wood Family Vineyards. The percentage each chose is listed in the above picture.
This year’s release event was held at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore on May 22, 2025.
The Winery
Photo from JMC Cellars website
This is the first review I have done on JMC Cellars and just met her at the LVVC event in May. The first thing you notice when talking with Jessica Carroll, winemaker and proprietor, is her exuberance talking about her wines. Her background is differently one described by Robert Frost as perhaps the road to winemaking “being the one less traveled”. She graduated from the University of Portland with a degree and worked in Civil Engineering as a Transportation Engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She quickly became smitten with the wine bug and wine industry. In 2014 she began completing her Enology Certificate from Las Positas College in Livermore and began working full time at a local winery. She opened the JMC Cellars in 2023 and hasn’t looked back! The tasting room is in the eastern portion of Livermore at 6800 Greenville Road.
Photo from JMC Cellars website
In reviewing her lineup of wines, for such a small new winery producing around 1,000 cases of wine, she has catapulted quickly into making a robust list of wines. Currently her two white wines include Riesling (dry) and Sauvignon Blanc. Her red wines are extensive with Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, GSM, Malbec, Merlot, Peloursin, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah and Zinfandel. She also has some proprietary wines and a Rosé. That is surely a record for only operating for less than two years. She also has won many awards, including Gold & Silver medals from the SF Chronicle Competition and others.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
JMC Cellars makes mostly wines using Livermore grapes but does source from other areas in California. For example her Pinot Noir comes from the Monterey area.
I have plans to meet with Jessica mid-July to do a tasting of many of her wines and surely several of those will be written about. Stay tuned.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The JMC Cellars blend is 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 14% Grenache, 13% Cabernet Franc and 9% Mourvèdre. All the blends this year were a combination of Bordeaux and Rhone varieties which proved interesting to pair with food. More below on that subject.
It was discernable to pick up on the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec with distinguishable tannins and flavors especially on the palate. The Grenache and Mourvèdre were a bit hidden but did provide a counter punch to the tannins with smoothing out the finish with their lighter touch and spices.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
A very enjoyable drinking wine with both boldness with Bordeaux varieties and subtle nuances from the Rhone varieties to be discovered with each sip.
The 2022 LVVC from JMC Cellars currently goes for $45/bottle. It came in at 14.4% alcohol and was aged in French new oak barrels, being one or two years old, for 24 months. Jessica mentioned she uses a variety of toast methods from medium to heavy. Production for the 2022 was 50 cases. This is a wine that can be consumed stand alone or with very selective meals.
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, seared and BBQ’ed filet mignon and served medium rare. Accompanied by baked beans with Bourbon, brown sugar, Tobacco and ketchup.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
A fresh Southwest salad with roasted chicken, roasted corn, two different cheeses and topped with corn tortilla chips.
The wine with its variety of Bordeaux grapes worked wonderfully with steak, surrounding each bite with dark fruit and strong tannins. The Grenache and Mourvèdre providing spiciness and a soft landing on the finish subduing the tannins. A very good food and wine pairing.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2023 Cuda Ridge Wines Sauvignon Blanc – Bright and Crisp Refreshment
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Originally purchased a few bottles of this wine as I felt it was a great representation of Sauvignon Blanc from Livermore Valley. It has been almost one year since my last tasting of this wine and review and it has only improved!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
On the eyes a soft golden touch of color with a light viscosity. On the nose when cold, grapefruit is the dominant aroma that enters the olfactory senses. On the palate, this is where the wine shows it “classiness” with a peach flavoring with the white grapefruit. Bright and rich with fresh acidity this wine is to be appreciated. Secondary flavors of lime and lemon provide a lip-smacking entrance with their flavors. On the finish, any tartness is caressed by its very full mouth feel quality, peach influence and minerality.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
When the wine warmed up a bit the grapefruit dominance subsided and the lemon and lime influence increased.
This wine had made my Best Wines tasted during the year for 2024 (comes out each December) and will again for 2025. It will be a summertime winner on the patio and being only 12% alcohol is great for social occasions. Aged in stainless steel and is listed for $30/bottle with a surprising punch of power and flavors that was astonishing. This wine has won awards at both the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the Alameda County Fair.
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 an assortment of sashimi from Shiro Ninja restaurant in Angels Camp. A combination of Maguro (tuna), Hamachi (yellowfin) and Sake (salmon). Served with wasabi and ginger. This is only the second time enjoying the fish from Shiro Ninja and very happy with the freshness of their offering.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The food and wine pairing was excellent with the richness, delicate flavors and texture of the fish, complimented by the acidity and brightness in the wine.
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
There is a lot to be said about Cuda Ridge Wines in Livermore, California with Larry Dino as the winemaker and his wife Margie as chief wine taster. They produce Bordeaux style wines. The Cuda Ridge Wines tasting room is located at 2400 Arroyo Road in Livermore, California. Cuda Ridge Wines current production is approximately 2100 cases. They produce the following varietals: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and most recently their addition of Carménère.
Photo from a recent event of Margie and Larry Dino ©Michael Kelly
Always experimenting, Larry Dino also has produced non-Bordeaux style wines which are designated under their Black label, these wines include Sangiovese, New-World style Cabernet Sauvignon and others. Each varietal produced are small lots ranging from 100 – 450 cases. Cuda Ridge does extensive blending of varietals and strives for lower alcohol wines with intense complexity and character, traditional of the Bordeaux style wines.
Sláinte,
Michael
- ← Previous
- 1
- 2