Red Wine Blends
2023 Starfield Vineyards Miner’s Inch Blend – A Surprisingly Great Find
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Starfield Vineyards sent out a bottle of their 2023 Miner’s Inch for an upcoming Zoom call with Tom and Rob Stinton, owners and winemaker for Starfield Vineyards. This was held on the winter solstice concluding the shortest sunlight day to the longest, with daylight expanding ending in the summer solstice. It was a metaphor for planning and renewal for the coming year.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
I was intrigued by the 2023 Miner’s Inch (named for a local mine in the Sierra foothills from the Gold Rush days) as it was either a “hodgepodge of varieties left over or creative genius”! The wine consisted of 30% Grenache, 17% Aglianico, 14% Tempranillo, 14% Petite Sirah, 9% Mourvedre, 9% Cinsault, 4% Roussanne all from El Dorado AVA. As I have previously expressed, I am not a big fan of “blends” yet have experienced some delish ones, this seems from reading the mix, a bit “far out”. Turns out it was wonderfully delicious.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes an iridescent red/maroon coloring that was beyond eye catching! I held a white paper towel behind it that only showed a portion of the color. Spice and floral notes on the nose combined with their Sierra Spice scents. On the palate is where this wine exploded with flavors coming primarily from Grenache, Aglianico, Tempranillo and Petite Sirah each being distinctly noted with each sip. Black and red berries, savory spices, smokiness, black pepper swirled happily in the mouth. The finish provided a bright acidity with checked tannins with a hint of a semi-sweet conclusion.
Only 208 cases produced and is sold for $38/bottle. SRP $38. They aged the wine for 18 months using 23% new French oak barrels and the balance being neutral barrels. This wine will make my annual list of Best Wines tasted for 2026 (Dec 16th, 2025, to Dec 15th, 2026). The conclusion is simply creative genius!
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
With such an all-inclusive blend, it was a bit of a shot in the dark which food to pair with the wine. Went with our chicken Pad Thai with a more spice than normal. The ingredients were fresh Udon noodles, virgin olive oil, minced garlic, cooked chicken, eggs, bean sprouts, sliced red bell pepper, green onions, peanuts and lime juice. The Pad Thai sauce included fish sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, siracha and creamy peanut butter!
Limes were plated to squeeze the juice over the top of the dish as well as ground peanuts and green onion slices. Accompanying the meal was a fresh garden salad. The meal was packed with a punch of flavor and warmth! The 2023 Miner’s Inch was a godsend. The wine was refreshing and quenched the palate from the heat of the meal. Every flavor in the dish found a partner in the wine blend!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The other note on the finish was the “Sierra Spice” which Starfield Vineyards describes as being its sense of place amongst the trees on the property of “Ponderosa Pine, Cedar, Douglas Fir and combined with the mountain air of resin, bark and needles” from the trees. They sent me a test tube to inhale the aromatics.
The Winery
Photo from Starfield Vineyards
The winery was founded in 2012 by Tom and Rob Sinton with plantings of 31 acres on the hillsides east of Placerville, California in El Dorado County. They are located at 2759 Jacquier Road.
Map courtesy of https://uscountymaps.com/el-dorado-county-map-california/
The names of the wines, especially their new labels starting with the 2023 vintages, highlight the history of the region from the Gold Rush with wine names as Miner’s Inch and Rising Hope. These two are for a nearby mine.
The winery produces 17 varieties of wines comprising of mostly Rhone varieties (66%) and Italian (30%) and a few Spanish varieties. The vineyards have been farmed using sustainable and fish-friendly farming since their inception.
The winery name, Starfield, refers to “Star Fields”, sites where in their words “fruit develops the optimal balance of aroma, flavor and texture”. They also consider what they refer to as Sierra Spice, the aroma and taste characteristics that come from the western facing forests surrounding the vineyards. The local trees are Ponderosa Pines, Cedars and Douglas Firs and their oils provide earthy and woodsy forest aromatics from their oils.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2022 LVVC Blend from Wood Family Vineyards
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Photo ©Michael Kelly
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 are listed in the above picture.
This year’s release event was held at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore on May 22, 2025.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Wood Family Vineyards blend was 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Zinfandel, 25% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5% Petite Sirah. 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.
In previous vintages, it was very easy to taste and disseminate each varietal, but this year was a bit more difficult. The Zinfandel was easy with ripe berries, black pepper and spiciness. The Grenache was light and its berry driven fruit was tucked away behind the bolder Zinfandel. The Syrah provided body and dark fruits of blackberries and blueberries. The Petite Sirah added a boldness to the wine as well as tannins and dark fruit.
A very enjoyable drinking wine with both boldness and subtle nuances to be discovered in each sip.
The 2022 LVVC from Wood Family currently goes for $45/bottle. It came in at 14.7% alcohol and was aged in 50% new oak barrels for 19 months. A wine to 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 dry rubbed pork tenderloin drizzled with Cherry Pepper sauce. The dry rub consisted of brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning and a pinch of chili powder. Accompanied by a baked Russett Potato, sauteed zucchini with tomatoes and onions. A fresh garden salad with cherry tomatoes, purple onion, apple slices and pepitas.
The wine with its variety of grapes worked wonderfully with the bold flavors of Zinfandel with spicy notes surrounding each bite with fruit. The Cabernet and Petit Sirah with its tannins and bold flavors and adding texture to the meal. The flavorful seasonings were simply symbiotic to the spices of the dry rub. The Grenache stood up nicely to the pork’s richness. And the Syrah’s intensity also worked hand in hand with the smokiness of the pork’s dry rub.
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Many stories on Wood Family Vineyards have been written and I would suggest the following links to get a better understanding of the winery and wines offered.
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2025/01/20/2022-wood-family-vineyards-big-wood-zinfandel/
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2024/08/23/2022-wood-family-vineyards-chardonnay/
These links will help provide you the breath, scope and award-winning wines offered by Wood Family Vineyards.
Sláinte,
Michael