Livermore Wineries
2021 RJM Red Blend by Dell Valle Winery a Commemorate Wine
Photo ©Michael Kelly
RJM are the initials of Robert Joseph Molinari. The wine is crafted honoring his vision and passion for fine wine. His dedication helped in shaping the legacy of Del Valle Valle Winery in Livermore at 4948 Tesla Road.
The Winery has a wonderful kitchen which is open during tasting room hours. Visitors can obtain small bites, flatbreads, salads and sandwiches. On a recent visit, just wanted a quick and light snack of heirloom stone fruit, burrata and prosciutto salad and it was beyond excellent in both presentation and taste.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This will be an on-going commemoration wine with a different blend year to year. The 2021 release was 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Sangiovese and 5% Primitivo. The wine was aged 20 months in new and neutral oak.
On the nose and palate, a pleasant earthiness, juicy plum and balanced acidity with a hint of oak. This is easily both a sipping wine without food and a wonderful wine bringing out the best in lighter meals.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Enjoyed the wine immensely as well as bringing back one specific and very fond memory of Bob on the golf course at Castlewood Country Club.
Look forward to their next release which will be a different blend and released soon.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
2025 Culmination Sauvignon Blanc – Barrel-Aged, You Will Shout About It From the Mountain Tops
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
This is the third year that Wood Family Vineyards has produced barrel aged Sauvignon Blanc. They have have elevated this release to their second or premier label called Culmination. This is now the fourth wine being offered in the series.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
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.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This is like no ordinary Sauvignon Blanc I have experienced in my wine life! I heaped praise on it last year only to have the wine elevated even further with the 2025 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 still providing lively and restrained flavors. 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. Mellow and flavorful cantaloupe taste was noted on the finish. This is a heavenly richer, full-bodied oak influence with creamy texture.
The alcohol level is 14.5% and the price for this is $50/bottle, which is a bit higher than your average Sauvignon Blanc, but this is anything but ordinary! Set to be released early October, this will surely sell out quickly for its flavor profile and uniqueness with only 6 barrels being produced. The wine was aged in 14% new Acacia barrels, 14% neutral Acacia barrels and 72% in neutral French barrels.
This wine will make my annual Best Wines Tasted in 2026 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
Pulled this wine to pair this evening with a baked Italian chicken rollatini. It is baked breaded fileted chicken filled with prosciutto and smoked provolone cheese. Ingredients included kosher salt, black pepper, EVOO, Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, provolone cheese, prosciutto and butter. Accompanied by steamed broccoli and sweet yellow and white corn. The bright acidity and citrusy herbal notes of Sauvignon Blanc cut right through the rich, sweet, and buttery flavors of corn, making it a delicious and refreshing match.
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
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
2016 Cuda Ridge Wines Reserve Malbec – An Abundant Wine By Any Standard
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Malbec has always been one of my favorite varietals. While having had Cuda Ridge Wines regular Malbec which is excellent, more recently tasted a Cuda Ridge Wines Reserve Malbec. Purchased a few bottles of 2016 and my reaction was one of portentous joy how solid this exalted quality of this wine tasted!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine, when poured into the glass, possessed a dark royal purple coloring that was radiant. With a medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose, aromas of black fruits and earthiness wafted into the senses begging to be tasted. Once on the palate, this sublime wine bursts forth with blackberries, plum as the main fruits. Followed with exotic spices of anise, cloves and a touch of cinnamon. Finally, the finish provided with black pepper, hints of dark roasted coffee, smokiness and dry earthiness provide a long-lasting and enjoyable conclusion. A flashback to being smokey and rugged, yet this wine vacillating with a pedigree of silkiness and cragginess with its lovely tannins. A full and well-developed wine.
This is 100% Malbec coming from the White Cat Vineyard in Livermore. The wine is aged in Pennsylvanian American oak, with 50% being new and 50% neutral. The wine comes in at 14.7% alcohol and was sold at $60/bottle. It was aged in barrel for 30 months.
The current release is 2022 and sells for $60/bottle.
This wine most definitely will make my annual list of Best Wines tasted in 2026.
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
Dinner with this wine was a 24-hour marinated flank steak. The flank steak was tenderized and marinated 24 hours with the following only: Chaka sauce and Flatiron Barbeque Rub. It then was placed on the infrared ceramic burner at 1500 degrees for about 3 minutes a side. The steak was so tender, turning it over on the searing element, it started to fall apart! Accompanying the meal was a exquisite fresh salad with crumbled Blue cheese, bacon, green onions, halved cherry tomatoes and topped with Blue cheese dressing.
The Malbec with its fruit surrounded each bite of meat. A delicious and matched food /wine pairing.
The Winery
Photo from Cuda Ridge
In July, Cuda Ridge Wines was acquired by the Lemmon Family Vineyard and since August 1st, 2026 now resides with their own tasting room at Concannon Vineyard and Winery location in Livermore at 4590 Tesla Road. Larry Dino continues to make the wine at Concannon. For a complete story on the acquisition and their new beginnings see a previously published story with details at:
This will only bring new opportunities and creativity to the Cuda Ridge Wines portfolio with the vision that Tom Lemmons has for the vineyard and winery. More information is available here:
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
https://www.CudaRidgeWines.com