A Revisit to Shimogamo Restaurant and Stolpman Vineyards
Background
Photo from Shimogamo Restaurant
While in Arizona this week, visiting family, we ventured to Gilbert to Shimogamo, featuring fine Japanese cuisine for lunch. They have two locations, their original one in Chandler and just over a year ago, the one opened in Gilbert.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
I ordered various sashimi pieces and had a glass of Stolpman Uni, a blend of Roussanne and Chardonnay that was recommended from a previous visit. The wine comes from Ballard Canyon AVA in Los Olivos, California. Here the delicate richness and mouth filling Roussanne combined with crisp and bright Chardonnay with apple and pear tastes, provided a great accompaniment to the fresh sashimi.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
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
Ordered four pieces each of Sake (salmon), Hamachi (yellowtail), Saba (mackerel) and a special (Toro) “fatty Blue fin tuna” selection. The presentation on ice was perfectly presented. Each piece of sashimi was delicious and extremely fresh. The wine complimented each morsel of fish consumed. Can’t wait to enjoy dinner there upon my next visit.
The Winery
This is only the second time I have enjoyed a Stolpman wine and will not be my last. Stolpman is known for their Syrah and Roussanne grapes growing in limestone outcropping near on the Central Coast with the nearby Pacific Ocean breezes. They are committed to dry farming, native fermentation and with minimal manipulation bringing forth their wines. I will be investigating and getting to know Stolpman Vineyards soon!
Sláinte,
Michael