italian-wines
2018 VJB Cellars Montepulciano and Tuscan Beef Pairing
Photo from VJB Cellars website
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Montepulciano typically is known for its deep color, powerful and sharp tannins with high acidity. Key traits of Montepulciano are oregano, pepper, tobacco, black fruits, plums and sour cherries. On the finish a smoky tobacco is common as well as a rustic countryside quality. Montepulciano’s taste is like Aglianico, Sangiovese and Primitivo. Only 164.9 acres of Montepulciano grapes were harvested per the 2024 USDA National Agricultural Statistics for California representing only .00018% of all red wine grapes harvested in California.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The 2018 VJB Cellars Montepulciano also has many of these characteristics and traits. It is bright in color and on the nose and palate, red berries, blackberries and dark stone fruit. It is bold and robust and best to be enjoyed with food. The finish provided firm tannins and is long yet with a modicum of vanilla and cocoa was very enjoyable. The finish was a tad “heavy and meatier”, but it fit my wine profile perfectly. The wine pairs with many foods especially with meats and cheeses found in Italy. This wine is 100% Montepulciano grapes from Sonoma Valley.
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 bottle out last evening to pair with a Tuscan slow cooked braised beef in wine recipe. The recipe called for three pounds of Chuck Roast cut into small cubes, all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper, olive oil, chopped yellow onion, chopped celery stalk, minced garlic, chopped parsley, red wine, dried whole bay leaves, bone broth, tomato sauce and whole wheat noodles. After browning all the meat on the stove and preparing the sauce, then placed in the slow cooker for eight hours. When the meat was served it was so tender it fell apart with just a fork. Served over the whole wheat pasta and drizzled with fresh parsley. Accompanied by steamed broccoli. The food and wine pairing hit the target with the tannins from the wine standing up to the meat and the flavorful meat enjoying the dark fruit from the wine.
The Winery
Have visited them once for a private tasting and enjoyed all their wines. Today they make an assortment of primarily Italian style wines. They include Prosecco, Tocai Friulano, Aleatico Rose, Barbera, Primitivo, Dante, Sagrantino, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Nero d’ Avola, Negro Amaro, Aglianico, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, a Barbera Port, a Chardonnay Port and various blends.
Besides so many delicious wines to choose from, they offer a food store called La Cucina. They offer all kinds of imported cheeses and meats and provide spectacular food choices. Also their Red Rooster Pizza makes some of the best pizza in all of Sonoma County. Even if you can’t make a wine tasting, these two features are a major bonus!
Slainte,
Michael Kelly