Pedroncelli 2014 Wisdom Cabernet Sauvignon: Begs to be paired with something rich & flavorful!
Hello Friends,
I recently had an opportunity to participate in one of the many fun-filled virtual events the good folks from Pedroncelli Winery are holding throughout the year to celebrate their 90th anniversary in the wine business. Pedroncelli Winery is located in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley and was founded in 1927 by Giovanni and Julia Pedroncelli. Today, the winery remains family-owned and operated by third and fourth-generation family members. Given the ever-changing wine business landscape, this is no easy feat. I was surprised to learn that throughout the winery’s nine decades in business, there have only been three winemakers. John Pedroncelli, son of Giovanni, oversaw an astounding sixty-seven vintages before Montse Reece was appointed head winemaker following John’s passing.
The Pedroncelli’s most embody a passion for family, but also for wine, food, and fun—all key ingredients to their success and longevity in the wine business. This leads me to Julie Pedroncelli St. John, a third generation family member, who has a wonderful collection of family recipes easily accessible via the Pedroncelli Winery website.
My task for this virtual chat was to make ribeye steak with black trumpet mushrooms and bleu cheese. The wine pairing was Pedroncelli’s 2014 Wisdom Cabernet Sauvignon. Talk about a wonderful marriage of flavors: the acidity and tannins in the wine played quite well with the fattiness, char, and flavor of the steak. This is a wine that’s very agreeable with food, and a pairing I recommend trying. For further information and where you can find this wine, please see my tasting notes below. And do follow Twitter hashtag #PED90th to join the fun. Be sure to wish the Pedroncelli family ninety more years of producing highly enjoyable wines (that don’t break the bank).
Pedroncelli 2014 Wisdom Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $36): Aptly named, Wisdom represents the experience gained from farming the same five-acre Cabernet Sauvignon site for the past fifty years. Brilliant deep purple in color, juicy flavors of ripe blackberries and plummy notes are met by complex undercurrents of cedar-box, spice, and espresso bean. This wine is well-structured; there’s good intensity of flavor, nice texture, and grip coming from slow-building, (medium-firm) dusty tannins, all supported by a solid backbone of fresh acidity. The tannins gain momentum on the pleasing, medium-long finish. Age-worthy yet pleasurable now, this delicious Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon over-delivers for the price point. Enjoy a glass with grilled veggies or just about anything off the grill, especially a well-marbled ribeye steak. Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California. Other info: ABV 14.4%, matured 19 months in French oak barrels—40% new, natural cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
I recently had an opportunity to participate in one of the many fun-filled virtual events the good folks from Pedroncelli Winery are holding throughout the year to celebrate their 90th anniversary in the wine business. Pedroncelli Winery is located in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley and was founded in 1927 by Giovanni and Julia Pedroncelli. Today, the winery remains family-owned and operated by third and fourth-generation family members. Given the ever-changing wine business landscape, this is no easy feat. I was surprised to learn that throughout the winery’s nine decades in business, there have only been three winemakers. John Pedroncelli, son of Giovanni, oversaw an astounding sixty-seven vintages before Montse Reece was appointed head winemaker following John’s passing.
The Pedroncelli’s most embody a passion for family, but also for wine, food, and fun—all key ingredients to their success and longevity in the wine business. This leads me to Julie Pedroncelli St. John, a third generation family member, who has a wonderful collection of family recipes easily accessible via the Pedroncelli Winery website.
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| Pedroncelli 2014 Wisdom Cabernet Sauvignon |
My task for this virtual chat was to make ribeye steak with black trumpet mushrooms and bleu cheese. The wine pairing was Pedroncelli’s 2014 Wisdom Cabernet Sauvignon. Talk about a wonderful marriage of flavors: the acidity and tannins in the wine played quite well with the fattiness, char, and flavor of the steak. This is a wine that’s very agreeable with food, and a pairing I recommend trying. For further information and where you can find this wine, please see my tasting notes below. And do follow Twitter hashtag #PED90th to join the fun. Be sure to wish the Pedroncelli family ninety more years of producing highly enjoyable wines (that don’t break the bank).
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| The ’14 Wisdom Cabernet Sauvignon begs to be paired with something rich and flavorful. |
Pedroncelli 2014 Wisdom Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $36): Aptly named, Wisdom represents the experience gained from farming the same five-acre Cabernet Sauvignon site for the past fifty years. Brilliant deep purple in color, juicy flavors of ripe blackberries and plummy notes are met by complex undercurrents of cedar-box, spice, and espresso bean. This wine is well-structured; there’s good intensity of flavor, nice texture, and grip coming from slow-building, (medium-firm) dusty tannins, all supported by a solid backbone of fresh acidity. The tannins gain momentum on the pleasing, medium-long finish. Age-worthy yet pleasurable now, this delicious Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon over-delivers for the price point. Enjoy a glass with grilled veggies or just about anything off the grill, especially a well-marbled ribeye steak. Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California. Other info: ABV 14.4%, matured 19 months in French oak barrels—40% new, natural cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
