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Pantry/Freezer Spaghetti with Unti Vineyards Sangiovese
In keeping with the spirit of #stayhome, I’m sharing some easy recipes which hopefully won’t require a separate trip to the grocery, or at least can be accommodated in your once a week trip. In cooler weather, spaghetti is one of our easy weeknight meals. Julie is especially fond of Italian-American style red sauce, so that’s often our choice. Sure, you can use one of the many jar sauces, but it’s super easy to make your own. Once you have made your own sauce, you’ll never go back!

Under normal circumstances, I’d run to the store if I were out of one of the fresh herbs I like to use to flavor the sauce. Of course, there’s no garden to rely on in Minnesota in March. This time though, I decided to only use items we already had in the pantry, freezer, or fridge.

Located in Dry Creek Valley, you’ll need to watch carefully or you’ll miss it

My last visit was in November of 2017

Some of the vineyards surrounding the winery are Unti estate vineyards

The tasting room is attached to the winery.

Views to the vineyard right from the tasting room.

On my last visit, I had the opportunity to chat with Mick Unti.

Unti Vineyards
We have been fans of Unti Vineyards ever since our first visit to Sonoma, back in 2012. Unti is family owned, 100% estate winery. They farm 60 acres in a thoughtfully sustainable way with only organic material used and no herbicides or pesticides. They have carefully chosen grapes suited to the climate, which happen to be grapes we think of as Southern Rhone and Italian. Their wines are made in a low intervention way, emphasizing lively acidity and little flavoring from new oak. When they suggest laying a wine down for a few years, I can attest that you will be rewarded by doing so.

Back when I purchased this, the Unti newsletter suggested laying it down for a few years. Excellent advice!

That garnet edge shows the wine has been patiently waiting

Unti Vineyards Sangiovese 2011 ($40 from the winery, closest current wine here) 13.9% abv
Eye: Clear, medium garnet
Nose: Clean, medium+ intensity. Aromas of dried cherries, dried cranberries, strawberries. Secondary aromas of a touch of vanilla with rosemary. Tertiary aromas of leather, cedar,
Mouth: Dry, medium+ intensity flavors which follow the aromas closely. Medium+ acidity, medium+ silky, fully resolved tannins. Gentle creamy texture with medium body and medium alcohol. Medium+ finish.
Conclusions: An outstanding wine drinking at its’ peak. The aromas and flavors are both generous and complex with good balance from underlying structure especially from the tannins. Silky smooth but still lively, this wine is a pleasure either with or without food. At its’ peak, not suitable for more aging. Enjoy it now.

You can whip this together quickly, but you’ll appreciate giving it a bit of time to simmer.

Look for pasta from an Italian source, slowly extruded through brass die. This makes a rougher texture to hold the sauce.

You’ll taste the difference