Ruffino Gold Chianti Challenge

Ruffino Gold Chianti Challenge – Episode #251

June 7, 2007

Gary tries two Ruffino Gold wines, one from 1999 and the other from 2003.

Comments on this episode(156) Leave a comment ›

“QOTD: Eight years old. Old enough to be independent when it suited me…” by Phredd
“QOTD: Would have to be around the time I was 12 or so, and the years …” by Dessert Wine Nerd
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Wines tasted in this episode:

1999 Ruffino Riserva Ducale GoldChianti Classico
2003 Ruffino Chianti Classico Ducale GoldChianti Classico

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156 Responses

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July 1, 2009

Phredd
QOTD: Eight years old. Old enough to be independent when it suited me, not old enough to have too many responsibilities, and a paper route for spending money. Also, I lived in a really great small town. Everything worth getting to was within walking or biking distance of my house.

Never been a big fan of Ruffino Gold, either, although I love sangiovese in general. The ‘99 is probably on its last legs by now, so I’ll try others.
July 15, 2008

Dessert Wine Nerd
QOTD: Would have to be around the time I was 12 or so, and the years around it. Lets call it 1990-1994. Not a care in the world, and spending summer nights playing baseball in the neighboorhood with friends. How can it get any better than that when youre a young child?
February 19, 2008

thefanjestic
Qotd – 2008! But if I was going back in time – 2001 or 2002 – Sophmore and Junior years at Texas A&M! Whoop!! Class of 2003!
January 2, 2008

Valentin
Interesting – Vinum, Europe’s biggest wine magazine scored the 2003 Ducale Gold Riserva 16/20 points which is very good. I have to buy a bottle and check it out.
August 10, 2007

Sam I
Oh one last thing because I feel like I’m coming off too negative with no suggestions on how to have improved the episode. I would have like an episode on why the 1999 vintage was so different than 2003.
August 10, 2007

Sam I
I’m not a huge fan of these head to head episodes really only because you did an episode on how vintage can affect wine earlier. I’ll let you go though because you toughed out all those tapings for us and I’m sure there are some new Vayniacs who haven’t seen the other episode.
June 22, 2007

Mike Erdely
Congrats on the cholesterol! I need to lower mine as well.

My favorite episode by far! I love Chianti and would love to do a similar taste test.

QOTD: I think my best year is 2007. My wife (10 years this June) and I are happier than ever. I’m happy where I am in my career and so is my wife. Ask me again next year.
June 21, 2007

JayZee
Nice little show, Gary. Congrats on your cholesterol triumph as well. Your LDL was BAAAADDDD. I’m guessing your HDL was pretty decent with all of the red wine you must consume.

QOTD: My favorite year? That is really tough. 1999 was a roller coaster of a year. My dad died in January, but I got married in May to the most wonderful woman on the planet. While the former event was sad, the whole experience was cathartic and I guess it is still the most monumental year of my Earthly existence to date.
June 12, 2007

Clifford J
Thanks yet again GV! Nice shootout, fun AND informative.

QOTD: Yup, like so many others, RIGHT NOW is the best time, and I hope that it is always so!

Hope you’re having fun wherever you are!
June 12, 2007

Jeff
I LOVED the episode! More mini-vertical tastings would be fun. I have only done a vertical tasting once (and it was only two wines) so I would really enjoy that.

QOTD: 2006 – I got remarried and my two children stood up with me. It was the best day of my life.
June 11, 2007

MtnCharlie
QOTD: I have to agree with so many people here. Right NOW is the best year. There have been many in the past and all with their ups and downs, but life is what you make. Kind of been forgeting that lately. Thanks all.
June 11, 2007

Michael H
QOTD: Two answers — (1st) 2006, b/c we had our first son and through a bit of initial adversity, he just turned one yesterday and he gets more and more awesome by the day. (2nd) 1989, b/c it was my first year in college and I met some of my best friends and partied like a rock star 7 nights a week.
June 11, 2007

bcyde
i loved mr. wizard! lol
June 11, 2007

Oregon Sipper
I would have to say that this year has been pretty rad. A new daughter (first child), found out I love wine, and I moved back closer to my parents…can’t complain.
June 10, 2007

thkorent
QOTD: definitely 2001. I spent that year in Italy – was my penultimate/ultimate year of highschool. Turns out it was also a really nice vintage in some of my favourite places like Napa, Tuscany and Argentina, so my cellar’s packed with 01s
June 9, 2007

Shad
QOTD-best year of my life…gosh…2000 was great because I met my wife and life just seemed to be more enjoyable all around…as far as wine goes…and its doesn’t seem like much, but I had a Peachy Canyon Zin that year also that showed me just an inkling of how fun wine can be.
June 9, 2007

Kirk
QOTD: What was the best year of my life…I almost feel wrong saying that it was 2001. Everything in my life was going well that year with the acception to 9/11. Even as large a tradgedy as it was it still could not overshadow the positive aspects of my life that year. Military promotion, Travel to Thailand, seeing Tool in concert for the first time (When are we going to see Maynard on here again?), meeting the woman that was a very special part of my life that year and still now as a friend…it all came together for me that year. It was also arguably the best year Cali has seen in wine since 2000-present. I have very few 2001’s left in my collection (Spain, Italy, California) but I treasure all of them as I treasured that year. Thanks for a trip down memory lane….it’s been fun for me.
June 8, 2007

Wine Lush
Each year keeps getting better and better. I was digging the late 20’s though
June 8, 2007

Grapedigger
Best year for me was 2000: 1) got my postgraduate degree, 2) my first daughter was born, 3) and Bordeaux produced a GREAT vintage…
Cheers,

Grapedigger – Montreal
June 8, 2007

Kathleen Lisson
Gary,
My best year is THIS year of course! Life keeps on getting better, I am in love, I enjoy my job, I get to help people and I got to travel to a few vineyards and meet a few totally awesome people.
Being an adult is way better than being a kid. I went to the wine bar tonight. I get to foster dogs. I get to fly to San Francisco. I can eat ice cream for dinner and I have no bedtime.
Kathleen
Albany, NY
June 8, 2007

tarheel17
I like to watch all the episodes, of course, but I especially like it when you ‘change it up’ a bit. Thanks!
My best year was. . .well, any year. Pick a year. I’ve had a blessed life. That is, any year except middle school. Uggh. That was no fun.

Megan
June 8, 2007

Billman
Congratulations on the cholesterol reduction, that is pretty remarkable. Is your diet/exercise program posted on the blogs somewhere?
June 8, 2007

patrill
Best year for me? 2007, and hopefully 2008. But for wine, 1988.
June 8, 2007

TagWorld Brian
QOTD: What age was my best age? Right now. Seriously, every age has tradeoffs (less responsibility, more free time, less free time, less money, more money, younger body, older body)… But things are all looking up right now (knock wood), so I wouldn’t trade for anything.
June 8, 2007

mcj
QOTD: Most of them have been pretty good, hopefully the best is yet to come.