Sangiovese Taste Off – Episode #439

April 8, 2008

Sangiovese is a grape that has thrived in Italy and we are seeing many California wineries take to the grape as well, who will win this battle ROYAL?

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Comments on this episode(223) Leave a comment ›

“Nice show. I have had a 3 case love affair with the 04 Casanova di ne…” by Tom
“Love the Mr. Wizard action going on! That kind of makes me want to go …” by Dessert Wine Nerd
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Casanova Di Neri Rosso Di MontalcinoRosso di Montalcino
2005 Luna Napa SangioveseNapa Italian Varieties

223 Responses

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April 8, 2008

FJDR
QOTD: I drank a bottle of Monte Antico Toscano 2004 Sangiovese not long ago and thought it was OK, but not great.
April 8, 2008

Dominus
Can’t hit a homerun every time especially since you are not on ‘roids.

QOTD: Nope, no Sangi lately but agree with Sonne above re: the Isole e Olena.

Since it’s turning to Spring, I vote for a German Riesling tasteoff.
April 8, 2008

BobM
Gary- It was fun to see your blending experiment. It reminded me of tasting the Vayner Cabernet barrel samples and speculating what the final blend would taste like. It might be fun to play around like that after one a Vayner Nation Third Thursday Tasting.

QOTD: Haven’t had any Sangiovese lately, but I’ll get back to some in the next week or so.
April 8, 2008

Mary Beth
OMG.. I just opened two bottle of Sangiovese to do a comparison myself, one was an italian and the other was a gift from a Jersey winery .. (Yes I know what you are thinking Jesey saniovese??) I had a very similar experience, to Gary…the italian wine was a 2003 but still very high in tannins and the jersey wine was over done fruit forward. did not enjoy either wine and was pissed that I had two open bottle of wines that I did not like So you know what I did? I ended up mixing the two!!! Ah gerat minds think a like
MB
April 8, 2008

Utah
Haven’t had any Sangiovese, lately, myself.

But here’s the freaky thing. I was thinking about, when I saw the two bottles, BEFORE hitting play, about the results of mixing two different wines together in the glass. Its not something I’ve ever seen done before, but it does prove that I’m, you know, magical.
April 8, 2008

Swedish T
Gary

I can tell you, this is very true, that Swedens only MW, Ulf SjÃ¶din, blends his old Bordeauxs with 5cl Penfolds Koonunga Hill before drinking.

QotD : No I dont…Sangiovese has never been a favorite and I rarely by them…

Swedish T
April 8, 2008

Larry R
QOTD: Yes. I’ve been sipping the 2007 vintage from my vineyard and I’m liking it a lot. We’re new, but we should be selling wine by the end of this year. http://www.tryphonvineyards.com
The website is still under construction.

I’ve been lurking for something like 6 months now and it took a show about the grape I grow to get me out so I guess I should apologize now. Sorry.
April 8, 2008

Purple Tooth
I agree with David Kaye…McPherson Sangiovese from Texas is outstanding. It’s a little hard to find, but Central Market carries it.
April 8, 2008

dayvan cowboy
monte reale sangiovese. it is not stored in oak and has a very clean, bright flavor for a sangiovese. never had one from california. hopefully, i never will.
April 8, 2008

Chazzy
Oh, I forgot to add that now I’m officially a former Lurker GV! I’ve lurked through your show since episode 39 (The Quicktime Days). Can you forgive me?
April 8, 2008

Fangorn81
QOTD: Sangiovese is always good. It is like my go-to back up wine. And, despite the unpredictable results of todays show, I usually find Sangioveses to have good consistency from producer to producer…Like Ol’ Reliable. With Italian grandparents, Sangiovese IS red wine to me. Well, it was for a long time.

If you only have $6, go with Sangiovese. Chances are good that you’ll at least be able to drink it!!
April 8, 2008

Eric G
Like the head to heads, don’t mind when the wines don’t perform. Every show has to be different, can’t all be all hit hit hit, then the hits would get dull.

QOTD: Love Sangio, love baby Bruns when they are good, sadly there seems to be a lot of average baby bruns out there. Drank some Antinori Villa Toscana which I thought was OK.
April 8, 2008

Chazzy
The last Sangiovese based wine I had was a 2001 Villa Leprata Rosso Di Montacino 50% Sangiovese + 50% Merlot @ around $30.00 a bottle. Loved it. Fresh acidity and long finish.Very well made and balanced wine. My cellar is dominated by Sangiovese; mostly Brunellos. I also have some Barolos & Barbarescos (cant get enough of Nebbiolo either). The rest looks like this: Loire Valley (Chinons & Sancerres), Languedoc-Roussillon (including some nice little values from Carcassonne),and some Bordeauxs also hold an important place but Sangiovese is currently king. Not to take anything away from the others but thats just the way it is right now.
April 8, 2008

Zinny
QOTD – I am currently in love with the 2006 Monte Bernardi Retromarcia Chianti.
April 8, 2008

manonthemoon
They can’t all be homeruns

QOTD: To be honest I only have one in my collection right now is 2004 Owen Roe Sangiovese Alder Ridge Vineyard and it is being shipped to me with the rest of my trips selections. It is said to new world as the rest of their line up, hopefully it will bring the thunder and I will order more.
April 8, 2008

Don Reynolds
QOTD: Only in Chianti.
April 8, 2008

Eli2Tyree
qotd – selvapiana chianti Ruffina reserva. Awesome! think it was WL’s #2 wine of the year last year. Also enjoy castello d’ Abola CCR 2003 – visited the estate in MAy and LOVED the reserve. brought back a case in my luggage
April 8, 2008

BF
Nice — a little Frank Herbert shout out (Mr. Wizard).
April 8, 2008

Sharon
Funny show! Yes, I really liked Marchesi de Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Riserva Nipozzano 2004 (a Sangiovese blend) at a tasting so bought a bottle.
April 8, 2008

jason
qotd: why the hell not mix stuff. people all over mix alcohol, why not if they suck butt?

drank some barbera d’asti tonight and was tasting gude.

j
April 8, 2008

Ryan D
QotD: From brunellos to chiantis to vino nobiles, I’m a big fan of sangiovese and drink it often.
April 8, 2008

Dr. Dan
The 2003 Selvapiana Bucerchiale CC Reserva that I got from WL is really quite good. It’s $25, but very much better than the other $15-20 CC that I have. I’m metering out the remaining 9 bottles that I have.
April 8, 2008

Gonzo
QOTD: Barnard Griffin Rose of Sangiovese brings some serious pink thunder for around $10.

Thanks for the awkward ep Gary.
April 8, 2008

BargePlus
A very disappointing show – not so much for the wines (That happens), but for the casual announcement that there would be no “Link it up, Mott” t-shirts. So tell us, what will it take to get this sought-after Tee back on the production schedule? 100 comments? 500 comments? 1,000? Or even something else. Let us know; we’ll get it done becuase we want to SHARE the Thunder!!!!!
April 8, 2008

Gonzo
QOTD: Barnard Griffin Rose of Sangiovese brings some serious pink thunder for around $10.