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 9, 2008

Red Davis
Hey Gary, you’ve got a whole post on you over at the 37 Signals blog. Congrats!

http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/956-gary-the-great-vaynerchuk-sets-the-example-of-how-to-succeed-in-business-today
April 9, 2008

Sean
How come this episode isn’t on iTunes yet? I rely on itunes to automatically download each show to watch on the train each day. The delay is preventing me from getting my fix!
April 9, 2008

spaetm
I hear the ticking of the clock
I’m lying here the room’s pitch dark
I wonder where you are tonight
No answer on the telephone
And the night goes by so very slow
Oh I hope that it won’t end though
Alone
Till now I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
You don’t know how long I have wanted
to touch your lips and hold you tight, oh
You don’t know how long I have waited
and I was going to tell you tonight
But the secret is still my own
and my love for you is still unknown
Alone
Till now I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
Alone, alone

For 10 minutes Gary? What did you have it repeat?
April 9, 2008

JeffC
QOTD: Yes, love Sangiovese when I can find for reasonable pricing. Brunello’s tend to be out of reach for mass consumption but when I can find a good valued Rosso, I grab a couple.

Hey, whats the deal on the Mott T-shirt?? You’re pullin out leg, no?

Also, idea for WL. Maybe you should run a two bottle blow out deal, on the two you tasted. Buy two, mix your own for the price of one???
April 9, 2008

Darrin
I drink Sangiovese from Napa Valley all the time. I drink the Kuleto Estate Sangiovese all the time with Italian food or without food at all. Kuleto Estate is up in the mountains on the east side of Napa so this is a mountain grown Sangiovese. You should review it sometime….
April 9, 2008

Isaac R.
Good timing for a sangiovese show! You should follow it up with a tasting of several different styles of brunello.
I am the tasting room manager at a winery in Montalcino, so I get my fill of sangiovese. In fact, as I write I’m drinking our 2005 Rosso di Montalcino as I write. I cringed a little when you called Rosso di Montalcino Brunello’s little brother. That kind of mentality is what makes it such a tough sell in the US. In reality, Rosso is completely distinct from Brunello and is the best example in the world of sangiovese in a pure, low oak form.
You’re right, 2006’s are still too young, but they should exceed 2005’s in clarity and ripeness, in my opinion. I’d love to send you some samples of our wines. We also do a Morellino di Scansano Cru which has a vegetal kick that I think you would love!
April 9, 2008

FranB
Hadn’t had a chance to see your show in awhile…Nice to be back! Napa Valley’s Cosentino produced what I considered a very good Sangiovese-’04 Sangiovese Il Chiaretto. May be too oaky for your taste buds, but I’ve gotta admit I enjoy a visit from the oak monster once in awhile!
April 9, 2008

Craig
I had two Sangiovese lately, one by a local amature wine maker – pretty decent with nothing dramatic but smooth flavors. The other by a local vinyard (Wollershiem to give them a plug). The Wollershiem winery Sangiovese was amazing. Clean, fresh, and then BAM, so much pepper you want to pour it on your steak!
April 9, 2008

Jim
QOTD
We have a couple of bottles of the 2003 Sangioviese (Nobile di Montepulciano 2003)from Avignonesi left but are woofully low on replacements. For Italian, we have been looking more into the Barbara’s and Nebbiolo’s for our reds.
How about an across the board show on Italian wines. Add some Italian cheese and I am so there.
April 9, 2008

wayno da wino
I WANT MY “MOTT LINK IT UP” T-SHIRT!!!!! WEEEEEEEEH…WEEEEEEEEEH…….
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHH !!!!!!!

QOTD: Don’t drink tooo much Sangiovese, but do LIKE it for a change of
pace, here & there.
April 9, 2008

Jay
I’m glad you tasted the Luna. I’ve wanted to try that bottle for a while because I love transplanted sangiovese experiments. Apparently I need to get out to NJ because it’s about $8 cheaper in your store than it is in WA.

QOTD: Because of my financial restrictions keeping me from Brunello, I’ve come to really appreciate the texture that Washington sangiovese brings. I’m yet to find one that’s pulls everything together, but on the whole, pretty good stuff.
April 9, 2008

Toby
Hey

Thanks for keeping up the steam and continuing to produce wine-shows!

I was actually quite excited to see the headline of todayâ€™s show and subsequently a bit disappointed, when the wines didn’t turn out to be good.

Because I LOVE Sangiovese-wines! Chianti Classico is one of the few wines both me and my father can agree on, so therefore we must have tried hundreds of different Chiantis together. Recently we were pleasantly surprised by the 2001 vintage of Rocca di Montegrossi D.O.C.G

Brunello is of course also one of the Kings of Italian wines, and often, when it has aged properly, it is indeed one of the best types of wine in the world (in my opinion).

I hope we get to see another show, where the Sangiovese-wines get a chance to prove themselves.

P.S.
Burgundy, Port and Champagne shows are (too) rare on WLTV. It would be very cool to see some more shows featuring some of these “subjects”!!!

Yet again – thank you Mr. GV, for making the wine-world a more interesting place to “be”
April 9, 2008

Martin
Not lately, but I do like it quite a bit.
April 9, 2008

Christine
QOTD: Haven’t had any Sangioveses that have knocked my socks off lately.
April 9, 2008

LarryTheWineGuy
Gary, The Sangiovese I have found outside of Italian ones that are really well made, I am sure you found out for yourself last weekend out in Washington. Even the Mass Producers of Washington State Wine like Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Merlot uses Sangiovese grown in Washington State as a blender but adds such a Nice Rosemary, Herb and Cherry Skin Component to the Merlots and the 100% Sangiovese and Sangiovese Roses I have tasted just like Cabs, Merlots And Syrahs just kick Californias Butt!!
April 9, 2008

Ricky B.
QOTD- Yes I am drinking a lot of good Sangiovese all of it from Italy in the forms of Chianti, Brunello, super tuscans etc… Have not had much luck with California Sangiovese.
April 9, 2008

Roland
Gary: You need to try the Niner Wine Estates Sangiovese from Paso Robles, CA. These people are serious about this grape! Roland
April 9, 2008

Avi
Just want to add that Israel also makes a few (very few) good Sangioveses. The Golan Heights Winery has one under the Gamla label and the Tzuba winery has another. There are a few others, also.
April 9, 2008

Steve B
Mannina’s Sangiovese from Walla Walla is very good wine. So is the Saggi from Long Shadows, which is a Sangio-Cab-Syrah blend.
April 9, 2008

SaraMHCRU
My palate hasn’t wandered much into Italy yet, so I certainly haven’t had enough Italian wine to know what I like yet. I haven’t had Italian varietals made here, either, that I recall.

Enjoyed the experiment. I think it saved the day for an 0-2 show!
April 9, 2008

Wednesday
Not recently. Bonny Doon treats Italian varietals with some respect though.
April 9, 2008

Nick
sangiovese is one of those grapes that is best from the country of origin…of course you still get bad wines italy like the one above.
April 9, 2008

JerseyGirl turned CNY vayniac
QOTD: Nothing that I can think of recently.

Great show today Gary!
April 9, 2008

Adam J
QOTD: No, my Italian kick has been Piedmont hardcore lately. The three b’s,(make that four with Brachetto d asti), Dolcetto, loving it all lately.
It was fun watching you do a little blending of your own. Lovely day!!
April 9, 2008

Bill
I couldn’t agree more. I carry the Luna as a distributor and they are pushing a bad product. I thought it was just me.

I haven’t had a good sangiovese in many months.

Any thoughts on doing a 2001 Brunello tasting?