An Italian Brunello Blind Tasting, Brown Bags And Fun!

An Italian Brunello Blind Tasting, Brown Bags And Fun! – Episode #487

June 17, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk tries 3 Brunello wines from Italy, The Brunello Di Di Montalcino wines are some of the most Sought after in the world!

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Comments on this episode(217) Leave a comment ›

“Loved it, i am a huge fan of tuscany, brunello especially. couldn’t a…” by Andrew
“Im down with the Iron Shiek. Poor guy has gone absolutely bat— craz…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
View all 217 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2001 Ruffino Brunello Di Montalcino Greppone MazziBrunello di Montalcino
2003 Fanti Brunello Di MontalcinoBrunello di Montalcino
2003 La Rasina Brunello Di MontalcinoBrunello di Montalcino

Links mentioned in todays episode.

217 Responses

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April 10, 2009

Andrew
Loved it, i am a huge fan of tuscany, brunello especially. couldn’t agree more with your hating on the new worldy modern crap they are doing to what should be beautiful brunellos, had a conversation with a guy the other day about how much he loved more modern oppulent wines in tuscany (in reference to barone ricasoli’s wines) and it made me want to kick him out of the store. If i want california i can drink wine from california I want old school sangiovese all the time!
January 15, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
Im down with the Iron Shiek. Poor guy has gone absolutely bat— crazy nowadays…. Im sure youve seen the youtube videos. I love these blind tastings. Youre getting surprised and you KNOW what kind of wines they are. How cool is that? Q…..SOTD: I dont have one yet.
October 2, 2008

Chris
I think you need to do a blind taste-off on WLTV against that fancy lad Brian Freedman from Classic Wines!!! Take him down to China-town Gary and show him what’s what!
September 27, 2008

kathyintex ( kathyd )
Good show! Love the blind tastings, I am always surprised at the end!

QOTD: I hadn’t tasted many Brunellos, but at a recent Italian wine event I got my fill and stayed by the Brunello table all night!
September 13, 2008

Jason Perrone
Good show.
Brunello, to me and as you descibed is a romantic wine. It can certainly help define an occasion – I continue to use it to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays or whatever else we can come up with as an excuse to say salute!

Over the past couple of years I have had a few very disappointing Brunellos (Banfi is one that comes to mind) that were late 90’s wines and early 2000’s. Could the problem with improper practice and ingredients been going on back then?? were they not full Brunello wines and actually blends?? What’s your take?

Thanks, Jason Perrone (Wethersfield, CT)
August 14, 2008

oculist
Brunello is difficult to find in the UK but I always try to get it for my Christmas lunch. Luckily I have just returned from Florence with a bottle of the Ruffino in my case!
July 21, 2008

MattUD
I havn’t had a brunello yet, havn’t found one in my price range as of yet.
July 10, 2008

JayZee
Great show, GV. Very timely with the big Brunello controversy raging in Tuscany right now. Do you think the Fanti cheated and used Cab Sauv in this Brunello? Hmmm.

SOTD: My Brunello story – My wife and I and two other couples went to a local Italian restaurant called Lago before going to the theater one night last year. While our friends very much appreciate wine, they “don’t know much” and often haven’t tried many different varietals or regions. So as the resident “wine guy” in the group, I first ordered an Aglianico, which was decent wine and went pretty well with everyone’s first courses. Then for the main course, I ordered two bottles of a 1997 Brunello (I cannot recall which one but it was one of the fairly well regarded producers). Everyone loved it. In fact, we went back to the restaurant after the play for dessert and when we discussed after dinner wines, everyone said, “Let’s get another bottle of that Brunello!” so we did – and it was the last one they had at the restaurant, which is probably a good thing, since we may have had two otherwise!
July 10, 2008

ChiroGuyDC
I’m certainly a rookie when it comes to Italian wines, and never have tried a Brunello, but after this show, I’m sure to dive into Brunello packing some KNOWLEDGE!
July 10, 2008

kjdion
never tried a brunello, looking forward to getting some.
July 4, 2008

*/^_^\*
qotd: my brunello story was when i tried one for the first time and was not impressed

it was hearbreaking for a developing oenophile
July 4, 2008

Sassodoro
QOTD. I don’t think I have much of a Brunello story. I have had Brunello more often at tastings than at meals, given how expensive they are. I do remember the first time I had Brunello, which was at a restaurant called Volare. I think it was a Banfi. I had already had many Sangioveses in other forms than Brunello (e.g., Chianti, Morellino di Scansano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Rosso di Montalcino, etc.), but no Brunello. This one gave me much more leather and tobacco than the other Sangioveses had, and I thought that was fascinating.
July 3, 2008

joe
i was shocked…i was waiting to see mott at the end of the episode…
July 3, 2008

stephanie
you always make me laugh…you are my favorite!
June 30, 2008

Julie & Paul Humiston
QOTD: Every year for the past several years we have spent Thanksgiving in a small cabin on the north shore of Lake Superior. We bring the proverbial boat load of wine for the weekend and the selection always includes some Brunello (usally Mocali) just because! PS. The first Brunello I ever had was a ‘97 Banfi – not one to forget…
June 30, 2008

Russ J
Good show GV, though the single blind made me want a double blind even more! I was hoping you might throw down some speculation on the vintages since you already new the wines.
Sorry but I do not have a Brunello story, per se, to share with you.
June 29, 2008

Tommy Vernieri
QOTD: Sorry GV, no Brunello stories here.
June 29, 2008

melissa
qotd: i don’t have a brunello story yet, but after watching this episode i hope to have one soon!
June 29, 2008

Dan-o
GV – like the blind tastings. Really like Brunellos!
I drink a lot of different Brunellos. I would have to say my favorite so far was a 1997 Campogiovanni!
June 26, 2008

Matt the Lurker
QOTD – Once at a wine tasting event I tasted my first Brunello. (Paid the extra dough for the premium tasting) I said, “what is this?” I thought, this is the best wine I’ve ever tasted, ever.

After that I promptly forgot which Brunello it was and I’ve been searching for it ever since.
June 25, 2008

yowens
Awesome show. QOTD: We were at some vineyard in Montalcino and found the owner’s meat market where they brought us into the slaughterhouse to choose our sausage for lunch. Both at once disgusting and incredibly cool.
June 25, 2008

Colin
QOTD – I don’t have one yet dude! GV – Keep it up
June 25, 2008

Arminius
What about the “fake” Brunello confiscated by Italian police few months ago at some of the biggest names?
June 24, 2008

Pardus
Never had one.
June 23, 2008

Jason S.
QOTD: I don’t have one yet – just starting to delve into Italian wines.

What’s up with the number of comments lately? They’ve shrunk by almost half! Come on guys, show GV some love.