A Tasting of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

A Tasting of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano – Episode #544

September 23, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk tastes 4 examples of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, not to be confused with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo or Brunello di Montalcino

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Comments on this episode(154) Leave a comment ›

“Interesting…..Mid pallet comment.

I’d like to see a show; with a …” by salvatore
“Nice quick little show. Helps me catch up and give me some ideas on n…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Cerro Vino Nobile Di MontepulcianoVino Nobile di Montepulciano
2004 Dei Vino Nobile MontepulcianoVino Nobile di Montepulciano
2004 Torcalvano Vino Nobile Di MontepulcianoVino Nobile di Montepulciano
2005 Poliziano Vino Nobile Di MontepulcianoVino Nobile di Montepulciano

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Gary in Miami details

154 Responses

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September 25, 2008

Lawrence Leichtman
While I have had these wines for over 30 years, they are not my first choice for similar wines, They always come across as too rustic and too harsh for my tastes.
September 25, 2008

thefaamakesmedrink
Gary,

Here’s my first thought about these types of wines:

M-O-N-T-E-P-U-L-C-I-A-N-O.

Out of those thirteen letters, I get:

Mon-teh-pull-chee-AH-no.

How do you get:

Mon-teh-CHEE-no?

I won’t even get into no-BEE-lay…

Regards,

Jim Lampley
September 25, 2008

Seth T
hey gary… big time fan and long time lurker. i know a ton of comments have already addressed the issue, but maybe this will help clear up the confusion a lot of people are feeling:

-there is both a village in tuscany called montepulciano and a grape called montepulciano that are not directly related (ancient origins aside).

-the wines that were presented in this show, vino nobile di montepulciano (as well as a wine that requires less aging, rosso di montepulciano) are made primarily from a clone of sangiovese called prugnolo gentile.

-these are different than brunello di montalcino and rosso di montalcino, which both come from around the town of montalcino in tuscany and are made from the same clone of sangiovese, though called locally the brunello clone or sangiovese grosso.

-the grape montepulciano is seen more in le marche as rosso conero and rosso piceno (both blended with sangiovese) and in abruzzo as montepulciano d’abruzzo (as well as other regions).

and not to lose all of my credibility… it easy to say that banfi is not the most boutique brunello producer around (far from it)… but to put them in the same boat with ruffino chianti is totally unfair. banfi makes consistently quality wines year after year… definitely not earth-shatteringly profound, but good nonetheless. ruffino is a different story.
September 25, 2008

CD
Hey Gary. Love your show. Great energy. You say we shouldn’t confuse Montepulciano with Montalcino but you keep saying Montalcino instead of Montepulciano. take it easy!
September 25, 2008

Vericlese
Ha ha Bamfi! My thoughts exactly. Headed to France next weekend for a restock so the Italias are off the radar for awhile.
September 25, 2008

Derek
I have a vino nobile at home. looking forward to cracking it open now.
September 25, 2008

Ryan D
Good show aside from the gross mispronunciation! Only took 400 or so episodes for you to do a vino nobile episode after I’d suggested it!

QotD: Love Vino Nobiles, probably my favorite not on ly for taste but for sentimental reasons.
September 25, 2008

djs
Have had past vintages of the Cerro and enjoyed them very much.
September 25, 2008

jsrassat
Italy, can’t go wrong.
September 24, 2008

Phil G
QOTD – Love the Vino Nobile and almost see them as a nice middle ground (in price) between Chianti and Brunello… great with Italian food, of course! Was actually able to visit the Del Cerro winery and tasting room that was in the beautiful hilltop village of Montepulciano.

Don’t want to be negative, but just wanted to mention two things. I thought it was pronounced Mon – te – pul – chi – an – o. And this region is certainly in Tuscany.

Thanks GV!!!
September 24, 2008

John D.
Thanks for the great show Gary! Loved the Banfi and Ruffino comment, been looking to try something different and this price point is pretty nice too.

So, do you ever go double wristband, you know, one on each arm???? Digging the new one.
September 24, 2008

laposte
QOTD:
These are real value wines if you like brunello. Good show!
September 24, 2008

R. J. Rotella
I generally enjoy your shows, but you really butchered the names of these wines (not just the pronunciations, but even confused Montalcino and Montepulciano) so much so that you lost credibility with respect to any other opinions you may have expressed about the wines themselves.

I think your enthusiasm is refreshing, but you really just winged it in this one, and I tuned right out. I would be glad to help you with your Italian pronunciations — I know a little about Italian wine. Just trying to provide some constructive criticism.
September 24, 2008

RobRx
Take Italian lessons, pronunciation obviously incorrect. Ok for guys in the store, not OK for a person in the media.
September 24, 2008

sharon
Okay I’m going back to Italy…Those Montepulcianos sound fabulous. And affordable, too.
September 24, 2008

Adam Teece
New wristbands look pretty spiffy. Green is the best color out there after all. Despite it being the color of the NY Jets. And of course the Vaynernation makes it all the better.

QOTD: Haven’t tried them yet, but will eventually.
September 24, 2008

wannaBconnoisseur
Italian wines rock!!

Q-Not a bunch, picked one up a couple weeks ago that I am looking forward to trying.
September 24, 2008

Matti
QOTD: Love these wines! Have some of the 2004 Poliziano in the cellar. I would also give big thumbs up to Trattoria Pulcino wines and greetings to Luca!
September 24, 2008

Mark Iwanicki
MON TE PUL CHHH IANO not Montechino!!!!!!!!!!!
September 24, 2008

Eduardo
I know it´s difficult for you to pronounce italian but these wines prononced MON TE PUL CIA NO and the Brunello is from MON TAL CI NO, and the c is pronounced like ch in china…just a little help…even though you´re still great!!
September 24, 2008

kenny_k
I don’t remember, will this weekend. Wristband with Jets colors, COOL!!!
September 24, 2008

Chippewamike
QOTD: Never had one. Taking an Italian wine class though and hope to taste one in one of the last three classes. Funny you mentioned Banfi. I did not catch it when I watched this on UStream, but now that I have started the wine class, I know who and what Banfi is
September 24, 2008

JimChem
Good show! And Montepulciano is a beautiful place to visit.
September 24, 2008

JMaxwell
Yes, a friend of ours has shown interest in montepulciano recently. I have not heard your pronounciation before, where you compress “pul”. I’ve always heard montEEpullchEEaano. Vaynernation wristband is smooth Gary.
September 24, 2008

Michel Beauchamp
From Poliziano, the Asinone cuvée is worth every extra cent you have to pay.

From Avignonesi, the cuvée Grandi Annata 1999 that we had a few years ago was shockingly great and was a major factor in me looking beyond Chianti and Brunello. We now have the 2004 Grandi Annata available in Quebec. Has anyone tried it and willing to share his impressions?