1997 costanti went to italy on my honeymoon and met andrea costanti he showed us around and tasted his 99 rosso and brunello

Gary, kudos to your little assistant today. She’s great!
QOTD: an unknown Brunello for a lot of us, especially over here: Silvio Nardi, 1999. A friend of us in Italy recommended it and I have to admit that it’s one of the best Brun’s I tasted. It’s only his basic cuvée, there is also a top one (I don’t remember the name) that should be twice as good as this one. The basic one has a very good QPR, it’s basic, but not ‘basic’ as a Brunello: rather OW, still a very persistent tannic structure, nice brown red colour (btw: some people say that ‘Brunello’ refers to the wine, not the grapes, as it was traditionally aged in those large ‘botte’, and in fact aired some bit, causing the wine to brown), hint of garrigue and coffee on the first sniff, then black cherry and blackberry leaf, some tar and smoke. The palate is very focused and remarkably structured, carrying an enormous amount of fruit and moka, but very well tamed. Finish and remembrance are full roast coffee, cocoa and moist earth. Very nice, but still needs some time to smoothen out. I’ll open my first bottle within two years or so.

QOTD: Best BdM would have to be Fanti, especially the 99′. Young in its age, but still a favorite.

I think the Crystal Light was corked.

I’m sorry Gary but I think you’ve been upstaged by a little girl!

Terrific Episode.

-Matt L

Hey Gary,

Havn’t posted in awhile, havn’t been able to watch all the episodes, will get to watch them all eventually. Anyway, had a 1997 Fattoria Scopone recently… excellent… That Pinino is a great wine, tasted one last month. I love the Piancornello 2001 Brunello the most, which, I believe you sell also.

B.T.W Have you had a chance to do a show on the local NJ/PA wines yet? If not, could you?

Gary…Chris and the rest….thanks for putting my little girl Cierra on the show! She was very excited to see herself on WLTV. I agree…I think the Crystal Light was corked!

Doc Brown

Gary you just made me want to RUN back to Italy. As you are well aware I have the privilege of going to Montalcino last summer, just in time for the 01 release. I spent 3 days in Montalcino sampling Brunello. Some of my favorite (no particular order) Poggio Antico, Silvio Nardi, Casanova Di Neri, Tenuta Caparzo and 2001 Casisano-Colombaio (excellent QPR). My favorite..lol..you already know that 2001 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova. However I have a mag of 97 1997 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Altero that I hand carried back right from the winery for a very specail occasion that may just top the list.

i have yet to have a great brunello, so i wont even rack my brain trying to come up with a favorite. i recently had the 97 Frescobaldi Castelgiocando…now i remember WS scoring this over 95…it was good but just average….there was no “wow” factor that would merit a high score….so i’m still looking…..so just picked up a couple of the Pinino considering your excitement….so we’ll see…..now your reputation is on the line big boy!!! (i know, i know….all palates are different…yada yada yada….but i have always loved Bordeaux….just havent hit it with Brunellos)

“The Pinino displays pure elegance and class, evoking thoughts of classic works of art. Now let me stick my finger in this here creamy cheese.” Nice.

You probably should have switched tastings with Ciera–I believe she displayed the polish of which you spoke. She certainly has the swirling down.

Kudos to both of you.

“The Pinino displays pure elegance and class, evoking thoughts of classic works of art. Now let me stick my finger in this here creamy cheese.” Nice.

You probably should have switched tastings with Ciera–I believe she displayed the polish of which you spoke. She certainly has the swirling down.

Kudos to both of you.

Gary,
Thanks for hooking us with the San-joe-vay-zeh Grosso! Do you know of any bargain Brunellos? I wonder whether there is even such a thing. I have only had a few Brunellos and two of them were while I was in Florence (outside of Chianti) and can’t recall what they were. Anyway, they are marvelous and I’m always on the lookout for a tasty, yet affordable Brunello. Thanks for the show! jp

Gary – great show. I don’t have any bottles of BdM, but I had a chance to taste two from the 2001 vintage a few months ago at my local wine shop. Wow – they really did seem to be the perfect merger of Old and New Worlds! I never quite understood how a wine could taste “dusty” or “gritty” until I had those, and I didn’t find it the least bit offensive. I’ll have to purchase 1 or 2 bottles, thanks to your inspiring episode.

Ann B. (signed now as “Badger Ann” – you did want more creative names, right? Go Wisconsin, Go Packers!)

Barolo to follow? Watch out for that kid Gary, you might have a replacement. Perhaps she could do a vertical of SlimFast.

QOTD: 99′ Poggione Riserva actually. Tasted a little while ago and was very happy with it. Lesser known producer to watch Cordero di Montezemolo, great wines.

G-Man any well known Brunello producers you think are way over hyped? Col D’Orcia maybe? Thanks

Welcome home guy!! Great Show. And I had the Fattoria Pinino in my hand early today.. Damn!! My fave so far is the 99 Banfi I also had the 2001 Poggio Il Castellare for x-mas and was quite impressed.

Thanks for lining up the bottles when all done. I liked it before and glad that it is back. The recap with scores is a must to continue

I am truly bummed out by this episode. My wife bought me the Sestadisopra for Christmas and I was really looking forward to aging it and tasting a 95 pointer. Now I am just bummed. Thanks.

Gary,

thanks for the brunello episode. I love when you go old world.

My best Brunello experience was an Altesino 1995, consumed during this past Christmas Break.

Hi Gary,

Another great show as usual. BUT, I think today the little girl (whomever she is) is kicking your butt…..she is great…huh !

Still watching everyday from Hong Kong.

QOTD: Agree with Benji’s post #28 about the ’99 Fanti–stunning wine, especially with food. Winespectator gave it 98 points and it’s deserved; great fruit, silky tannins and super-long finish. Wish I had more. Second fav would be the ’97 Casanova de Neri Cerratalto.

Great episode Gary–the kid’s got a future in your business!

Gary-
I think you should call it cheese and wine!
Ha!
That bit was for those of you who have seen
WWWWWWAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY
too much American TV!
QOD: Never had Brunello. Going to try soon….
Cierra Brown is
VERY
gifted young girl. Gary – you need to watch your back!
I just love the grape drawing.
Who did the drawing?
🙂

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Brunellos in the states just dont taste the same than in Tuscany…or maybe it’s the fact that they are twice the price here and ones that are easy to get are mostly the modern styled generic sangiovese wines….but, man when these wines are on the money….they are among the finest around!!

I don’t know a lot about these wines, nor do I remember many from Italy, but some I have liked are:

2001 La Mannella Brunello di Montalcino “I Poggiarelli”
2001 Pian dell’Orino Brunello di Montalcino

I have attached a quote from Wikipedia re: Brunello, thought it was both interesting and thought provoking :

“Today, Brunello is under attack by the international, modernist winemaking. The wine is becoming darker and bigger in order to garner high scores from the wine press. While there are traditional wineries that follow old school processes and yet still make dark and rich wines (Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona is an example), the reason for this is the conditions of the soils and the micro-climates of the vineyards. This is a far contrast to winemaking regimes that reduce the time in botte or eliminate it entirely, and follow fermentation methods designed to extract more color and tannin from the grapes. While there are many notable Brunello wines crafted in this international, modern style, they are not necessarily traditional Brunello wines.

Some think it unfortunate that those who have come to this wine recently (either on the consumer or production side) are so content to throw off a traditional style that has allowed for the economic success that Brunello has enjoyed. But one must remember that Brunello is a modern evolution. While the modern rules of Brunello making were first laid down by the Biondi Santi family in the late 1800s, the industry we see today has its roots in the 1960s when there were only a handful of producers. Even as recently as 1975, the total number of producers was approximately 25 vintners producing approximately 70,000 cases of Brunello total. According to the Consorzio di Vini di Brunello di Montalcino, in 1995 120 producers made 300,000 cases. Today there are well over 200 producers in the Consorzio. The production has risen to over 6,000,000 bottles, or 500,000 cases.”

Hey gary,
The way you tasted this wine drove me nuts!!!!!
Probably the best wine tasted during the winetv history (based on you excitement) and maybe, just maybe the best episode……..
Na….the flavour profile is still the best!!!!!
Awesome anyway!!!!!
Ricardo Ganc (Brazil)

G-Man,

Sick episode. Nice theme, background, and great enthusiasm.

QOD: LIVIO SASSETTI Brunello di Montalcino Pertimali 1998 is the only Brunello I have ever had. I liked it alot, and I decided Brunello was a wine I need to explore. With the prices though, it is definitely a special occasion wine.