QOTD: Sorry GV, no Brunello stories here.

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.

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…

you always make me laugh…you are my favorite!

i was shocked…i was waiting to see mott at the end of the episode… 😉

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.

qotd: my brunello story was when i tried one for the first time and was not impressed

it was hearbreaking for a developing oenophile

never tried a brunello, looking forward to getting some.

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!

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!

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

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!

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)

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!

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!

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.

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!

Where's hacksaw at today? Bring him out sometime, perhaps him and the sheik can duke it out on Twitter.

QOTD: I don't have one yet.

qotd: don’t have one worth braggin about