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EP 979 Blind Tasting Chianti

Gary Vaynerchuk blind tastes 3 different Chiantis with some interesting results.

Wines tasted in this episode:

Carpineto Chianti ClassicoChianti Classico
2007 Felsina Chianti Classico RiservaChianti Classico
2007 Ricasoli Chianti Classico BrolioChianti Classico

Links mentioned in todays episode.


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luca bercelli

90/100

Line of the day – ‘This I pretty much drilled in my opinion. I’m happy where my palate is at.’

Nice episode that tells a lot about Chianti – ie avoid!

Tags: Blind Tasting, chianti, red, review, Video, wine, wines

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  • I agree with you on Chianti. I will drink it if I’m in a casual chain restaurant where I don’t have a lot of options. Meh. It’s fine but overpriced and nothing knocks my socks off.

  • ALLAN

    Kahuna? ? ? …..That’s a first, but you gotta start some place, right? :))))))

    Hi laurieinvt! Hope everything is well etc. etc. 🙂

  • holding my breath for #1000 GV from GB
    cheers and howabout your faves from last 1000 shows older original bottlings versus new bottlings???

  • Anonymous

    QOTD – while I agree with you that some chianti is over priced and meh…I think you generalize this catagory way to much I can say the same thing about lower end rioja, barrosa shiraz, bordeaux, sonoma/napa cabs, malbec etc…Its not a chianti issue, is an industry issue … there are alot of great chiantis out there… I think the high end 35- 45 dollars can be spectacular and rival many brunellos twicw the price- the felsina rancia – the Ricasoli Castello di Brolio selvapiana , Fontodi, Castello di Ama etc… iterestingly I think its these higher end chiantis that bring value… I also think there are many under 20$ Chiantis that are great… but I agree they are just harder to find… but I feel the same about Bordeaux

  • Don’t think I’ve ever had a Chianti.. anyways, great show as usual!

  • Anonymous

    Chianti in general lately, meh.
    I can remember hanging out with some Italians several years ago, and we drank it at every meal. They served some really nice wines, but never found anything since that has inspired me. My Chianti curiosity is kind of non-existant.

  • ALLAN

    Agree

  • Jay

    QOTD: My grandpa really likes chianti however personally I think it’s overrated. I tried it last summer and was fairly ambivalent towards it and not much has changed since

  • Anonymous

    cheap chianti is a go-to grocery store wine for me. Rarely thrills, but generally non-offensive and good with food.

  • Seeing to many disappointing Chianti’s on the market right now, but love Sangiovese and for under $20 the 2007 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva brings the minerals and dark fruit I desire.

    Cheers to the march on to 1K!

  • Anonymous

    Hi Gary! It’s my very fist comment. Im excited! I want to thank You doing the shows. It is so interesting and fun and also very educational. You made me follow NFL again (last time I followed was when Ravens won).
    About chianti I feel same- over priced. Not buying anymore, used to pick it often some years ago. Today I’ll find so much more to explore (cause I have never been so interested on wines same way I do today, thanks to You) Don’t want to really waste time these days on chianti.
    Im I only Estonian here? Probably. There is only 1 million Estonians living on earth. So maybe I am one of the million who makes comments here :). Thanks Gary and keep it going….1000 is coming soon !

  • QOTD: Haven’t drunk many Chiantis for the very same reasons GV stated. I’ve been drinking Piemontes, Venetos, Sicilianae, Umbrian, Campagnae, basically anything other than Tuscan.

    Couldn’t ask for better on this episode: brown-bag and *very* tight.

  • MattB

    Gary – i feel that Chianti quality has generally fallen off in the last 10 yrs and it isn’t a wine that I drink that often. Occasional bottle sings to me – most recent interesting Chianti I have had was a 2007 Riecine Chianti Classico – but unfortunately this is the exception rather than the rule. Generally I use Chianti to cook rather than drink which is a shame – Sangiovese is such a delicious grape when well made. Cheers!

  • MattB

    Alex – look out for the 2007 Riecine Chianti Classico – I have had this recently and think it is pretty good. Worth trying if you see it. From memory comes in around $20. Enjoy!

  • Anonymous

    I haven’t had a chianti since I started keeping track. I can’t say I’m very inspired to do so now. I will keep my eye on the comments for recommendations, though!

  • Not technically a Chianti but if I’m looking for something with some Sangiovese I really like Ruffino Il Ducale. What I loved about it was that it brought something new to my pallet OLIVES (which I don’t like to eat)! Drank it with some frozen pizza while watching Changeling (kinda creepy).

    Even reviewed it here: http://audiovino.blogspot.com/2010_11_07_archive.html

  • Anonymous

    QOTD: Right with you Gary. Started counting on my fingers the red varietals that I prefer to lower ewnd sangiovese and was at #21 when I gave up and just admitted that there are so many other wines to drink that are vastly superior QPR’s that why bother with chianti’s.

  • Anonymous

    If I am getting an Italian wine I don’t really choose Chianti these days. That is unless I want to use it as 70’s style candle holder and grab the wicker wrapped bottle.

  • Anonymous

    Still a good, tight show Gary even though these wines brought no thunder at all. I agree with the other comments: Chianti is a huge disappointment for me. I don’t understand it, considering that Brunellos rock my world. QOTD: I think the DaVinci Chianti in the supermarket is pretty decent for 15 bones.

  • Anonymous

    GV Haven’t tuned in as much as I usually do, but good episode. My own QOTD, what would help spice things up a bit? Its time to bring in you r father again. Its been a while.

  • Anonymous

    I have only tried it once about 10 years ago in a restaurant in Italy can?t remember the producer thought it was quite nice, I will have to purchase a bottle again to see if I am still a fan.

  • Anonymous

    QOTD: enjoying it with simple italian fare (pizza, non-homemade pasta, etc.)
    The felsina received 91 from Antonio Galloni, 88 from WS, and 89 from D’Agata of IWC, btw…

  • Anonymous

    You are such a hound 🙂

  • have tried Chianti in the past, but haven’t had any in a few years or more. I remember liking it, but need to try it again. Great show!

  • Anonymous

    If ya got it, flaunt it.

  • ALLAN

    You only like straight Sangiovese then ? ? ?

  • Anonymous

    QOTD: The last two I’ve tried have both been corked (either that, or I have strong dislike of Chianti).

  • ALLAN

    Ha! Ten years in the wine world, is equal to a lightyear in space time. The time is NOW to go out a buy a bottle again. And remember the wines will always taste better when your “On Location”. 🙂

    Cheers’!

  • ALLAN

    I knew you would be a happy camper after seeing this episode. 🙂

  • Anonymous

    i was stoked to see a little chianti show gv
    qotd– for some reason, i am still searching for good chianti. most of it is plunk BUT there are some that are still nice out there for good prices. best find i have had is chianti classico reserva ” La Selvanella”. it is priced around 20 bux but i always find it on sale for 15 or so. i bought about 6 btls of the o4 to drink over the next few years…. good times

  • Anonymous

    Oh what do you know anyway, you are from Denmark. You will drink sewerwater as long as it gives you a buzz. Chianti, Mehhh! ;P :0 Had to get the sarcasm in!

  • Jaybird76

    QOTD It’s not my favorite Italian (Sangiovese) and enjoyed it much more when first started drinking red wine and after expanding and trying other wines it makes me wonder why this grape is their so called claim to fame. I drink most Italian wines from Piedmont or Lombardy

  • Anonymous

    tsk, tsk, tsk, I believe that’s my tagline that you chastised me for 🙂

  • Anonymous

    “long time watcher, first time video poster…” Nicely done GV. Felsina is one of my favorite chianti producers. Their declassified 96 vintage regular chianti still ranks as one of the all time great Chianti Classico values i have ever had at 13 bucks.
    Re QOTD: My theory on Chianti is that the best stuff these days is coming from the Val D’ Elsa area of Chianti Classico. Castello della Paneretta (my favorite), Monsanto , Isole E Olena, etc.. the best Chiantis with enough traditional style, and fair prices. Ta.

  • Anonymous

    QOTD= Ive been “meh” on it for a long time. I would have to go back to a 2001 San Felice to even remember one I bought more than once

  • Anonymous

    Absolutely agree with your take on the Brolio, I don’t care for it at all. When I’m craving a Chianti, I want stinky wine not fruit… Love the Ducale Oro also fond of the Tan Label… When a wine is good enough for Tony Soprano who am I to agrue.

  • Anonymous

    Seems like the last 10 years Chianti has sucked, have had very few that were enjoyable. As a result, I have zero in my cellar and don’t even plan on buying any.

  • There used to be reasonably priced Chianti’s that could knock your socks off. I haven’t had a Chianti in several years because the quality has gone down as the price seems to have gone up. I suspect you would have to dig in and get personal with the region and makers to uncork some of the great ones that I’m sure exist.

  • Anonymous

    True, I decided to pose three out of the six journalistic quandaries; the where why and how are obvious. Sorry if I stepped on you’re toes a little, nothing but respect!

  • Anonymous

    Good point Allan I’ll go and purchase a few different bottles of Chianti straight away and will let you now my thoughts

  • Anonymous

    While the three wines didn’t blow you away, I enjoyed the video, and continue to be, (ok, amazed), at your ability to generally hit these blinds head on. Hard to improve on 3 on 3.
    And, speaking of “33”, (which I was), Trentatre offeres a pretty good Rosso Salento, which is a third blend of Sauvigon, Merlot & Montepulciano, from Southern Italy. Nice price point, doesn’t disappoint (me), and delivers enough taste for my worn out buds.
    QOTD: Tried it on a few occasions. Not a fan.

  • Zino

    QOTD: Chianti is a very mixed bag ranging from bad to outstanding. I think Sangiovese is at best a top grape, but its reputation gets dragged down by so much bad and mediocre stuff.

  • Anonymous

    Yes, the sangiovese grosso brunellos are awesome.

    Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

    —– Reply message —–

  • Anonymous

    Hey Gary – just a suggestion, since you ask for them – good future subject you might touch on for those really new to wine appreciation, if only in passing: ‘Foods to avoid if you’re tasting wine’. If you’ve covered this in the past, then sorry, guess I missed it, but you’ve done such an admirable job encouraging folks to try different things with regard to their palate, and this, as you know, is just as important. For instance, as I type this there are only 48 comments (so far), but I’ve already seen several that (I suspect) contain reference to drinking Chainti with foods that contain tomato sauce, a palate-wrecker for wine. Of course, this is only important if you’re “tasting” wine, as opposed to “drinking” wine, but you get the idea. Also, in this same area (educational) is vintage variation; sure these people (newbies) can get this info from other places, but for many, you seem to be their “go-to” guy for this kind of thing. I know that educating your viewers is important as hell to you, & two of the first (and most important) things I learned about wine: the importance of the vintage & the substances (certain foods, cigarette smoke, salad dressings, etc.) that can wreck your taste buds. Thanx!
    There are great wines in Chianti – and when I find them, I drink them.

  • Anonymous

    Mott’s slacking on the wine tags in the track!

    QOTD: I’m down on Chianti right now. It needs a revival because it’s just too inconsistent and there are too many producers for the small zone between Florence and Siena, it doesn’t seem feasible that they’re all fitting into that space… There are some making bad juice on bad soil.

  • Anonymous

    QOTD; Not really on my radar right now.

  • Anonymous

    Maybe Chianti is overpriced because of the shout-out it received in Silence of the Lambs. Also, does it actually go well with fava beans (and brain)?

  • NY Pete

    hey hey

  • NY Pete

    hey Pat .. how’s your boyfriend/stalker?

  • NY Pete

    sure Gary pat yourself on the back.

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