In case you haven’t read Franco’s editorial at VinoWire, “Vino Nobile producers: just say no to Merlotization,” please check it out (translation by yours truly). Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is one of the greatest terroir-driven expressions of Sangiovese and it would be a pity to see it dumbed down by higher percentages of international grape varieties. Please comment if you feel so inclined.
Patrizia Castiglioni and Dora Forsoni make my favorite Vino Nobile at Sanguineto. Tracie B always notes that “if Willie Nelson had an Italian sister, it would be Dora.” They are truly lovely folks and when I took this photo of them, Dora smiled sweetly at Patrizia and said, “no one has ever taken our picture together before.” Their wines are natural and stinky, just the way I like them. You won’t find any Merlot here.
Do Bianchi 
such a fun wine! what time is the grigliata…? is willie playin’ the gee-tar?
A lot of Merlot is quite insipid but at Terroir in NYC, one of your favorite wine bars if I’m not mistaken, I had a decent Merlot from Long Island. And those stuffed fried sage leaves weren’t too bad either.
The Fred Man too says No to Merlot! Let’s defend a precious little thing called “heritage”… Why are they so short-sighted and unable to recall the nasty backlash of last year’s “Brunello-gate”?
I don’t get it: what does these people have agaist a Good Ol’ Sangiovese!? And let me tell ya: I am a Sangiovese “fan to the bone”.
Gabba Gabba Hey!