Castello Banfi Brunello
Brunello di Montalcino was Italy’s first wine to be accorded DOCG status, a testament to its aristocracy, balance and fabulous proclivity for aging.
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Youthful profile here with almost vinous character. Abundant violets and roses on the nose, together with cherries and pomegranates. Fruity again on the medium- to full-bodied palate with firm, velvety tannins, a lot of freshness and good length. Plenty of substance and alcohol. It will need time to integrate. Best after 2026.
A refined and generous Brunello, exhibiting plum, cherry, strawberry and even floral flavors. This strives for elegance, achieving it with harmony and a line of fine-grained tannins on the lingering finish. There's ample fruit midpalate that resonates on the mineral finish, showing fine definition. Best from 2026 through 2040.
A beautiful red with cedar, mushroom and cherry character, as well as hints of sandalwood. It’s medium-bodied and very polished with loveliness and finesse that comes through clearly. A wine to drink young, but will age very nicely. Drink or hold.
The nose leans sweet, with notes of vanilla, cherry and cola, but undertones of citrus, cloves, fennel, salt and pepper playfully poke holes in that sweetness. On the palate, raspberries provide reinforcements, but polished tannins and aggressive acidity maintain balance.
Round, fleshy and succulent, exuding black cherry, blackberry, violet and rosemary flavors. This has a glycerol feel, fine balance and harmony, with a long, fruity, savory and minerally aftertaste. Combines power and energy. Best from 2025 through 2043.
Castello Banfi brings us this classic expression of the vintage. Their 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is hearty and dark with a level of distinguished power (with 15% alcohol) and sophistication that you only get with Brunello, a wine that by law ages for five years before its commercial release. Dark plum and blackcurrant segue seamlessly to spice, tar and black earth. The fruit ripeness is opulent and contrasted against elegant acidity and polished tannins. You don't need to wait long to enjoy.
This has a pretty nose of dried roses, cocoa powder, red tea, hazelnut skins, cherries, plum stones and sandalwood. Full-bodied with very finely-knit tannins and zippy acidity. So much life and energy. Drink from 2023.
This red is defined by the strawberry, cherry and floral aromas and flavors, graced by notes of tar, tobacco, eucalyptus and wild herbs. Firm and unforgiving on the finish for now, yet stays persistent and lively through the long aftertaste. Best from 2025 through 2042.
Subtle aromas of scorched earth, forest floor and mature berries mingle with a eucalyptus note. The full-bodied palate features cherry marinated in spirits, prune, roasted coffee bean and licorice framed in close-grained tannins. You'll also notice the warmth of alcohol on the close. While it reflects the heat of the vintage, it also shows polish and restraint. Kerin O’Keefe
Really fresh and vivid with sliced lemon and apple heading into cherry and floral undertones. It’s medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins and a vivid and bright finish. This is so drinkable and pretty for the hot and dry 2017 vintage, which produced many heavy Brunellos. Drink now or hold.
Intense, with tension between the bright strawberry and cherry fruit flavors and the compact feel of the tannic structure. Wild herb, almond and earth accents add detail. There is a lot going on in this red, stretched tightly. Long finish. Best from 2024 through 2042.
A rich, earthy style that offers plum, cherry, iron and cigar box flavors, with plenty of power. Broad in profile, ends with savory elements of forest floor and wild herbs. Best from 2023 through 2040.
Camphor, rose and new leather aromas form the nose along with a whiff of baking spice on this vibrant red. Polished and taut, the savory palate offers spiced cranberry, red cherry and star anise before finishing on a coffee note. Lithe, refined tannins and fresh acidity provide balanced support. Drink 2022–2028. Kerin O’Keefe
Lots of plum and dark-berry character with citrus, cedar and sandalwood. Very pure Sangiovese. Full-bodied with firm, racy tannins and cool, vivid fruit at the finish. Some mineral, tar and steel undertones. Needs time to open and soften. Better than the 2015. Try after 2023.
In an unusual twist of fate for 2015, the burly tannins cover the cherry and plum fruit, lending this a monolithic impression. The grip is not astringent, however, and this features ample fruit in the end. Finishes with a touch of heat, along with iron and tobacco accents. Best from 2023 through 2040.
This is rich, maintaining a sense of elegance and vibrancy. Cherry, plum, leather, tobacco, iron and earth flavors mingle, backed by a solid structure. Finishes long and satisfying. Best from 2021 through 2035.
So many spices line the nose here including cinnamon, cardamom, aniseed and walnuts. But there’s no shortage of red plums and dried cherries either. Balanced and suave, this is a sophisticated Brunello with a sleek frame of tannins and subtle yet persistent acidity. Drink from 2021.
Beautiful and complex on the nose with chanterelle mushrooms and plums and cedar undertones. Medium to full body, very fine tannins and a long and juicy finish. All in richness and finesse. Well crafted. Drink now.
Cherry and plum flavors highlight this well-structured red, along with notes of leather, earth and wild herbs. Firms up as the dense tannins come into play on the finish. Best from 2022 through 2037. 48,350 cases made. –BS Issue Jun 30, 2018
Forest floor, wild berry, coffee and toasted oak aromas come together on this. The medium-bodied palate is on the lean side, offering sour cherry, tobacco leaf, espresso and a saline note alongside lithe tannins. Drink 2020–2028.
This really explodes with ripe fruit such as dried strawberries and cranberries as well as leather and tobacco. Full body with lots of round tannins but fresh acidity and a long, remarkably savory finish. Drink now or hold. Publish Date: Friday, March 2, 2018.
A textbook Brunello, mingling cherry and berry fruit with bitter almond, iron, sanguine and tobacco notes. Well-structured and harmonious, this should rein in the tannins with a few years of aging. Best from 2020 through 2033. 8,000 cases imported.
A dense, burly style, displaying cherry, iron, leather, earth, tobacco and spice flavors. Unyielding and compact now, yet also complex and long. Best from 2022 through 2035. 250 cases imported.
A sleek and pretty red with plum and light chocolate character plus hints of walnuts. Medium to full body and fine tannins. Shows the ripe balance of the 2012 vintage for Brunello. Drink or hold.
Aromas of eucalyptus, baked plum, leather and licorice complement the chocolate, leather and tar flavors. On the savory side, with dusty tannins finishing balanced and long. Best from 2016 through 2028. –BS Wine Spectator Online
Fabulous aromas of dried rose petal, orange peel, and oyster shell with hints of dark fruits. Full body, very fine tannins with a mineral, berry and orange peel undertone. Real Tuscan dust undertone. A structured and salty and savory finish. Better in 2017.