Banfi Estate Reds
ASKA, in Etruscan means container. The Etruscans used it as a vessel to store wine and olive oil and to collect perfumes and nectars.
However, not only as the legend goes, this was a treasure chest to protect hopes, dreams, happiness and joy, entrusted to Estruscan gods Cuatha and Sernia (Sun and Moon), represented by the two bright spheres which mark day and night on the label. Produced with a selection of Cabernet Sauvignon with a small percentage of Cabernet Franc from highly specialized vineyards, Aska is the Bolgheri Rosso DOC that expresses the winning alliance between tradition and innovation which is, and always has been, a core Banfi philosophy.
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Reviews
Tightly wound yet vibrant, delivering black currant, black cherry and iron flavors, with a hint of bell pepper. This red firms up, leaving a compact, chalky finish, with excellent length. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2042.
Deep character of ripe purple fruit with sweet spices, violets and chocolate notes. Full-bodied, succulent and mellow with creamy tannins and velvety texture. Fruity and lingering. Sustainable.
Notes of blackberries, dried thyme and lavender, cedar and baking spices. It’s full-bodied with firm tannins. Serious and structured with dark fruit and plums at the finish. Plenty of potential. Drink from 2024.
A very pretty Bolgheri red with currant, chocolate and hazelnut aromas and flavors. It’s full and layered with firmness and freshness. Tight at the end, with a lovely texture and finesse to the tannins. Drink or hold.
Compact, with plum, black cherry, iron and cedar flavors, this gains agility as it builds to the long finish. Not showy, yet harmonious. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2025.
This red starts out accessible, packed with ripe plum, cherry, iron and earth flavors accented by oak spice, before dense tannins firm up the finish. Though finely balanced, elegant and fresh, this will take a few years to integrate all its elements. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2032
Aromas of currants and blackberries and hints of mushrooms follow through to a medium body with plenty of fruit, fine tannins and a fresh, fruity finish. Drink after 2022, but already a beauty.
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc opens with aromas of dark-skinned berry, leather and a whiff of mocha. The juicy, balanced palate delivers blackberry jam, star anise and tobacco alongside fine-grained tannins.
Ripe black cherry, plum, herb, leather, earth and salty flavors are supported by a dense structure in this solidly built red. All the components are here, but this needs time to harmonize. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2035.
A juicy and attractive red with currant and berry character and just a hint of hazelnut. Medium body, firm tannins and a linear and fresh finish. Drink from 2021.
This shows dark plums, nutmeg, blackberries and spices. Full body, ripe and round tannins and a chewy finish. Drink in 2020.
Dusty black currant, olive, gravel, graphite and spice flavor combine for a positive effect in this tightly wound red. Needs a bit of time to relax, but all the components are well-proportioned. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2032.
A firm, tight version, whose cherry and currant flavors are fused to dense, dusty tannins. Tobacco, mineral and underbrush notes play out on the lingering finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2018 through 2029. 650 cases made.
A red with currant, blueberry and chocolate character. Full body, firm, velvety tannins and a fresh, clean finish. Needs time to soften but beautiful backbone of fruit and tannins. Banfi’s new wine from Bolgheri gets better and better. Drink in 2016.
Aromas of blackberries, stones and lavender. Full body, tight and firm tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Hints of toasted oak and biscuit. Chocolate, too. Banfi continues to make excellent reds in this appellation. A red that is fascinating to drink now but will better in 2016.
May 2015