Castello Banfi Brunello
Poggio alle Mura is the historical name of the 12th century fortress crowning the Banfi vineyard estate. Today the castle has been christened Castello Banfi .
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Generous wine on the nose with ripe raspberries, macerated violets and some earthy complexity. Elegant approach to the medium- to full-bodied palate, with youthful yet ripe tannins, refreshing acidity and a polished finish. Good balance overall. Best after 2025.
Full of bright cherry and raspberry flavors, this round red delivers a lot of immediate appeal, yet also boasts a solid layer of supportive tannins. Wild herb, iron and tobacco accents chime in on the extended finish, showing terrific balance and finesse. Best from 2027 through 2042.
Black-cherry, ash, bark and dried dark-mushroom aromas follow through to a medium to full body with a solid sense of tannin and acidity. Polished and focused. Needs time to soften a bit, but shows fascinating oyster-shell and iodine undertones. Best in three or four years.
This red is packed with black cherry, blackberry, black currant, iron, tobacco and earthy tea flavors. Both lush and powerful, with great persistence on the lingering aftertaste
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura (with 51,200 bottles made) shows balance and ripeness with a good combination of cherry, wild plum, blue flower, tobacco and sweet earth. The outlier is the 15% alcohol content. The wine is generous in texture and scope, yet it ultimately feels light and accessible to the palate. The tannins are well managed, but the wine's ample fruit weight feels supple and rich.
This is a savory and mineral expression with aromas of dried and sour cherries, bark, tomato leaf and iodine. Crushed stones and sea shells, too. Full body wtih firm, chewy tannins. Some austerity but focused and linear at the end. Needs some time to soften and open. Try after 2025.
This brawny red is marked by leather, earth, plum and sanguine notes, with vibrant acidity keeping things focused and fresh. Muscular tannins underline everything, yet this is balanced and long. Best from 2025 through 2040.
This is poised and fresh considering the dryness and heat of the vintage. It’s full-bodied with integrated and firm tannins that are polished and very fine. Extremely well done. Drink after 2023 but already a beauty.
There’s a lot going on in this bone-dry yet complex red, whose cherry, strawberry and plum fruit meshes with iron, tobacco, wild thyme and Mediterranean pine flavors, while the dusty tannins exert their presence on the lingering finish. Think hearty stews or wild boar ragù. Best from 2025 through 2043.
Rose, exotic spice, menthol and coffee-bean aromas mingle together in the glass. The full-bodied, tight palate offers sour cherry, French oak, espresso and the warmth of alcohol alongside close-grained, assertive tannins that grip the finish.
Cool and perfumed 2016 Brunello with black cherries, flowers and crushed stones. Medium to full body with firm, chewy tannins, yet polished and very silky. Mineral and seaweed undertones. Just a hint of bitterness. Drink after 2023.
This full-bodied red has aromas of French oak, camphor and a whiff of roasted coffee bean. Tightly knit and youthfully austere, the palate offers sour cherry, orange zest, licorice and a note of dried sage alongside firm, close-grained tannins that grip the close.
Black-skinned fruit, fragrant purple-flower and baking-spice aromas mingle with a whiff of tilled soil. It's elegantly structured with youthful tension, delivering juicy Morello cherry, spiced plum, star anise and tobacco alongside fine-grained tannins and bright acidity.
Plenty of plums and cracked sea salt on the nose. Medium body, chewy tannins and a layered, fruity finish. Balanced and showing depth. Drink or hold.
Plenty of plums and cracked sea salt on the nose. Medium body, chewy tannins and a layered, fruity finish. Balanced and showing depth. Drink or hold.
Lots of dried bark, cinnamon stick, forest floor and earth add to an impression of dried cherries and sandalwood. But there are also hints of caramelized oranges and preserved lemons. The attack on the palate takes immediate effect; the powerful tannins pucker the edges of the mouth with imposing depth, but equally fascinating detail. This is a robust, take-no-hostages style of Brunello with a modern twist of finesse and tension. Drink from 2025.
Aromas of ripe plum, blue flower and a whiff of baking spice unfold in the glass. The vibrant elegant palate offers dried Marasca cherry, cranberry, star anise and a hint of toast while fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity provide support. Drink 2021–2028.
Intense aromas of blackberry and black truffle follow through to a full body, firm and silky tannins and a gorgeous finish. Plenty of dried cherry to close. A pretty and focused red that needs two or three years to soften.
Publish Date: Monday, November 27, 2017
Plummy aromas mix in the glass with whiffs of pressed blue flower, vanilla and mocha. The taut structured palate offers dried black cherry, coconut, licorice, espresso and black pepper while firm fine-grained tannins provide the framework. A note of pipe tobacco closes the tight finish. Give it a few more years to unwind and fully develop. Drink 2020–2027.
Very ripe and dense with lots of dried-fruit, spice and cedar character. Some cigar box, too. Full-bodied, velvety and rich. Powerful. Give it two to three years of bottle age.