Reviews
The nose has a crackly, unusual sweetness, with notes of buttery popcorn, marzipan, hazelnuts and candied lemon peel. The butteriness gives the palate a creamy mouthfeel, but sour, astringent undertones of citrus keep the sweeter flavors from languishing.
Fresh lemongrass, stones and apple pith on the nose. This is pristine, fresh and sleek on the palate with subtle white fruit and citrus notes before a zesty, pure finish. Fresh acidity throughout.
A fruity Gavi with aromas of candied lemons, elderflowers, white pears and lemons. Ripe yet tangy with a medium body and straightforward, citrusy finish. Drink now.
Lemon blossom, sliced apple, pear and melon on the nose. Medium-bodied with a fresh, juicy and fruity palate. Pretty floral notes. Drink now.
Lemon, white grapefruit, peach pit and apricot on the nose. Medium-bodied, juicy and peachy. Drink now. Screw cap.
Lemon blossom, sliced apple, pear and melon on the nose. Medium-bodied with a fresh, juicy and fruity palate. Pretty floral notes. Drink now.
Plenty of Pinot Grigio character with sliced pear, apple and some mango undertones. It’s full-bodied for this variety with a creamy texture and a fresh finish. Drink now. Screw cap.
Aromas of cape gooseberry and ripe melon on the nose with some crushed stones and meadow flowers. Medium body with fruit that starts very sweet, then takes on some more bitter, citrus-peel character as it progresses. Happy mixture at the end. Long finish with a lightly phenolic texture. Lots going on here. Drink now.
A solid chardonnay with sliced cooked apple, vanilla and crushed stone. Full and flavorful. Layered, with tension and focus. Attractive new-wood undertones throughout, adding to the complexity without being overpowering. Drink or hold.
A pretty vermentino with sliced apple, pear and some lemon. Medium body. Bright acidity. Fresh finish. Drink now.
This rich version balances its creamy texture with vibrant structure and its peach and grapefruit flavors with notes of thyme, sage and pine. Fine length.
Aromas of cape gooseberry and ripe melon on the nose with some crushed stones and meadow flowers. Medium body with fruit that starts very sweet, then takes on some more bitter, citrus-peel character as it progresses. Happy mixture at the end. Long finish with a lightly phenolic texture. Lots going on here.
A fresh, creamy Gavi with sliced-lemon, stone and green-apple aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, fruity and crisp on the finish. Drink now.
A fresh, fruity white with lemon-rind and mineral character. Some green melon. Medium-bodied and fruity. Clean finish. Drink now.
Quite reductive at first, but shows some attractive herbs and limes. Light body, linear acidity and a fruity finish.
This is a delightful Tuscan chardonnay with just the right combination of freshness and concentration on the nose – all the more impressive, given it’s from the difficult 2017 vintage. Freshly picked daffodils, apricots, peach pit, fresh mangoes and a touch of vanilla. Full-bodied and very oily on the palate, but the medium acidity does well to keep this taut and on topic.
This is an exotic bouquet for a Vermentino that delivers dried jasmine, Williams pears and even guava peel. Quite oily texture with spicy acidity that runs through the solid center palate. Drink now.
Green apples, praline, nutmeg and spices. There’s a real salinity on the palate, which works well with the fleshy stone fruit. Medium body, tangy acidity and a textured finish. Drink now.
Very attractive fruit-salad nose, but with more delicacy than most Gavis. Very juicy, the spritz is really lighting this up. The bright acidity gives the finish a vibrancy that guarantees quality refreshment. Drink now.
Plenty of sliced apple and honey character with hints of minerals. Medium to full body with fruit and honey. Crisp finish. Drink now.
A tangy and fresh white with sliced apple and pear character. Mineral. Medium body and a clean and bright finish. Drink now.
Publish Date: Friday, October 20, 2017
A tangy and tropical white with mango, lemon and apple character. Medium body, dense fruit and a fresh finish. Nicely done. Drink now. Publish Date: Friday, October 20, 2017
This vermentino shows a dried papaya and green apple character with medium body, pretty fruit and a bright finish. Drink now.
A dense and fruity pinot grigio with apple, banana and mineral aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Bright finish. Drink now.
An oily chardonnay with lots of density and intensity. Shows focus and beauty. Full and flavorful. Dried lemon and apple character. Full Burgundy treatment here; Tuscan style. Drink now.
A Gavi that shows the lemon and lime aromas and flavors you expect in an excellent white from this region. Full, bright and steely. Enjoy it. Drink now.
A very lively vermentino with Brazilian lime and citrus character throughout. Full body, bright acidity and a crisp finish. Drink now.
A pretty, lightly wooded Chardonnay with minerals and a dried apple and peach character. Medium-to-full body with crisp acidity and a clean finish. Perfect beach wine. Drink now. – James Suckling (7/2013)
Castello Banfi in Tuscany does a great job with Chardonnay, as evidenced by this wine. It’s rich and soft, with bright aromas of peach, citrus, vanilla and savory herb. A pinch of acidity on the finish works beautifully as well. – M.L. (10/1/2012)
| Review product name | Reviewer | Rating | Review text | Date posted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Banfi Principessa Gavia Gavi DOCG | Wine Enthusiast | BestBuy | October 4, 2023 | |
| 2020 Castello Banfi Fontanelle Chardonnay IGT | Wine Enthusiast | 90 pts |
The nose has a crackly, unusual sweetness, with notes of buttery popcorn, marzipan, hazelnuts and candied lemon peel. The butteriness gives the palate a creamy mouthfeel, but sour, astringent undertones of citrus keep the sweeter flavors from languishing. |
September 12, 2023 |
| 2022 Banfi La Pettegola Vermentino Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Fresh lemongrass, stones and apple pith on the nose. This is pristine, fresh and sleek on the palate with subtle white fruit and citrus notes before a zesty, pure finish. Fresh acidity throughout. |
September 12, 2023 |
| 2021 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 90 pts |
A fruity Gavi with aromas of candied lemons, elderflowers, white pears and lemons. Ripe yet tangy with a medium body and straightforward, citrusy finish. Drink now. |
March 10, 2023 |
| 2021 La Pettegola Vermentino Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Lemon blossom, sliced apple, pear and melon on the nose. Medium-bodied with a fresh, juicy and fruity palate. Pretty floral notes. Drink now. |
September 30, 2022 |
| 2021 San Angelo Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Lemon, white grapefruit, peach pit and apricot on the nose. Medium-bodied, juicy and peachy. Drink now. Screw cap. |
June 22, 2022 |
| 2021 La Pettegola Vermentino Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Lemon blossom, sliced apple, pear and melon on the nose. Medium-bodied with a fresh, juicy and fruity palate. Pretty floral notes. Drink now. |
June 22, 2022 |
| 2020 San Angelo Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Plenty of Pinot Grigio character with sliced pear, apple and some mango undertones. It’s full-bodied for this variety with a creamy texture and a fresh finish. Drink now. Screw cap. |
January 11, 2022 |
| 2020 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Aromas of cape gooseberry and ripe melon on the nose with some crushed stones and meadow flowers. Medium body with fruit that starts very sweet, then takes on some more bitter, citrus-peel character as it progresses. Happy mixture at the end. Long finish with a lightly phenolic texture. Lots going on here. Drink now. |
January 10, 2022 |
| 2019 Fontanelle Chardonnay | James Suckling | 92 pts |
A solid chardonnay with sliced cooked apple, vanilla and crushed stone. Full and flavorful. Layered, with tension and focus. Attractive new-wood undertones throughout, adding to the complexity without being overpowering. Drink or hold. |
January 7, 2022 |
| 2020 La Pettegola Vermentino Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 91 pts |
A pretty vermentino with sliced apple, pear and some lemon. Medium body. Bright acidity. Fresh finish. Drink now. |
January 7, 2022 |
| 2020 La Pettegola Vermentino Toscana IG | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
This rich version balances its creamy texture with vibrant structure and its peach and grapefruit flavors with notes of thyme, sage and pine. Fine length. |
October 14, 2021 |
| 2020 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Aromas of cape gooseberry and ripe melon on the nose with some crushed stones and meadow flowers. Medium body with fruit that starts very sweet, then takes on some more bitter, citrus-peel character as it progresses. Happy mixture at the end. Long finish with a lightly phenolic texture. Lots going on here. |
August 19, 2021 |
| 2019 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 91 pts |
A fresh, creamy Gavi with sliced-lemon, stone and green-apple aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, fruity and crisp on the finish. Drink now. |
August 19, 2021 |
| 2019 La Pettegola Vermentino Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 90 pts |
A fresh, fruity white with lemon-rind and mineral character. Some green melon. Medium-bodied and fruity. Clean finish. Drink now. |
August 31, 2020 |
| 2018 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Quite reductive at first, but shows some attractive herbs and limes. Light body, linear acidity and a fruity finish. |
October 22, 2019 |
| 2017 Fontanelle Chardonnay | James Suckling | 91 pts |
This is a delightful Tuscan chardonnay with just the right combination of freshness and concentration on the nose – all the more impressive, given it’s from the difficult 2017 vintage. Freshly picked daffodils, apricots, peach pit, fresh mangoes and a touch of vanilla. Full-bodied and very oily on the palate, but the medium acidity does well to keep this taut and on topic. |
October 22, 2019 |
| 2018 La Pettegola Vermentino Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 92 pts |
This is an exotic bouquet for a Vermentino that delivers dried jasmine, Williams pears and even guava peel. Quite oily texture with spicy acidity that runs through the solid center palate. Drink now. |
October 22, 2019 |
| 2017 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Green apples, praline, nutmeg and spices. There’s a real salinity on the palate, which works well with the fleshy stone fruit. Medium body, tangy acidity and a textured finish. Drink now. |
October 1, 2018 |
| 2016 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Very attractive fruit-salad nose, but with more delicacy than most Gavis. Very juicy, the spritz is really lighting this up. The bright acidity gives the finish a vibrancy that guarantees quality refreshment. Drink now. |
July 5, 2018 |
| 2016 Fontanelle Chardonnay | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Plenty of sliced apple and honey character with hints of minerals. Medium to full body with fruit and honey. Crisp finish. Drink now. |
March 23, 2018 |
| 2016 La Pettegola Vermentino Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 91 pts |
A tangy and fresh white with sliced apple and pear character. Mineral. Medium body and a clean and bright finish. Drink now. Publish Date: Friday, October 20, 2017 |
March 23, 2018 |
| 2016 San Angelo Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 90 pts |
A tangy and tropical white with mango, lemon and apple character. Medium body, dense fruit and a fresh finish. Nicely done. Drink now. Publish Date: Friday, October 20, 2017 |
November 13, 2017 |
| 2015 La Pettegola Vermentino Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 91 pts |
This vermentino shows a dried papaya and green apple character with medium body, pretty fruit and a bright finish. Drink now. |
September 15, 2016 |
| 2015 San Angelo Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 91 pts |
A dense and fruity pinot grigio with apple, banana and mineral aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Bright finish. Drink now. |
September 15, 2016 |
| 2015 Fontanelle Chardonnay | James Suckling | 93 pts |
An oily chardonnay with lots of density and intensity. Shows focus and beauty. Full and flavorful. Dried lemon and apple character. Full Burgundy treatment here; Tuscan style. Drink now. |
September 15, 2016 |
| 2014 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 90 pts |
A Gavi that shows the lemon and lime aromas and flavors you expect in an excellent white from this region. Full, bright and steely. Enjoy it. Drink now. |
March 31, 2016 |
| 2014 La Pettegola Vermentino Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 90 pts |
A very lively vermentino with Brazilian lime and citrus character throughout. Full body, bright acidity and a crisp finish. Drink now. |
March 30, 2016 |
| 2012 Fontanelle Chardonnay | James Suckling | 90 pts |
A pretty, lightly wooded Chardonnay with minerals and a dried apple and peach character. Medium-to-full body with crisp acidity and a clean finish. Perfect beach wine. Drink now. – James Suckling (7/2013) |
November 18, 2013 |
| 2011 Fontanelle Chardonnay | Wine Enthusiast | 90 pts |
Castello Banfi in Tuscany does a great job with Chardonnay, as evidenced by this wine. It’s rich and soft, with bright aromas of peach, citrus, vanilla and savory herb. A pinch of acidity on the finish works beautifully as well. – M.L. (10/1/2012) |
March 8, 2013 |