Reviews
A ripe style, this balances black currant and plum fruit with balsamic elements of Tuscan scrub, wild herbs and loam. Balanced, with solid grip on the finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Dark-fruited and chocolaty character here with crushed walnuts, dried leaves, licorice and hints of moss. Medium- to full-bodied, polished and silky with rather supple but velvety tannins. Juicy and attractive fruit. Firm and spicy at the end. Sustainable
A dense and concentrated red, evoking blackberry, blueberry, menthol and spice flavors. Taut yet balanced, this should relax with a little more time in the bottle. Fine length. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Best from 2024 through 2035.
A fresh and flavorful 2017 with juicy berry, meat, spice and dark-chocolate aromas and flavors. Full and layered with firmness and freshness. Give it three or four years to slightly soften and come together.
Plum and black cherry flavors are buoyed by muscular tannins in this robust red. Earth and underbrush notes join the party as this ends with the balance on the tannic side. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Best from 2023 through 2035.
Opulent, featuring ripe plum, black cherry, licorice, earth and saline flavors, with ample flesh offsetting the dense, rich tannins. Balanced and saturated. Fruit, earth and mineral elements linger on the aftertaste. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Best from 2022 through 2037.
A juicy, fruity red with some cooked fruit, yet it comes out fresh and vivid at the finish. Medium body. Drink now.
Aromas of dark skinned berry, cedar and cassis mingle with whiffs of violet and French oak. On the elegant, structured palate, tight, fine-grained tannins support flavors of black cherry, red currant, espresso and tobacco. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced.
Very pretty currant and cherry aromas with undertones of cream and vanilla. Full-bodied, tight and tannic. Yet, finely polished and textured. Drink after 2021.
Focused aromas and flavors of violet, black currant, blackberry and chocolate mark this suave red, which has both power and finesse, with a dense matrix of tannins and vibrant acidity for support. Fine length and energy on the finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Best from 2021 through 2033.
Very pretty currant and cherry aromas with undertones of cream and vanilla. Full-bodied, tight and tannic. Yet, finely polished and textured.
Shows nettles, spices, blackcurrant essence and Chinese spices. Medium to full body, medium-chewy tannins, tangy acidity and a tight finish. Drink now.
Black currant, cedar, iron and sage notes prevail in this dense, powerful red. Retains a sense of elegance, finishing long, with echoes of fruit, herbs and spice. Everything is in the right place. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, this vibrant red has alluring aromas of plum, blackberry, purple flower, espresso and a whiff of exotic spice. The elegant, structured palate delivers black cherry, black currant, pipe tobacco, vanilla and licorice alongside fresh acidity while firm, fine grained tannins lend a polished texture. Drink 2018–2028.
A broad, meaty red, with plum, cherry, tobacco and leafy underbrush flavors. Finishes on the dry side, but nothing a good steak or meat ragù can’t enhance. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Sangiovese. Drink now through 2023. 3,300 cases made.
A wine with wonderful depth and fruit. Full body, with polished and silky tannins and an intense finish. So much going on. Currant, flowers and light hazelnut. Beautiful now but better in 2014. The best SummuS ever.
A round, beautiful red with blueberry, light chocolate and blackberry character. Full body, super-fine tannins and a fabulous finish. Drink now or hold.
Subtle aromas of chocolate, espresso and ripe bluish-black fruit lead the nose of this robust blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah and 25% Sangiovese. The concentrated palate delivers ripe plum, dried black cherries, clove and black pepper alongside bracing tannins. You’ll also notice the heat of alcohol on the finish. — K.O. Published 8/1/2015
A wine with grace and beauty with blueberry and chocolate character. Medium-to-full body, with fine tannins and a clean finish. Sangiovese (25%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Syrah (35%). Delicious now but will be better in 2015. – JS (7/2013)
| Review product name | Reviewer | Rating | Review text | Date posted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Castello Banfi Summus | Wine Spectator | 91 pts |
A ripe style, this balances black currant and plum fruit with balsamic elements of Tuscan scrub, wild herbs and loam. Balanced, with solid grip on the finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. |
September 12, 2023 |
| 2019 Castello Banfi SummuS Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Dark-fruited and chocolaty character here with crushed walnuts, dried leaves, licorice and hints of moss. Medium- to full-bodied, polished and silky with rather supple but velvety tannins. Juicy and attractive fruit. Firm and spicy at the end. Sustainable |
September 12, 2023 |
| 2018 SummuS Toscana IGT | Wine Spectator | 92 pts |
A dense and concentrated red, evoking blackberry, blueberry, menthol and spice flavors. Taut yet balanced, this should relax with a little more time in the bottle. Fine length. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Best from 2024 through 2035. |
April 6, 2023 |
| 2017 SummuS Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 94 pts |
A fresh and flavorful 2017 with juicy berry, meat, spice and dark-chocolate aromas and flavors. Full and layered with firmness and freshness. Give it three or four years to slightly soften and come together. |
January 7, 2022 |
| 2017 SummuS Toscana IGT | Wine Spectator | 91 pts |
Plum and black cherry flavors are buoyed by muscular tannins in this robust red. Earth and underbrush notes join the party as this ends with the balance on the tannic side. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Best from 2023 through 2035. |
October 14, 2021 |
| 2016 SummuS Toscana IGT | Wine Spectator | 93 pts |
Opulent, featuring ripe plum, black cherry, licorice, earth and saline flavors, with ample flesh offsetting the dense, rich tannins. Balanced and saturated. Fruit, earth and mineral elements linger on the aftertaste. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Best from 2022 through 2037. |
September 9, 2020 |
| 2016 SummuS Toscana | James Suckling | 90 pts |
A juicy, fruity red with some cooked fruit, yet it comes out fresh and vivid at the finish. Medium body. Drink now. |
August 31, 2020 |
| 2016 Summus Toscana IGT | Wine Enthusiast | 94 pts |
Aromas of dark skinned berry, cedar and cassis mingle with whiffs of violet and French oak. On the elegant, structured palate, tight, fine-grained tannins support flavors of black cherry, red currant, espresso and tobacco. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. |
March 26, 2020 |
| 2015 SummuS Toscana | James Suckling | 94 pts |
Very pretty currant and cherry aromas with undertones of cream and vanilla. Full-bodied, tight and tannic. Yet, finely polished and textured. Drink after 2021. |
January 30, 2020 |
| 2015 SummuS Toscana IGT | Wine Spectator | 94 pts |
Focused aromas and flavors of violet, black currant, blackberry and chocolate mark this suave red, which has both power and finesse, with a dense matrix of tannins and vibrant acidity for support. Fine length and energy on the finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Best from 2021 through 2033. |
January 30, 2020 |
| 2015 SummuS Toscana | James Suckling | 94 pts |
Very pretty currant and cherry aromas with undertones of cream and vanilla. Full-bodied, tight and tannic. Yet, finely polished and textured. |
October 22, 2019 |
| 2014 SummuS Toscana | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Shows nettles, spices, blackcurrant essence and Chinese spices. Medium to full body, medium-chewy tannins, tangy acidity and a tight finish. Drink now. |
September 13, 2018 |
| 2014 SummuS Toscana IGT | Wine Spectator | 92 pts |
Black currant, cedar, iron and sage notes prevail in this dense, powerful red. Retains a sense of elegance, finishing long, with echoes of fruit, herbs and spice. Everything is in the right place. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. |
September 7, 2018 |
| 2013 Castello Banfi Summus Toscana IGT | Wine Enthusiast | 93 pts |
A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, this vibrant red has alluring aromas of plum, blackberry, purple flower, espresso and a whiff of exotic spice. The elegant, structured palate delivers black cherry, black currant, pipe tobacco, vanilla and licorice alongside fresh acidity while firm, fine grained tannins lend a polished texture. Drink 2018–2028. |
August 15, 2017 |
| 2012 SummuS Toscana IGT | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
A broad, meaty red, with plum, cherry, tobacco and leafy underbrush flavors. Finishes on the dry side, but nothing a good steak or meat ragù can’t enhance. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Sangiovese. Drink now through 2023. 3,300 cases made. |
August 15, 2017 |
| 2009 SummuS Toscana | James Suckling | 94 pts |
A wine with wonderful depth and fruit. Full body, with polished and silky tannins and an intense finish. So much going on. Currant, flowers and light hazelnut. Beautiful now but better in 2014. The best SummuS ever. |
March 31, 2016 |
| 2011 SummuS Toscana | James Suckling | 95 pts |
A round, beautiful red with blueberry, light chocolate and blackberry character. Full body, super-fine tannins and a fabulous finish. Drink now or hold. |
March 31, 2016 |
| 2011 Castello Banfi Summus Toscana IGT | Wine Enthusiast | 90 pts |
Subtle aromas of chocolate, espresso and ripe bluish-black fruit lead the nose of this robust blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah and 25% Sangiovese. The concentrated palate delivers ripe plum, dried black cherries, clove and black pepper alongside bracing tannins. You’ll also notice the heat of alcohol on the finish. — K.O. Published 8/1/2015 |
January 5, 2016 |
| 2010 SummuS Toscana | James Suckling | 93 pts |
A wine with grace and beauty with blueberry and chocolate character. Medium-to-full body, with fine tannins and a clean finish. Sangiovese (25%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Syrah (35%). Delicious now but will be better in 2015. – JS (7/2013) |
July 23, 2013 |
| Wine Enthusiast |