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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.5 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 349 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Mallards on 2/4/2024 & rated 92 points: We were highly distressed when we saw this beauty should have been drunk by 2013. We have taken care of it, and it was a pleasure to drink. A very, very slight hint of age, but overall a wonderful wine. (574 views) | | | Tasted by J.SUTTON on 12/25/2023 & rated 85 points: The wine was definitely past its peak. It was all stewed fruit and flabby. It was probably many years past its peak. Decanted after several hours which didn’t help. Had this and the Poggio Alle Mura from the same vintage. Same issue. (615 views) | | | Tasted by HalaniMD on 10/11/2023 & rated 89 points: Fine, little past it’s prime. Wouldn’t repurchase. (979 views) | | | Tasted by StainedGlass on 6/30/2023 & rated 92 points: My last bottle of this vintage and what a pleasant surprise. After a disappointing prior bottle a couple of years ago and some initial funk and strong tannins, it’s settled down after a couple hours, the dried red cherry fruit emerged . Medium dark ruby color. Chambord, dusty tannins, tobacco leaf. Drink now but the right bottle correctly stored could continue to impress (1165 views) | | | Tasted by kfk on 6/3/2023 & rated 93 points: everything in balance, mature, in a great spot still has life in it (1209 views) | | | Tasted by AAtsumi-WINE on 6/21/2022 & rated 95 points: Gorgeous. Seriously - end date of 2013? So long on the taste buds, integrated tannins, full fruit. Wish I had another bottle. (2464 views) | | | Tasted by spendergast on 11/19/2021 & rated 94 points: Decanted 1 hr.. This wine continues to drink well and notes are similar to last bottle consumed in 2019. Dark garnet, full bodied with notes of candied cherries, cassis, game with well integrated tannins. Long satisfying finish. This is my last bottle but I suspect it will continue to drink well for all least a few more years. (3082 views) | | | Tasted by wineismylife on 8/26/2021 & rated 91 points: WIML91
Tasted non blind.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of molasses, black pepper and black berries. Flavors of black berries, currants and black cherries. Tart acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now. (3301 views) | | | Tasted by danielbleier on 7/31/2021 & rated 91 points: consistent with notes of 4/9/2021 (3008 views) | | | Tasted by StainedGlass on 5/7/2021: Alas this latest bottle was devoid of fruit and seemed like all tannins. It was open only 90 minutes but I am not sure the tannins would have dissipated or the fruit emerged with more time. Other bottles I've had from this vintage were better. Drink now. (3254 views) | | | Tasted by danielbleier on 4/9/2021 & rated 91 points: seems to have faded a bit from the last notes of 2/12/2015...still excellent but a bit muted - drink now of course. (2366 views) | | | Tasted by martin_e on 2/13/2021 & rated 90 points: Still drinks fine - not a superstar, but classic aged Brunello (2026 views) | | | Tasted by zackmayo on 10/9/2020 & rated 94 points: Still excellent. Drink now. (2306 views) | | | Tasted by hsacks on 8/1/2020 & rated 90 points: Less fresh than the 9/2/17 bottle but still a delicious wine with pasta bolognese. (2362 views) | | | Tasted by SadEdjo on 6/6/2020 & rated 90 points: dark garnet; some bricking; dark sour cherry, cedar, burnt chocolate, significant tannins (still!). Definitely on the downward slope. (2492 views) | | | Tasted by StainedGlass on 5/24/2020 & rated 92 points: Decanted for 2.5 hours and evolved slowly during the evening. Medium dark garnet. Rich black and blue fruits, dried red cherry fruit, tobacco, tea leaf. Drink now. (2358 views) | | | Tasted by callmeacab22 on 1/22/2020 & rated 89 points: Wine was decanted for several hours for a blind tasting, but was still extremely closed, almost to the point of being bad. Then sampled over several days, and it finally began to open a bit, but never to the point of being great. (3364 views) | | | Tasted by BigGDaddy on 10/5/2019 & rated 98 points: This bottle was extraordinary. Decanted for 2 hours—but tasted it throughout—but this transformed into perhaps the best Brunello I have had. Easily trumped the 2004 Valdicava —which was beautiful but had not harmonized to the same level. I have not had great luck with older wines—15 years is typically my stopping point, but everyone told me Banfi Brunellos in particular age very well. I’ve not really enjoyed any of them as much as the 2010 until now. And now I believe the advice.
So I have the 2001, 04-06–07-08-09-10-11-12-13 and am going to age them all 15-20 years and hope I’m still around to drink them. Because if they can come together like this ‘97 I’m gonna be very very happy. (3465 views) | | | Tasted by spendergast on 8/13/2019 & rated 94 points: Decanted 2hrs.. This wine continues to drink well although probably fully matured now. Dark garnet, full bodied with notes of candied cherries, cassis, game with well integrated tannins. Long satisfying finish. (3315 views) | | | Tasted by firstgrowth on 6/8/2019 & rated 92 points: With lasagna from Pizza of Venice Altadena Ca. Took an hour to start to mellow and then became really nice & smooth. Still young if you wait- first taste after opening was tainted but that blew off after an hour. (3193 views) | | | Tasted by Ron Slye on 10/27/2018 & rated 91 points: Still drinking beautifully. A bit less than the Fontallaro, but still lovely. (4219 views) | | | Tasted by Dvogt on 8/27/2018 & rated 96 points: In a great place. Incredible life left in this. (3347 views) | | | Tasted by vinhslee on 6/24/2018 & rated 92 points: Red fruits, leather, earthiness, mineral and intriguing notes of roasted herbs (or Chinese herbal tea), muted oak/vanilla. Very high quality acidity keeps the balance of flavours in check. Nice to drink now. (3548 views) | | | Tasted by StainedGlass on 5/31/2018 & rated 92 points: This Brunello is in a great place. Medium ruby color. Subdued tannins, dusty, dried red cherry fruit, Chambord, tobacco leaf. Still vervacious and structured. Drink now. (3339 views) | | | Tasted by rmehra on 12/17/2017 & rated 90 points: Lacking depth and complexity. Would never guess this is a 20 year old wine (4308 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Edward Beltrami
Vinous, July/August 2002, IWC Issue #103
(Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (6/28/2015)
(Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino) Bricking very dark red violet color; aromatic, mature, dried berry, saline, coffee, roast beef nose; mature, savory, dried mushroom, beef jus, iodine palate; medium-plus finish 92+ points 92 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (12/4/2008)
(Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino) Mature spicy plum and dried black fruit nose; very tasty, dried plum and berry palate; medium-plus finish 93 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Castello Banfi Producer website
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)
SangioveseSANGIOVESE: (Pronounced "sahn-joh-vhe-se").
Sangiovese - Italy's claim to fame, the pride of Tuscany. Traditionally made, the wines are full of cherry fruit, earth, and cedar. It produces Chianti (Classico), Rosso di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino, Rosso di Montepulciano, Montefalco Rosso, and many others. Sangiovese is also the backbone in many of the acclaimed, modern-styled "Super-Tuscans", where it is blended with Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc) and typically aged in French oak barrels, resulting a wine primed for the international market in the style of a typical California cabernet: oaky, high-alcohol, and a ripe, jammy, fruit-forward profile.[16]
Semi-classic grape grown in the Tuscany region of Italy. Used to produce the Chianti and other Tuscan red wines. Has many clonal versions, two of which seem to predominate. The Sangiovese Grosso clone Brunello variety is used for the dark red, traditionally powerful and slow-maturing "Brunello di Montalcino" wine. The other is the Sangiovese Piccolo, also known under the historical synonym name Sangioveto, used for standard Chianti Classico DOC wines. Old vine derived wine is often used in the better versions, needing several years ageing to reach peak. A third clone, Morellino, is used in a popular wine blend with the same name found in the southern part of the province. Recent efforts in California with clones of this variety are very promising, producing medium-bodied reds with rich cherry or plumlike flavors and aromas. Among the available clonal versions are R6 and R7, derived from the Montalcino region of Italy, having average productivity/ripening and producing small berries on medium size clusters. R10 and R24 are well-recommended. R23, listed as deriving from the Emilia-Romagna region, has good vigor with medium-small clusters with earlier ripening. R102 derives from the Montepulciano region and reported to have average vigor with moderate productivity that results in higher sugar levels and good acidity from medium-small berries on medium-small clusters. Has synonym name of Nielluccio where grown in Corsica.Italy Italian Wines (ItalianMade.com, The Italian Trade Commission) | Italian Wine Guide on the WineDoctorTuscany Tuscany (ItalianMade.com) | TuscanytMontalcino Montalcino websiteBrunello di Montalcino Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino (Official DOCG website) |
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