Rosso di Montalcino Castello Banfi

Romazini: 4/5 Stars

Intense ruby red. Roast aromas, plum, cherry and leather in the nose. Juicy palate with nice acidity and an impressive body.

The Winespectator: 89/100 Points

A dense, chunky style, laced with black cherry and blackberry flavors. The tannins are assertive and mouthcoating, but everything works together. Shows fine length. Best from 2012 through 2015. 50,000 cases made.

Robert Parker: 90/100 Points

The 2009 Rosso di Montalcino is a dazzling wine. Rich dark plums, cherries, spices and tobacco emerge from this extroverted, intense Rosso. The raciness of the fruit leaves a lasting impression. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014.

A renewed focus on quality is in the air at Banfi. A new sorting table and smaller, custom-designed tanks that allow for parcel-by-parcel vinification were added for the 2007 harvest, and the first results seem promising. I tasted a number of single-clone and single-vineyard Brunelli from the 2009 vintage that showed beautifully, while an approximate blend of the 2007 Brunello was also strong. It will be fascinating to watch the direction Montalcino's largest and best-known estate takes over the coming years.

The Winemaker

A super-classic of Montalcino and Banfi. A wine able to match the elegance and solidity of its elder counterpart with a freshness and directness that make it one of the most versitile wines within Banfi's offer. Very enjoyable when released, it is also suitable for a long aging.