2017 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino
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Tasting notes
The Castello Banfi 2017 Brunello di Montalcino relies on fruit freshness and varietal purity to show a classic side of this hot and dry vintage. The wine remains elegant and bright throughout with plenty of primary fruit, cherry and dried raspberry. It shows a clean, linear style with rosemary, blue flower and some green olive or wild fennel. This is a handy, near-term drinking wine with a hefty 15% alcohol that can be absorbed with a hearty pasta or lasagna. Production is impressive with 450,000 bottles.
Critic scores
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Lustrous mid ruby. Deep cherry-liqueur nose with hints of cinnamon bark. Round, sweet fruit but with acidity creeping out on the finish. Ripe and a little rich and not lacking in appeal, nor length. Hints of gingerbread on the finish betrays very ripe fruit. (WS)
The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Castello Banfi wafts up unexpectedly fresh and vibrant, offering dusty rose, bright cherries and a hint of white smoke. It’s soft-textured and pure, with mineral-tinged red currents complemented by a subtle hint of sweet spice. This leaves a coating of rounded tannins, as residual acids maintain the energetic persona, and pretty inner florals slowly fade. The 2017 is a nicely balanced effort for the vintage.