Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Fabulous aromas of dried rose petal, orange peel, oyster shell and hints of dark fruits. Full body, very fine tannins with a mineral, berry and orange-peel and Tuscan-dust undertone. A structured, salty, savory finish. Better in 2017.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Castello Banfi's 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is one of the ripest wines I have tasted from this vintage. The bouquet opens to chewy tones of cherry or raspberry preserves with dried prunes and figs at the back. This is no surprise considering the softly sloping, sea-facing vineyards located in the lower part of the appellation where temperatures are slightly warmer on average. There is no doubt that this is an impeccably crafted wine (it sees 50-50 aging in French barrique and larger oak casks) that aspires to a great level of intensity, power and fullness. The mouthfeel is round and immediate with sweet fruit flavors. This Brunello will appeal to those who like a softer side of Sangiovese.
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Tasting Panel
Dense, lush and rich with chocolate, spice and cherry fruit; deep, earthy and balanced; long and smooth.
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Wine Spectator
Aromas of eucalyptus, baked plum, leather and licorice complement the chocolate, leather and tar flavors. On the savory side, with dusty tannins finishing balanced and long. Best from 2016 through 2028.
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Wine & Spirits
Banfi’s normale is rich and warming, with jammy flavors of blackberry edged in dark chocolate, soy and a hint of orange zest. Decant it and the peppery finish will match roasted venison.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.
Famous for its bold, layered and long-lived red, Brunello di Montalcino, the town of Montalcino is about 70 miles south of Florence, and has a warmer and drier climate than that of its neighbor, Chianti. The Sangiovese grape is king here, as it is in Chianti, but Montalcino has its own clone called Brunello.
The Brunello vineyards of Montalcino blanket the rolling hills surrounding the village and fan out at various elevations, creating the potential for Brunello wines expressing different styles. From the valleys, where deeper deposits of clay are found, come wines typically bolder, more concentrated and rich in opulent black fruit. The hillside vineyards produce wines more concentrated in red fruits and floral aromas; these sites reach up to over 1,600 feet and have shallow soils of rocks and shale.
Brunello di Montalcino by law must be aged a minimum of four years, including two years in barrel before realease and once released, typically needs more time in bottle for its drinking potential to be fully reached. The good news is that Montalcino makes a “baby brother” version. The wines called Rosso di Montalcino are often made from younger vines, aged for about a year before release, offer extraordinary values and are ready to drink young.