Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino 2018 (750ml)

 

Rated 93 Points by Wine Spectator

 

Round, fleshy and succulent, exuding black cherry, blackberry, violet and rosemary flavors.  This has a glycerol feel, fine balance and harmony, with a long, fruity, savory and minerally aftertaste.  Combines power and energy.

 

Rated 93 Points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

 

Castello Banfi brings us this classic expression of the vintage.  Their 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is hearty and dark with a level of distinguished power (with 15% alcohol) and sophistication that you only get with Brunello, a wine that by law ages for five years before its commercial release.  Dark plum and blackcurrant segue seamlessly to spice, tar and black earth.  The fruit ripeness is opulent and contrasted against elegant acidity and polished tannins.

 

Rated 93 Points by James Suckling

 

This has a pretty nose of dried roses, cocoa powder, red tea, hazelnut skins, cherries, plum stones and sandalwood.  Full-bodied with very finely-knit tannins and zippy acidity.  So much life and energy.  Drink from 2023.

 

Rated 90 Points by Jeb Dunnuck

 

Taking on more wood influence, the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino is fragrant with cedar, vanillin spice, red plum, and clove.  It is medium to full body, with tannins that turn to the more amaro spectrum quickly, with notes of turned potting soil and dried cherry pit.  The palate is savory and gripping with potential wood tannins that give the impression they will outlast the fruit.  Drink 2025-2030.

 

Castello Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino 2018

 

A classic from Banfi in Montalcino.

 

Variety:  100% Sangiovese

 

First Vintage Produced:  1978

 

An intense and elegant Brunello.  Ruby red with light garnet-colored nuances.  On the nose, it is distinguished by an intense and fruity bouquet with sweet notes of plums, sour cherries, orange and spicy hints of myrtle, juniper and incense.  Full-bodied and powerful.  Soft and smooth tannins are well-integrated with a strong acidity.  Excellent persistence for a Brunello: the synthesis of power and depth. 

 

Alcohol:  15%

 

Food Pairings

 

It pairs particularly well with rich and tasty dishes.  Perfect as a meditation wine.

 

Production Methods

 

Fermentation:  In temperature-controlled (25-30°C) hybrid French oak and stainless-steel Horizon tanks

 

Aging:  80% in French oak casks (90-60 hl.) and 20% in French oak barriques (350 l.) for 2 years at least.

 

Technical Notes

 

Soil:  Vineyards in the hill area of the estate, with low to moderate incline.  The soils develop on different types of sediments, from the clay sands of the marine Pliocene, deep soils with abundant and calcareous stones, to the gray-blue clays which are moderately deep mineral soils that tend to retain humidity.

 

Trellising System:  Spurred Cordon – Banfi Alberello

 

Vine Density:  2400 - 5500 vines/ha.

 

Hectar Yield:  65 q/ha.

 

Vintage 2018

 

The winter was rich in rainfall with little snow.  The vegetative recovery phase took place during the usual times, with budding that developed in the second half of April.  In May, copious rain favored the vegetative development.  The summer of 2018 was particularly humid and characterized by frequent precipitations, often in form of storms.  September and October, on the other hand, were sunny months, with temperatures higher than the seasonal average and good temperature ranges.

 

 

Banfi

 

Banfi was founded in 1978 thanks to the will of the Italian-American brothers, John and Harry Mariani.

From the beginning, the goal of the two brothers was to create a state-of-the-art winery combined with the most advanced science in the vineyards for the production of premium wines.

Together with the Mariani family, Ezio Rivella, one of Italy's foremost enologists, who understood that due to the richness of the soils and the privileged microclimatic position, the property would have great capacity of development.

In those years, the brothers, John and Harry, also purchased Bruzzone, a historic winery in Piedmont.  Founded in 1860 and specialized in the production of sparkling wines, today is known as Banfi Piemonte.

 

The Winery

 

Designed to protect the integrity and richness of the grape, the winery employs state of the art technology, the result of revolutionary technical research and innovation. 

 

And in this same philosophy, based on continual research, that a number of projects came to be on our estate, including the clonal study of Sangiovese, research on the composition and aging of wood for barrels – the great protagonist of aging wine – and the completion of our “Horizon” microvinification area, creating a winery within a winery.  This project, entirely conceived and developed by and at Banfi, is made up of a series of expedient high level solutions undertaken to improve upon each phase of winemaking.

 

The tremendous undertaking for vinification is followed by a long silent rest in wood, where the great wines of Banfi, principally reds, evolve over the passage of time and refine their most distinctive characteristics of strength, elegance and longevity.  More than 7000 customized barrels, laid out in orderly rows, and large casks make up the heart of Banfi, which beats in the silent and peaceful ambience surrounding our winery.   

 

Banfi In The World

 

The wines of Banfi are born of a passion and love for unique terroirs, from continuous research, and from the intimate knowledge of different territories and the ability to marry time tested and respected techniques with innovative solutions in both the vineyard and the winery. 

 

The splendid vineyards of Montalcino and Chianti, of Piedmont and the Tuscan coast, are the ideal cradle for wines of great character and outstanding quality.  In recent years, Banfi has grown significantly its range of wines.  Exclusive for Italy, in addition to distribution of its own wines from Tuscany, as well as from Piedmont, were added Concha y Toro, one of the most renowned wineries of Chile in the world, and Emiliana, known and appreciated worldwide for its organic and biodynamic wines.  For the Italian market, Banfi also distributes the prestigious Sicilian Palari wines and the fine Joseph Perrier Champagne.  Recently the portfolio was enriched with two new jewels: from Washington state the Pacific Rim Riesling and from Oregon the Rainstorm Pinot Noir.

 

 

Rated 93 Points by Wine Spectator

 

Round, fleshy and succulent, exuding black cherry, blackberry, violet and rosemary flavors.  This has a glycerol feel, fine balance and harmony, with a long, fruity, savory and minerally aftertaste.  Combines power and energy.