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2016 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Alle Mura Riserva

Light label condition issue

Removed from a subterranean wine cellar; Purchased at retail

Removed from a subterranean wine cellar; Purchased at retail

4 available
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Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

RATINGS

98Wine Spectator

Stunning, showing black cherry, blackberry, plum, leather, earth and iron aromas and flavors that work in tandem with the supple texture and dense structure. This has a good feel, between its level of ripe fruit and firm tannins, to age well. Excellent length.

97James Suckling

It shows so much black truffle, dark cherry and wet earth character with some bark. Full-bodied yet tight and polished with firm tannins that persistently drive the length of the palate.

95The Wine Advocate

...blackberry, spice, cherry, leather and baked clay. Ample doses of cola, licorice and tar appear on the very long and powerful finish...

93+ Vinous / IWC

...wafts up with an air of crushed ashen stone and hints of graphite before giving way to black cherry, minty herbs and hints of shaved cedar. This is elegant yet savory in character, with velvety textures ushering in mineral-tinged black fruits and exotic spices. The finish is remarkably long and structured, yet the tannins are refined, and hints of sour citrus combine with a twang of tart red currants under an air of tobacco.

93Wine Enthusiast

Aromas of underbrush, toasted nut, violet and eucalyptus mingle with a whiff of tobacco. The tobacco note follows through to the full-bodied, velvety palate, along with prune, dried cherry and licorice. Taut, fine-grained tannins provide support.

17+ Jancis Robinson

...cherry nose with savoury, salty notes. Supple and intense and with great depth. Succulent, ripe and perfectly balanced.

PRODUCER

Castello Banfi

Castello Banfi is the flagship estate of Banfi Vintners, which is owned and operated by the Mariani family of New York. The privately-held Banfi Vintners was founded by John Mariani Sr. in New York in 1919 when he started importing European wines to the U.S. Today Banfi Vintners is run by his grandchildren and the enterprise includes a large portfolio of wine estates in Europe and elsewhere. Castello Banfi owns 7,000 acres, 2,000 of which are planted to grape vines. The estate also grows olives, wheat, truffles and plums. Castello Banfi makes many wines, but is known especially for its Brunello di Montalcino and Sangiovese. It also makes several Super Tuscans including its Summus and Excelsus Cabernet Sauvignon blends.

REGION

Italy, Tuscany, Brunello di Montalcino

Brunello di Montalcino is regarded as one of Italy’s best appellations. Located in south central Tuscany below Chianti, the wines of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG are made of a Sangiovese clone called “brunello,” which means “little dark one,” a reference to the brown tones in the skin of the grape. Unlike some Tuscan appellations that allow other grapes to be blended with Sangiovese, Brunello di Montalcino is entirely Sangiovese. Montalcino itself is a picturesque, hill-top town not especially well known for wine production until the mid-19th century, when a local vineyard owner isolated the brunello clone and planted it. Other growers followed suit. Nevertheless it wasn’t until 1970s that wine enthusiasts started paying attention to Brunello di Montalcino, which by then was becoming an outstanding wine. Today there are 120 estates in the DOCG, up from about 25 estates in 1975. Brunellos in general are bigger, darker, more tannic and more powerful wines than Chiantis or most other Sangioveses. By law they must be aged for four years, and two of those years must be in wooden barrels.

VINTAGE

2016 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Alle Mura Riserva