A relatively youthful ruby colour in the glass, this Banfi Brunello di Montalcino shows just the merest hint of rustic discolouration towards the rim, suggestive of the more than four year’s maturation that it has already seen. Reticent on the nose initially, air and time once open result in a (typical for the designation) bouquet of red cherries, earth and some tobacco notes.
Full bodied but displaying glossy tannins and a sense of elegance despite its heft, this Banfi Brunello di Montalcino is complex and well resolved on the palate. The red cherry base of this wine that was evidenced on the nose is enriched by flavours of earth, liquorice and sweet spice as the palate develops. As with any wine made in the same (significant) quantities as this ‘08 Banfi Brunello it would be possible to accuse Castello Banfi of “winemaking by numbers” to a certain extent, however in this case of this 2008 Banfi Brunello di Montalcino the quality is sufficient to offset these fears.
Finishing long, it is here that this Banfi Brunello di Montalcino shows its relative youth the most. Tannins that were well behaved throughout the remainder of the palate become slightly over prominent and a level of acidity that will offer the potential of further maturation in cellar needs a few years to integrate to the highest level. Drink now or cellar though to 2029.
About the Producer
With the other three Banfi Brunello di Monalcinos classified as single vineyard wines, this “basic” Banfi Brunello di Montalcino stands alone as a wine made from Sangiovese grapes sourced from across a number of Banfi vineyards (totalling 170 hectares) that are permissible for use under the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG.
Matured for around two years in a mixture of small French oak barrels (300 litre capacity) and much larger Slavonian oak casks, the remainder of the time that this 2008 Banfi Brunello di Montalcino spent in cellar before release was spent in bottle. Only just released in the UK, retailers will begin listing this iteration of Banfi’s “entry level” Brunello di Montalcino over the next few weeks.
