2021 Castello Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino
Castello Banfi is a name that needs no introduction—they are the visionary pioneers who fundamentally helped put Brunello di Montalcino
Producer
Banfi
I have reviewed three wines from Banfi, from the 2019 to 2021 vintages, all from Brunello di Montalcino. All are Sangiovese. Scores range from 94 to 95, averaging 94; the highest is the 2021 Castello Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino (95 points). Banfi also features in one journal article on this site.
Castello Banfi is a unique entity in Italian wine: an estate founded in the 1970s by the American Mariani family that fundamentally changed the economy and viticulture of Montalcino. Its groundbreaking clonal research on Sangiovese benefited the whole denomination, and its wines have introduced millions of drinkers to Brunello.
Despite the scale, the quality is remarkably consistent. The Brunello di Montalcino, aged around 24 months in a combination of large casks and barriques, balances modern finesse with traditional depth on calcareous clay soils: generous in warm years like 2020, with ripe dark cherry and sweet spice, and more concentrated and structured in 2021, when frost-thinned yields gave the wine extra spine. At the top of the range sits the single-vineyard Poggio all’Oro Brunello.
Banfi represents the meeting of modern technology and Tuscan tradition: polished, accessible and reliably true to Montalcino.
2021 Brunello di Montalcino – Vintage Report
If 2019 was operatic and 2020 was sunny, 2021 is the year of transparency. This is a vintage that vibrates with energy, defined by significant diurnal shifts that locked in soaring aromatics and “al dente” fruit profiles. Moving away from sheer muscle, the 2021 Brunellos are architectural and nervy, showcasing a savory, saline grip that speaks clearly of the Montalcino soil. For the collector who values elegance and tension over weight, this is a sophisticated, “intellectual” vintage that promises a fascinating evolution in the cellar.
2020 Banfi Brunello di Montalcino
The 2020 vintage was a year of sun and ripeness, and in the hands of Banfi, this has resulted in
2019 Banfi Brunello di Montalcino
The 2019 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino is a testament to why Banfi Montalcino is one of the most famous