Brunello di Montalcino (2021)
SommeliAI Insights
A rich and elegant Brunello with aromas of violet, vanilla, and licorice, offering a full, soft, velvety taste with traces of spice.
About this wine
The 2015 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino presents a bouquet of violet, vanilla, and hints of licorice. On the palate, it is full-bodied, soft, and velvety, with traces of spice. This wine is crafted from 100% Sangiovese grapes, sourced from vineyards at an altitude of 720 feet above sea level in Montalcino, Southern Tuscany. Aged for a minimum of four years, including two years in oak barrels, it showcases the balance and aging potential characteristic of Brunello di Montalcino. This vintage is noted for its intensity and complexity, reflecting the exceptional quality of the 2015 harvest.
About the grape
Sangiovese, whose name means 'blood of Jove,' is a red grape variety that has been cultivated in Italy for centuries. In the Montalcino region, a unique clone known as Sangiovese Grosso, or 'Brunello,' has been developed to adapt to the area's specific terroir. This clone thrives in Montalcino's warm, dry climate, allowing the grapes to ripen fully and consistently, which contributes to the rich body and deep color of the wines produced here. The 2015 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino is crafted exclusively from this Sangiovese Grosso clone, showcasing the grape's ability to express the unique characteristics of the Montalcino region.
Quick facts
- 🏆 The 2015 vintage of Castello Banfi's Brunello di Montalcino received high praise, earning 94 points from James Suckling and 93 points from Wine Spectator.
- 🇮🇹 Brunello di Montalcino was Italy's first wine to be awarded DOCG status, highlighting its esteemed quality and aging potential.
- 🌳 Castello Banfi's estate spans approximately 7,100 acres, with about one-third dedicated to vineyards, while the rest includes olive groves, fruit trees, and forests.
- 🍷 The winery has developed unique fermentation tanks combining stainless steel and wood, known as Horizon tanks, to enhance the winemaking process.
- 🐋 In 2007, a 4-million-year-old whale fossil named 'Brunella' was discovered on the Castello Banfi estate, underscoring the region's rich geological history.
Palate profile
Producer
Castello Banfi, located in Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy, was founded in 1978 by Italian-American brothers John and Harry Mariani. They transformed the historic Poggio alle Mura castle into a state-of-the-art winery, pioneering research on Sangiovese clones to enhance Brunello di Montalcino production. The estate spans approximately 2,830 hectares, with about one-third dedicated to vineyards, and the remainder comprising olive groves, fruit trees, and forests. Notably, in 2007, the fossilized remains of a Pliocene-era whale, estimated to be around 4 million years old, were discovered on the property, highlighting the region's rich geological history.
