2015 Castello di Banfi Brunello di Montalcino

So many spices line the nose here including cinnamon, cardamom, aniseed and walnuts. But there’s no shortage of red plums and dried cherries either. Balanced and suave, this is a sophisticated Brunello with a sleek frame of tannins and subtle yet persistent acidity.

The Castello Banfi 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is fragrant and bright. Aromas of wild cherry, blackberry and plum emerge from the glass with spice, tar and licorice following close in tow. The unified front created by those aromas adds to the overall intensity and purity of the wine. The wine is silky and glossy with a mid-weight style that wraps closely over the palate. This Brunello is fermented in both steel and oak. About 80% of the total volume ages in 60- or 90-hectoliter botte made with French oak, and 20% is aged in new barrique. The wine was bottled in April 2019 and hit the market in January 2020. Some 580,000 bottles were made. You can drink this accessible wine straight out of the gate or wait to age it longer. (ML)