If you haven’t tried Banfi’s high end wines, you’re missing some big, bold delicious wines.  Big crowd pleaser! These are great for the Holidays and gifts. And these vintages scored very high:

Vintage report for Tuscany/Brunello
2015. 97
2016. 99
2017. 92
2018. 93
2019. 98

1) Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2019, Tuscany:  $72.99   95+ points Luca Gardini: “A great classic of the house and the appellation, from a selection of vineyards with variegated soils. Nose of freshness, pomegranate on top, notes of savage, grapefruit and licorice powder. Intense palate, recall of officinal notes. Closes with nuances of licorice. (Oct 2023)”

95 points Kerin O’Keefe: “Castello di Banfi’s straight Brunello just gets better every year as the 2019 aptly proves. It’s smooth, concentrated, delicious and energized, not an easy combination but one that they rock in the 2019 vintage. It starts out with aromas of camphor, truffle, ripe black-skinned berry and tobacco while the enveloping palate doles out fleshy black cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice, almond and cake spice framed in velvety tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it lifted and vibrant. Drink: 2027–2039. Abv: 14.5%. (Nov 2023)”

95 points James Suckling: “A beautiful red with cedar, mushroom and cherry character, as well as hints of sandalwood. It’s medium-bodied and very polished with loveliness and finesse that comes through clearly. A wine to drink young, but will age very nicely. Drink or hold. (9/25/23)”

Banfi Poggio All’Oro Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva 2015, Tuscany:  $199.99  98+ points Luca Gardini: “Thirty months in small barrels followed by fermentation with maceration lasting 12-14 days. A wine of unique character on the nose recalling cherry, bay leaf and caper berries with hints of caramel. The mouthfeel is taut, iodized and balsamic. On the finish, a salty return with excellent persistence. (Nov 2020)”

96 points Monica Larner (Wine Advocate): “[$200 list] The Castello Banfi 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio all’Oro is the top-shelf wine and shows careful integration and well-managed intensity. It opens to tart berry fruit, cassis and sour cherry. As it reveals itself in the glass, it begins to slowly deliver more spice, smoke and tar. All these various elements come together with balance and harmony, although these 2015 Riservas remain plumper and richer compared to their counterparts from 2016. Wait a few more years before opening this bottle; it needs more time. Some 27,000 bottles were made, and this wine will be released in September 2021. (Nov 2020)”

96 points/’Cellar Selection,’ Kerin O’Keefe (Wine Enthusiast): “[$200 list] Forest-floor, new leather and pipe-tobacco aromas mingle with notes of violet and coffee bean. Elegantly structured, the taut, savory palate doles out ripe black cherry, blackberry jam, licorice and a hint of espresso while polished, fine-grained tannins and tangy acidity provide age-worthy support. It’s still youthfully austere so give it a few more years to come around. Drink 2024–2036. Alcohol 14%. (May 2021)”

2) Banfi Poggio Alle Mura Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva 2017:  $175.99  The wine has a deep ruby red color and an intense aroma of ripe dark fruits, such as blackberry, black cherry, and plum, along with hints of vanilla, chocolate, and toasted oak. On the palate, it is full-bodied, rich, and complex, with firm tannins, well-balanced acidity, and a long, persistent finish. It is a wine that requires aging, and can be enjoyed after 10-15 years from the vintage date, or even longer.
James Suckling 94 pts.  Lots of ripe and dried cherries with vanilla bean, cocoa and some dried herbs. Full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins. Dense and ripe but polished and well integrated. Better after 2024.

3) Banfi Poggio Alle Mura Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2019:  $89.99  Black-cherry, ash, bark and dried dark-mushroom aromas follow through to a medium to full body with a solid sense of tannin and acidity. Polished and focused. Needs time to soften a bit, but shows fascinating oyster-shell and iodine undertones. Best in three or four years.  James Suckling 96 

4) Banfi Poggio All’Oro Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Reserva 2016, Tuscany:  $199.99  A particularly elegant Brunello with a complex personality, which is expressed to the nose through a series of scents that are expressed slowly, from licorice, coffee, plum jam and tobacco to end even with a slight hint of violet . The refined structure is in perfect balance with the acid part, which excellently supports the long persistence.

A long aging wine that perfectly pairs with rich and complex dishes Also indicated as a meditation wine.
James Suckling 97 pts.  Perfumed with flowers, dark fruits and orange peel on the nose. Full-bodied with firm and integrated tannins that are chewy yet polished and focused. Turns muscular and toned at the end. Better after 2024.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 96 pts.  Here is Castello Banfi’s top-shelf wine from an iconic vintage. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio all’Oro shows a dark ruby or garnet appearance. The wine is impeccably balanced, aromatic and powerful all at the same time. The bouquet presents etched aromas of wild berry fruit and cherry, and there is a good amount of earth, wild rose and grilled herb. The wine is broad and long-lasting on the palate (with 15.5% alcohol) for safekeeping in your cellar.
Rating: </>96+

5) Banfi Vigna Marrucheto Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2018:  $129.99  Kerin O’Keefe 96 pts.  Review Date: 11/2022  Truffle, mocha, tobacco and ripe dark-skinned fruit aromas mix together along with balsamic whiffs of camphor on this impressive single-vineyard offering. Aged entirely in large French casks, it’s bold and delicious, doling out ripe black skinned fruit, cocoa and licorice framed in fine-grained, velvety tannins that envelope the finish.

Wine Spectator 96 pts.  Review Date: 06/2023  An intense red, with blackberry, black currant, wet hay, leather, earth and iron aromas and flavors piercing the athletic structure. Almost delicate, with a dense matrix of tannins for support. Features fine energy and length. (BS)

And more Wine Spectator Top 100 wines of 2024 have come in:

6) Muga Rioja Reserva 2020:  $38.99  #51 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2024  This 2020 vintage has a bright ruby-red color, with medium depth and a garnet-tinged rim. On the nose you discover an intense, complex wine. Aromas of wild fruits of the forest (blackberries and blueberries) come to the fore, with hints of spices. On the palate it is long, elegant and nicely balanced. Its sharp acidity is perfectly integrated and it has soft tannins. The finish is very long and full of fruit.
This wine will be an excellent accompaniment to meat dishes like a ribeye steak, as well as with charcuterie and all kinds of casseroles.

7) Vina Cobos Cocodrilo Corte 2022, Mendoza:  $31.99  #39 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2024  Deep red ruby with dark tones. Aromas of sweet spices, roasted red pepper, clove and black chocolate. On the palate it is balanced and juicy with sweet tannins and long finish.
Blend: 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 1% Syrah.
James Suckling 93 pts.  This almost-Bordeaux-style blend includes 72% cabernet sauvignon, 21% cabernet franc, 5% malbec and 2% syrah. It offers deep, dark black cherries, blueberries, umami and subtle savory notes on a mouth-filling, moderately tannic texture. Great structure comes with a lively through-line of acidity. It’s hearty and sophisticated at the same time.

8) Txomin Etxaniz Getaria 2023, Getariako Txakolina:  $22.99  #62 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2024  90 points Wine Spectator  Floral and spice notes waft through the juicy flavors of red apple, tangerine zest and honeydew melon on display in this sleek white, with a light, pleasing plumpness on the palate. Salty finish. Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza.

9) Drouhin Oregon Rose Rock Pinot Noir 2022, Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon:  $44.99  #6 of Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2024  Wine Enthusiast 95 pts.  “This is a Goldilocks porridge wine where everything from the lemony acidity to the sturdy tannins was “just right.” It is medium bodied fare, with blackberry, Thai basil and orange zest flavors. Violet and cinnamon-stick aromas blend harmoniously with notes of dark raspberries and blueberry fruit leather. It is a stunning value. Editors’ Choice”

10) Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc Te Muna 2023, Martinborough, New Zealand:  $23.99  #11 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2024  94 points Wine Spectator: Fresh and precise, with lime, mango and passion fruit notes that are accented by crunchy sea salt, litsea oil, dried chamomile and fresh lemon zest on a mouthwatering, fleshy frame. Drink now. (7/10/24)”

11) St. Supery Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Napa Valley:  $37.99  #27 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2024  94 Wine Spectator Bursting with flavor and personality, this offers lemon meringue, fresh peach and Fuji apple notes up front on a juicy, succulent frame, while amber aromas and salted lime accents emerge on the long, expressive finish.

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12) Philip Togni Tanbark Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Napa Valley:  $116.99  Vinous 93 pts.  The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Tanbark Hill Vineyard is one of the most potent vintages of this wine I can remember tasting. Dense and textured, the 2021 shows ample dark fruit and complex earthy/savory undertones that add balance. The 2021 benefits from the addition of some excess fruit that would have been used in the main label but that, for practical purposes, ended up in the tanks for the Tanbark Hill. Readers will find a wine of breadth, power and character. In this vintage, the Tanbark Hill gives a very good idea of the quality and style of the Grand Vin.

13) Faustino Art Collection Red Rioja DOC 2021:  $13.99  James Suckling 91 pts.  Lovely dark plums, bark, mussels, pencil lead and mushrooms on the nose, following through to a medium-bodied, juicy palate with nice savoriness. Tight and fine-grained. Drink now or hold.

14) Chateau Poesia Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016:  $56.99  Jeb Dunnuck 96 pts.  A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Château Poesia is more open and showy compared to the Barde Haut, offering fabulous limestone-like character in its kirsch and currant fruits and notes of dried herbs, white truffle, and dried flowers. Possessing medium to full body, ripe, present tannins, terrific concentration, and a great finish, it’s another incredibly classy Saint Emilion from the Garcin-Lévêque family.

15) San Pedro Sideral Red Blend 2021, Valle del Cachapoal Andes:  $30.99  Descorchados 95 pts.  Review Date: 01/2023  Sideral is something of a second wine after Altaïr. They share the same origin, but Sideral is a different selection, which this year is 73% cabernet sauvignon, 11% syrah, 9% carmenere, 4% petit verdot, and 3% cabernet franc. The wine was aged for 16 months in oak barrels, 20% of them new, as well as in 2,000-liter foudres. It’s usually released a year before Altaïr, and this year, it’s a juicy wine full of aromatic notes and flavors of red fruits and herbs (cabernet franc and carmenere undoubtedly put their signature on this vintage) in a body of firm acidity (very much in tune with a cool season like 2021) and fine, sharp tannins. An elegant and subtle wine that will gain in complexity with another four or five years in the bottle.

16) Montemercurio Damo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 2012, Tuscany:  $129.99  Vinous 94 pts.  The 2012 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Damo is gorgeous, with a rich blend of brown spice, plum sauce, dusty sage and split pine. This is velvety and weighty, yet with a core of zesty acidity to balance. Citrus-tinged red berries cascade across the palate, creating a crunchy sensation toward the close. The 2012 finishes with a cheek-puckering tension, leaving rosy inner florals and exotic spice while maintaining a lovely inner freshness. 

17) Groth Oakcross Proprietary Red 2020, Oakville, Napa Valley:  $98.99  Oakcross Proprietary Red represents our continued focus on exploring the potential of our Oakville Estate as well as the broader Oakville AVA. Oakcross was the original name given to our Oakville Estate Vineyard when it was planted in 1973, and after purchasing the property in 1981, Dennis and Judy Groth at one point considered using it as a brand name until a family member convinced them to use their own. As the name of this red blend, Oakcross symbolizes our foundation and the homesite of Groth Vineyards & Winery.
Wine Enthusiast 95 pts.  While nicely polished and velvety, this wine boasts extremely deep black fruits and full, encompassing tannins that will need several years to resolve for optimum drinking pleasure. Blackberries, blueberries, cinnamon and cloves crowd the palate.

18) Clos L’Eglise 2015, Pomerol:  $163.99  JS 95  jamessuckling.com, April 2018  This is a more layered and juicy wine with a soft and round tannin texture. Walnuts and chocolate. Full-bodied, gentle and welcoming to taste. Chocolate and coffee undertones. Subtle and lightly decadent. Better than I remember. Drink or hold. 
JD 95  jebdunnuck.com, October 2020  From a hot vintage, the 2015 Clos L’Eglise nevertheless has awesome elegance and purity as well as fabulous notes of tobacco, dried flowers, cedary spice, black cherries and mulberries. Showing plenty of richness and depth on the palate, it’s full-bodied, balanced, has ripe, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s a beautiful wine I’d be happy to have in the cellar. It’s going to hit maturity in another 4-5 years and cruise for 10-15 years in cool cellars. 
JL 95  TheWineCellarInsider.com, September 2017  Powerful, plummy, rich and hedonistic, the opulent, sexy, plush, chocolate finish is a treat. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2015&wine=Clos%20l%27Eglise%20(Pomerol)

19) E.Guigal Tavel Rose 2022:  $22.99  The Guigal family has been working for decades in Tavel, and today specifically works with 6 growers to produce the traditional style of rosé the region is known for – deep fruit, full of spice you find in the reds of the area, structured, and substantial enough to age. Thank goodness this appellation across the river from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 100% dedicated to rosé, still produces wines of this full-bodied style!  Tavel has several major soil types. The Guigal family works with growers who have vineyards on clay and pebbly soils similar to those of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The grape varieties are a mix of the Southern Rhône red grapes, with 60% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 10% Clairette, 10% Syrah, and 5% others.

20) Domaine de la Solitude Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2023:   $18.99  This wine is a blend of three varietals. The Clairette brings the freshness and zest of citrus, the Viognier the aromatic depth and roundness, and the Grenache the notes of white flowers. The grapes are harvested early in the morning and completely destemmed. The fermentation in stainless-steel vats preserves the full aromatic freshness. The wine has a nose of citrus and apricots, a round and generous mouthfeel, and a fresh and flavorful finish.  JS 92 pts., WA 90 pts.

21) Jules Taylor Gruner Veltliner 2023, Marlborough:  $22.99  The name’s a bit of a mouthful so Jules just calls it Grüner. She also describes this cool climate Austrian variety as “Imagine the lovechild of Riesling and Pinot Gris – what’s not to love?”. Layered and creamy with softened acidity and nutty nuances, this wine has delicious lemon, white peach and green apple flavors and dry palate. Take Jules’ advice and give Grüner a go.  WE 92 pts., JS 91 pts., Vinous 90 pts.

22) Domaine Lumineux Cuvee Pinot Noir 2021, Dundee Hills:  $64.99  A select blend of our distinct pinot noir clones, the 2021 Cuvée is a multidimensional, harmonious, expression of the Domaine Lumineux Dundee Hills vineyard. This wine exhibits opulent aromas of spice, featuring hints of anise, nutmeg, and earthy forest floor. The savory palate is accompanied by concentrated red fruit notes, intermingled with dried fig. The 2021 Cuvée boasts a complex structure, with intriguing notes of black pepper lending an alluring mouthfeel and a prolonged finish.  Vinous 90 pts., JD 90 pts., JS 90 pts.

23) Bodega Rolland Mariflor Malbec 2021, Uco Valley, Argentina:  $32.99  James Suckling 94 pts.  “A very subtle and complete malbec with blueberry, blackberry and cedar character and hints of orange peel. Some sandalwood as well. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and a gorgeous finish that caresses the palate.”  From French winemaker and famous wine consultant Michel Rolland has earned a reputation in Argentina and around the world for his ability to find unique vineyard sites that can produce the highest quality grapes.   V 93, WS 92, WE 90

24) Bodegas Penafiel Miros del Ribera Crianza 2019, Ribera del Duero:  $41.99  “Ripe and appealing on the nose with a thread of wild violet, plum, spice, and of black plum leather, these lofty aromas transition on the palate to luminous notes of puréed black cherry and boysenberry fruit, forming a finely woven profile evincing finesse and an exquisite balance. The plush edge to the firm, fine tannins allows early drinkability, but make no mistake, this wine has the structure to evolve gracefully in the grand tradition of Ribera del Duero.” Tempranillo.  WE 92, JS 91, V 91, WS 90

25) Bodegas Penafiel Miros del Ribera Reserva 2018, Ribera del Duero:  $73.99  Deep cherry red color with a light golden rim outlines the glass. In the nose shows dark ripe wild fruits aromas with spicy and balsamic hints. On the palate is fleshy and lingering, with the elegance and power typical from our Ribera del Duero.
Wine Enthusiast 95 pts.  “This dark violet-colored wine offers a bouquet of black cherry, caramel and lavender. It is full in the mouth with plush tannins and black cherry, cassis, bittersweet chocolate, crumbled sage and coffee bean flavors. As tannins recede an enduring note of mint arrives on the palate. ”  Vinous 91 pts.

26) Bodega Rolland Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Uco Valley, Argentina:  $59.99  Jeb Dunnuck 93  “Lots to love. Deep purple/ruby-hued, with impressive cassis and ripe cherry fruit, it offers medium to full-bodied richness, nicely integrated oak”, “plenty of tannins, and outstanding length on the finish”. “This pure, concentrated, elegant, seriously impressive Cabernet.”  V 93, JS 92.

From the famous Spanish importer Jose Pastor Selections:

27) Pablo Matallana La Bardona Vinas del Norte Tinto 2023, Canary Islands:  $32.99  La Bardona red wine is made from Listán Negro. Grown in Tenerife, it is an elegant wine with a peppery and red fruit aroma, and a cherry and smoky flavor, ideal to accompany dishes such as pasta or beef.
A blend of different areas of the North of Tenerife, unlike the previous 2017 vintage, which was only from Tegueste.  Made exclusively from black grapes from three different villages: La Orotava, La Victoria and La Matanza. Each plot is made separately and aged in used Burgundy barrels for 8 months. Finally, all the barrels were combined into a single batch that makes up this wine.

28) Juan Francisco Los Loros Listan Negro 2022, Valle de Guimar, Tenerife, Spain:  $33.99  Los Loros Listán Negro 2022 is a red wine that presents a bouquet of fresh red fruit aromas complemented by balsamic and spicy undertones. On the palate, it is light yet assertive; succulent and brimming with vivacity. A red wine with delightful acidity that is eminently quaffable.  Barrel aged.

29) Alberto Nanclares Albarino 2022, Rias Baixes:  $55.99  An albariño from 8 separate parcels with old vines (15-45 yrs) growing on sandy loam and granite soils.  Alberto and Silvia keep resetting the bar for what a great white wine from Galicia should taste like – startling, salty, floral, creamy – game changing.     

30) Cantalapiedra Lirondo Verdejo 2023, Castilla Y Leon:  $26.99  Honeysuckle and stone fruit meet refreshing acidity in this 100% Verdejo, grown in its ancestral home of Rueda in Castilla y León. Winemaker Manuel Cantalapiedra employs biodynamic practices in the vineyard, harvesting grapes by hand from old parcels and fermenting with indigenous yeasts. This wine sees a quick 12 hours of skin contact – which gives a touch of spice and tannin on the palate – before spending eight months on the fine lees, resulting in a medium-bodied wine that can stand up to flavorful, dense meals like tteokbokki or cheesy polenta with charred broccoli rabe.  (“Lirondo” is not a widely recognized word in English, but in the context of wine, it refers to a specific type of white wine made from the Verdejo grape variety, produced by the Spanish winery “Isaac Cantalapiedra”. “Lirondo” is essentially the name of their signature Verdejo wine, known for its fresh, natural character with minimal intervention during production. )

31) Envinate Linit Pardillo Blanco 2023, Almansa, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain:  $36.99  100% Pardillo, and ancient and rare white grape native to Albacete. The grapes are from a vineyard of centenarian vines at 700m elevation in the Almansa area, which was at one point a shallow sea. Today, the soils are clay with an abundance of pebbles on the surface and a chalk base. The grapes were harvested by hand and directly pressed, then fermented spontaneously with native yeasts in concrete tanks for 10-15 days without temperature control. After alcoholic fermentation, a part of the wine is moved to neutral 350L barrels. In concrete and barrel the wine goes through malolactic conversion and rests for 8 months before bottling without fining or filtering and with just a small addition of SO2.