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Dear <<First Name>>,
As we slowly move towards the winter season and the nights draw in, hearty Reds become the bottle of choice from the cellar. We start the week off with a legendary Tuscan wine-making institution with 2 wines from the awesome 2015 vintage and some great prices for the quality.
Castello Banfi is a Tuscan powerhouse with a wine-making heritage that spans decades. No longer satisfied with just producing top quality wines, they have recently focused on extending that premium level to hospitality. The Castle is now a place of sanctuary with a Relais Chateaux badge of honour and a world class restaurant.
The 14th century medieval Poggio alle Mura castle tower which lends its name to the wine, is a beacon and can be seen for miles.
For its strategic position between Siena and the Maremma Tuscan seaside, together with the fertile soils that surround it, the Castello di Poggio alle Mura has been desired and contested over the centuries
The 2015 vintage was superb across the leading regions in Europe. In Tuscany, it saw exceptionally dry and hot weather during the summer, resulting in concentrated ripe berries. The wines have been met with real excitement, particularly those heralding from Chianti, reminiscent of the 2010 vintage.
However yields are down in some cases up to 30% as berries were smaller, particularly on the Sangiovese vines.
With the 2016 and 2017 vintages appearing to be below expectations this is an excellent opportunity to secure some quality wines from an excellent vintage, at the best price on the market.
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James Suckling
"Some producers are comparing 2015 to the excellent 2008 vintage or 2001, but I think 2007 is a more apt parallel, as the wines from 2015 are fleshy and fruity with an underlying freshness. Either way, the 2015 has turned out to be an excellent vintage, producing fruity, structured, and balanced wines."
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Castello Banfi
Banfi was founded in 1978 thanks to the will of the Italian-American brothers, John and Harry Mariani.
From the beginning, the goal of the two brothers was to create a state-of-the-art winery combined with the most advanced science in the vineyards for the production of premium wines.
Together with the Mariani family, Ezio Rivella, one of Italy's foremost enologists, who understood that due to the richness of the soils and the privileged microclimatic position, the property would have great capacity of development.
In those years, the brothers, John and Harry, also purchased Bruzzone, a historic winery in Piedmont. Founded in 1860 and specialized in the production of sparkling wines, today is known as Banfi Piemonte.
It is our fondest desire that this project will be good for the people of Montalcino, good for Italy, good for America, good for all people who love fine wine.” With these words John F. Mariani declared the inauguration of the Banfi winery on September 12, 1984.
Deciding to establish a point of excellence in Montalcino, the Mariani family intrinsically tied Banfi to this territory and its own development.
Banfi represents a heritage and a unique experience in the world of viticulture and winemaking, in which a profound respect for the land and the intense desire to exalt its character resulted in multiple research projects. Perhaps the most important of these involved the attentive clonal selection of Sangiovese, the symbol of Montalcino, to show its inimitable expression and great versatility in the historic Brunello denomination.
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2015 Brunello Poggio alle Mura
100% Sangiovese clones
Sangiovese from a combination of estate selected clones, from the estate research started in 1982
Estate vineyards used for planting the first vineyard resulting from over a decade of research to isolate the optimal selection of clones to produce consistently outstanding Brunello di Montalcino. The vines were planted in 1992. (from 210 to 330 meters above sea level)
The grape harvest is followed by a maceration of 12-13 days. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature - controlled hybrid stainless steel & wood tanks (27-29°C). About 60% of the wine is aged for 2 years in French oak barriques - manufactured according to Banfi’s specifications - and the remaining 40% in large oak casks (60-90 hl). Before release, the wine is bottle-aged for an additional 12 months.
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"The result is a complex and elegant Brunello, the perfect expression of this exceptional vintage. On the nose, hints of coffee and pipe tobacco accompany the fruity aromas of blackberry and plum jam together with a spicy note on the finish. In the mouth, the roundness of the structure is well balanced by soft and ripe tannins. Full and persistent in the finish.
Long aging wine pairs excellently with rich and structured dishes, as well as aged cheese and cured meats.
Its complexity makes it perfect as a meditation wine."
Winemaker Notes
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Pricing
2015
£ 216.00 per 6 (IB)
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Monica Larner - 95 pts
"The Castello Banfi 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura offers a distinct identity that is recognized by the natural thickness and density of the wine. Warm vintage conditions in 2015 that favor more concentrated fruit make this even more apparent. However, the palate is relatively mild mannered and tight. Black fruit, plum and blackberry roll off the tongue. Those fruity tones are followed by dark spice, balsam herb and a touch of savory barbecue spice. Unlike the classic Brunello from Castello Banfi, the Poggio alle Mura sees more contact with French barrique. Only 40% of the total is aged in botte, and 60% goes into smaller French barrels."
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2015 Brunello di Montalcino
100% Sangiovese clones
Over 170 hectares of estate vineyards in the southern hill area of Montalcino. Altitude: 220 meters above sea level. Position: Hillside.
A "classic" of our production, this Brunello di Montalcino is obtained with clones of Sangiovese selected after 20 years of research on this unique grape and is aged in French oak barrels of 350 ltr, as well as in 60-120 hl Slavonian barrels. The most aristocratic combination of Montalcino tradition with winemaking modernity.
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"Color: Intense ruby red with garnet reflections.
Bouquet: Ethereal, violet, vanilla with hints of licorice.
Taste: Full, soft, velvety, with traces of spice.
Food Pairing: Perfect with red meats, wild game and aged cheeses."
Winemaker Notes
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Pricing
2015
£ 180.00 per 6 (IB)
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Monica Larner - 93 pts
"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."
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Bruce Sanderson (Wine Spectator)
"Winemakers across the region report that the Sangiovese looks spectacular"
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Jancis Robinson
"A cold and rainy winter preceded an irregular spring followed by exceptionally hot, dry summer weather, creating small bunches of Sangiovese, so yields were down across the region but concentration levels are very good."
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 +44 207 536 2359
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