Castello Banfi : Poggio alle Mura 2018

This is a savory and mineral expression with aromas of dried and sour cherries, bark, tomato leaf and iodine. Crushed stones and sea shells, too. Full body with firm, chewy tannins. Some austerity but focused and linear at the end. Needs some time to soften and open. Try after 2025.

Mid to deep ruby. Brooding richness on the nose with a hint of stalks. Sweet fruit with dark, slightly drying tannins, but clearly with more substance than the straight Brunello. (WS)

The 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Poggio Alle Mura is another brooding wine with pine sap, menthol, black cherry, and sage. The palate is dense and full, with more cherry pit, tea leaf, and baked earth. The structure of these Castello Banfi wines is dense and meaty, with iron richness. This one needs some time, but I wouldn’t bet on it lasting for decades before turning to tertiary. Drink 2025-2032.

This 2018 Castello Banfi Poggio Alle Mura is deep mid-ruby in color. It has a sweet top note of some red fruits but also quite earthy aromas that are slightly muted; with air, the aromas take on a more mineral and slightly green note. On the palate, the flavors are a little green and unripe, with an appealing vivid acidity and fairly crunchy tannins. The overall impression is a little hard-edged. I tasted this wine and the entire Banfi range on two separate occasions and on different dates. These are highly regarded wines and a very well-known name, especially in the US market, but I’m sorry to say I found them a little underwhelming. This wine was efficient rather than exciting and lacked some clear and precise aromas and flavors.

The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura (with 51,200 bottles made) shows balance and ripeness with a good combination of cherry, wild plum, blue flower, tobacco and sweet earth. The outlier is the 15% alcohol content. The wine is generous in texture and scope, yet it ultimately feels light and accessible on the palate. The tannins are well managed, but the wine’s ample fruit weight feels supple and rich. These glass bottles are on the heavy side, with 51,200 of them released.