Really fresh and vivid with sliced lemon and apple heading into cherry and floral undertones. It’s medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins and a vivid and bright finish. This is so drinkable and pretty for the hot and dry 2017 vintage, which produced many heavy Brunellos.

This red is defined by the strawberry, cherry and floral aromas and flavors, graced by notes of tar, tobacco, eucalyptus and wild herbs. Firm and unforgiving on the finish for now, yet stays persistent and lively through the long aftertaste.

The Castello Banfi 2017 Brunello di Montalcino relies on fruit freshness and varietal purity to show a classic side of this hot and dry vintage. The wine remains elegant and bright throughout with plenty of primary fruit, cherry and dried raspberry. It shows a clean, linear style with rosemary, blue flower and some green olive or wild fennel. This is a handy, near-term drinking wine with a hefty 15% alcohol that can be absorbed with a hearty pasta or lasagna.