2019 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Banfi

The Tuscan Classic

Rich, poised and beautifully sculpted, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino from Banfi is a study in modern elegance. The nose brims with black cherry, dried rose, and forest floor, layered with notes of tobacco, cedar, and sweet spice from patient oak ageing. The palate is full yet refined with ripe Sangiovese fruit framed by taut acidity and finely woven tannins, unfolding into a long, savoury finish with echoes of plum, tea leaf, and balsamic warmth. It’s Brunello at its most balanced, powerful but not heavy, expressive but always composed.

For when: the night deserves a little ceremony.
Pairs with: aged pecorino, slow-braised beef, or truffle risotto.
If this wine were a person, it’d be Sophia Loren in her prime, graceful, timeless, and effortlessly captivating.

Castello Banfi, founded in 1978 by the Mariani family, stands as one of Montalcino’s great estates, a visionary fusion of tradition, science, and style. Nestled on the southern slopes of the appellation, the estate spans rolling vineyards planted exclusively with Sangiovese Grosso, the noble grape behind Brunello. Banfi’s pioneering work in clonal selection and vineyard zoning helped redefine Brunello quality, producing wines celebrated for their precision, consistency, and longevity.

The 2019 vintage is widely hailed as one of Montalcino’s finest of the decade, a long, even growing season yielding fruit of exceptional purity and balance. Aged for around 30 months in a mix of large Slavonian oak casks and French barriques, Banfi’s Brunello di Montalcino captures the essence of both terroir and craftsmanship: classical structure wrapped in velvety modern finesse, a wine built to age gracefully for decades.