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Buy any 6 bottles and save 5%. Buy any 12 bottles and save 10% (excludes wines on offer). Free UK delivery on orders over £100. Tel: 02922 337454
2021 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Banfi Wine Republic

2021 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Banfi

Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

The Tuscan Classic

Deeply flavoured and confidently structured, Banfi’s 2021 Brunello opens with ripe cherry, plum and blackcurrant, layered with dried flowers, liquorice and pipe tobacco. Clove and warm oak spice weave through the fruit, while hints of leather, pine and dried orange peel bring a more savoury dimension. There is generosity here, but also detail, with the aromas becoming increasingly expressive as the wine opens in the glass.

The palate is substantial and beautifully composed, bringing concentrated red and black fruit together with polished, closely woven tannins. Fresh acidity gives the richness direction, carrying cherry, spice and earthy mineral notes through a long, firm finish. The fruit is inviting, yet the youthful grip suggests that patience will reveal still more complexity. This is Brunello for the dinner table and the cellar alike, particularly compelling alongside a richly flavoured meal, with the depth and balance to reward several years of careful keeping.

For when: The best cut of beef deserves something equally impressive in the glass.

Pairs with: Bistecca alla fiorentina, pappardelle with wild boar ragù, rosemary-roasted lamb shoulder, braised venison, porcini and truffle risotto or aged Pecorino Toscano.

This is Banfi’s classic estate Brunello, made entirely from Sangiovese grown on the hills of its Montalcino property. Its character comes from combining fruit from vineyards with differing soils, including stony calcareous ground, clay-rich sands and moisture-retaining blue-grey clays. That variety gives the winemaking team a broad palette of fruit and structure, brought together in a wine that balances ripe Tuscan generosity with Brunello’s distinctive savoury depth.

Whats in the bottle
Sangiovese 100%

Notable Awards
94pts Wine Spectator

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£53.00
£53.00 - £53.00
£53.00
£46.00
£46.00 - £46.00
£46.00
Availability:
In stock

Banfi was founded in 1978 by Italian-American brothers John and Harry Mariani, whose ambition was to create a leading wine estate in Montalcino. Working with oenologist Ezio Rivella, they combined investment in vineyards with extensive research and modern cellar facilities, helping to bring Brunello to a wider international audience.

Understanding the estate’s varied landscape has been central to Banfi’s development. Vineyard zoning began in 1980, studying how grape varieties respond to different growing conditions and identifying the most suitable sites for each. For its Brunello, the estate draws on hillside Sangiovese vineyards whose contrasting soils contribute different dimensions of fruit, freshness and structure.

That connection between research and practical winemaking remains a defining feature of Banfi. Its Horizon fermentation vessels combine French oak and stainless steel, while maturation uses both large casks and smaller barrels. The approach seeks to preserve the character of Sangiovese while refining its tannins, producing wines with generous flavour, clear definition and the capacity to develop over time.

The 2021 Brunello is made from 100% Sangiovese grown on the estate’s hillside vineyards. A mild, dry winter was followed by an April frost that affected lower and middle vineyard sites in Montalcino, reducing yields. Conditions became warmer from mid-July, with a hot, predominantly dry August and September accompanied by southerly winds.

Fermentation took place at controlled temperatures of 25 to 30°C in Banfi’s Horizon vats, which combine French oak and stainless steel.

The wine matured for at least two years in French oak, with 80% aged in large 6,000- and 9,000-litre casks and the remaining 20% in 350-litre barrels. This combination develops complexity and texture while retaining the fruit and firm structure needed for further ageing.

Alcohol: 15.5%. Recommended drinking window: 2026 to 2036.