Castello Banfi 'Cum Laude' Sant'Antimo, Tuscany, Italy 2020

A captivating Supertuscan that joins the four red varieties, selected as the best in the history of Banfi for our vineyards in Montalcino. A wine with an excellent potential. On the nose the scent is characterized by hints of red fruits with intense cherry tones, accompanied by spicy notes of licorice and pepper. Broad structure, with sweet and powerful tannins, very balanced with a persistent finish.

"The grapes of the Cum Laude come from the Estate vineyards, located on the southern slopes of Montalcino. The Syrah grapes come from vineyards at 120 meters above sea level and those of the Sangiovese at 230 meters. The grapes, all separately, first undergo a cold soaking, followed by the alcoholic fermentation, about 2 days, and then the malolatic fermentation and aging, 6 months, of the wine in oak barrels. After this, the blend is created. The wine is then aged for a further 6 months or wood, after which it is bottled and aged in the bottle for a further 6 manads. This is one of those famous Super Tuscans that gave Italian wines a new boost in the 1980s. The result is a dark red wine with aromas of black currants, plums, olives, tobacco. Due to the wood aging, the tannins are soft. The Cum Laude comes from the so-called Linea Sant'Antimo series." James Sucking 92