2007 Castello Banfi Summus

Right off the bat, I’ve got to say wow. Not to be too cheesy, but Banfi sure put the super in Super Tuscan when they made this wine.

I’d been holding on to this bottle for a couple of years, ever since I went to a seminar with the winemaker. I drank it then and loved its concentration and structure, eager to see what would happen with more time in the bottle.

I could wait no longer.

A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, there were still lovely purple hints in the gorgeous garnet color. After 7 years, it still drinks relatively young with ample fruit, black currant, plum, and dried cherry leading to tobacco, minerals, earth, and pepper rounding it out. There’s a lot of tannin, excellent structure and a long, round finish.

It needed decanting to open up but the balance and complexity was a joy to drink. Lush is a good word to describe it, so is delicious.

It could’ve hung out for a few more years, but it drank beautifully and I enjoyed every last drop. My only disappointment is that it was my only bottle.