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| ~ Castello Poggio Alle Mura is home to Banfi ~ |
With Honors…. It’s what every graduate aspires to. It’s the pursuit of excellence. It’s the sense that you are privileged to attain a level of regard. At Castello Banfi, it’s also about the production of wine that honors the soil, the land, the respect for Montalcino that gives meaning. It’s about honoring the place.
Cum Laude is one of Castello Banfi’s Super Tuscans. While it is crafted with all the care that more notable wines like Summus, Belnero and Excelsus receive, by the estates own admission, it’s a wine suited to earlier consumption in a more informal setting. In the past, I’ve not counted Cum Laude as one of my favorites. However, the newest release is rather compelling.
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| ~ The versatile Cum Laude paired very well with risotto, beef and lamb stuffed peppers. You can see the Recipe Here: Nonna’s Stuffed Peppers ~ |
The 2011 Castello Banfi Cum Laude is a blend of 30% Cabernet, 30% Merlot, 25% Sangiovese and 15% Syrah that is fermented in Castello Banfi’s unique, patented stainless steel and oak hybrid tanks. Each varietal is vinified separately and then racked to French barriques for 6 months. At that time, the cuvee is made and the varietals age together for an additional 6 months followed by 6 months of bottle aging before release.
Cum Laude is internationally styled. It’s sauve, with no rough edges and smells and tastes like a polished Cabernet/Merlot blend. The wine is a dark purple with traces of violet reflections. On the nose, the blackberry aromas are punctuated by soft cedar notes, fresh herbs and hints of grilled meat.
The wine is silky on the palate, with seamless integration of tannins and balanced acidity that keeps the wine fresh and versatile with food. The medium bodied black plum flavors dominate the profile but there’s a pleasant mineral and mocha note on the finish. Not the style of wine that readers will appreciate if they’re looking for a more rustic, traditionally styled red. However, it’s well made, easy drinking and delicious. 90 points. SRP ~ $30 Disclosure: This bottle was an importer provided sample.
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| ~ An easy drinking cuvee of international varieties ~ |
Salute!
January 6, 2016
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