~ Castello Banfi, home of Summus, lies in San Angelo Scalo in Montalcino ~
Summus is Castello Banfi’s preeminent Super Tuscan. How it was conceived and how it evolved are chronicled in this exclusive Vertical Tasting article. But while there is much coverage on this site which may well relegate future releases to the Tuscan Snips series, the excellence of this wine and it’s popularity with my readers doesn’t warrant that.
Summus is 40% Sangiovese Grosso, 40% Cabernet and 20% Syrah. The blend is unique and as a result, allows the wine to evolve in a unique way.
The 2017 vintage in Tuscany was difficult. An early, warm start to Spring caused the vines to bud prematurely. As a result, when the weather dipped and frost hit, many vineyards were damaged. The problems were prolonged throughout the Summer when triple digit heat was routine. But proactive estates managed things well. In my recent Somm Journal article, I detailed Castello Banfi’s methods for combating drier, warmer Summers and the 2017 illustrates this.
The 2017 Castello Banfi Summus is indeed special. It’s a deep violet to ruby in color that shows no fade at the rim. At the moment, this really displays the character of the Sangiovese. Wonderful aromas straight from the bottle. Deep cherry fruit on the nose with violets and fresh herbs.
On the palate the wine is juicy, fresh and lively. Black cherry fruits are dominant with spice notes yielding to licorice on the finish. Very well balanced with noticeable but balanced tannins. The acidity is fresh and lively. This is one of the freshest 2017s I’ve had in addition to the San Nicola. Impressive wine-making here. Long, silky finish and no sign of the 15.5% alcohol. I can’t wait to see this one evolve. Very excited. 94 points. Not yet fully released. Find this wine.
~ Summus takes on many profiles as it ages ~
There are many more vintages of Summus residing on this website. Simply use the Search Feature or start with the link above to the “Summus Summit”. Thoughts about this wine? Let’s hear about them in the comment section.
Salute!
