The 2016 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Alle Mura Riserva is a standout wine from Tuscany, Italy, crafted from the Sangiovese Grosso varietal. This red wine boasts an alcohol content of 14.5% and is sealed with a cork. Renowned for its rich color and full-bodied profile, it has garnered high praise from several notable wine critics.
James Suckling awarded this wine a 97-point score, highlighting its "tight and linear and long" character. He describes it as having "so much black truffle, dark cherry and wet earth character with some bark," adding that it is "full-bodied yet tight and polished with firm tannins that persistently drive the length of the palate." Suckling emphasizes the wine's aging potential, recommending to "try after 2023" (jamessuckling.com).
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate provided a 95-point review, noting its "inky dark appearance and rich color concentration." The review underlines Castello Banfi's meticulous approach to selecting fruit that exemplifies the essence of a Sangiovese Riserva. The tasting notes include "blackberry, spice, cherry, leather and baked clay," with additional flavors of "cola, licorice and tar" on the finish. This release consists of 14,638 bottles (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate).
Wine Spectator gave an excellent review, rating it at 98 points. The wine is described as "stunning," with "black cherry, blackberry, plum, leather, earth and iron aromas and flavors." The review praises the wine's balance between ripe fruit and firm tannins, predicting a long aging potential. It notes that the wine will be best from 2026 through 2045, with 1,220 cases made and 75 cases imported (Wine Spectator).
Vinous scored this wine 93+ points, appreciating its "crushed ashen stone and hints of graphite" aroma profile. The wine is characterized as "elegant yet savory," with "velvety textures ushering in mineral-tinged black fruits and exotic spices." The finish is "remarkably long and structured," with refined tannins and hints of "sour citrus" and "tart red currants under an air of tobacco" (Vinous).
Wine Enthusiast also awarded it 93 points, observing aromas of "underbrush, toasted nut, violet and eucalyptus" with a "whiff of tobacco." The palate features "prune, dried cherry and licorice," supported by "taut, fine-grained tannins." The recommended drinking window is from 2024 to 2031 (Wine Enthusiast).
In summary, the 2016 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Alle Mura Riserva is a richly concentrated, full-bodied wine with excellent aging potential, praised for its complex flavor profile and well-structured tannins.