Colvecchio

 2003 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1991 
 
Colvecchio 2003

"...More plummy than peppery, as expected, it also delivers an alluring meaty component surrounded by supple tannins and uplifting acidity that clearly identifies its Tuscan origin. California winemakers should take note of this great Syrah."
- Michael Apstein - San Francisco Chronicle - 20 April 2007

Richness is all in this full, dense syrah, a juicy red with plenty of new oak to fatten it up. Decant a bottle for steak.   89
- Wine & Spirits - April 2007

Colvecchio 2001

“Italy scores with Banfi Colvecchio 2001 Syrah with big dates, black cherry, mint and cassis — a real red power trip.”   91
- Toronto Star - 18 January 2006

“This Italian Syrah offered jammy red fruit with notes of tobacco, smoke, spice and floral hints.”
- Frank Sutherland - The Tennessean 16 November 2005

“This Italian Syrah offered jammy red fruit with notes of tobacco, smoke, spice and floral hints.”
Frank Sutherland – Tennessean - 16 November 2005

“This is a Syrah that thrives in the heat and sun. Intense color, typical spice and fruit on the nose that again carry forward upon tasting, subdued smooth tannins but not lacking in structure, long finish. Again, fine to lay down for more than a few years but again I like its youthful presence.”   Wine of the Week
- Bill Van Ollefen - The Advocate - 14 September 2005

“Black as pitch.  Intense, spicy oak, extenuated nose.  Cassis hints.  Very New World in style with extracted black fruits, spice and jamminess.”
  * * *
- Decanter - January 2005

“Complex aromas of blackberry and grilled meat, with hints of licorice.  Full-bodied, with soft tannins and a long, rich finish.  Delicious and opulent.  Best from 2005 through 2010.”   90
- Wine Spectator - 15 October 2004

Colvecchio 2000

“Black Syrah spices grow right out of the tough structure of this wine, its austere fruit beginning to yield dark cherry flavors as it takes on air.  In body, it’s light enough for grilled fish, though the tannins may be more at home with meats.”   88
- Wine & Spirits - October 2004

"This is a Syrah; it’s deep black cherry ruby with cherry ruby rim paling to white. The bouquet is young, with surprising floral accents that I don’t usually  associate with Syrah, and underlying dark forest berry fruit that mingles with brambles and slight underbrush. On the palate it’s medium bodied and very smooth, with bright cherry plum fruit supported by sweet tannins that are so smooth they seem smaller than they are, and lead into a clean cherry plum finish that’s fairly persistent and gains definition from pleasing bitter overtones. Pleasing, in a direct youthful key, and will work nicely with simple grilled meats, for example burgers, or light stews. There isn’t quite enough acidity for greasier things along the lines of sausages or a meat-based pasta sauce, but it is also the sort of wine one could open with friends when the wine is not the centerpiece of the moment. You may want a second bottle handy."   **
- Kyle Phillips - Italian Wine Review - 16 January 2004

"Firm, with medium body, medium tannins and a dried cherry and game character. Best after 2005." 87 
- Wine Spectator - 15 October 2003

Colvecchio 1999

"Jammy fruit nose – on the palate there are intense and quite dry fruit flavours. "   *** ½
- Malcolm Anderson - GAZETTE (Montreal) - 11 January 2003

"Rich red, with leafy, minty, berry and lightly gamy aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with round tannins and a fruity, crisp finish. Delicious. "   87
- Wine Spectator - October 2002

Colvecchio 1998

"Lavish aromas of raspberries, chocolate, leather and black olive. Pungent and full-bodied, as a Syrah should be, with raspberry flavors matched against sweet tobacco, black coffee and soft tannins."
- Dick Rosano - FRA NOI - December 2002

"...lots of oak up front and an abundance of spicy, tart red fruit in the middle. The oak kicks up on the finish as well..."   86
- Wine Enthusiast - August 2002

"Beautiful deep color, complex palate, a finish that continues to please."
- Bill Van Ollefen - Greenwich Time - June 2002

"Tight and muscular, this powerhouse will reward the patient with a mouth-filling profusion of blackberry, pepper, clove, white chocolate and vanillin oak harmony."
- David P. Jones - Nob Hill Gazette - January 2002

"Earthy berry and cherry character in this Syrah. Medium to full-bodied, with firm tannins and a spicy, peppery, fruity aftertaste."   89
- Wine Spectator - November 2001

Colvecchio 1997

  91
- Wine Spectator Buying Guide - May 2002

"...has a very intense plum-ruby colour and is one of the rare Italian wines made from this grape, originally from France. On the palate the typical blackberries of Syrah are joined by the dry cherries that stamp it "Made in Italy." It is a big wine for strongly flavoured meat dishes and cheese."   **** (Excellent)
- Malcolm Anderson - Gazette (Montreal) - February 2002

"The color is concentrated and dense, the nose is typical of Syrah: berries, ripe plum followed by pepper and curry, then elegant hints of ink and pencil lead fading into sweet vanilla. The taste is soft, warm and generous, with noteworthy acidic balance. Depth, full-flavor and a long finish make it a very typical and elegant Syrah."   86
- Gambero Rosso - August 2001

"This wine follows more of the American and Australian version of the Syrah grape than that coming out of France. The nose is spicy and full of plums, blackberries and light smoke."
- Dick Rosano - Fra Noi - July 2001

"...full-bodied and brimming with classic flavours of dark berries, chocolate, smoke, tobacco and spice."   Pick of the Week
- Beppi Crosariol - Toronto Globe & Mail - July 2001

"Deep royal purple in color, this rich full-bodied wine was aged for about 12 months in small oak casks. With a unique personality that makes it quite different from the Syrah wines of France's Rhone Valley or Australia, this ripe and chewy wine has refined tannins, and spicy plum, currant and blackberry flavors that come together very nicely indeed. Deep and rich, the wine opens beautifully in the glass and has flavors that linger on and on."   91
- Ha'Aretz - May 2001

"Sant'Antimo is the denominazione used for nonnative grapes within Montalcino and this dense cassis and meaty-nosed Syrah shows that more than Sangiovese grows well here. There's plenty of black currant, licorice and anise in this hefty offering. The wine sports a thick mouthfeel, but with brisk acidity, and finishes dry with medium length and a reprise of the anise note."   88
- Wine Enthusiast - February 2001

"Syrah nose with some limited wood (French). Fine tannins but very soft and very easy drinking. A lovely forward wine and very pleasant indeed. A high quality "restaurant" wine."   Excellent
- Robert Helms - Bacchus Wine Forum - January 2001

"The wine has luscious, rich fruit and a gentle spiciness from its 18 months of barrel aging. Unlike Syrah from the Rhone and the south of France, there is a total absence of the mineral animal notes that bring complexity, but the wine has its own spicy, fruity charm."   ****
- Malcolm Anderson - Gazette (Quebec) - January 2001

"A sweaty, earthy, currant, boysenberry, and raspberry nose introduces the 1997 Colvecchio Syrah before a crisp, bright, forward berry, cherry, raspberry, and red plum palate which leads to a medium to long finish with moderate breadth which adds some oak and fine tannin."
- The Colorado Wine News - October-December 2000

"Subtle, with aromas of Indian spice, berry, cinnamon and meat. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long finish. Very fine indeed."   91
- Wine Spectator - August 2000

Colvecchio 1996

  89
- Wine Spectator Buying Guide - May 2002

"Look for a big gamey nose with some vanilla, oak toast and peppery, roasted earth aromas. Similar flavours on palate. Quite a firm peppery red."   90
- Wine Access - May 2000

"A delicious and seriously good Syrah. Aromas of grilled meat, berry and earth follow through to a full-bodied palate, with medium tannins and a plummy, ripe fruit finish. Lovely and succulent."   89
- Wine Spectator

"Deep, saturated blackish-ruby hue. Powerful brown spice and sandalwood aromas show a hefty oak accent. A lean entry leads to a lush, medium-bodied palate with supple tannins."   89
- Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute) - July 2000

Colvecchio 1995

"A wonderfully delicious intense, dark-flavored wine. Spices and herbs march with the tannins and the powerfully juicy fruit."   93
- Wine Enthusiast

"The flavor delivers everything the aroma promises... This is textbook Syrah, but all very forward and accessible."
- Wine & Spirits

"Beautiful aromas of raspberry and black tea, with floral, leather and spice. Lean but substantial, excellent structure and balance..."
- Santé

"A completely different take on Syrah... edgy tannins create the backbone for a savory Tuscan red... each taste adds layers of flavor, sustained, seemingly endless."   92
"A completely different take on Syrah... edgy tannins create the backbone for a savory Tuscan red... each taste adds layers of flavor, sustained, seemingly endless." 92

"One of Italy's few Syrah wines, with the typical pepperiness of the varietal on nose and palate. Is as richly flavored as its violet color would suggest."   ***1/2
- Montreal Gazette

"...a wine with a nose of maturing cedar, cinnamon and concentrated black fruit and a smooth, mouthfilling palate of dark fruit and mouth-coating tannins."
- Decanter

"Big, new, French oak nose with vanilla, oak toast, and peppery, roasted-earth aromas."
- Wine Access

Colvecchio 1994

"Lush dark cherry and berry fruit with vanilla and chocolate flavors from oak aging."
- San Jose Mercury News

Colvecchio 1993

"One of the most intriguing new varieties Banfi brought to Montalcino, and in the right vintage conditions, it turns out a terrific wine"   85
- Wine & Spirits

"Fantastically perfumed"   88
- Wine Spectator

"...soars with sweet black-cherry fruit, smoky, peppery flavours built on a fine core of acidity."
- The Globe And Mail

"This wine is without any doubt, the best Syrah we have yet tasted."
- South Florida Newspaper Group

Colvecchio 1991

"Subtle, with aromas of Indian spice, berry, cinnamon and meat. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long finish. Very fine indeed. "
- Wine Spectator - August 2000

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