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ExcelsuS Sant' Antimo D.O.C. 2003 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1995 | 1993 |
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ExcelsuS Sant' Antimo D.O.C. 2003 On the nose, cassis and dark chocolate, black cherries and smoke, with hints of violets, lavender and licorice. In the mouth, it is vividly mineral, dense and chewy, but sleek and polished.
"Mature, aged aroma of dried fruit, leaves and stone give way to flavors of mocha, tobacco, raspberry, and coffee. Firm tannins suggest longevity and ageability. This Cabernet – Merlot blend is a shot across the bow at Bordeaux."
"Cabernet Sauvignon’s green pepper aromas do arise but are delicately reigned in by the soft, yielding and plush Merlot component, which adds cherry, blackberry, spice cake and nutmeg. But what really makes this a standout wine is the texture: creamy and concentrated with solid tannins and loads of cherry flavors." 92
"Full bodied, smooth, and velvety with concentrated aromas and flavors of black cherry, raspberry, plum, and flowers; chewy tannins and a long, red fruit and tobacco finish."
"This scandalously opulent marriage of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon never ceases to tire me, year after year. The 2001 edition is long, focused, medium-intense, blackberry jam-like and utterly delicious. Best from 2012-2015." Highly Recommended
"Bouquet of blueberry, cream and pencil shavings. Healthy blueberry and mineral flavors highlight the palate. Typical of the kindred softness and sweetness that exist in Banfi’s line of Super Tuscans." 92
“This is the best example of ExcelsuS I have encountered.. . . ExcelsuS 2001 is not merely palatable but ravishing. It’s deep purple in every respect and teems with cassis and dark chocolate-covered black cherries, smoke and violets, lavender and licorice. In the mouth it’s vividly minerally, close to iron-like, dense and chewy, imbued with a profound sense of gravity, yet it’s also sleek and polished. Ultimately, it offers unassailable character and dignity, as if it were asking, “Who are you to be drinking me?” Fine now, but best (well-stored) from 2009 to 2012 or ‘14.” Excellent
“This complex Italian wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60 percent) and Merlot. Forward blackberry fruit with a hint of spice, licorice and cassis. Good aging potential.”
“Black-red color; opaque; dense black fruit with a faint dusty/underbrush note. Potent entry. A powerhouse red wine that has only 13.0% alcohol. This Cabernet/Merlot blend should age at least 15 years. Or try now after decanting two to four hours. Best with grilled steaks.” Exceptional
“Fabulous aromas of blackberry, currant and lightly toasted oak. Full-bodied, with a rich, silky texture and a long, luscious finish. Fruit-driven but refined. One of the best in a long time.” Cabernet Sauvignon. Best after 2006.” 92
"...The berry flavors are snappy and juicy, with tight, focused acidity. Less New World than most Banfi wines, yet for an off vintage it has its good points." 87
"Bright cherry ruby with ruby rim. The bouquet is fairly rich, with an abundance of brambly berry fruit jam laced with cedar, some sea salt, slight citric overtones, underbrush, and slight hints of mint. Young, and has a slightly spiky feel to it that brings heat to mind, but also harmonious. On the palate it’s medium bodied and still somewhat up-in-the-air, with pleasing fairly intense red berry fruit—cherries with some currant overtones—supported by tannins that have splintery cedary notes, and lead into a clean dusky cherry finish with some cedar. When the pieces fall into place, in another 12-18 months, it will drink nicely with light to moderately rich stews, or grilled meats, including rare beef. Expect it to age well for up to 5-8 years, gaining considerable depth over time." **
"Attractive aromas of currant, raspberry and lemongrass. Full-bodied, with soft tannins and a medium finish. Slightly jammy but very good. Easy wine. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best after 2006." 89
"Full bodied and multilayered with red berries, black cherry and a nice balance of rich fruit and juicy tannins. Hearty beef stews. Can serve now, but will improve with age."
"A smooth and racy Super-Tuscan with lovely, pure blackberry fruit and astonishing acid structure."
"Exceptional." 90
"A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Bright ruby red with a touch of purple. Black cherry, oak, clove and mace aromas. Medium-full to full-bodied with very good concentration. Nicely structured finish with layers of ripe fruit, youthful tannins and lively acidity. Beautiful complexity. Best in 7-10 years." * * * *
"A blend of 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 40 percent Merlot that has deep color, enormous structure and loads of black currant, plum, spice and tobacco. Think Bordeaux meets Tuscany. If you must drink this soon, decant it and let it aerate for and hour or so. Or if you can afford to buy a case, try a bottle now and open another every five years or so."
"...a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. It was aged in oak for 14 months. Still tight, it shows restrained dark fruit, chocolate, cassis, blackberry, boysenberry and soft, sweet, smoky oak on the nose. All repeat as soft, rich flavors with ripe, smooth tannins with the same fruit plus dark cherry over the oak which is a touch bitter. The finish is long, medium-broad and persistent. Some may object to the touch of bitterness but it adds another dimension. The wine will be better in another three years or so in the bottle." Excellent. BEST WINE.
"...the top of the Banfi line ...Even though there are no traditional Italian grapes used in this blend, there is definitely that certain and unmistakable Italian character about the wine. The aroma is a constantly evolving entity, displaying alternating scents of dark berries, cherries, summer flowers, and spice with intermittent suggestions of tobacco, leather and black pepper. The flavor too is an ever changing display of all of the possible red fruit flavors a wine can have and they linger in the mouth for an inordinately long time. While ExcelsuS is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, its Italian birthplace endows it with that certain something that spell greatness. This is a wine that, despite its high price, which by the way it is well worth, should be experienced. It represents a high point in Italian winemaking and a fine example of what dedicated winemakers can do with great grapes."
"A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this still young medium-bodied wine already shows good balance between tannins, wood and fruit. Approachable now but at its best from 2004-2007." 92
"Subtle aromas of flowers, berries and cherries with hints of minerals. Full-bodied, with a lovely balance of fine, ripe tannins and sweet ripe fruit. Delicious." 90
Prestige
"A surprise, given the weakness of the vintage when compared to both 1997 and 1999, this blend of Cabernet and Merlot tastes deep and rich, with a long finish redolent of dark chocolate and coffee. A tour de force."
"General Characteristics: Mouth-filling, multitextured, firm tannins, long finish. Aromas: Currant, mocha, lead pencil, hint of spearmint. Flavors: Bold red and black fruit. Pairing or Product Use: Leg of lamb. Can serve now, but will improve with age."
"Unfiltered black hue. Soft, subtle aromas of plum, black cherry, candle wax and violet. Creamy texture with zingy acidity and juicy flavors of blackberry, cassis, citrus peel, coffee and redwood. Dry, crisp close marked by red fruit and rustic oak." 91
"Sweet smoke intertwined with large sage scents leads into resinous, sassafras-inflected flavors of super-ripe black fruit. It's a modern and flashy blend of Cabernet and Merlot, with a mouthwatering acidity that keeps encouraging yet another sip." 89
"Fans of full-bodied reds should like this Cabernet/Merlot blend for its pure berry and mint aromas, its ruby luster, and dry, clean raspberry and chocolate flavors. There are full tannins now, indicating that it will age for about five years, maybe more. And it finishes nicely." 90
"...has the showy, flashy appeal of a big New World red... a huge velvety wine, almost decadent in its opulence, with a deep ruby color and a flavor redolent of dark fruit, cherries and blackberries... if you enjoy big, rich luxurious reds, seek out this super Super Tuscan."
"Brilliant ruby red- violet hue. Sweet oak, black cherry, black currant aromas. A rich entry leads to a full-bodied palate with impressive concentration." 89
"Ruby red, light purple. Blackcurrant, black cherry, thyme and sweet oak aroma. Medium-full body with ripe fruit and good concentration. Big, chewy finish that is very tannic and has fine acidity." ***
"...a powerful young wine, well-balanced but needs a bit of time to round out. It shows berry, cherry and leather and is an intense deep red color, beautiful in the glass. This should be cellared for a year or two and will mature for years. In my cellar."
"...a generous wine, rich with currant, plum and black cherry flavors, well-endowed with lavender, violet and licorice and sumptuously warm and substantial. Four to seven years. Excellent. "
"This young red shows lots of currant and tea aromas. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a polished, medium, fruity aftertaste. Cabernet and Merlot. Best after 2003." 89
"Deep cherry ruby with black highlights and cherry rim that has faint hints of brick. The bouquet is powerful, with strong cherry fruit laced with tart raspberry acidity that provides direction and deft underbrush mingled with graphite shavings that provide support; the combination of tartness and underbrush works nicely and brings to mind a brisk fall day with the sun darting in and out of clouds, and with more swishing grilled bell peppers also emerge, decisively. On the palate it’s full and rich, with strong cherry and forest berry fruit supported by smooth sweet tannins that have pencil shaving overtones and some greenish vegetal notes that become more pronounced in the finish, taking on a bell pepper character that shines through the fruit. Pleasant in a powerful key, a rutting wine in its prime that will work quite nicely with a thick porterhouse cut grilled rare, or with a hearty stew (venison would be perfect). It’s ready now but will hold for many years." **
"Opaque, inky blackish-ruby hue. Ripe, plumy aromas have a spicy accent and a minerally undertone. A rich entry leads to a firm, full-bodied palate with big, velvety tannins. Picks up a complex, mildly herbaceous Merlot undertone through the finish." 92
"A gorgeous Italian Cabernet-Merlot blend with a velvety texture. From a superb year."
"This wine is so concentrated that you continue to discover layers of flavors for several minutes after the first sip. Sweet cherry, blackberry and light oak aromas are followed by flavors of blackberry and black cherry, with a touch of lavender."
"...richly textured, a blend of Brunello, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The complex flavors include leather, ripe dried cherries, vanilla oak and currants. The structure is simply immense and mouth-puckering."
"Full-bodied, concentrated and as loaded with smooth tannins as it is with an exquisite array of flavors and aromas that include black currants, wild berries, cassis, licorice, pepper and vanilla. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this truly Super-Tuscan wine has an almost black color which, when held up to the light, reflects a remarkable orange corona. Hold for at least two more years before drinking and then do not hesitate to store until 2010-2015." 94
"A Bordeaux-style blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot that shows its European origins. Austere and complex, clean and dry, cassis and cherry, earth and leather, with firm, well-integrated tannin." 88
"Very supple on the palate, this Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend has dense black cherry aromas and flavors framed by dill oak. Earth notes add a touch of complexity and the finish is full, with tobacco-earth accents. Attractive and easy-to-like..." 89
"60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 percent Merlot, offers more ripeness and succulence than SummuS and a wreathing of spice, cedar, tobacco and minerals, but its formidable foundation is awash in oak and tannin." Pick of the Week
"On the palate, complete fruit with a lovely full mouthfeel. Seems to combine complexity and concentration with elegance and balance. A lush, fairly forward wine and a wine that is really easy to understand and appreciate." Excellent+/Outstanding
"Exceptional - Castello Banfi 1997 ExcelsuS, Italy advances the argument that Tuscany is as useful as any territory in the world for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. While Sangiovese remains the backbone of Tuscan red wine, there is profound evidence that Cabernet and Merlot have a significant future in Tuscany. Banfi's ExcelsuS, a Super Tuscan blend of 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 40 percent Merlot from its own Montalcino estates, has abundant virtues: Intensity, excellent complexity and , most important in such a powerful wine, elegance on the palate."
"Goes off the concentration meter. Black color. Wonderful aromas of mint, currants and blackberries. Full body. Big velvety tannins. It goes on and on, with licorice and ripe fruit character. Best after 2003." 93
"Elegant yet firm texture" 92-94
"Deep cherry ruby with some brick in the rim. By comparison with the 97, the bouquet is more bashful, hanging back rather than leaping from the glass; there’s delicate cherry fruit with some cherry jam overtones mingled with underbrush, hints of bell pepper, underlying cedar, and slightest pencil shavings. Pleasant. On the palate it’s medium bodied, with deft berry fruit supported by clean sweet tannins that have some cedary overtones and hints of graphite, and flow into a long clean forest berry fruit finish with cedar and grilled pepper overtones that resolve into bitterness with time. Quite nice, and more approachable than the 97 -- rather than demand center stage it will work with foods—stewed veal or beef will be a perfect match, as will grilled red meats, or roast beef that’s not too rare. It’s ready now, though it will also cellar well for at least 5 more years."
"Structured, with a distinctive herbal component. A wine with lots of style. General Qualities: Medium-full-bodied, complex, dry, balanced acidity, strong oak impression, modest tannins. Color: Dark Ruby. Aromas: Black cherry, black currant, cherry, currant. Flavors: Black cherry, black currant, cherry, currant, herbal. Other Descriptors: Concentrated, long finish, opulent, plush, round." ****
"Rich, dark red. Earthy aromas with chocolate, black fruits, plum and mint. Full, vibrant fruit on the palate. Juicy, ripe berry flavors with good alcohol and tannins. The finish is balanced with more fruit and tannins on the end." 16/20
"...broodingly dark and so concentrated it's almost compacted, a wine that seems to have extracted everything from the grapes but the harsh tannins. A potential superstar in five to ten years." Excellent
Silver Medal
"A fabulous Cabernet-Merlot vino da tavola from Banfi's Montalcino vineyards. It takes about an hour to open up, but once it does, wow, it's all there. Deep, cool, and delicious at the core, this really shows a new-world friendliness; it's extremely easy to drink, with its sweet blackberry and plummy character. Hedonistic stuff... " 93
"Explosive nose of vanilla, herbal oils, brambly fruit, buttered popcorn and celery. Thick and soft, with a cascade of acid, alcohol and tannic textures."
"It's tightly built around tannins which point up the juicy texture with the precision of a sharp lead pencil." 93
"Deep, saturated blackish-ruby hue. Enticing leather, black fruit, and chocolate aromas. A rich entry leads to a chewy, full-bodied palate. Round and supple through the finish." 92
"Big and chewy... Full-bodied with chewy tannins and a hint of wild berry." 90
"...dramatic in its concentration and ripeness" 90
"Alluring bouquet...lingering finish with obvious tannins and plenty of tempering fruit in a supportive role." 92
"Rich, elegant, concentrated, opulent, ripe fruit- huckleberry and black rasberry. Soft tannins, much charm and much promise." 94
"This wine truly exhibits the great heights an Italian wine can achieve."
"Beautiful, mature black raspberry and currant, hint of tea. Full-bodied, moderate tannins, bold fruit; long spicy, fruity finish."
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