ExcelsuS
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 15 years from the vintage release, though outstanding vintages can easily cellar for 20 years or more.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Grilled prime ribeye steak, slow-braised wild boar or beef ragu, and aged cheeses such as Pecorino Toscano.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Castello Banfi, founded in 1978 by the Italian-American Mariani brothers, revolutionized the viticultural landscape of Montalcino. While the estate is world-renowned for its Brunello, ExcelsuS represents their premier exploration of Bordeaux varieties in Tuscan soil. Crafted from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this Super Tuscan is born from estate vineyards characterized by clay and calcareous soils strewn with marine fossils. The grapes undergo temperature-controlled fermentation in Banfi's signature hybrid wood-and-steel tanks, followed by aging for roughly 18 to 24 months in French oak barriques. The result is a wine of immense structure and complexity, marrying the rich, dark-fruit character of Cabernet with the velvety softness of Merlot, all framed by Tuscan warmth.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1978 by the Italian-American brothers John and Harry Mariani, Banfi is a pioneering estate headquartered at the historic Castello di Poggio alle Mura in Montalcino, Tuscany. The winery is globally renowned for its groundbreaking clonal research on the Sangiovese grape, which helped redefine the quality and consistency of Brunello di Montalcino, alongside its state-of-the-art, sustainable winemaking technologies. While deeply rooted in Tuscany, Banfi has expanded its footprint to Piedmont, crafting a diverse portfolio of premium wines that ranges from elegant Brunellos and innovative Super Tuscans like Cum Laude and Belnero, to expressive whites like San Angelo Pinot Grigio and Fontanelle Chardonnay.