Super Tuscan "Summus" Castello Banfi, Toscana IGT, IT, 2020

Professional Ratings (2020 vintage)

• Wine Advocate (Robert Parker tasting panel) – 94 points
  Described as elegant and supple with blackberry, baked plum, sweet spice, and resolved tannins; noted as already approachable and drinking well now.
• Wine Enthusiast – 93 points
  Rich and layered with vanilla bean, dark fruit, pepper, earth, and silky tannins; rated as a highly recommended Tuscan red blend.
• Wine Spectator / Banfi in-house aggregation of critic scores – 93 points
  Consistent benchmark score across multiple blind tastings of the 2020 vintage.

Aggregate critical profile (consensus)

Across professional reviewers, the 2020 SummuS is consistently described as:

Aromatics & palate profile

• Blackberry, plum, black currant
• Vanilla, cocoa, sweet spice
• Mediterranean herbs, cedar, light earth

Structure

• Medium-full body
• Polished, mostly resolved tannins
• Moderate acidity (fresh but not sharp)
• Oak is present but generally well-integrated

Style consensus

Critics broadly agree it is:

• A modern, polished Super Tuscan
• More approachable earlier than many traditional structured Tuscan reds
• Built for near-term drinking (though can hold several years)

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 94 Points

A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the Castello Banfi 2020 SummuS comes with a black label and a metal label appliqué. That fancy packaging leads to an elegant bouquet and soft fruit flavors, blackberry, baked plum and sweet spice. The tannins are resolved, and the wine shows lots of supple layering.

Wine Spectator 93 Points

A deep well of cherry, plum, boysenberry, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors highlights this complex red. Beginning to reveal tertiary elements of truffle and woodsy underbrush, while lively acidity drives the excellent finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

Winemaker Notes: