Reviews
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2020 Thick Skinned is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Malbec and only 1% Petit Verdot. Still a baby and set to be released at the end of 2024, it’s still incredibly tight and youthful but has good bones. Firm, bold, spicy and juicy, it’s like a puppy with big floppy ears and paws that will undoubtedly grow into its size. With plenty of hedonistic, juicy dark red fruit flavors and oak essences, this will be a knockout for years to come. Your patience will be rewarded.
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2019 Thick Skinned is over half Cabernet Sauvignon with a quarter Malbec and 15% Petit Verdot. The 2019 has some similarities with the 2018, yet it is still firm and tannic, offering a dusty and rustic nose that needs some time to fill its shoes. Full-bodied, spicy and fresh, the Cabernet blend should find its stride in about two years. Until then, it will have plenty of time to hit its cadence.
Sliced apples, green pears and white peaches on the nose. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Fresh and well-rounded, with a caressing texture and a delicious finish. Drink now. Screw cap.
Tightly wound yet vibrant, delivering black currant, black cherry and iron flavors, with a hint of bell pepper. This red firms up, leaving a compact, chalky finish, with excellent length. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2042.
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2018 Thick Skinned is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with36% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot. The nose is bigger, plummier and juicier, with a bolder frame that is slightly out of step with the rest of the vertical and marked with amore generous dollop of oak. Full-bodied, the wine is juicy, generously layered and robust and will need another year in the bottle but will have no problems reaching its 20th birthday.
Deep character of ripe purple fruit with sweet spices, violets and chocolate notes. Full-bodied, succulent and mellow with creamy tannins and velvety texture. Fruity and lingering. Sustainable.
Year's Best for $20 or Less
Notes of blackberries, dried thyme and lavender, cedar and baking spices. It’s full-bodied with firm tannins. Serious and structured with dark fruit and plums at the finish. Plenty of potential. Drink from 2024.
A very pretty Bolgheri red with currant, chocolate and hazelnut aromas and flavors. It’s full and layered with firmness and freshness. Tight at the end, with a lovely texture and finesse to the tannins. Drink or hold.
Compact, with plum, black cherry, iron and cedar flavors, this gains agility as it builds to the long finish. Not showy, yet harmonious. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2025.
This red starts out accessible, packed with ripe plum, cherry, iron and earth flavors accented by oak spice, before dense tannins firm up the finish. Though finely balanced, elegant and fresh, this will take a few years to integrate all its elements. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2032
Aromas of currants and blackberries and hints of mushrooms follow through to a medium body with plenty of fruit, fine tannins and a fresh, fruity finish. Drink after 2022, but already a beauty.
Potent and dense, with sturdy blackberry, orange zest and dark chocolate accents that finish with mild tannic grip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc opens with aromas of dark-skinned berry, leather and a whiff of mocha. The juicy, balanced palate delivers blackberry jam, star anise and tobacco alongside fine-grained tannins.
Ripe black cherry, plum, herb, leather, earth and salty flavors are supported by a dense structure in this solidly built red. All the components are here, but this needs time to harmonize. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2035.
A juicy and attractive red with currant and berry character and just a hint of hazelnut. Medium body, firm tannins and a linear and fresh finish. Drink from 2021.
This shows dark plums, nutmeg, blackberries and spices. Full body, ripe and round tannins and a chewy finish. Drink in 2020.
Dusty black currant, olive, gravel, graphite and spice flavor combine for a positive effect in this tightly wound red. Needs a bit of time to relax, but all the components are well-proportioned. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2032.
A firm, tight version, whose cherry and currant flavors are fused to dense, dusty tannins. Tobacco, mineral and underbrush notes play out on the lingering finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2018 through 2029. 650 cases made.
Aromas of blackberries, stones and lavender. Full body, tight and firm tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Hints of toasted oak and biscuit. Chocolate, too. Banfi continues to make excellent reds in this appellation. A red that is fascinating to drink now but will better in 2016.
A red with currant, blueberry and chocolate character. Full body, firm, velvety tannins and a fresh, clean finish. Needs time to soften but beautiful backbone of fruit and tannins. Banfi’s new wine from Bolgheri gets better and better. Drink in 2016.
May 2015
| Review product name | Reviewer | Rating | Review text | Date posted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | Wine Enthusiast | 90 pts | August 11, 2025 | |
| 2019 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Enthusiast | 91 pts | August 11, 2025 | |
| 2020 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 93 pts |
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2020 Thick Skinned is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Malbec and only 1% Petit Verdot. Still a baby and set to be released at the end of 2024, it’s still incredibly tight and youthful but has good bones. Firm, bold, spicy and juicy, it’s like a puppy with big floppy ears and paws that will undoubtedly grow into its size. With plenty of hedonistic, juicy dark red fruit flavors and oak essences, this will be a knockout for years to come. Your patience will be rewarded. |
December 11, 2024 |
| 2019 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 93+ |
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2019 Thick Skinned is over half Cabernet Sauvignon with a quarter Malbec and 15% Petit Verdot. The 2019 has some similarities with the 2018, yet it is still firm and tannic, offering a dusty and rustic nose that needs some time to fill its shoes. Full-bodied, spicy and fresh, the Cabernet blend should find its stride in about two years. Until then, it will have plenty of time to hit its cadence. |
December 11, 2024 |
| 2021 Aska Bolgheri Rosso DOC | Wine Enthusiast | 91 pts | August 30, 2024 | |
| 2022 Rainstorm Pinot Gris | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Sliced apples, green pears and white peaches on the nose. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Fresh and well-rounded, with a caressing texture and a delicious finish. Drink now. Screw cap. |
August 9, 2024 |
| 2021 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | Wine Spectator | 92 pts |
Tightly wound yet vibrant, delivering black currant, black cherry and iron flavors, with a hint of bell pepper. This red firms up, leaving a compact, chalky finish, with excellent length. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2042. |
June 5, 2024 |
| 2018 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 92 pts |
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2018 Thick Skinned is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with36% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot. The nose is bigger, plummier and juicier, with a bolder frame that is slightly out of step with the rest of the vertical and marked with amore generous dollop of oak. Full-bodied, the wine is juicy, generously layered and robust and will need another year in the bottle but will have no problems reaching its 20th birthday. |
April 1, 2024 |
| 2017 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 94 pts | April 1, 2024 | |
| 2016 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 92 pts | April 1, 2024 | |
| 2015 Thick Skinned Red Mountain92 | Wine Advocate | 92 pts | April 1, 2024 | |
| 2020 Aska Bolgheri Rosso DOC | Wine Enthusiast | 91 pts | February 20, 2024 | |
| 2020 Banfi Aska Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Deep character of ripe purple fruit with sweet spices, violets and chocolate notes. Full-bodied, succulent and mellow with creamy tannins and velvety texture. Fruity and lingering. Sustainable. |
October 5, 2023 |
| 2019 Banfi ASKA Bolgheri DOC | Wine Enthusiast | 93 pts | October 4, 2023 | |
| 2019 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | Texsom Wine Competition | Silver | June 6, 2023 | |
| 2021 Rainstorm Pinot Gris | Wine & Spirits Magazine | 90 pts |
Year's Best for $20 or Less |
September 30, 2022 |
| 2019 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | James Suckling | 93 pts |
Notes of blackberries, dried thyme and lavender, cedar and baking spices. It’s full-bodied with firm tannins. Serious and structured with dark fruit and plums at the finish. Plenty of potential. Drink from 2024. |
June 22, 2022 |
| 2018 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | James Suckling | 93 pts |
A very pretty Bolgheri red with currant, chocolate and hazelnut aromas and flavors. It’s full and layered with firmness and freshness. Tight at the end, with a lovely texture and finesse to the tannins. Drink or hold. |
January 7, 2022 |
| 2018 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | Wine Spectator | 91 pts |
Compact, with plum, black cherry, iron and cedar flavors, this gains agility as it builds to the long finish. Not showy, yet harmonious. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2025. |
October 14, 2021 |
| 2017 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | Wine Spectator | 91 pts |
This red starts out accessible, packed with ripe plum, cherry, iron and earth flavors accented by oak spice, before dense tannins firm up the finish. Though finely balanced, elegant and fresh, this will take a few years to integrate all its elements. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2032 |
October 16, 2020 |
| 2017 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Aromas of currants and blackberries and hints of mushrooms follow through to a medium body with plenty of fruit, fine tannins and a fresh, fruity finish. Drink after 2022, but already a beauty. |
August 31, 2020 |
| 2016 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
Potent and dense, with sturdy blackberry, orange zest and dark chocolate accents that finish with mild tannic grip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot |
August 18, 2020 |
| 2017 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | Texsom Wine Competition | Platinum | April 3, 2020 | |
| 2017 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | Wine Enthusiast | 90 pts |
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc opens with aromas of dark-skinned berry, leather and a whiff of mocha. The juicy, balanced palate delivers blackberry jam, star anise and tobacco alongside fine-grained tannins. |
April 3, 2020 |
| 2016 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | Wine Spectator | 92 pts |
Ripe black cherry, plum, herb, leather, earth and salty flavors are supported by a dense structure in this solidly built red. All the components are here, but this needs time to harmonize. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2035. |
January 30, 2020 |
| 2016 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | James Suckling | 92 pts |
A juicy and attractive red with currant and berry character and just a hint of hazelnut. Medium body, firm tannins and a linear and fresh finish. Drink from 2021. |
October 22, 2019 |
| 2015 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | James Suckling | 92 pts |
This shows dark plums, nutmeg, blackberries and spices. Full body, ripe and round tannins and a chewy finish. Drink in 2020. |
September 13, 2018 |
| 2015 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | Wine Spectator | 93 pts |
Dusty black currant, olive, gravel, graphite and spice flavor combine for a positive effect in this tightly wound red. Needs a bit of time to relax, but all the components are well-proportioned. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2032. |
August 23, 2018 |
| 2014 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | Wine Spectator | 91 pts |
A firm, tight version, whose cherry and currant flavors are fused to dense, dusty tannins. Tobacco, mineral and underbrush notes play out on the lingering finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2018 through 2029. 650 cases made. |
August 15, 2017 |
| 2013 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Aromas of blackberries, stones and lavender. Full body, tight and firm tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Hints of toasted oak and biscuit. Chocolate, too. Banfi continues to make excellent reds in this appellation. A red that is fascinating to drink now but will better in 2016. |
March 31, 2016 |
| 2012 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | James Suckling | 93 pts |
A red with currant, blueberry and chocolate character. Full body, firm, velvety tannins and a fresh, clean finish. Needs time to soften but beautiful backbone of fruit and tannins. Banfi’s new wine from Bolgheri gets better and better. Drink in 2016. |
March 31, 2016 |
| 2012 ASKA Bolgheri Rosso DOC | Wine Enthusiast | 91 pts |
May 2015 |
April 30, 2015 |