Reviews
Round and polished, showing walnuts, ripe red berries and delicate spices. Medium-bodied with a velvety texture and fresh fruit character that keeps the palate lively. Harmonious and approachable with a smooth finish. Drink now or hold.
A dark and complex wine with bitter chocolate, Mediterranean herbs, leaves and black cherries on the nose. Full-bodied, it shows grainy tannins, refreshing acidity and a powerful finish that’s warming yet balanced. Drink or hold.
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.
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.
Notes of red plums and bramble berries with dried rose petals, red licorice and bark. Medium- to full-bodied with chalky texture and vivid fruit. Tannins are velvety and ripe. Racy and spiced on the finish. Sustainable.
This red exhibits black cherry, blackberry and plum fruit accented by iron and earth. Open-knit, making it enjoyable now, with moderately firm tannins on the finish. Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Year's Best for $20 or Less
Deliciously savory, with notes of tar, dark chocolate, olives, currants and sun-dried tomatoes. Medium-bodied with fine, almost silky tannins, accompanied by bright acidity and salty minerality. Fresh finish. Drink now or hold.
This definitely shows the ripeness of the vintage with dried fruit and hints of chocolate and crushed stones. It’s full and layered with plenty going on. It’s richer and denser because of the hot 2017 vintage, but it remains quite bright and fresh. Drink or hold.
A tangy and fruity red with dried cherry, orange peel and stone character is very pretty. It’s medium-bodied, fresh and linear. Shows an energy and tightness. Drink now.
Potent and dense, with sturdy blackberry, orange zest and dark chocolate accents that finish with mild tannic grip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot
Broad and muscular, with an underlying saltiness to the black cherry, blackberry, almond, leather and tar flavors. The tannins lean toward the rustic side as the finish clamps down.
| Review product name | Reviewer | Rating | Review text | Date posted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Round and polished, showing walnuts, ripe red berries and delicate spices. Medium-bodied with a velvety texture and fresh fruit character that keeps the palate lively. Harmonious and approachable with a smooth finish. Drink now or hold. |
July 20, 2026 |
| 2021 Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG | James Suckling | 93 pts |
A dark and complex wine with bitter chocolate, Mediterranean herbs, leaves and black cherries on the nose. Full-bodied, it shows grainy tannins, refreshing acidity and a powerful finish that’s warming yet balanced. Drink or hold. |
January 12, 2026 |
| 2019 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Enthusiast | 91 pts | August 11, 2025 | |
| 2021 Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG | Wine Enthusiast | 90 pts | April 22, 2025 | |
| 2019 Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG | Wine Enthusiast | 95 pts | April 22, 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 |
| 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 |
| 2020 Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG | Wine Enthusiast | 92 pts | June 17, 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 Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Notes of red plums and bramble berries with dried rose petals, red licorice and bark. Medium- to full-bodied with chalky texture and vivid fruit. Tannins are velvety and ripe. Racy and spiced on the finish. Sustainable. |
September 19, 2023 |
| 2019 Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
This red exhibits black cherry, blackberry and plum fruit accented by iron and earth. Open-knit, making it enjoyable now, with moderately firm tannins on the finish. Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero and Cabernet Sauvignon. |
September 12, 2023 |
| 2021 Rainstorm Pinot Gris | Wine & Spirits Magazine | 90 pts |
Year's Best for $20 or Less |
September 30, 2022 |
| 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Deliciously savory, with notes of tar, dark chocolate, olives, currants and sun-dried tomatoes. Medium-bodied with fine, almost silky tannins, accompanied by bright acidity and salty minerality. Fresh finish. Drink now or hold. |
June 22, 2022 |
| 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG | James Suckling | 92 pts |
This definitely shows the ripeness of the vintage with dried fruit and hints of chocolate and crushed stones. It’s full and layered with plenty going on. It’s richer and denser because of the hot 2017 vintage, but it remains quite bright and fresh. Drink or hold. |
January 4, 2022 |
| 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG | James Suckling | 91 pts |
A tangy and fruity red with dried cherry, orange peel and stone character is very pretty. It’s medium-bodied, fresh and linear. Shows an energy and tightness. Drink now. |
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 |
| 2015 Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
Broad and muscular, with an underlying saltiness to the black cherry, blackberry, almond, leather and tar flavors. The tannins lean toward the rustic side as the finish clamps down. |
September 27, 2019 |