Reviews
Laced with black currant, blackberry, violet and Mediterranean herb flavors, this red is dense yet remains expressive. Firms up on the finish. Drink now through 2030. 7,500 cases made, 2,400 cases imported.
A spiced and chocolatey nose with notes of cherries, blackberries and hints of cedar, pine needles and walnuts. Polished and juicy with a medium to full body and dusty tannins. I like the energy and brightness of fruit. Drink or hold.
Black currant, blackberry, violet and licorice flavors mark this dense, balanced, fruity red, which leaves a grip of dusty tannins on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2027.
A mix of red and dark fruit with notes of walnuts, pine cones, spices and moist earth. Medium- to full-bodied, velvety and mouth-filling, with powdery tannins and a firm, lightly chewy finish. Sustainable.
A dense, muscular red, featuring blackberry, plum, earth, wild thyme and tobacco flavors. A beam of acidity keeps this defined as the finish echoes fruit, earth and savory accents. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
A dense and rich red, offering plum and cherry aromas and flavors with some cream. It’s medium-bodied with polished tannins and a delicious, savory finish. Drink now.
An open, expressive red, with black currant, black cherry, cedar and spice flavors. Lively, firming up on the moderately long finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2026.
Ripe black cherry fruit is at the core of this red, along with accents of iron, tar, eucalyptus and spice. This is balanced, lingering on the finish with elements of fruit, wild herbs, mineral and spice. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2023 through 2033.
A rich red with crushed berries and blackberries. Medium body, light and refined tannins and a juicy finish. Fun to drink now.
Though rich and saturated with notes of plum, cherry, peppery greens and earth, this red is vibrant and resonant. The dense, dusty tannins compress the finish a little today, leaving a chalky sensation. Shows some muscle. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2021 through 2040.
Aromas of berries and chocolate with hints of cedar. Full body, tight and chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Very structured for this. Needs two or three years to soften. Try after 2021
Shows redcurrants and sun-dried tomatoes on the nose with fresh herbs. Medium body, fresh acidity and a fruity finish. Drink now. Predominantly sangiovese.
Aromas of blueberries and lemon rind with some blackcurrant skin, too. Full body, firm and chewy tannins and a long finish. Needs two or three years to soften.
Dark chocolate, graphite, cherry and crushed stone. Full-bodied with a zesty acidity and polished tannins. Drink now. 100% Sangiovese.
Rich, featuring black cherry and plum fruit and an overlay of vanilla from the oak, offset by an extra layer of tannins. Slightly crisp on the moderate finish. Best from 2016 through 2022. 3,000 cases made. –BS
Aromas of blueberries, blackberries and moss follow through to a full body, with fine tannins and a juicy, fruity, fresh finish. Savory and lightly salty. Excellent to drink now but better in two or three years. A delicious wine for a good price. Predominantly Sangiovese. – JS (November 2012)
| Review product name | Reviewer | Rating | Review text | Date posted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castello Banfi Belnero Toscana IGT | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
Laced with black currant, blackberry, violet and Mediterranean herb flavors, this red is dense yet remains expressive. Firms up on the finish. Drink now through 2030. 7,500 cases made, 2,400 cases imported. |
March 31, 2025 |
| 2021 Belnero Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 91 pts |
A spiced and chocolatey nose with notes of cherries, blackberries and hints of cedar, pine needles and walnuts. Polished and juicy with a medium to full body and dusty tannins. I like the energy and brightness of fruit. Drink or hold. |
August 8, 2024 |
| 2021 Belnero Toscana IGT | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
Black currant, blackberry, violet and licorice flavors mark this dense, balanced, fruity red, which leaves a grip of dusty tannins on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2027. |
July 22, 2024 |
| 2020 Castello Banfi BelnerO Toscana IGT | Wine Enthusiast | 93 pts | October 4, 2023 | |
| 2020 Castello Banfi Belnero Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 92 pts |
A mix of red and dark fruit with notes of walnuts, pine cones, spices and moist earth. Medium- to full-bodied, velvety and mouth-filling, with powdery tannins and a firm, lightly chewy finish. Sustainable. |
September 12, 2023 |
| 2020 Castello Banfi BelnerO Toscana IGT | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
A dense, muscular red, featuring blackberry, plum, earth, wild thyme and tobacco flavors. A beam of acidity keeps this defined as the finish echoes fruit, earth and savory accents. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. |
September 12, 2023 |
| 2019 Belnero Toscana IGT | James Suckling | 92 pts |
A dense and rich red, offering plum and cherry aromas and flavors with some cream. It’s medium-bodied with polished tannins and a delicious, savory finish. Drink now. |
September 30, 2022 |
| 2019 BelnerO Proprietor's Reserve | Wine Spectator | 92 pts |
An open, expressive red, with black currant, black cherry, cedar and spice flavors. Lively, firming up on the moderately long finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2026. |
June 23, 2022 |
| 2017 BelnerO Proprietor's Reserve | Wine Spectator | 92 pts |
Ripe black cherry fruit is at the core of this red, along with accents of iron, tar, eucalyptus and spice. This is balanced, lingering on the finish with elements of fruit, wild herbs, mineral and spice. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2023 through 2033. |
October 14, 2021 |
| 2016 BelnerO Proprietor's Reserve | James Suckling | 90 pts |
A rich red with crushed berries and blackberries. Medium body, light and refined tannins and a juicy finish. Fun to drink now. |
August 31, 2020 |
| 2015 BelnerO Proprietor's Reserve | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
Though rich and saturated with notes of plum, cherry, peppery greens and earth, this red is vibrant and resonant. The dense, dusty tannins compress the finish a little today, leaving a chalky sensation. Shows some muscle. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2021 through 2040. |
January 30, 2020 |
| 2015 BelnerO Proprietor's Reserve | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Aromas of berries and chocolate with hints of cedar. Full body, tight and chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Very structured for this. Needs two or three years to soften. Try after 2021 |
January 30, 2020 |
| 2015 BelnerO Proprietor's Reserve | James Suckling | 92 pts | October 22, 2019 | |
| 2014 BelnerO Proprietor's Reserve | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Shows redcurrants and sun-dried tomatoes on the nose with fresh herbs. Medium body, fresh acidity and a fruity finish. Drink now. Predominantly sangiovese. |
September 13, 2018 |
| 2012 BelnerO Proprietor's Reserve | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Aromas of blueberries and lemon rind with some blackcurrant skin, too. Full body, firm and chewy tannins and a long finish. Needs two or three years to soften. |
March 31, 2016 |
| 2011 BelnerO Proprietor's Reserve | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Dark chocolate, graphite, cherry and crushed stone. Full-bodied with a zesty acidity and polished tannins. Drink now. 100% Sangiovese. |
March 31, 2016 |
| 2011 BelnerO Proprietor's Reserve | Wine Spectator | 88 pts |
Rich, featuring black cherry and plum fruit and an overlay of vanilla from the oak, offset by an extra layer of tannins. Slightly crisp on the moderate finish. Best from 2016 through 2022. 3,000 cases made. –BS |
November 10, 2015 |
| 2010 BelnerO Proprietor's Reserve | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Aromas of blueberries, blackberries and moss follow through to a full body, with fine tannins and a juicy, fruity, fresh finish. Savory and lightly salty. Excellent to drink now but better in two or three years. A delicious wine for a good price. Predominantly Sangiovese. – JS (November 2012) |
July 23, 2013 |
| Wine Enthusiast |