Reviews
Fresh and vinous with an elegant nose of red currants, vibrant violets and a whiff of citrus. A leafy touch as well. Medium-bodied, it shines with velvety tannins and a chewy palate. Good savory finish. Drink now.
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.
A supple, vibrant red, this boasts strawberry, cherry and floral flavors. Elegant and charming, with fine harmony and length.
Year's Best for $20 or Less
A fresh, typical rosso with sour cherries and hints of flowers and cedar. Medium body,fine tannins and a delicious finish. Drink now.
A red with spices, flowers, walnuts and cherries. It’s medium-bodied with light tannins and a savory finish. Hints of orange peel. 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
Lots of elderberry compote and redcurrant reduction, as well as freshly squeezed lemons. Medium body, medium tannins and a very fruity finish. Drink now.
This is all smooth edges, with cherry flavors and a note of licorice. The tannins are refined and the finish conjures up hints of leather and tobacco.
There’s a linear purity to this red with dried chocolate, plum and peach aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Drink now.
Clear and perfumed with fresh red fruits with flowers, mineral on nose. Hint of leather with brown chocolate cake with fine tannin. This is medium-bodied red is savory, round with an elegant finish. Silky texture. Drink now or better in 2016.
Dried strawberry and cherry aromas follow through to a medium body with integrated tannins and a fresh finish. Better in 2014. – James Suckling (9/2013)
| Review product name | Reviewer | Rating | Review text | Date posted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino DOC | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Fresh and vinous with an elegant nose of red currants, vibrant violets and a whiff of citrus. A leafy touch as well. Medium-bodied, it shines with velvety tannins and a chewy palate. Good savory finish. Drink now. |
February 24, 2026 |
| 2019 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Enthusiast | 91 pts | August 11, 2025 | |
| 2023 Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino DOC | Wine Enthusiast | 91 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 |
| 2021 Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino DOC | Wine Enthusiast | 90 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 | |
| 2021 Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino DOC | Wine Spectator | 91 pts |
A supple, vibrant red, this boasts strawberry, cherry and floral flavors. Elegant and charming, with fine harmony and length. |
September 12, 2023 |
| 2021 Rainstorm Pinot Gris | Wine & Spirits Magazine | 90 pts |
Year's Best for $20 or Less |
September 30, 2022 |
| 2019 Rosso di Montalcino DOC | James Suckling | 91 pts |
A fresh, typical rosso with sour cherries and hints of flowers and cedar. Medium body,fine tannins and a delicious finish. Drink now. |
January 10, 2022 |
| 2018 Rosso di Montalcino DOC | James Suckling | 91 pts |
A red with spices, flowers, walnuts and cherries. It’s medium-bodied with light tannins and a savory finish. Hints of orange peel. 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 |
| 2016 Rosso di Montalcino DOC | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Lots of elderberry compote and redcurrant reduction, as well as freshly squeezed lemons. Medium body, medium tannins and a very fruity finish. Drink now. |
September 13, 2018 |
| 2016 Rosso di Montalcino DOC | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
This is all smooth edges, with cherry flavors and a note of licorice. The tannins are refined and the finish conjures up hints of leather and tobacco. |
September 7, 2018 |
| 2013 Rosso di Montalcino DOC | James Suckling | 91 pts |
There’s a linear purity to this red with dried chocolate, plum and peach aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Drink now. |
March 31, 2016 |
| 2012 Rosso di Montalcino DOC | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Clear and perfumed with fresh red fruits with flowers, mineral on nose. Hint of leather with brown chocolate cake with fine tannin. This is medium-bodied red is savory, round with an elegant finish. Silky texture. Drink now or better in 2016. |
March 31, 2016 |
| 2011 Rosso di Montalcino DOC | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Dried strawberry and cherry aromas follow through to a medium body with integrated tannins and a fresh finish. Better in 2014. – James Suckling (9/2013) |
November 18, 2013 |