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.
Chewy yet packed with cherry, plum and earth flavors, this is a beefy Rosso, with dense, dusty tannins and tobacco, iron and sanguine notes. Needs time or grilled meat. Best from 2026 through 2032.
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.
Fresh and expressive, this cherry- and raspberry-flavored red is polished and vibrant, with a firm line of tannins guarding the finish. Balanced and lingers with fruit, earth and tobacco accents.
Year's Best for $20 or Less
Very perfumed and pure with cherry, cedar, tile and orange-peel undertones. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and a tangy finish. Needs time to open, but already delicious. Drink after 2022.
A pretty, fruity red with plum, berry and light chocolate character. Medium to full body, round tannins and a delicious finish. Just how a Rosso di Montalcino should be. Drink now and enjoy.
Potent and dense, with sturdy blackberry, orange zest and dark chocolate accents that finish with mild tannic grip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot
Shows a delightful combination between pretty blue fruit, bark and resin on the nose. The palate is well defined with round tannins, a welcome streak of acidity and plenty of fruit. Drink now.
Firmly structured and tensile, leaving room for the cherry, leather, underbrush and mineral flavors. Packs a lot into a slim frame, with a lingering finish.
An attractive red with dried cherry, chocolate and light tile. Medium body with a solid core of fruit and a fine tannins texture. Drink now.
Publish Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2017
A bright red with raspberry, red berry and stone aromas and flavors. Medium body, light tannins and a fruity, crisp finish. Racy Rosso di Montalcino. Drink now.
Fresh berries with mineral, hint of tar on nose. Young tannins with coffee beans, woody character but gorgeous density. It’s a baby Brunello. Better in 2015.
Very perfumed with roses and black cherries. Medium body, a solid core of fruit and silky tannins. Fine rosso. Drink now.
Round and savory, this medium-bodied Rosso opens with aromas that recall underbrush, tobacco leaf, and cooking spices. The dense palate doles out rich black fruit accented with cinnamon, clove and licorice alongside supple tannins. -K.O. (November 2014)
| Review product name | Reviewer | Rating | Review text | Date posted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Poggio alle Mura Rosso di Montalcino DOC | Wine Spectator | 91 pts |
Chewy yet packed with cherry, plum and earth flavors, this is a beefy Rosso, with dense, dusty tannins and tobacco, iron and sanguine notes. Needs time or grilled meat. Best from 2026 through 2032. |
November 22, 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 |
| 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 Castello Banfi Poggio alle Mura Rosso di Montalcino DOC | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
Fresh and expressive, this cherry- and raspberry-flavored red is polished and vibrant, with a firm line of tannins guarding the finish. Balanced and lingers with fruit, earth and tobacco accents. |
September 12, 2023 |
| 2021 Rainstorm Pinot Gris | Wine & Spirits Magazine | 90 pts |
Year's Best for $20 or Less |
September 30, 2022 |
| 2019 Poggio alle Mura Rosso di Montalcino DOC | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Very perfumed and pure with cherry, cedar, tile and orange-peel undertones. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and a tangy finish. Needs time to open, but already delicious. Drink after 2022. |
January 10, 2022 |
| 2018 Poggio alle Mura Rosso di Montalcino DOC | James Suckling | 91 pts |
A pretty, fruity red with plum, berry and light chocolate character. Medium to full body, round tannins and a delicious finish. Just how a Rosso di Montalcino should be. Drink now and enjoy. |
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 Castello Banfi Poggio alle Mura Rosso di Montalcino DOC | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Shows a delightful combination between pretty blue fruit, bark and resin on the nose. The palate is well defined with round tannins, a welcome streak of acidity and plenty of fruit. Drink now. |
September 13, 2018 |
| 2016 Poggio alle Mura Rosso di Montalcino DOC | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
Firmly structured and tensile, leaving room for the cherry, leather, underbrush and mineral flavors. Packs a lot into a slim frame, with a lingering finish. |
September 7, 2018 |
| 2015 Poggio alle Mura Rosso di Montalcino DOC | James Suckling | 91 pts |
An attractive red with dried cherry, chocolate and light tile. Medium body with a solid core of fruit and a fine tannins texture. Drink now. Publish Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2017 |
March 23, 2018 |
| 2013 Poggio alle Mura Rosso di Montalcino DOC | James Suckling | 91 pts |
A bright red with raspberry, red berry and stone aromas and flavors. Medium body, light tannins and a fruity, crisp finish. Racy Rosso di Montalcino. Drink now. |
March 31, 2016 |
| 2012 Poggio alle Mura Rosso di Montalcino DOC | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Fresh berries with mineral, hint of tar on nose. Young tannins with coffee beans, woody character but gorgeous density. It’s a baby Brunello. Better in 2015. |
March 31, 2016 |
| 2011 Poggio alle Mura Rosso di Montalcino DOC | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Very perfumed with roses and black cherries. Medium body, a solid core of fruit and silky tannins. Fine rosso. Drink now. |
March 31, 2016 |
| 2012 Poggio alle Mura Rosso di Montalcino DOC | Wine Enthusiast | 90 pts |
Round and savory, this medium-bodied Rosso opens with aromas that recall underbrush, tobacco leaf, and cooking spices. The dense palate doles out rich black fruit accented with cinnamon, clove and licorice alongside supple tannins. -K.O. (November 2014) |
October 15, 2014 |