2014 Cum Laude Super Tuscan, Castello Banfi, Toscane, Italy, Toscana IGT

Banfi was founded in 1978 thanks to the will power of the Italian-American brothers, John and Harry Mariani. From the beginning, the goal of the two brothers was to create a state-of-the-art winery combined with the most advanced science in the vineyards for the production of premium wines.

Together with the Mariani family, it was developed with Ezio Rivella, one of Italy's foremost oenologists, who understood that due to the richness of the soils and the privileged microclimatic position, the property would have great capacity of development.

The grapes are grown on estate vineyards, in the southern hills of Montalcino. Altitude: from 120 meters above sea level (Syrah) to 230 meters above sea level (Sangiovese).

The four varieties (Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon) are vinified separately in stainless steel & wood tanks, with a cold maceration (14°C) prior to fermentation for 2 days. Maceration at 22°C follows until the 2 last days of alcoholic fermentation when the temperature is brought up to 27°C. After the alcoholic fermentation, the wines are separately racked into barriques where malolactic fermentation takes place and where they age approximately for 6 months. The cuvée is made and then aged an additional 6 months, completed by 6 months of bottle aging.

This is the new Super Tuscan cuvée of Castello Banfi, Cum Laude - Latin for “with honours". It combines for the first time the four red varietals that have been selected during the 25 years of research as the best for their vineyards in Montalcino.