(Torgiano, Perugia – December 2004) - - Poggio alle Mura from the Castello Banfi vineyard estate in Montalcino, Tuscany, was the sole Brunello to win a medal at the 24th Banco d'Assaggio dei Vini d'Italia Wine Competition. SummuS, Castello Banfi’s critically acclaimed super-Tuscan, was also a medal winner in its category.
Poggio alle Mura Brunello Di Montalcino 1999 and SummuS 2001 were two of the five wines that share top honors in their respective categories. Poggio alle Mura is an unfiltered version of the region’s historic Brunello di Montalcino made with grapes grown in cru vineyards surrounding the historic fortress of the same name. Those vineyards are planted with three clones of the Sangiovese vine that are the result of over 20 years of research undertaken by Castello Banfi in collaboration with the University of Milan and now registered with the European Community.
Poggio alle Mura retails in the US for approximately $75 for a 750ml bottle. SummuS, an estate-grown cuvee of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, retails for approximately $63.00.
“These two wines equally reflect the winemaking philosophy of Castello Banfi,” said Cristina Mariani-May, family proprietor. “A healthy respect for tradition and terroir complement a measure of innovation to bring out the maximum expression of our territory and its potential for excellent winemaking. This recognition reflects the labors of our entire team, filling us with pride and inspiring us to strive higher still.”
Banco d'Assaggio is a prestigious showcase for some of Italy’s finest wines. Over the course of two days, 591 wines from 19 Italian wine regions were evaluated by panels made up of wine makers and technicians. Complete anonymity and total objectivity are emphasized as the wines are divided into fourteen categories based on style,