About the product
Castello Banfi SummuS Toscana IGT is a premium Super Tuscan blend that brings together Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah from the renowned Montalcino area in Tuscany. Produced only in select vintages, this wine reflects Banfi’s commitment to quality, combining international varietals with Italy’s most iconic grape.
It displays a deep ruby red color with excellent concentration. The nose is complex and expressive, offering aromas of ripe cherry, blackberry, and plum, layered with notes of vanilla, sweet spice, tobacco, and a touch of cocoa.
On the palate, SummuS is full-bodied and structured, with refined, velvety tannins and a harmonious balance between fruit and oak. The integration of the three varietals creates a wine that is both powerful and elegant, leading to a long, persistent finish with lingering dark fruit and spice.
Aged in French oak barriques, this wine has excellent aging potential and continues to develop complexity over time.
Ideal for pairing with grilled or roasted red meats, game, rich pasta dishes, and aged cheeses.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairings
Taste Notes
- Nose Deep and brooding. It opens with black cherry jam and ripe plums, followed by sophisticated layers of tobacco leaf, roasted coffee beans, and licorice. There is a savory, earthy undertone of Tuscan scrub (macchia) and graphite.
- Palate Full-bodied and muscular. You will find blackberry coulis and dark chocolate leading the way, transitioning into a mid-palate of black pepper, clove, and cedar. The tannins are broad and "sweet," providing a velvet-like grip.
- Finish Persistent and elegant. It leaves a long trail of vanilla, dried herbs, and a touch of balsamic, with a savory, mineral-driven exit.
Food Pairings
The combination of Sangiovese’s acidity and Cabernet’s structure makes "Summus" a powerhouse pairing for rich, fatty, and herb-heavy dishes.
- Savory Wild Boar Ragu with Pappardelle. The acidity of the Sangiovese cuts through the richness of the game meat, while the Syrah spice matches the ragu's depth.
- Main Bistecca alla Fiorentina (T-bone Steak). The wine’s firm tannins are a perfect match for the charred exterior and juicy interior of a thick-cut steak.
- Cheese Pecorino Toscano Stagionato (Aged Sheep's Milk Cheese). The saltiness of the cheese highlights the wine's dark fruit and balsamic notes.
- Sweet Dark Chocolate and Cherry Ganache. The chocolate and cherry notes in the wine provide a direct "mirror pairing" to the dessert.
About the brand
Castello Banfi is a massive influence in the world of Italian wine, founded in 1978 by the Italian-American Mariani family. Based in a stunning 9th-century fortress in Montalcino, they are credited with modernizing Brunello production and defining the "Toscana IGT" (Super Tuscan) style. In 2026, Banfi is celebrated not just for its scale, but for its "Horizon" hybrid fermentation tanks—a mix of stainless steel and oak that allows for incredibly precise texture control. "Summus" (Latin for "highest") is intended to be the ultimate expression of their estate's diverse microclimates.
