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“Casanova di Neri is one of the shining stars of Montalcino. Each successive vintage released brings us a renewed understanding of the focus and dedication demonstrated by the father-and-son team that operates this estate. The winemaking style is impeccable and elaborate. There’s a higher degree of texture and richness on display, and this is not often the case with Sangiovese.” ~Monica Larner, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

From the ancient Etruscan roots of Montalcino to the Middle Ages under Siena's dominion, this illustrious wine embodies centuries of history and tradition. Founded in 1971 by Giovanni Neri, Casanova di Neri has blossomed from a humble dream into a beacon of Italian viticulture.

The winery gained global recognition when its 2001 Tenuta Nuova Brunello di Montalcino was named Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year in 2006, a milestone that cemented its reputation for combining precision, power, and a deep respect for terroir.

Under the direction of Giacomo Neri, the estate continues to define modern Brunello through site-driven wines built on patience, balance, and clarity of expression.

Cerretalto represents the most instinctive and uncompromising expression of that vision. The wine is sourced primarily from a secluded vineyard set within a natural amphitheater alongside a small river, an environment shaped by mineral-rich soils, low natural yields, and a remarkably pure ecosystem that even supports a private white truffle reserve. This rare setting creates a distinct microclimate that gives Cerretalto its unmistakable character, marked by depth, structure, and a strong sense of place.

The 2018 vintage reflects these conditions with precision and harmony. A cold winter delayed bud break, followed by generous spring rainfall and a cool, even summer without extreme heat. Wide day-night temperature shifts before harvest allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and steadily, preserving freshness while building complexity. The result is a Brunello defined by graphite-driven aromatics, layered red fruit, and a finely tuned structure. Persistent, balanced, and deeply expressive, Cerretalto 2018 captures both the identity of its singular vineyard and Casanova di Neri’s enduring pursuit of what a great Brunello should be.

ABV: 14.5%

• 3 bottles of 2018 Casanova di Neri Cerretalto Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
  
  

Dark, rich ruby red. Beautifully ripe, open nose, accessible, plums, wild raspberries, tobacco, echoes of liquorice. Surprisingly juicy on the palate, great fruit freshness, opens up with vivid, silky tannins, good tension, still a little drying in the finish. ~ 98 Falstaff

Bright ruby. Not yet released on the tasting date. Cherries, anise, dark fruits, coffee, liquorice, layered, intense and deep, Rosemary and thyme high notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, liquorice, layered, nuanced, dense, yet refined and playful, energetic, minerals, iron notes, bright yet rich and detailed, must be some change to the style here, the wines are more vibrant than I remember them, long. Stunning. ~ 98 Christer Byklum

The deep garnet-colored 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Cerretalto is ripe and boasts a sunnier feel, with aromas of baked cherries as well as a dark mineral profile of graphite, toasted peppercorn, and dried lavender. Fleshy and full-bodied, it offers a plush tannin structure, with wonderful depth and richness through its long-lasting finish, and it retains good freshness. This would be a wonderful counterpart for lovers of great Bordeaux. It remains fresh and tinged with classic notes of blood orange and salinity. It’s going to be an outstanding wine to cellar and drink over the coming decades. Bravo. ~ 98 Jeb Dunnuck

Black cherries and dried cherries are allied with notes of balsamic, leather and minty earthiness, but it needs time to open up. Full-bodied on the palate with good fruit concentration and refined tannins. Still youthful, with grainy oak touches. Hints of graphite in the polished finish. Very savory. Best from 2028. ~ 97 James Suckling

Exciting to say the least is the main profile of this young Brunello, guascone, swaggering, with every reason to be so. There is really everything in the main matrix with very fresh notes of cherries, red plums, currants, cassis, pink grapefruit, guarana and crushed almonds. Lemongrass, lime and vetiver give fresh, progressive notes that progressively grow from the background. Medium-full-bodied, biting and "veracious" it shows a full-bodied sip, tannins of a slightly edgy nature and a captivating finish with a remarkable Mediterranean flavour. Better since 2026. ~ 97 WinesCritic.com

Showing dried blackberry, balsam herb, vapor rub and a hint of charred chili spice, this wine offers an aromatic profile that is very much in line with a vintage that saw cool spring temperatures and a hot summer. The Casanova di Neri 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is a wine of depth, dusty tannins and a slightly evolved fruit character. I tasted this 2018 Cerretalto next to the estate's new releases from 2019, and the latter vintage certainly offers more overall clarity and crunch. The Neri family does great work with tannin management, and although there is some chalkiness here, the wine's structure is expertly folded into the fruit concentration. Only 9,700 bottles were made. ~ 96 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is exotic and perfumed, displaying all of the vibrancy of the vintage through a deep core of dark red fruit, lavender tones and foreign spices. It's lifted and finessed, displaying remarkable balance. Cooling acidity combines with tactile mineral tones and citrus-laced wild berry fruits that swirl throughout. It finishes crunchy and long, leaving crystalline tannins, a blackberry concentration and a tinge of licorice. Despite the conditions of the year, this is a genuinely harmonious Brunello that will excel with cellaring. The 2018 benefited from an extra week of hang-time leading up to harvest ~ 96 Vinous Media

There's a firm underlying structure in this intense red, boosting its plum, cherry, eucalyptus and iron flavors, with a solid midpalate that builds to a lingering aftertaste of red fruit, hibiscus and mineral. Shows terrific length and freshness. Best from 2026 through 2042. 800 cases made, 95 cases imported.~ 95 Wine Spectator

Casanova di Neri’s newest Brunello hails from a 7ha plot purchased in 2017. In the slightly untamed area of Sesta, in Montalcino’s southeast, the vineyard boasts vines over 50 years of age. A superbly multifaceted wine, it expresses becoming scents of aromatic herbs and blood orange. Velvety layers of fleshy persimmon and ample pliable tannins are countered by citrussy acidity. There's a crunch of pomegranate as well as chocolatey depths of exotic carob. Plenty of verve and vibration here. ~ 94 Decanter

Substitutions of featured wines may be made at BHW's discretion.