I have reviewed eight wines from Casanova di Neri, from the 2019 to 2023 vintages, across Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino. All are Sangiovese. Scores range from 93 to 99, averaging 96; the highest is the 2019 Casanova di Neri “Cerretalto” Brunello Di Montalcino (99 points). Casanova di Neri also features in one journal article on this site.
Casanova di Neri is the face of the “modern” school of Brunello di Montalcino. Founded by Giovanni Neri and built by Giacomo Neri into one of the most celebrated estates in the appellation, it focuses on meticulous vineyard work and harvesting at optimal ripeness to produce Brunellos of concentration, polish and velvet tannins. Purists may debate the style; there is no denying the quality.
The estate’s reputation rests on its single vineyards. Tenuta Nuova, first produced in 1993 from a then-unheralded site in the south of the appellation near Castelnuovo dell’Abate, was a bold gamble on galestro soils that became one of Italy’s most decorated wines: dark, dense and saline. Cerretalto, made only in exceptional years from a mineral-rich amphitheatre in Montalcino’s eastern sector, is the crown jewel and one of the most thrilling expressions of Sangiovese I know. Giovanni Neri, the newest bottling, is a tribute to the founder from vines more than 50 years old, and is more classic in profile — high-toned, stony and fine-grained.
The White Label Brunello is the introduction to the house: dark-fruited and seamless, with the estate’s signature balsamic note of wild mint and herbs. The Rosso di Montalcino delivers the same precision in a more immediate, joyful form. In 2021 the whole range leaned into the elegance of the year, proving that modern polish and classic acidity can coexist.
When we talk about the absolute summit of Italian wine—bottlings that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the greatest First Growths and Grand
2019 Casanova di Neri “Cerretalto” Brunello Di Montalcino Read Post »
Giacomo Neri has built Casanova di Neri into one of the most celebrated and critically acclaimed estates in all of
The 2021 is sleek, defined, and incredibly pure. The nose offers a precise beam of dark cherry, black raspberry, and
2021 Casanova di Neri “White Label” Brunello di Montalcino Read Post »
The “Tenuta Nuova” is a legend in its own time. Born from Giacomo Neri’s vision to find a specific terroir
2021 Casanova di Neri “Tenuta Nuova” Brunello di Montalcino Read Post »
This is the newest jewel in the crown, a tribute to the founder of the estate. Sourced from a unique
2021 Casanova di Neri “Giovanni Neri” Brunello di Montalcino Read Post »
If 2019 was operatic and 2020 was sunny, 2021 is the year of transparency. This is a vintage that vibrates with energy, defined by significant diurnal shifts that locked in soaring aromatics and “al dente” fruit profiles. Moving away from sheer muscle, the 2021 Brunellos are architectural and nervy, showcasing a savory, saline grip that speaks clearly of the Montalcino soil. For the collector who values elegance and tension over weight, this is a sophisticated, “intellectual” vintage that promises a fascinating evolution in the cellar.
If “Tenuta Nuova” is the modern, powerful icon of the Casanova di Neri estate, then the “Giovanni Neri” is its
2020 Casanova di Neri “Giovanni Neri” Brunello di Montalcino Read Post »
First produced in 1993, “Tenuta Nuova” was a revolutionary concept: a single-vineyard Brunello from a previously unheralded site to the
2020 Casanova di Neri “Tenuta Nuova” Brunello di Montalcino Read Post »
While some producers lean into whisper-quiet tradition, Casanova di Neri crafts wines with a bold, confident voice, and their classic
2020 Casanova di Neri “White Label” Brunello di Montalcino Read Post »
