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CASANOVA DI NERI

TUSCANY

CASANOVA DI NERI

TUSCANY

ABOUT THE WINERY

Sitting next to the infinity pool at Casanova di Neri’s new on-property relais and gazing up at the silhouette of the hill town of Montalcino less than 3 miles away, it’s pretty easy to start dreaming about becoming a Brunello producer yourself. Giovanni Neri had that dream 50 years ago, although he didn’t have the infinity pool at the time. Neri wanted to establish a new winery here in one of the most hallowed venues in the Italian wine world, the commune of Montalcino, home of what many consider the best Sangiovese-based wines anywhere—indeed, among the very best Italian wines of any description. 

Even back then, vineyard land in the production zone for Brunello di Montalcino was very expensive and hard to find. But in 1971, Giovanni Neri was able to purchase a plot east of the town—the Cerretalto vineyard—that was less desirable because the area was considered too cool for proper ripening. Understanding the limitations of the location, Neri took a new approach in the viticultural practices, accepting a lower yield in order to achieve top-quality grapes. In 1978 Casanova di Neri produced its first Brunello. Over time, climate change has worked in Neri’s favor, as the Cerretalto vineyard with its natural amphitheater overlooking the Asso River now has no problem reaching optimum ripeness.

Vineyard acquisition has been a continuing goal for the Neris, and the estate has grown to include seven different vineyards in various parts of the denomination, totaling 156 acres of vines along with forested tracts, arable fields, and 50 acres of olive trees. The vineyards have been planted or replanted mostly with cuttings propagated from old Sangiovese vines in the Cerretalto vineyard that produced distinctive, high-quality fruit.

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WINERY LOCATION: Montalcino, Tuscany
REGION: Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, IGT Toscana
VINEYARD LAND: 156 acres (63 ha)
FARMING PRACTICES: Sustainable
GRAPE VARIETIES: Sangiovese; smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Colorino
WINE STYLES: Dry red
TOTAL WINE PRODUCTION: 300,000 bottles (225,000 liters)
YEAR FOUNDED: 1971
OWNER(S): Giacomo Neri
WINEMAKER(S): Giacomo Neri and Giovanni Neri

WINES

LOCATION


WINERY:
Montalcino, Tuscany

VINEYARD:
Montalcino, Tuscany

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NEWS AND REVIEWS FROM OUR FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY



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94
DECEMBER 2022
Casanova di Neri "Giovanni Neri" Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2018

I have long awaited the first rendition of the Giovanni Neri Brunello di Montalcino, and the 2018 does not disappoint. Here I’m finding a beguiling mix of lavender, white pepper and crushed stone giving way to dried black cherries and foreign spice. This washes across the palate with a supple wave of ripe red berries carried by vibrant acidity, as nuances of sour citrus and clove resonate throughout. Its tannins are crunchy, almost chiseled in feel, yet coupled with a staining of primary concentration that lingers under an air of violet inner florals, tapering off with tremendous length and structured for a long and balanced maturation. Made from vines that are 50 years old, the Giovanni Neri hails from a vineyard acquired in the southeast of Montalcino. This is a fabulous debut bottling.

96
FEBRUARY 2022
Casanova di Neri “Tenuta Nuova” Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2017

This is one of my all-time favorite Brunellos, and although personal tastes are fluid and may change from time to time, there is something timeless and solid about this wine. It's like a touchstone. The Casanova di Neri 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is graced with a similar interlude of elegant rose or crushed flower that we saw in the annata wine. It appears more prominently here, and with more shape and focused intensity. Make no mistake, Giacomo Neri builds wines for pleasure and sensual impact, and this wine (helped by a hot growing season and 15% alcohol) ticks all those boxes. But it also shows floral elegance and sour cherry freshness that defies our expectations of the vintage.

91
OCTOBER 2021
Casanova di Neri "Giovanni Neri" Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2019

Juniper, thyme and earth accents join bright cherry fruit in this supple red, which carries the fruit theme through the lingering finish, where light tannins lend support. Drink now through 2025. 580 cases made, 100 cases imported

95
MARCH 2023
Casanova di Neri “Tenuta Nuova” Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2018

Here's a treat from Casanova di Neri. Aged in tonneaux for 30 months, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is fleshed out and rich with pretty layers of dark fruit, dried blackberry, spice and cured tobacco. There is a point of sour cherry in this vintage that folds into crushed flower, balsam herb, licorice and crushed stone. The bouquet is classic, but the Casanova di Neri magic touch comes through thanks to the wine's balance and pretty intensity. I can't, however, overlook a powerful 15% alcohol content that leaves its mark. This is a production of 67,740 bottles.

95
MARCH 2023
Casanova di Neri "Giovanni Neri" Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2018

This red is finely woven, with cherry and black currant fruit shaded by floral, mineral and black pepper aromas and flavors.  Supple and fluid, with superb balance and vibrant acidity driving the fruity aftertaste.  Best from 2025 through 2045.  From Italy.

92
DECEMBER 2021
Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino DOCG (White Label) 2017

Dusty florals, musky cherry and raspberry with hints of mentholated herbs waft up from the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino. This is enveloping and soft, with sweet exotic spices and juicy, vibrant acidity giving way to tart wild berries and rosy inner florals. There’s amazing length, hard red candies and violets, and sweet tannin that goes on and on, creating a somewhat chewy yet also fresh expression. The 2017 benefits from all of the fruit that would usually go into the single-vineyard Cerretalto Brunello, though even with it, production is down by 35%. That said, this is stunning juice.

98
FEBRUARY 2022
Casanova di Neri Cerretalto Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016

Here's an important keepsake from a classic vintage. The Casanova di Neri 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto needs time to open, especially if you plan to drink the wine earlier than is recommended (you're best off waiting five years or more). This powerful wine is packed tight with black fruit, plum and summer ripe cherry. Those dark fruit tones segue to spice, baked clay, balsam herb and gardening soil. The oak is always more apparent in the Cerretalto (which is released one year later, as if it were a Riserva) compared to the Tenuta Nuova. The vineyard used makes a big difference, giving this wine more textural weight and thicker fiber. It's all a question of taste, but if you want power (with 15% alcohol), richness, sensuality and voluptuousness in your Brunello, Cerretalto is the bottle at the end of the rainbow.

95
AUGUST 2022
Casanova di Neri Pietradonice Toscana IGT Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Blackcurrants, hints of chocolate and black licorice with some violet undertones. Full-bodied with linear, tight tannins that give the wine tension and structure. Needs time to open and soften. Best after 2025.