Casanova di Neri ‘Cerretalto’ Brunello di Montalcino 2019

100 Points, James Suckling
“Wow. Seductive aromas of slate, violets and black cherries as well as some graphite and cedar. Full-bodied, this has incredible depth, intensity and purity, building on the palate with focused fruit and pronounced tannins. Goes on for minutes. A wine for the long run. Best of the vintage? Try after 2029.”

99 Points, Decanter
At the far eastern limits of the zone, Cerretalto is Casanova di Neri’s coolest site, owing to marked diurnal temperature differences. Fermented in oak and aged in tonneaux, of which 20% is new, this cuvée sees long ageing in bottle and is always released a year after its stablemates in the vintages it is made. Simply breathtaking, the 2019 is a thoroughbred. Intense yet at the same time reticent, the nose simmers with pulverised rocks, graphite, smoke and wild black berries. Sinewy and chiselled in physique, the palate is full of vim and vigour. Dark fruit tones are offset by tangy pomegranate and zesty acidity, and commanding tannins are firm but not hard-edged; they simply need time. Hints of roasted coffee bean and oregano persist.

98 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The Casanova di Neri 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto (with the black label) opens to medium-plus concentration, dark fruit, ferrous earth and black licorice. You get a lot of detail on the bouquet. This is a big wine with all muscle and no fat. It concludes with smoky barbecue, cola and pressed blue flower. These ethereal aromas appear only after the wine has been in the glass for a while. Rich concentration wraps over the palate but imparts no residual heaviness. This wine has great capacity to age, but I love Cerretalto when its primary fruit is still apparent.”

98 Points, Vinous
“The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is a showstopper, with a bouquet that mixes hauntingly dark florals, black cherries, incense, exotic spices and sweet sage. It seduces the senses with silken textures and ripe wild berry fruit scents, taking on a steady tension as hints of blood orange and an air of violet florals saturate the palate. It finishes structured and impossibly long as a primary concentration lingers, leaving a stain of blackberry and sour cherry, all framed by regal tannins. The balance here is otherworldly. The 2019 Cerretalto displays all of the best attributes of this radiant vintage. Spellbinding.”