2001 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto

Casanova di Neri is a family owned estate in Fiesole, Tuscany. Founded in 1971 by Giovanni Neri, the winery includes about 75 acres of vineyards in the Montalcino DOC, or appellation. Known to collectors of Italian wines as a rising star in the world of artisanal Italian winemaking, Casanova di Neri was thrust onto the red carpet when its 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova was named Wine Spectators #1 Wine of 2006. Today the estate is run by Giacomo, son of Giovanni Neri, along with his wife and children. Brunello di Montalcino is made from 100% Sangiovese. The estate produces about 190,000 bottles of wine a year. Its wines frequently win coveted 3 bicchieri awards from Gambero Rosso, Italy’s most influential wine journal.

Brunello di Montalcino is regarded as one of Italy’s best appellations. Located in south central Tuscany below Chianti, the wines of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG are made of a Sangiovese clone called “brunello,” which means “little dark one,” a reference to the brown tones in the skin of the grape. Unlike some Tuscan appellations that allow other grapes to be blended with Sangiovese, Brunello di Montalcino is entirely Sangiovese. Montalcino itself is a picturesque, hill-top town not especially well known for wine production until the mid-19th century, when a local vineyard owner isolated the brunello clone and planted it. Other growers followed suit. Nevertheless it wasn’t until 1970s that wine enthusiasts started paying attention to Brunello di Montalcino, which by then was becoming an outstanding wine. Today there are 120 estates in the DOCG, up from about 25 estates in 1975. Brunellos in general are bigger, darker, more tannic and more powerful wines than Chiantis or most other Sangioveses. By law they must be aged for four years, and two of those years must be in wooden barrels.