Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino 2021

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

Vintage after vintage, Casanova di Neri continues to impress. The 2021s bring a seductive energy to the house’s complex, ripe style. If you have dismissed these wines in the past as being too modern or internationally styled, I strongly encourage readers to taste them with some maturity. Moreover, recent vintages show an undeniable transparency of place. The winery did not make a 2020 Riserva and instead used the Cerretalto fruit to bolster the formidable White Label Brunello.

Eric Guido, Vinous

About Casanova di Neri

Founded in 1971 by Giovanni Neri who with his great vision and passion understood the huge potential of wine in the Montalcino territory, it was passed on to his son Giacomo in 1991.
Casanova di Neri does in fact stands for the Casanova Estate of the Neri Family.

The production started in the Eastern part of Montalcino and was extended later in other areas.

First came the Cerretalto vineyard, a unique terroir in a natural amphitheatre over the Asso river in which the old vines produced a Sangiovese different from the others, with small bunches of well distanced grapes, from which a selective variety was grown that was used in out other vineyards particularly in Tenuta Nuova.

The acquisition of Cerretalto was followed by that of Le Cetine, Pietradonice and then Podernovo. All this by researching the best soil and exposures so as to produce unique and recognizable wines.

The first Brunello harvest was 1978. This was followed by Cerretalto1981, Rosso di Montalcino 1982, Tenuta Nuova 1993, Pietradonice 2000, IrRosso di Casanova di Neri and the last one Ibbianco 2011.

Currently the estate covers a surface of around 500 hectares of which 63 are vineyards, 20 olive groves and the rest arable land and forest.

The Casanova di Neri Philosophy

We believe that wines are the fruit of the vineyard and of man’s labour.

The care and passion in working the land has to take into account the characteristics of the land, the microclimate and the variety so as to produce a unique distinct wine able to express its territory. For over forty years our evolution has been marked by careful targeted choices that have distinguished our estate and the wines we produce creating their own style.

A constant search for particular soils that exalt the quality and uniqueness of our wines and farming practices that respect the land and the vines are followed by attentive care in the making of the wine. Our wines are the fruit of exceptional combinations of soils and microclimates together with passionate and meticulous work enabling us to obtain constant results and to enhance the distinct features of the grapes throughout the different vintages.

In the Vineyard

The family holds 63 hectares of vineyards across 7 sites in Fiesole, Poderuccio, Podernuovo, Le Cetine, Pietradonice, Cerretalto and Spereta, all of them in different parts of the territory of Montalcino.

The diversity of their soils, exposures, microclimates and of the ages of the vines creates the identity of our wines.

Casanova di Neri used selection massale to choose Sangiovese Grosso vines from their Cerretalto vineyard to reproduce and plant on the various sites.

In the Winery

Roughly 36-42 in barrel before 6 month minimum in bottle.

The winery is mostly underground, facing north and with a natural room temperature without having to resort to air conditioning.

It was planned following a rational design that supports our production principles of low impact and natural processes. The structure is on three levels so as to take advantage of gravity. The mission to respect the quality of the grapes and enhance the characteristics of the different grapes and above all of the different vineyards that they come from. Before the vinification the grapes are sorted out on a selection belt after which they are de-stemmed and passed on to a further selection belt where we choose the best grapes that fall by gravity into the vats.

A spontaneus fermentation without the addition of artificial yeast takes places in open conical stainless steel vats with controlled temperature and no pumps, which allows us to have a maximum regard for the quality of the grapes and enables the extraction of only the best tannins, preserving the colour and fragrance. The Brunello sees about 24 days on skins. This particular care and attention to quality is the least we can do after our meticulous work in the vineyards. This is followed by the aging for 36-42 months in two ample barrel rooms on two different levels again using gravity to our advantage.

After bottling, the wines are aged in bottles for at least 6months.

Vintage 2021 in Montalcino

There is something magical about the 2021 Brunellos. The wines offer both near-term appeal and the balance to mature over the next 15 to 20 years. These are structured, youthfully tense wines, but it’s not difficult to find pleasure in them today.

Many winemakers compare the 2021s to the 2015s, but I find the 2021s to be more balanced than the 2015s were upon release. The young 2015s seemed to be all about intensity, boasting a core of opulent fruit that made them attractive in their youth, yet lacking finesse.

The 2021s are all about grace, vibrancy and purity. They also exhibit a beautiful sense of place, something that the wines from other warm vintages like 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2020 struggled to achieve. The 2021 vintage was not without its hiccups, but overall, it is remarkably successful. 

Stated simply, 2021 is a triumph for Montalcino. 

The 2021 Brunellos, on the other hand, are vibrantly fruit-forward, with highly expressive bouquets and crisp, crunchy textures. Their concentration and depth create a saturating tension that’s beautifully balanced by lively acidity, the saving grace for this warm vintage. The 2021s excel across the entirety of Montalcino…

Eric Guido, Vinous

Where in the World is Casanova di Neri