CASANOVA DI NERI
TUSCANY, ITALY
WHY BUY:
If you love powerful, structured wines like Napa Cabernet or premium Bordeaux, we just know you're going to fall hard for this seductive septet from Casanova di Neri — highlighted by two 100-pointers (including one that James Suckling believes could very well be the "wine of the vintage" for 2019 Brunello) and an absolute knock-out of a 98-pointer that in our estimation is right there with them when it comes to intensity, persistence, and length. This is Brunello at its most profound, showcasing the Neri family's remarkable evolution in both the vineyard and the cellar, resulting in wines of singular character, confounding depth, and mind-blowing complexity.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
James Suckling opened his 100-point review of the Cerretalto 2019 with a simple “Wow,” before going on to describe “seductive aromas of slate, violets and black cherries” with “incredible depth, intensity and purity’ that “goes on for minutes,” wondering if it might be the “best of the vintage.” Jeb Dunnuck matched that enthusiasm for the Tenuta Nuova 2021, awarding 100 points to a wine packed with “youthful tension" yet possessing “a seamless, weightless feel, with polished tannins, refreshing acidity, and a flinty mineral edge.” Dunnuck was nearly as enamored of the Giovanni Neri 2021, which he awarded 98 points, calling it “the most intense and brooding wine in the range’ with “real drive and depth” and “a long, structured finish that keeps unfolding with air.”
OUR TASTING NOTES:
Given how much great Italian wine we taste around here, it’s no small thing to say that these bottles get our pulses racing every time. The Cerretalto 2019 is a wine of uncommon power and grace. We love how it builds layers upon layers without ever feeling heavy or overwrought. Suckling noted that it ‘goes on for minutes,” and he's not exaggerating; this wine has a staying power that borders on the supernatural. The Tenuta Nuova 2021 is the oenological equivalent of watching a young gymnast with perfect technique and unerring control. This is a wine of tremendous purity and refinement, but also phenomenal drive, as it delivers you to a finish that will lodge in you mind long after you’ve finished your glass. Then there's the Giovanni Neri 2021, which we believe to be right there in the company of those two 100-pointers. Its intensity is off-the-charts, and its tannins are so fine and well-integrated that you barely notice them. Best of all, though, is its terroir character, which is so redolent of dark chocolate, leather, and herbs (those marvelous, resinous herbs) that you’ll be fantasizing about booking a trip to Tuscany as you sip and savor. What unites all these wines is that perfect Casanova di Neri signature: the ability to deliver serious concentration without losing elegance, power without sacrificing finesse.
THE STORY:
When Giovanni Neri released his first vintage 45 years ago, he set in motion one of the most remarkable evolutions in Montalcino's history. Together with his son Giacomo, he established a philosophy built on a fierce commitment to quality: single-vineyard bottlings to express specific terroirs, strict yield limitations to ensure concentration, and gentle handling in the gravity-flow cellar. Though the wines have always been celebrated for their power and aging potential, recent vintages evince a new level of purity and precision, thanks to shortened maceration times and investment in optical sorting technology. It's a perfect example of how old and new can work together when guided by a clear and uncompromising vision.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH:
The 100-pointers are great all by themselves, the better to parse out their nuances and layers and take in their splendor without anything to compete with them. But they also dance beautifully with dry-aged steaks, braised short ribs, or a wild boar with juniper. The rest of the lineup is full of wines that are built for both the cellar as well as the table, so you’ll find that they’re perfect partners for a pan-roasted duck breast with huckleberries, a roast leg of lamb with herbs, a mushroom risotto, or a classic cacio e pepe.
FUN FACT:
The estate's flagship wine, Cerretalto, comes from a single vineyard so unique it has been designated as its own microclimate.
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate, so you can rest assured that your wines will arrive in your hands as they should: with pristine provenance guaranteed. Secure your bottles and cases today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2026. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NC, NE, NY, OK & TN. This offer will expire on Wednesday, April 1st, 2026.