Brunello di Montalcino Giovanni Neri Casanova di Neri 2018 (1.5L)

94 points, Eric Guido, Vinous: “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.” 10/22

98 points, James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com: “Lovely ripe fruit on the nose, with cranberries, plums, morello cherries, white truffles, red tea and white pepper. The tannins are very fine, creamy and expansive. Coating and generous, yet fresh. Wonderful length and depth. From a 7-hectare parcel of 50-year old vines. Try this from 2025.” 12/22

98+ points, Luca Gardini, GardiniNotes.com: “This is the best Brunello di Montalcino 2018, chosen among over 160 samples that I tasted. An impeccable interpretation, the result of excellent work both in the vineyard and in the cellar. To the nose intense aromas of sour cherries, and laurel leaves with brackish and iodine touches on the closure. To the palate it opens with juiciness and tension, then it expands in breadth and depth. The finish is of long persistence, marked by savoury tannins and an officinal trace.”