2018 Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany

Intense, bright ruby red, with a garnet sheen. On the nose, wild raspberries and black cherries, lovely savoury notes, violets. Substantial and dense on the palate, with really wonderful, compact tannins, multi-layered, notes of cloves, rich and chewy on the finish.

98 points Falstaff

Elegant and perfumed nose of dried roses, violets, lemon zest, slate, cherries, aniseed and truffles. Very fine, tight and precise tannins. Medium to full body. I like the floral and saline undertones. So precise and fresh with a tight finish. Crushed stones at the end. Try in 2025, but already attractive to taste and drink.

96 points James Suckling

Here's a treat from Casanova di Neri. Aged in tonneaux for 30 months, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is fleshed out and rich with pretty layers of dark fruit, dried blackberry, spice and cured tobacco. There is a point of sour cherry in this vintage that folds into crushed flower, balsam herb, licorice and crushed stone. The bouquet is classic, but the Casanova di Neri magic touch comes through thanks to the wine's balance and pretty intensity. I can't, however, overlook a powerful 15% alcohol content that leaves its mark. This is a production of 67,740 bottles.

95 points Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

Casanova di Neri is one of Montalcino's most respected estates, founded by Giovanni Neri in 1971 and now guided by his son Giacomo. Tenuta Nuova, first produced in 1993, has become one of the great modern expressions of Brunello di Montalcino, celebrated for its depth, elegance and remarkable ageing potential. It remains one of the family's most sought after wines.

The vineyards lie in southeastern Montalcino, where the Neri family recognised the potential of a previously overlooked site. The 2018 vintage produced a particularly fragrant and graceful expression of Sangiovese, with freshness and finesse taking precedence over sheer power.

Deep ruby red with developing garnet edges. Ripe red cherry, wild raspberry and plum mingle with dried rose petals, sweet tobacco, liquorice and balsamic herbs. The palate is supple yet beautifully structured, with juicy red fruit, lively acidity and finely woven tannins. Notes of cedar, earthy spice and crushed stone add complexity to a long, savoury finish.

Try it with duck breast and cherry jus, handmade ricotta and spinach ravioli with sage butter, or roasted porcini mushrooms with creamy polenta and aged Parmesan. Its graceful structure makes it particularly appealing alongside dishes that complement rather than overwhelm the wine.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2040+. Already approachable with decanting, with plenty of time ahead for further savoury complexity.