2007 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto- Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (3/7/2014)
Very dark (atypical) color, no sign of age. Aromas of prunes, plums, wet earth, dark red floral and blackberries (where are the cherries!?). Consistent with the color and nose, the full-bodied palate delivers up more of the same. Low-ish acids, respectable tannins, but fruit that seems slightly overworked, not nearly fresh enough for my tastes, though no doubt perfectly in the wheelhouse of some. Bereft of typicity. Not something I would seek out, unless it were to have on hand for guests that prefer this style.
Had this at Gambero Rosso. It’s nothing like the 2006 from last year. I wonder about atypical colors though. La Fiortias Brunello are very dark too and they are bottle aged.
Thanks for the note. I agree completely with your observations about this wine. Here is my note from last summer in Montalcino
TN: 2007 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto
Ripe dark cherry, blackberry, menthol and tobacco. Toasty oak both in nose and on the palate. Palate is very ripe with highly extracted black fruit, roasted expresso, grilled herbs, spices and tobacco. The finish is very very long, but not very complex. Pronounced, very sweet and finely grained tannins at the end. Completely modern in style, it has very few characteristics of a Brunello. It is very tasty and delicious, but nowhere near worth its pricetag for me. Am at a loss to understand the 100 point rating on this wine given by ML
Its a nice wine, well made with lots of concentration, but it just does not drink like a Brunello at all. It is so far in the modern camp that i doubt many would pick it out as Brunello in a blind tasting
Infanticide! After experiences with 15-20 year old cerretaltos, this is one bottling that dramatically improves over time. Not sure if there was a style change but I’ve been blown away by 93 and 97. It convinced me that the younger vintages should be tucked far back in the cellar to let them fully blossom…and shed the overbearing slovenian and french oak.