More about the Casanova di Neri 2019 “Cerretalto” Brunello di Montalcino: High above the undulating hills of Montalcino lies a vineyard cloaked in quiet mystique—Cerretalto. From this singular amphitheater-shaped site, nestled on the eastern side of the region and defined by its rare galestro-rich soils laced with iron and magnesium, Casanova di Neri crafts a wine that is as much a force of nature as it is a triumph of human intention. The 2019 Cerretalto Brunello di Montalcino emerges only in vintages deemed extraordinary, after a rigorous selection of fruit from vines that have become deeply rooted in this elemental terrain, producing a wine of stunning power, grace, and longevity. At the helm of this pursuit is Giacomo Neri, whose visionary winemaking pushes the boundaries of what Brunello can express. In 2019, a vintage marked by optimal ripening and perfect diurnal shifts, the Cerretalto is a masterstroke of precision and patience. It spends over 30 months in French oak barrels and nearly 30 more resting in bottle before release—an extended aging regimen that refines its formidable structure while preserving its wild, soulful heart. On the palate, it unfurls in waves of dark cherry, plum skin, dried rose petal, and graphite, woven through with notes of crushed herbs, blood orange, and a signature ferrous minerality that speaks unmistakably of its origin. This is not merely a wine—it is a meditation on place and time, rendered with profound clarity and reverence. The 2019 Cerretalto is built for the ages, capable of thrilling now with decanting, but destined to reach staggering heights over decades. Each sip draws you deeper into Montalcino’s most enigmatic vineyard, revealing a Brunello that doesn’t just reflect its terroir, but channels it with a haunting intensity. For collectors and connoisseurs, this is a landmark vintage from one of Italy’s most iconic crus—a wine that will etch itself into memory, long after the last glass is gone.