2016 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova

Lustrous, deep ruby. An amplified version of the straight Brunello. Fine peppery cherry and raspberry fruit. Really gentle and at the same time showing proper depth. Sweet cherry fruit palate tempered by fresh succulent acidity and lots of gorgeous polished, chewy tannins. Fresh and sensationally well balanced. (WS)

The 2016 Tenuta Nuova has layered aromatics of black raspberry, menthol, baking spice and cedar. The palate is intensified and has another gear, with mouth-filling cherry fruit, tobacco, and a balanced but powerful structure. Enjoy a couple of the 2016 Brunello while you wait for this one in the cellar for 3-5 years and drink 2025-2041.

This is one of my sweetheart wines from Montalcino. The Casanova di Neri 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova offers a long list of aromas on an ever-shifting and fluid bouquet. You get bright cherry, rose potpourri, black truffle, caramel, butterscotch, sandalwood, road pavement and chalky mineral. In fact, each time I come back to this wine, that mineral element seemed to grow in intensity and scope. The wine offers a grounded fruit side that is contrasted nicely against a grounded oak component. The mouthfeel is creamy and long, and the wine shows terrific tannic integration. When you come back hours later, you might find black olive, bresaola and licorice.