Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Giovanni Neri 2020

Jeb Dunnuck

The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino Giovanni Neri boasts a darker red/purple hue and is completely different, offering aromas of dark mineral earth, polished leather, sappy herbs, black cherry compote, dark chocolate, and menthol. Fleshy and full, it saturates the palate with lush, ripe tannins and a more pronounced saltiness, giving the wine a mouthwatering feel and a long-lasting finish, with notes of blood orange lasting on the back palate. It deserves time in the cellar before drinking over the coming 20 years.

James Suckling

A solid red with mushroom, bark, blackberry and black-truffle character. Full and layered with open tannins and a long, persistent finish. Creamy and polished. From a single vineyard with vines averaging 50 years old.

Robert Parker

Giovanni and Gianlorenzo have tweaked the house style to focus on less extraction and more fruit balance instead. They are experimenting with softer cap management, bigger woods and some whole-cluster fermentation (used partially in the Brunello di Montalcino Giovanni Neri, for example). These are very exciting times for the Casanova di Neri brand.

The Casanova di Neri 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Giovanni Neri is a lifted and punchy wine with great vertical delivery of aromas. It ferments with 10% to 15% whole-cluster fruit. Giovanni and Gianlorenzo Neri noticed brown stems and perfumed aromas, and these qualities gave them the inspiration to use the stems. Cherry and red fruit aromas are followed by pepper, wild spice, sweet earth and dusty pencil shaving. There are hints of saddle leather on the one hand and pressed rosemary herb on the other. At the very end, there is a hint of something that tastes like a crunchy breakfast bacon strip. I do love the intensity and the energy of this wine. Only 8,600 bottles were created. Fruit comes from a seven-hectare parcel in the Sesti area (along the dirt road that goes from Castelnuovo dell'Abate to Sant'Angelo in Colle) that was purchased in 2017. The vines were planted in the 1970s. The wine ages in tonneaux for 30 months, and the tannins are beautifully integrated.

Michael Godel

Picked 10 days after Tenuta Nuova, here in the east of Montalcino and the newer vineyard for Casanova di Neri owned by a friend of Giacomo Neri. Now named for his son, the block and the wine, 30 months in tonneaux and a vintage of 20 percent lower yields because of small but concentrated berries. The thread that runs through the three sangiovese is unmistakeable, from the Brunello and its large proportion of Ceretalto fruit, the (south Montalcino) Tenuta Nuova and this Giovanni Neri. Levels of quality and personality, all three setting the bar so high and each distinguished for their style and sense of place. Also pace because the Giovanni Neri does not hurry, act like a rebel of youth or try to do too much, too fast. Like the other two it solicits a love to drink now but also speaks to potential. Once again subtle yet sweet volatility, silkiest of texture and tannin, suave structural simulation and early integration are the hallmarks of a Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino. The bouquet and tannins are like 2012 “but I believe 2020 is more elegant, with fresher tannins and more vibrant acidity” says Giacomo Neri. That is correct, if namely because the experience in recognizing and knowing how to deal with heat, drought, hydric stress, vines shutting down and re-starting is far greater than it was ten years before. Not to mention advances in the cellar. Drink 2026-2037. Tasted November 2024.

GardiniNotes.com

Since the last acquisition of the house, a modern classic. Smell with hints of black cherry and pink pepper, then laurel and dehydrated thyme nuances. It opens to the juicy and taut palate, highlighting salty-savory tannins and spicy notes. It closes on officinal notes and red fruit.

Vinous

The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Giovanni Neri pulls the taster down to earth as whiffs of sous-bois, ashen stones and animal musk dissipate to reveal layers of dried black cherry, lavender and rubbed sage. It's silken in feel, with hints of polished ripe red and blue fruit. A liquid floral concentration adds youthful tension. Structured, long and quite potent, it has sweet and round tannins that taper off with citrus-infused black currant and exotic spice aromas. The Giovanni Neri hails from nearly 50-year-old vines near Castelnuovo dell'Abate. It's a showstopper.

Vivino

(211 bedømmelser, set over alle årgange, 13-02-25)

Jyllands Posten

Intens, sødmefuld, dyb, men også med en mineralsk note og en nærmest vil energi, de er 10-15 pct. hele klaser her, gamle stokke, en (for mig) helt overraskende vin fra dette hus, som jeg altid har opfattet som suverænt, men også poleret. Bevares, den er vellavet og perfekt, men der er masser af den oprindelighed, som mange nye brunelloer savner.

The Drinks Business

The Wine Independent

Overall, I was impressed with the 2020 vintage … I recommend it as vintage to buy and, in many cases, it is a suave vintage to hold even longer than the bombastic 2019 vintage.