Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino 2018

With a special commemorative label that celebrates its 40th birthday (1978–2018), the Casanova di Neri 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is lush and carefully concentrated to offer intensity and textural richness. The bright fruit remains intact in this wine, with plenty of cherry and blackberry, in an encouraging nod to the future cellar potential of this bottle. Many Brunellos from this vintage reveal faded or dried fruit, but thankfully not this wine. The acidity is mild, falling softly to the background, and the tannins are expertly managed. Only the finish is a bit leaner and quicker than anticipated. The wine ages in large oak casks for 42 months, and this year's production is an ample 105,000 bottles. Happy anniversary.

Lots of clean cherry and plummy character to the nose and palate. Medium- to full-bodied with dense, chewy tannins and a long finish. Lovely freshness of fruit here, but give the tannins a year or two to sink in. 40th anniversary bottling. Best from 2024.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary with this 2018 release, Casanova di Neri’s ‘Etichetta Bianca’ has been made since 1978. It blends fruit from plots in the Torrenieri area, where the estate was first established. Tasted five months after bottling, the 2018 is still emerging from its wood-ageing cocoon. Cedar and grilled meat eventually give way to wild mountain blossoms. It's angular at this stage as nervous acidity, granular tannins and polished oak wrap around sinewy fruit - it needs time to come together but shows promise on the finish, signing off with juicy cherry and enticing truffle.