[Rich] Top producer, outstanding vintage, amazing wine. For my money, the finest Tuscan red under $20 we’ve offered all year. Don’t miss it!

The secret is out, as great as 2015 was in Tuscany the 2016 vintage was even better. Yes, even in Montaclino… If you love great Brunello you’re going to want to scoop those 2016s up. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s to come.

Casanova di Neri IrRosso 2016

Sale 19.99

90 pts Wine Spectator

A few years ago I was lucky enough to visit perennial 100 point Brunello powerhouse Casanova di Neri in Montalcino. What a tasting experience! Brunellos galore, $100-$200+ bottles, and then this wine under $25 a bottle. Even in a line-up with the good stuff and it more than held its own. Often we call Rosso di Montalcinos “baby Brunellos” but rarely do they pack the same kind of punch as the big boys. Casanova di Neri does something a little different with this wine, it’s not a true Rosso di Montalcino. Unrestricted by the stipulations those DOCG wines require, they can produce a more powerful, and frankly a more Brunello-like wine. So perhaps we should call this a “Brunello Tweener” rather than a baby. Mostly Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello’s sacred clone), with approximately 10% Colorino (an ancient Tuscan variety), and small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. All the fruit comes from their meticulously farmed 63 hectares of estate vineyards, planted to the south and east of Montalcino. These are the same vineyards they produce their $100-$200+ bottles from, just the younger vines, or the fruit that doesn’t quite make it into the top cuvees. The winery is state of the art, gravity flow, built below ground, several stories into the hillside. Fermentation takes place in large conical stainless tanks, then is moved by gravity (no pumping, producing finer tannins) into barrels where its aged for 15 months prior to bottling. Again, the same treatment as their top wines. This 2016 is the best bottling of this wine I’ve tasted from Casanova di Neri. With pure aromas of wild cherry, blackberry and violets on the nose. There’s some savoury notes too, herbs, balsamic hints and spice, its unmistakably Tuscan. Rich on the tongue, dark red fruits, more spice, and well-integrated core of tannins leading into a finish that’s long fresh with acidity. Incredible juice, it really feels like a Brunello with a few years of bottle age. Irresistible now, but I bet it’d cellar at least another 5 years.

“Pure aromas and flavors of black currant, blackberry and violet are shaded by notes of wild Mediterranean herbs, iron and sweet spices in this balanced red. The tannins are solid yet refined, and the finish lingers, echoing the fruit, herbal and spice elements. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2024.” – WS


Or reply. The wine is available now in Chapel Hill. Friday, as ordered, in Hillsborough.