Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto 2018

99 points International Wine Report: "The 2018 ‘Cerretalto’ Brunello di Montalcino is once again an absolutely thrilling wine. This is always one of the most compelling wines from Montalcino, and there is no exception with this gorgeous effort. It begins with beautifully perfumed aromatics of blackberries, cherries, exotic spices, leather, herbs, graphite and fresh white truffles all emerging from the glass. The palate is medium/full and beautifully balanced with remarkable depth and complexity. It goes on to impress with its lovely silky texture, polished tannins, and wonderful depth, which all lead up to the long, velvety finish. Overall, Cerretalto is a magnificent wine and a seductive expression of Sangiovese that is stunning utterly today and should have a brilliant future ahead.. Drink: 2028-2055. (Apr 2024)"

98 points Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "The deep garnet-colored 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Cerretalto is ripe and boasts a sunnier feel, with aromas of baked cherries as well as a dark mineral profile of graphite, toasted peppercorn, and dried lavender. Fleshy and full-bodied, it offers a plush tannin structure, with wonderful depth and richness through its long-lasting finish, and it retains good freshness. This would be a wonderful counterpart for lovers of great Bordeaux. It remains fresh and tinged with classic notes of blood orange and salinity. It’s going to be an outstanding wine to cellar and drink over the coming decades. Bravo. Drink: 2024-2044. (Feb 2024)"

98 points Falstaff Guide: "Dark, rich ruby red. Beautifully ripe, open nose, accessible, plums, wild raspberries, tobacco, echoes of liquorice. Surprisingly juicy on the palate, great fruit freshness, opens up with vivid, silky tannins, good tension, still a little drying in the finish. (10/16/24)"

97 points James Suckling: "Black cherries and dried cherries are allied with notes of balsamic, leather and minty earthiness, but it needs time to open up. Full-bodied on the palate with good fruit concentration and refined tannins. Still youthful, with grainy oak touches. Hints of graphite in the polished finish. Very savory. Best from 2028. (7/8/24)"

96+ points Eric Guido (Vinous): "[$400 list] The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is exotic and perfumed, displaying all of the vibrancy of the vintage through a deep core of dark red fruit, lavender tones and foreign spices. It's lifted and finessed, displaying remarkable balance. Cooling acidity combines with tactile mineral tones and citrus-laced wild berry fruits that swirl throughout. It finishes crunchy and long, leaving crystalline tannins, a blackberry concentration and a tinge of licorice. Despite the conditions of the year, this is a genuinely harmonious Brunello that will excel with cellaring. The 2018 benefitted from an extra week of hang-time leading up to harvest. Drink: 2028-2038. (Nov 2023)"

96 points Monica Larner (Wine Advocate): "Showing dried blackberry, balsam herb, vapor rub and a hint of charred chili spice, this wine offers an aromatic profile that is very much in line with a vintage that saw cool spring temperatures and a hot summer. The Casanova di Neri 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is a wine of depth, dusty tannins and a slightly evolved fruit character. I tasted this 2018 Cerretalto next to the estate's new releases from 2019, and the latter vintage certainly offers more overall clarity and crunch. The Neri family does great work with tannin management, and although there is some chalkiness here, the wine's structure is expertly folded into the fruit concentration. Only 9,700 bottles were made. Drink: 2026-2050. (12/14/23)"

95 points Wine Spectator: "There's a firm underlying structure in this intense red, boosting its plum, cherry, eucalyptus and iron flavors, with a solid midpalate that builds to a lingering aftertaste of red fruit, hibiscus and mineral. Shows terrific length and freshness. Best from 2026 through 2042. 800 cases made, 95 cases imported. (6/30/24)"