Casanova di Neri

Cerretalto

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

2019

Vintage

Varietal

Sangiovese

ABV

15.0

Peak 2034-2050

Where it is, June 2026

Too Young: holding.

As of May 2026, the 2019 Casanova di Neri Cerretalto is firmly in its pre-drinking phase, with the window not scheduled to open until 2028. The wine's formidable structure, deep concentration, and tight aromatic profile all confirm that significant patience is required. Tasting it today reveals extraordinary raw material but a wine that is still essentially closed, with its complexity locked behind layers of tannin and primary fruit. Peak drinking spans 2034 through 2050, suggesting that the finest bottles will not show their best face for another eight to twenty-four years. This is a Brunello to purchase, catalog, and set aside with confidence.

Related vintages

The ‘19 Cerretalto.

A monument of Brunello di Montalcino from one of Italy's most celebrated single vineyards, intense and structured for decades of rewarding cellaring.

Drinking window

The arcYou are here · too young, 2026

Tasting note

Casanova di Neri's Cerretalto is one of Brunello di Montalcino's landmark single-vineyard expressions, produced from a south-facing amphitheater of galestro and limestone soil on the Neri family's estate in Casanova that has been identified as an exceptional site since the domaine's first vinification. The 2019 is intense, young, and powerful, arriving with the kind of aromatic density that immediately signals a wine intended for very long cellaring. Graphite and iron open the bouquet in a mineral register of considerable authority, followed by young red fruit, dark cherry, and blackberry that still carry the raw energy of primary fruit rather than the evolved complexity of a wine in its drinking window. Black pepper, wild herbs, and cigar box weave through the fruit, adding savory dimension, while sugared violets provide a floral counterpoint to the wine's otherwise brooding depth. On the palate, the velvety texture stands in contrast to the wine's structural seriousness: the tannins are refined and precise rather than rough, and the vibrant acidity drives the wine's long finish with the energy and tension of a wine built for the very long haul. The deep, long finish carries iron, dark berry, and tobacco into a close of remarkable persistence. An extraordinary Brunello of historic quality from one of Montalcino's finest single-vineyard sites.

The 2019 vintage

The 2019 vintage in Brunello di Montalcino was exceptional, widely described as one of the finest vintages of the modern era for the appellation. A hot, dry summer was tempered by excellent diurnal variation and the altitude of the Montalcino massif, preventing the over-ripeness that warmer years can bring to Sangiovese. The specific conditions at the Cerretalto amphitheater, sheltered and south-facing, produced fruit of extraordinary concentration and aromatic precision. Harvest was conducted at full phenolic maturity in early October, with the grapes showing perfect health and the kind of tannin refinement that allows these powerful wines to evolve gracefully over decades.

About Casanova di Neri

Casanova di Neri is one of Brunello di Montalcino's most celebrated and globally recognized estates, founded by Giovanni Neri and now managed with great ambition by his son Giacomo. The estate farms over 60 hectares across several distinct parcels in Montalcino, with Cerretalto being the undisputed flagship: a single south-facing vineyard of galestro and limestone soils that produces the estate's most concentrated and age-worthy wine. Casanova di Neri received international recognition when the 2001 Cerretalto was named Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year in 2006, placing Montalcino and this estate at the center of global wine attention and confirming Cerretalto's status as one of Italy's great wines.

From the cellar: pair with

Bistecca alla Fiorentina, at least 1.2kg, cooked to medium-rare

The wine's formidable structure and iron-mineral depth demand the richest and most substantial of Tuscan preparations, and a thick Florentine T-bone is the uncontested answer.

Wild boar pappardelle with rosemary, sage, and a hint of chocolate

The wine's dark fruit, tobacco, and herbal complexity are a natural affinity with slow-braised game in a Tuscan tomato and wine ragout.

Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano 48-month with aged balsamic

The wine's tannin framework is softened by the crystalline protein of aged Parmigiano, with aged balsamic echoing the wine's sweet spice and violet notes.

Service & cellaring

Serving Temp: 16-18C / 61-64F
Decanting: Do not open before 2028. If you must open now, decant four or more hours. The wine's tannin structure will not yield without extensive air exposure.
Cellar Storage: 12-14C / 54-57F

Track this bottle Read the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG guide

The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.

Frequently Asked

What makes Cerretalto so exceptional among Brunello di Montalcino wines?

The Cerretalto vineyard is a natural south-facing amphitheater of galestro and limestone soils that produces Sangiovese of extraordinary concentration, tannin refinement, and aromatic complexity. Combined with Casanova di Neri's meticulous farming and uncompromising selection, the wine consistently achieves a quality level unmatched in the appellation.

When should I open this?

The window opens in 2028, with peak drinking from 2034 through 2050. Do not open before 2028 under any circumstances. This wine requires and rewards exceptional patience.

Is 2019 a great Brunello vintage?

Yes. 2019 is widely considered one of the finest recent vintages for Brunello di Montalcino, combining exceptional concentration with the aromatic precision and tannin refinement that distinguish the appellation's best wines. Many producers consider it superior to 2015 and comparable to 2010.

What score did the 2019 Cerretalto receive?

The 2019 Cerretalto received outstanding scores across major critics, consistent with the wine's history as one of Montalcino's most celebrated and internationally recognized single-vineyard expressions.