There’s beauty and drinkability to this wine that really is enticing with blueberry and cherry aromas, as well as hints of hot stone and licorice. Medium to full body, integrated tannins and a fresh and polished finish. Shows focus and brightness. Very drinkable now, but better in a year or two. Try in 2021.

The Neri family has created a classic expression of Sangiovese from a classic vintage, while remaining faithful to the house style. In a nutshell, these wines always tend to offer dark plum, clove and fig confit over the tiny berry and blue flower aromas you get from the traditionalists. That said, this Brunello needs ample time to open, and I suggest you splash it into the decanter. The Casanova di Neri 2015 Brunello di Montalcino (this is the one with the white label) stays safely within your expectation of the vintage with its variety-driven aromas of wild berry, licorice, blue flower and balsam herb. This wine sees fruit sourced from a vineyard on the northeast side of Montalcino, with Galestro soils ranging from 330 to 480 meters above sea level. Some 95,376 bottles were made. It was bottled in June 2019, and it hit the market in January 2020. You might want more from the aromatics (while you wait for the bouquet to come around), but this wine goes gangbusters in terms of mid-palate and overall texture.

The Casanova di Neri estate is located in the northeastern zone of Torrenieri. Besides five distinct sites there, the Neri family also has three vineyards in the south between the villages of Sant'Angelo in Colle and Castelnuovo dell'Abate. The 'white label' as this Brunello is called blends plots from the cooler Torrenieri area. It is mid-weight and classy, offering gleaming bright, fresh red cherry flavors. Hints of rust and warm stone as well as subtle sweet spice add complexity. Tactile but fine sandy tannins give appropriate support and the finish is vibrant and perfumed.

The 2015 Brunello Di Montalcino is all Sangiovese that was destemmed and spent a whopping 43 months in barrel. Dense ruby/plum-hued, with lots of mulled red and black fruits as well as notes of tobacco leaf, licorice, and baking spices, it's a rich, concentrated Brunello that stays tight and compact on the palate, with firm tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a solid finish. Made in a more savory, almost austere style, it needs 3-4 years of bottle age. Rating: 93+