98pts Jeb Dunnuck

The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino Giovanni Neri boasts a darker red/purple hue and is completely different, offering aromas of dark mineral earth, polished leather, sappy herbs, black cherry compote, dark chocolate, and menthol. Fleshy and full, it saturates the palate with lush, ripe tannins and a more pronounced saltiness, giving the wine a mouthwatering feel and a long-lasting finish, with notes of blood orange lasting on the back palate. It deserves time in the cellar before drinking over the coming 20 years.

98pts James Suckling

A solid red with mushroom, bark, blackberry and black-truffle character. Full and layered with open tannins and a long, persistent finish. Creamy and polished. From a single vineyard with vines averaging 50 years old. Best from 2026.

97pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The Casanova di Neri 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Giovanni Neri is a lifted and punchy wine with great vertical delivery of aromas. It ferments with 10% to 15% whole-cluster fruit. Giovanni and Gianlorenzo Neri noticed brown stems and perfumed aromas, and these qualities gave them the inspiration to use the stems. Cherry and red fruit aromas are followed by pepper, wild spice, sweet earth and dusty pencil shaving. There are hints of saddle leather on the one hand and pressed rosemary herb on the other. At the very end, there is a hint of something that tastes like a crunchy breakfast bacon strip. I do love the intensity and the energy of this wine. Only 8,600 bottles were created. Fruit comes from a seven-hectare parcel in the Sesti area (along the dirt road that goes from Castelnuovo dell'Abate to Sant'Angelo in Colle) that was purchased in 2017. The vines were planted in the 1970s. The wine ages in tonneaux for 30 months, and the tannins are beautifully integrated.

95pts Vinous

The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Giovanni Neri pulls the taster down to earth as whiffs of sous-bois, ashen stones and animal musk dissipate to reveal layers of dried black cherry, lavender and rubbed sage. It's silken in feel, with hints of polished ripe red and blue fruit. A liquid floral concentration adds youthful tension. Structured, long and quite potent, it has sweet and round tannins that taper off with citrus-infused black currant and exotic spice aromas. The Giovanni Neri hails from nearly 50-year-old vines near Castelnuovo dell'Abate. It's a showstopper.

94pts Wine Spectator

A vibrant, elegant red, featuring strawberry, cherry, eucalyptus and iron aromas and flavors. There's a harmonious feel, with its pliable tannins adding grip on the finish, yet all of the components are in the right place. The aftertaste offers staying power. Best from 2027 through 2043. 720 cases made, 75 cases imported.

Winemaker's Notes

A young, vibrant, and brilliant red. The nose reveals aromas of small red fruits, especially blood orange. It is a wine of great finesse and balance. On the palate, it is taut and deep, refined, and lively. The tannins are strong but well-balanced by the acidity, which suggests a great future for this wine. The finish is fresh and persistent, revealing a distinct salinity.

About the Wine

Giovanni Neri's Brunello di Montalcino embodies tradition, the production philosophy, the values of sustainability, and the terroir's unique character, along with experience and passion in the vineyard and cellar. Fifty years after purchasing their first vineyard, Giacomo, Giovanni, and Gianlorenzo dedicate a wine to the founder of Casanova di Neri. It's a superb expression of pure Sangiovese, produced primarily from a vineyard boasting a wonderful exposure, splendid vines over half a century old, and exceptional soil. Giovanni Neri creates another magnificent vision, once again combining the importance of tradition with our constant pursuit of innovation.