January 14, 2024 - Still a young wine, at least 10 probably 15 years to go. Ruby with some garnet at the edges. Intense aroma of dark fruit: cherries with a bit of vanilla and spice (it had 36 months in barrique). The 15% abv is fully integrated as are the tannins which are smooth but give great structure. Black spiced cherry fruit and a long aftertaste.
However….would I recognise this as a Sangiovese? Hmmmm
February 5, 2023 - Lovely wine. Upon opening, it was quite massive. However, with some air this kept gaining more elegance. Still quite primary.
February 25, 2022 - A powerhouse of a wine. Nowhere near its drinking stage yet. A shame to open now I felt. This was unfortunatly pop and pour by a participant... not given a chance to show its full potential.
August 26, 2021 - Third Brunello vineyard on my 2021 Montalcino tour was also one of my top favourite - Casanova di Neri. Last up was the 2013 Cerretalto, again Casanova's Reserva. Dark purple brown hue strong sweet fruity aroma. Powerful Strong Brunello burst of red fruits - cherries, currants and a bit of Strawberry, reflecting surprising sweetness. It then opened up to an long finish and long linger - peppery, balsamic and a lip smacking dryness. Very good wine
August 24, 2021 - Tasting during private dinner at Casanova di Neri winery, near Montalcino. Amongst others, the BdM 2016, the Nuova 2016, the Cerretalto 2015 and the Cerretalto 2013. The 16's opened up nicely, were great, but will be better even better in a couple of years. The Cerretalto 2013 was for me the best of the evening. Powerfull and elegant at the same time. All sorts of berries and cherries, leather, earth, wood. So complex. Very long aftertaste with elegant tannins. The next day I tasted the 2008, probably even better than the 2013. What a great house Casanova di Neri is!!
September 3, 2019 - I always enjoy the Cerratalto and this vintage is no exception. Aromas of berry fruit, black tea and crushed stone. The palate was rich and medium-bodied with blackberries, blackcurrants, florals and allspice, there was a stony-mineral texture which could be felt dancing on the palate, along with velvety/dusty yet structured tannins finishing with a long and elegant finish. This needs a few more years, however, the potential as always can be seen early on.
May 17, 2019 - Medium colour quite translucent, lovely sheen.
Lightly smokey, dark spice fragrance, dark fruits, very elegant.
Silky texture, super refined, very fine but plentiful tannins and excellent seamless acidity. Less intensity of fruit than your average Brunello and more subtlety of flavours. Quite Burgundian. The early hints of earth and rich leather notes say Brunello, with plummy dark/blue berries and finishing with gentle tar/liquorice spicy notes. Clearly too young but still giving pleasure.
February 19, 2019 - 7 Days in Italy II; 2/17/2019-2/23/2019: 2013 similar to 1980s vintages. A classic slow ripening vintage. Coming after that 2014 White Label, this is a powerhouse palate, not bombastic, but darker red fruit and some baking spice. Cerretalto clone has small clusters here. When it has been planted in Chianti Classico, the clusters have been big(ger).
-Giacomo interjects on house style - no green notes, no dry tannins, drink after 5-6 years, but over 20+. Tries to make a subtle differentiation between Casanova di Neri and Biondi Santi.
Back to 2013 Cerretalto...
Fine ripe and chewy tannin, light brown sugar and some polymerized color, etc at the bottom of my glass.
March 15, 2018 - Red fruit and earthiness. Has a dark aspect to the nose, but also a blood orange rind nuance. Very elegant, once again. Licorice, medium plus tannin. ‘graphite.’
70% of Montalcino is uncultivated woodland
12% is grain and pasture
10% is olives
8% under vine, half for Brunello
20 inches of rain per year, driest area in Tuscany. Vineyards on hillsides between 330-1640ft.