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2013 Casanova di Neri, Brunello di Montalcino, Cerretalto

Bottle size (ML)

Current price

$808
Casanova di Neri, Brunello di Montalcino, Cerretalto 10970922013

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Critics Scores

ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE
97

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

There are a handful of wines in Italy that make me nervous before I taste them because my expectations are so high. This is one of those wines. Indeed, previous editions of Cerretalto have earned the coveted 100 point score, and I am astutely aware of the pedigree and potential that comes forth with each new vintage. As enthusiastic as my assessment of the 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is, I'm stopping short of that perfect score. This vintage is something of a moving target with wines that are beautiful, without a doubt, yet the growing conditions were not even across the appellation, and achieving optimal tannic management posed a challenge to many producers. If I were to make any criticism of this wine, it would fall along those lines. That aside, this is a beautiful Brunello that boasts deep intensity and bold black fruit flavors that are plummy and rich. Spice, toasted oak and tobacco frame that primary fruit. Cerretalto ages in oak for 30 months and that strong imprint has added to the structure, depth and contemporary character of this A-list Brunello. That oak imprint is also reinforced in the wine's tannins. There's no doubt that this wine needs more cellar aging. I would absolutely not suggest drinking it within the next five years. Any awkwardness it shows now should iron itself out with more bottle time.

JAMES SUCKLING
97

James Suckling

There’s a lot in this wine, in terms of complexity, that is all underpinned by concentrated, ripe and assertive red cherries. The oak is nicely placed and there’s a sense of purpose and build on the palate that really sets it apart. High-class tannins. Try this from 2022.

WINE SPECTATOR
98

Wine Spectator

This intense version is concentrated, with black cherry, blackberry, graphite, tobacco and spice flavors, yet remains light-footed due to the racy profile. Structured, yet beautifully balanced and youthful. Shows purity and length on the aftertaste, which introduces a floral component. Best from 2022 through 2045.

DECANTER
96

Decanter

Cerretalto is a 4ha vineyard on red sandy clay at the very eastern edge of Montalcino. It's a cool site that's very slow and late ripening, with significant temperature differences between day and night. In 2013 the grapes were harvested during the second week of October, and though not designated as a Riserva, it's aged like one. It's a wine that takes time to come around, and the 2013 is characteristically closed, rigid and austere in its youth. It hints at dusty black cherry and wild plums wrapped up in a graphite and iron fist. Bracing acidity cuts through the intense, concentrated core. The oak is polished but needs to integrate, while stiff, sticky tannins demand a few years to soften. This is all about patience.

Region Summary

Tuscany is one of the most iconic and prolific wine regions. It’s home to celebrated newcomers like Super Tuscans, as well as revered sub-regions steeped in centuries of tradition like Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. The wide selection of age-worthy wines combined with affordable entry prices and strong historical performance makes Tuscany the rare region with something for everyone.

Why We're Investing

Tuscany is an embarrassment of riches. The idyllic Mediterranean climate plays host to many of Italy’s more than 350 authorized grapes. That includes native varieties like sangiovese as well as international staples like cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and syrah. The inherent diversity gives local winemakers the ultimate viticultural sandbox. The best example of Italian innovation is the Super Tuscan. First released in the 1970s, the red wine blends native grapes with international ones unsanctioned by the Italian legal system. Eventually, this style became so popular that lawmakers yielded and gave Super Tuscans their own designation. Today, Super Tuscans, such as Sassicaia, Solaia, Ornellaia, and Tignanello, rank among the most sought-after wines on the secondary market. Tuscany is far from a one-trick pony, though. Brunello di Montalcino has an ever-expanding global audience. With the success of the 2015 and 2016 vintages, estates like Biondi Santi, Casanova di Neri, and Poggio di Sotto have become household names. Meanwhile, Chianti has undergone its own renaissance. In 2011, it had zero labels traded on the secondary market. Today, buyers have dozens of Chianti options such as Castello di Ama and Fontodi. Critics have taken notice of Tuscany, too. James Suckling called Masseto his Winery of the Decade, with its pure merlot heralded as “the Petrus of Tuscany.” That’s not all. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has given Italian wines more perfect scores than all but three countries. The positive reviews are a good omen since Tuscan wines have a strong correlation with critic scores. Now, wine buyers should be hearing alarm bells in their heads. “High quality wines. International demand. Glowing critic scores. These wines must cost a fortune.” Not so fast. Tuscany offers the second most affordable entry point into the fine wine market, behind only the Rhône. In fact, its reasonable prices and high quality have allowed Tuscany to siphon interest from merchants and collectors away from stalwarts like Burgundy and Bordeaux.

What's the Latest

This tectonic shift is best seen in the secondary market. In 2013, Italy accounted for less than 2 of trade by value. By 2018, it reached 8.5 and today enjoys a double-digit share of the market. That makes Tuscany the most traded wine region outside of France. Even with a volatile global economy, the Liv-ex Italy 100 index notched 9.2 growth in 2022. That ranks third amongst all indices last year. It gets even better. As the name suggests, the index features a range of wines from Italy. The Tuscan components - such as Masseto, Sassicaia, and Solaia - outperformed their counterparts from Piedmont during that span, 12.2 to 5.3. When the economy slowed in 2022, buyers flocked to invest in Super Tuscans. Their blend of history, high liquidity, and strong relative value made Super Tuscans attractive portfolio diversifiers. The red wine had such high demand that it accounted for a whopping 22.1 of all Italian wines traded on the secondary market.

Looking Forward

If the future of the fine wine market were summarized in one word, it would be “broadening.” Ten years ago, Bordeaux had a stranglehold on the industry, accounting for 96 of trade. In recent years, that grip has loosened as buyers seek out great wines from other regions, including Tuscany. The increased interest has resulted in the number of traded Tuscan labels doubling every two years. There’s no reason to think that trend will slow anytime soon. Super Tuscans have cemented the region at the highest echelon of fine wine, while Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti keep buyers coming back for more. Tuscany is also well-positioned to handle the climate crisis. The Mediterranean climate and undulating landscape should mitigate some of the severe consequences of a constantly warming planet. The region’s widespread embrace of sustainable practices doesn’t hurt, either. Time will tell how the heat and rain, or lack thereof, will impact Tuscan viticulture. For now, the region’s future remains as bright as ever.