2016 Brunello di Montalcino, Cerretalto, Casanova di Neri, Tuscany, Italy

A black grape widely grown in Central Italy and the main component of Chianti and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano as well as being the sole permitted grape for the famed Brunello di Montalcino.

Along with Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino is Tuscany's most famous DOCG and its boldest expression of the Sangiovese grape. Located 30 miles south of Siena, its 2,000 hectares of vines are hemmed in by the Orcia, Asso and Ombrone valleys. Brunello is the local name for the Sangiovese Grosso clone from which Brunello di Montalcino should be made in its entirety. The wine cannot be released for sale until five years after the harvest.

Casanova di Neri are one of the region’s foremost producers of a more modern or international style of Brunello. Characterised by rich, unctuous, dark fruit and of cool, fine tannins and succulent yet refined oak framing the wine beautifully. Tenuta Nuova is a single vineyard wine selected from one very special part of their seven vineyards. The family’s intention was to encapsulate as closely as possible the unique terroir and microclimate that this special vineyard enjoys. Something is clearly working very well here, as the wine is hugely popular around the world but its level of critical acclaim is hugely consistent: it not been scored less than 95 points by The Wine Advocate since before 2010. James Suckling, who largely made his name with his analysis of the region many years ago, has only once dipped below 95 points over the same period.