As Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate notes in its extended review, Casanuova delle Cerbaie has ten hectares of vines planted between 250 and 350 meters above sea level with mixed clay-limestone soils. The vineyards are located below the town center of Montalcino and extend into the celebrated Montosoli cru—where some of the best Brunello wines originate.
Montosoli is truly holy ground for Brunello drinkers, but you must give the wines time. At Mission, we love Italy’s great reds, but we don’t always have the patience to lay them down for a decade until they’re ready to drink. That’s why we’re always on the hunt for wines that have been aged for us, stored in perfect conditions so that we can enjoy them tonight.
If you’re a Sangiovese lover (or red wine aficionado in general) and you’re looking for a great bottle for steak night, dinner at your favorite Italian spot, or just to celebrate life, the 2013 Casanuova delle Cerbaie is one of the best candidates in the store right now. The cherry notes are front and center, but after a decade the dusty tannins and savory finish are what make this wine.
Pair this with the right meal and the wine practically melts in your mouth. Check the press for full details.
2013 Casanuova delle Cerbaie Brunello Di Montalcino $54.99
94 POINTS: JAMES SUCKLING - A fresh and balanced red with cherry, lemon and hints of cedar. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a powerful finish. Wonderful length. Shows intensity and polish. Better after 2021.
91 POINTS: ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE - Casanuova delle Cerbaie's 2013 Brunello di Montalcino has a delicate veil of smoke or campfire ash that lifts first from the bouquet. The wine offers dried cherry fruit and red currant with polished mineral definition and grilled herbs in a supporting role. This is a mid-weight effort with an elegant and fine approach on the palate.
90 POINTS: VINOUS - The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino lifts up with a classic display of wild strawberries and cherries complemented by cedar shavings and textbook Tuscan dust. This initially soothes with its silky textures and ripe red fruits, but tension quickly builds as brisk acids mingle with saturating mineral tones and grippy tannins toward the close. Savory spices, inner rose and violets linger through the long, structured finale. Give it another two to three years to soften a bit more.