The Casanuova delle Cerbaie Estate utilizes its geographic assets to produce extraordinary and unique wines. Its vineyards are located in the very heart of Tuscany, extending from the prestigious Montosoli hill across the valley floor to the foot of the hill where the fortress town of Montalcino majestically rises. The Sangiovese Grosso vines face the southwest and receive even sunlight all day long, benefiting from a consistently moderate, dry climate, which allows the grapes to thrive on the vine throughout the summer. The hills north and west of the vineyards serve as natural barriers against harmful winds. In the winter months, the hills obstruct the icy northern winds, and during the long hot summer, they protect the grapes against the sirocco, blowing up from the North African deserts. The vines thrive in a calcareous, marly, clay soil that is filled with conglomerate rocks.

This is a powerful Brunello di Montalcino with an intense, dramatic character. It is very deep ruby red in the glass with garnet and ink hues. The nose offers up black cherry aromas with underlying notes of violets, a suggestion of raspberry dusted coco, well-rounded hints of wood and even ripe pomegranate flesh. The flavors on the palate are very smooth and even - remarkably so - with buoyant notes of earthy game, cedar and saddle leather overlaying a core of black fruit flavors. Drink over the next ten years or, to enjoy now, decant at least two hours in advance as the wine needs plenty of time to breathe. I served this with roasted pheasant and black truffle infused risotto on Saturday evening and it was a match made in heaven. It will also be superb with roast beef, duck or aged veined cheeses.

—Donald

“Cerbaie's Brunello sources grapes from the estate's best vineyard sites, the majority of which are located on the hill of Montosoli, just outside the fortress town of Montalcino. This area holds a number of the town's premier vineyards, favored for their southwestern exposure and natural barriers to the north and west that shelter the hillside from climatic extremes. Meticulous vineyard management and careful manual selection of the grapes at harvest contributed to the complexity of the ’98. 2,250 cases made.

Big and concentrated red, with plum, berry, currants and cherry character. Full-bodied, with thick tannins and a long, rich finish. Dense wine. As impressive as the 1997. Best after 2004.” —WS 94, #27 2003 Top 100