Casanova di Neri, Toscana IGT (Tuscany, Italy) 2018

 Sangiovese is the primary grape with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.  The aromas are enticing with rich black fruits, berry, plum, currant and mulberry.   Serious flavors of blackberry black plum, mulberry with a touch of cherry and strawberry with a touch of bay leaf are followed by tight, but fine tannins.  Enjoy it with simply prepared veal or beef or a hard cheese like Parmigiano-Reggiano.  Casanova di Neri is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.  I was founded by Giovanni Neri, a 48-year-old grain merchant who admired Brunello di Montalcino wines and yearned to make wine.  He purchased a 49- plus acre farm on the east side of the town of Montalcino and started planting grapes.  It was in an area that was considered too cool to properly ripen the grapes, so Neri adapted his viticultural practices, such as producing lower yields.  That cool site works to his advantage these days.  He produced his first Brunello in 1978.  His son, Giacomo, joined him at the winery in 1986 and in 1991, when his father died, Giacomo took over winery operations.  The third generation family member, named for his grandfather, Giovanni, joined the winery in 2012 and today is the winemaker.