Casanova di Neri's 2007 Rosso di Casanova di Neri is a cask-aged blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino grown in the Sant-Antimo appellation which lies just beyond the southern border of the Brunello zone. The Sangiovese is aged in 48 and 72 hectoliter casks while the Colorino is aged in smaller 6 hectoliter barrels. The wine is sweet and expansive on the palate, where it offers compelling notes of dark cherries, smoke and tar with outstanding depth and terrific overall balance. Drink this beautifully-balanced, pleasing Rosso over the next few years. It is a great introduction to the house style at a price that won-t break the bank. 2006 is the first vintage in which this wine carries that Sant-Antimo designation rather than the Rosso di Montalcino designation of previous vintages. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2011.

Properietor Giacomo Neri is excited about the 2003 vintage, which he believes has more potential than critics of the vintage have suggested, although he does think the wines are best suited to near- to mid-term consumption. Among recent vintages Neri cites 2004 and 2006 as those with the most potential. Still, at this level, it is truly the seriousness of the estate that prevails over vintage differences in determining the overall quality of the wines, as readers will be able to judge from these outstanding new releases.