The 2009 Pietradonice (Cabernet Sauvignon) comes across as sumptuous and super-intense. Dark black cherries, blackberry jam, graphite and grilled herbs all take shape in the glass as this intense, full-bodied Cabernet shows what is possible with the grape in Montalcino. The style is very much on the opulent side, but it works. As outstanding as the Pietradonice is, it doesn’t quite provide the same visceral thrill of the estate’s Brunelli. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. Giacomo Neri describes 2007 as a year with a warm spring followed by a cold, dry summer. Neri is one of the few growers who considers 2007 cooler than 2006, showing just how diverse Montalcino is. Temperatures were unusually warm during the spring, but then moderated over a coolish summer that saw very little rain. Acidities are a bit higher in 2007 than 2006. All that said, my tastings of the 2007s reveal them to be silkier and more polished young than the firmer 2006s. Needless to say, it will be fascinating to follow the evolution of both vintages over the coming years. Readers who want to learn more about Casanova di Neri should check out my video interview with Giacomo Neri on www.erobertparker.com Importer: Dalla Terra, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-5405