I am happily impressed by the 2016 Pietradonice. This wine is so easy and pleasant to drink, I'd say it's almost dangerous: The bottle finishes much faster than you'd like. When in Montalcino, there are few alternatives to the local Sangiovese grape, and wines of this quality made with Cabernet Sauvignon can be counted on one hand. Evidently, the potential for others is there. This vintage shows a rich and darkly saturated color followed by ripe aromas of blackberry, plum, spice and sweet tobacco. I am especially impressed by the optimal ripeness of the tannins that gives this wine a smooth and supple approach. This wine could age, but it also performs beautifully straight out the gate. I am a fan. Some 6,570 vintages were made.

The 2010 Pietradonice is beautiful in this vintage. A wine more of Montalcino than a true expression of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2010 is delineated and vibrant from start to finish. Savory herbs lead to black plums, tobacco, mocha and crushed rocks on the firm, vibrant finish. I am not a huge fan of international varieties in Montalcino, but there is no question the Pietradonice is endowed with tons of vintage character, and 2010 is a superb vintage for this part of Tuscany in particular. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. Giacomo Neri is brutally honest in describing 2008 as a challenging vintage marked by significant rain and hail events. Overall production is down 40% across the board. Neri’s 2008s are impressive for the year, however, and are a testament to a grower who is willing to make the hard choices necessary to ensure consistently high quality. Importer: Dalla Terra, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-5405

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

The estate’s 2007 Pietradonice is surprisingly forward and fruity in this vintage. There isn’t a whole lot of varietal character, but attractive suggestions of strawberries and flowers framed by soft tannins follow through to the round, sensual finish. The 2007 Pietradonice should be ready to drink upon release. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022. Proprietor Giacomo Neri makes some of the richest, most textured Brunellos readers will come across. The house style favors a lush expression of fruit with a softness that makes the wines very appealing upon release. In recent years the wines have become more elegant, with less of the excessive heaviness that characterized prior vintages. Based on what I tasted from barrel, future vintages hold quite a bit of promise as well. This year, readers – especially those on a budget (who isn’t on a budget these days?) should focus on the 2005 Brunello di Montalcino (sometimes also known as the ‘white label’), which is an overachiever because it includes fruit from the Cerretalto vineyard, the source of the estate’s top wine, which was not bottled in 2005. Importer: Dalla Terra, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-5405

The 2006 Pietradonice (Cabernet Sauvignon) explodes from the glass with the essence of blackberry jam, French oak, grilled herbs and cassis. This super-ripe, opulent wine offers tons of elegance and finesse in a full-bodied style. The tannins are firm but ripe, and beautifully balanced by the wine’s radiant, warm fruit. This is a gem from proprietor Giacomo Neri. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026. Giacomo Neri is one of Montalcino’s more gregarious producers. His passion clearly comes through in these wines, which are characterized by an emphasis on fruit and opulence. Neri’s Brunellos also make a great case study in the different microclimates of Montalcino. His straight Brunello di Montalcino is made from vineyards ranging from 350-480 meters in altitude located in the northeastern quadrant of the region. The Tenuta Nuova is made from a densely-planted vineyard located roughly in between Sant’Angelo in Colle and Castelnuovo dell’Abate, in the southern part of the zone. The vines in the north typically flower three weeks later than those in the south, and naturally ripen later as well, which serves to highlight some of the differences between Montalcino’s various microclimates. Neri’s 2004 Brunellos are immensely successful. I look forward with great anticipation to the 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto, which should be released some time next year. Importer: Dalla Terra, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-5405