2004 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova

Dark, bright red. Musky aromas of currant, smoke and nutty oak. Suaver in texture than the normale, but much tighter today, even youthfully clenched, with the wine's primary fruit in the deep background. Very tough going at present: shows lots of material, structure and tannic backbone but little charm. This was superb in 2001, so I'm tempted to give it the benefit of the doubt-not to mention extended cellar time.