Col di Lamo is very much an A-List address in Montalcino; winning plaudits in Italy and across the world for its elegant yet powerful wines. The origin story is fascinating. After the death of her father in 1991 the young Giovanna Neri, a law graduate, bravely chose to change careers and make wine, splitting the family vineyards with her brother Giacomo who now owns the Casanova di Neri winery. Giovanna’s estate is located at Torrenieri, just north-east of Montalcino. Torrenieri is relatively low in altitude with sandstone and clay soils, and some of the alberese, the limestone-rich land which Sangiovese loves. It’s a warm site and the wines here are always beautifully ripe, powerful, fleshy and well-textured.