Fuligni - Brunello di Montalcino DOCG - 2019

98/100 Points - Fuligni Brunello 2019: elegant top wine from Montalcino.

The Fuligni 2019 opens with a refined and complex nose: ripe cherries, wild raspberries and blood orange form the base, surrounded by floral notes of violets and roses. Behind these fruity and floral layers lies a subtle spiciness of liquorice, tobacco, leather and a hint of balsamic. On the palate, the wine is elegant and precise. Fine acidity supports the core of red fruit, with silky tannins and a long, mineral finish. The structure is impressively balanced: intense but never heavy, with a striking finesse that is typical of the Fuligni house.

Fuligni’s vineyards are located on the eastern side of Montalcino, an area known for its elegance and freshness. The eastern exposure ensures cooler nights and slower ripening of the grapes. The vineyards are located at an altitude of 380 to 450 meters and rest on galestro and arenarie, two typical Tuscan soil types. These poor, well-drained soils ensure low yields and high concentration in the grapes. The oldest vines date back to 1976, with several additions in the 80s and 90s. The density averages 4,000 to 5,000 vines per hectare, with a low yield per plant, which contributes to the concentration.

The 2019 vintage is considered one of the best recent vintages in Montalcino. A cool spring, warm but not scorching summer and perfect weather conditions during the harvest produced ripe, healthy grapes with excellent acid structure.

The grapes for this Brunello were harvested by hand between September 25 and October 5, 2019, at the perfect moment of phenolic ripeness. After a gentle crushing, the wine undergoes a long maceration of 18 to 22 days on the skins, with controlled temperature fermentation in stainless steel tanks. After the alcoholic fermentation, malolactic transformation follows in cement vats. The wine is aged for 36 months in traditional Slavonian oak botti of 20-30 hl, followed by at least another 8 months in bottle. This gives the wine structure without excessive influence of wood, and preserves the pure character of the Sangiovese.

Wine and food pairing:
Perfect with cote de boeuf, rack of lamb, game dishes such as venison or hare, and mature cheeses. Also delicious with Tuscan classics such as pappardelle al cinghiale (with wild boar ragù).

About Fuligni:

Fuligni is a historic winery in Montalcino, founded in 1923 and led by Maria Flora Fuligni and her nephew Roberto Guerrini Fuligni. With 14 hectares of vineyards on the eastern slopes of Montalcino, Fuligni produces elegant and long-lasting wines, including the award-winning Brunello di Montalcino and Riserva. The winery is known for its strict quality standards and traditional winemaking techniques.

98/100 Points James Suckling

Perfumed with sweet berry, fresh flower and cedar aromas that follow through to a medium-bodied palate with firm and chewy tannins and a fresh finish. Very classy and structured. Extremely long. Give it time to open. Drink after 2026.

96/100 Points Robert Parker

With dark fruit balanced out by savory notes of tobacco leaf or cigar ash, the Fuligni 2019 Brunello di Montalcino is rich and beautifully concentrated. In little time, the bouquet reveals a floral interlude with dried rose petal and a tropical note of hibiscus. This wine shows a lot of angles, all very pleasant, that work together. The tannins are dusty and finely textured with a hint of powdery cocoa to close.