Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2021

Eredi Fuligni | Tuscany
Az. Agr. Eredi Fuligni | Via Soccorso Saloni 33 | IT 53024 Montalcino

09512121 · 0,75 l · 105,33 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

Some wineries tell their story on display boards. At Fuligni, it hangs on the walls. The palazzo in the centre of Montalcino dates back to the 17th century – the Medici resided here and a Spanish princess left a room that still bears her name today. Underneath, deeper than the palazzo itself, are the cellars: built at the end of the 16th century, with vaulted ceilings in tecnica mista, completely naturally insulated. This is where the Brunello matures in Slavonian oak barrels. It also matured here when Giovanni Maria Fuligni came to Montalcino at the beginning of the 20th century – and it matures here, just as his ancestors made wine in the Maremma before him, without interruption, without abbreviation.

The family of Venetian origin has spent centuries developing this hill. The result is 14 hectares on the north-eastern side of Montalcino – the location that is historically regarded as the core zone of the most authentic Brunello. Altitude: 380 to 450 metres. Soil: Galestro, stony and cool, interspersed with marl. Each of the nine individual vineyards – s. Giovanni, Il Piano, Il Ginestreto, La Bandita and others – is vinified separately, according to its specific terroir and exposure. Only then does Paolo Vagaggini, one of Tuscany's most profound Sangiovese connoisseurs, decide what goes where. His family has been working with the Fulignis since the 1960s. The 2021 Brunello comes from a vintage that gave Montalcino a rare balance: a cool, wet spring, a dry, warm summer without extremes and a long, stable autumn. A vintage of precision, not overpowering. Fermentation in stainless steel, mash contact after fermentation, then ageing: one quarter in 5-hectolitre Allier tonneaux, three quarters in Slavonian barrels of 20 to 30 hectolitres – four years total ageing time, as prescribed by the DOCG. Fuligni adheres to this not out of obligation, but out of conviction.

Bright ruby red with a garnet-coloured rim. The nose is open and multi-layered: cherry, dried rose, tobacco, a hint of cedar. On the palate, structure without harshness, tannin structure with a silky texture, long and precise final. A Brunello that is not in a hurry. It knows that time belongs to it. SUPERIORE.DE

"Brilliant, energetic ruby colour with a slight garnet sheen. Open and approachable nose, with inspiring notes of blood oranges, juicy cherries and some saffron. Present gripping tannin in many layers, juicy fruit in the course, shows wonderful drinking flow, you don't want to stop, classic." Falstaff

"The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino blends crushed violets and roses with nuances of sour citrus and wild berries to create its seductive bouquet. A paragon of purity, it surprises with a silky feel where pretty red berry fruits swirl over a tactile mineral core. The sweet tannins and primary concentration remain, ending in a long and balanced finish with a pleasant chew that lingers." Vinous

"Fuligni, whose vineyards lie to the east of the city, takes a traditional approach and normally only releases a Brunello and a Riserva in selected vintages. The winery's flagship Annata bottling is designed to be approachable in its youth. In 2021, it demonstrates this friendliness without revealing everything at once or sacrificing ageing potential. Initially, it is enveloped in dark, earthy nuances, but with each swirl, the flavours become more precise. Powerful violet and lilac notes lead to the velvety palate, where fleshy cherry and apricot are enveloped by flattering tannins that you can sink your teeth into. They bite back with chalky confidence. The bright acidity makes this wine a pure pleasure." Decanter

"The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino is an elegant expression with layers of dark fruit and blackcurrant that segue to pressed roses, grilled herbs and petrichor, reminiscent of rocks bathed in hot sunlight. The wine is edgy and refined, thanks to the classic character of the vintage and the restrained, non-extractive style of the Fuligni estate, a historic winery located just outside the village of Montalcino on higher ground. The wine shows precision with fine tannin tension and a linear, balanced finish." Wine Advocate

"So perfumed and seductive on the nose, with black cherries, minerals and rose petals that fade into a medium body with ultra-fine tannins. Its finesse and breadth of vision show why Brunello is so great. Long, lively and beautifully balanced. Already a pleasure now, but best after 2027." James Suckling