Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2021

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

09512121 · 0,75 l · 112,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately
Limitation of 6 articles per customer

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

The family, of Venetian origin, has spent centuries developing this hillside. The result is 14 hectares on the north-eastern side of Montalcino – the area historically regarded as the heartland 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 aspect. Only then does Paolo Vagaggini, one of Tuscany's most profound Sangiovese connoisseurs, decide which wine goes where. His family has been working with the Fulignis since the 1960s. The 2021 Brunello comes from a vintage that has blessed Montalcino with a rare sense of balance: a cool, damp spring; a dry, warm summer without extremes; and a long, stable autumn. A vintage of precision, not of overwhelming power. Fermentation in stainless steel, skin contact after fermentation, then ageing: a quarter in 5-hectolitre Allier tonneaux, three quarters in Slavonian barrels of 20 to 30 hectolitres – a total ageing period of four years, as prescribed by the DOCG. Fuligni adheres to this not out of obligation, but out of conviction.

A brilliant ruby red with a garnet-coloured rim. The nose is open and complex: cherry, dried rose, tobacco and a hint of cedar. On the palate, it is structured without being harsh, with a framework of tannins and a silky texture, leading to final long and precise final. A Brunello that takes its time. One that knows time is on its side. SUPERIORE.DE

"A brilliant, vibrant ruby red with a slight garnet sheen. An open and approachable nose, delighting with notes of blood oranges, juicy cherries and a hint of saffron. Pronounced, gripping tannins with many layers, juicy fruit as it develops, showing wonderful drinkability – you won't want to stop drinking it; a classic." Falstaff

"Focused on its cherry and blackberry core of fruit, this red is generous, vibrant and expressive. Dense tannins add lift, while the finish picks up woodsy, underbrush notes. Balanced and open for the vintage, this should be approachable soon." Wine Spectator

"The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino blends crushed violets and roses with hints of tart citrus and wild berries to create its seductive bouquet. It is a prime example of purity and surprises with a silky texture, in which lovely red berry fruits swirl around a tactile mineral core. The sweet tannins and primary concentration remain intact, culminating in a long and balanced finish with a pleasant chewy texture that lingers for a long time." Vinous

"Fuligni, whose vineyards lie to the east of the town, takes a traditional approach and usually produces only a Brunello and a Riserva in selected vintages. The estate's flagship wine, the Annata, is designed to be approachable in its youth. In 2021, it demonstrates this approachability without giving everything away at once or sacrificing its ageing potential. Initially, it is enveloped in dark, earthy nuances, yet with every swirl the aromas become more precise. Rich notes of violet and lilac lead into a velvety palate, where fleshy cherry and apricot are enveloped by flattering tannins that you can really sink your teeth into. They bite back with chalky confidence. The radiant acidity makes this wine a pure delight." Decanter

"The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino is an elegant expression with layers of dark fruit and blackcurrants that give way to crushed roses, grilled herbs and petrichor, evoking rocks bathed in hot sunlight. The wine is crisp and refined, owing to the classic character of the vintage and the restrained, non-extractive style of the Fuligni estate, a historic winery situated on higher-altitude plots just outside the village of Montalcino. The wine displays precision with fine tannic structure and a linear, balanced finish." Wine Advocate

"On the nose, it is so fragrant and seductive, with black cherries, mineral notes and rose petals, which give way to a medium-bodied palate with ultra-fine tannins. Its finesse and depth demonstrate why Brunello is so magnificent. Long, lively and beautifully balanced. A delight even now, but best enjoyed after 2027." James Suckling