“Ioanni” Rosso Toscana IGT 2021

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

09512721 · 0,75 l · 78,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping6 units available

There are wines whose history is also told through their label. It used to say "Joanni" here, today it says "Ioanni" – a subtle shift that reveals more than just a preference for a particular spelling. "Merlot" used to be proudly displayed on the label, today, it simply reads "Rosso Toscana IGT". The reasons may lie in the intricacies of wine legislation or in the family's strategic considerations – yet the wine itself remains what it always was: a rarity, an experiment, a statement – a top-class Merlot! The small "Bandita" vineyard is situated in the south-eastern part of Montalcino, where the tuff and clay soils provide this international grape variety with the fertile ground it needs. Low yields, late harvest at optimal ripeness – the prerequisites for concentration and depth. Paolo Vagaggini, who has shaped Fuligni's oenological signature for decades, vinifies this Merlot with the same meticulous care that characterises the great Brunellos. Yet here he allows himself more time: the grapes mature for three years in French Allier tonneaux, followed by a further year in the bottle, before the wine leaves the estate.

The 2021 vintage displays a deep ruby red colour with garnet-coloured highlights. The nose unfolds with magnificent Merlot aromas: plums and raspberry jelly first and foremost, followed by layers of toasty notes reminiscent of nougat and Crémant chocolate, along with a hint of undergrowth and delicate suede. On the palate, the wine reveals its full harmony – intense yet finely textured, with polished tannins that carry well beyond the mid-palate. Sweet vanilla notes from the oak blend seamlessly with the ripe fruit, whilst the acidity lends the wine structure and elegance. The final is long, warming and lingering. For years, Fuligni produced this wine only in minuscule quantities. Wine critics awarded top marks, demand skyrocketed – yet the small plot could not and cannot yield any more. Today, the assessment is left to the consumers. A wise decision for a wine that, far removed from all ratings, tells its own great story. SUPERIORE.DE

"Very pure and fleshy, nicely framed by spices and cedary notes with a crushed-stone character. Medium- to full-bodied, polished and rather delicate yet showing some firmness at the end. Very balanced with impressive precision and length. Drink or hold." James Suckling