“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. Shipping< 24 units available

There are wines whose story is also told on the label. It used to say "Joanni", today "Ioanni" – a subtle shift that reveals more than just spelling preferences. In the past, "Merlot" was confidently emblazoned on the label, today it is just "Rosso Toscana IGT". The reasons may lie in the depths of wine law or in the strategic considerations of the family – but the wine itself remains what it always was: a rarity, an experiment, a statement – a top Merlot! The small "Bandita" vineyard is located in the south-eastern part of Montalcino, where the tuff and clay soils provide the international grape variety with the fertile soil it needs. Low yields, late harvest at optimum ripeness – the conditions for concentration and depth. Paolo Vagaggini, who has been shaping Fuligni's oenological signature for decades, vinifies this Merlot with the same meticulousness that characterises the great Brunellos. But 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 has a powerful ruby red colour with garnet hues. The nose reveals a magnificent Merlot aroma: plums and raspberry jelly in the first instance, then layers of roasted flavours reminiscent of nougat and crémant chocolate, plus a hint of undergrowth and fine suede. The full harmony of this wine is revealed on the palate – intense yet finely textured, with polished tannins that carry well beyond the centre. Sweet vanilla notes from the wood blend seamlessly with the ripe fruit, while the acidity gives the wine structure and elegance. The final is long, warming and persistent. Fuligni only produced this wine in homeopathic quantities for years. Wine critics gave it top marks, demand exploded – but the small parcel did not and does not yield any more. Today, the evaluation is left to the consumers. A wise decision for a wine that tells its own great story, far removed from any ratings. SUPERIORE.DE