2015 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 750 ml

Vinous’s Antonio Galloni has written that “Fuligni remains among the top estates in Montalcino…farming Sangiovese vines that grow in what is a real grand cru section.” Their rocky soils from the Eocene era roughly 50 million years ago hold limited organic compounds which translates to incredible concentration and density in the glass.

This brutally difficult-to-work land results in minuscule quantities of hand-picked Sangiovese that vastly—and reliably—over-deliver. But because their land and its contours are so unique Fuligni’s yields are naturally restricted, meaning demand outpaces supply even in challenging vintages. In 2015 that meant Maria and Roberto Fuligni’s efforts resulted in a crimson stunner, firmly coiled around textbook Brunello flavors of ripe red cherry and juicy red plum, and balanced by a strong core of dusty, crushed-rock minerality on the palate. 

It’s as if this 2015 Fuligni wrote the book on Sangiovese, with all the components showing balance, harmony, and intensity. Whether it belongs to a wide-ranging collector, a dyed-in-the-wool devotee of Italian varieties, or just a lover of red wine, absolutely every cellar should have a rock-solid Brunello at the ready—one that delivers perfect Brunello elegance and complexity without breaking the bank.