|
Another master estate, Fuligni likes to give traditional Brunello an international twist, and in so doing, they make fabulous wines that tend to be accessible earlier than some of their Brunello counterparts. The estate makes outstanding wines in amazing years like 2006 and phenomenal wines in astounding years like 2007. Approachable, feminine and even lush for a Brunello, Fluligni’s wines clock in at under 2,500 cases for normale bottlings and under 1,000 for Riservas.
- Country: Italy
- Region: Toscana
- Subregion: Brunello di Montalcino
Established in 1923, Fuligni is presently co-owned by Maria Flora Fuligni and her nephew, Roberto Guerrini Fuligni. The estate’s portfolio comprises Montalcino’s classic duo—Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino—in addition to a Super-Tuscan known as SJ. Fuligni’s 25 acres of vines are planted primarily to Sangiovese, with a small portion dedicated to Merlot, the grape that joins Sangiovese in the SJ bottling. The estate has an impeccable vintage record and is known for producing one of the zone’s most elegant and refined Brunellos—even in challenging vintages. This success is a profound testament to the deft and artisanal approach of Roberto Guerrini—a professor of criminal law with a passion for Brunello—and oenologist Paolo Vagaggini.
Guerrini and Vagaggini determine the profiles of the wines in collaboration, and their efforts have authored an overall stylistic orientation that weds elements of traditional and modern viticultural approaches. The aging process reflects this integration of schools, as the wines are initially placed in French barriques (to stabilize the color) and thereafter, transferred to traditional botti. Guerrini’s guiding principle keeps things paradoxically basic: He simply makes wines that he can enjoy with friends.
|
