You could be forgiven for thinking that nearly every Brunello di Montalcino receives glowing critical tasting notes. After all, a certain American critic has a habit of doling out lofty scores and huge praise for a great number Brunello to such an extent that it all washes over the reader, who cannot distinguish between them, particularly in a highly successful vintage like 2016.
However, if you look at the reviews from consistent and more conservative scorers, one wine stands out, namely the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino from Fuligni.
Eric Guido on vinous.com 98 points
Ian d’Agata on terroirsense.com 99 points
Kerin O’Keefe on winemag.com 99 points
Michaele Morris on decanter.com 99 points.
Monica Larner on robertparker.com 95 points
I think this can easily be termed a consensus of opinion, though Monica Larner may have been on a separate script. Fuligni’s 2016 has impressed greatly and while it is one of the highest scoring wines from one of the greatest recent vintages, it is also one of the more favourably priced.
To illustrate the value, consider Eric Guido’s top five Brunello of the 2016 vintage compared by market value per 6 bottles:
Eric Guido's top five Brunello in 2016 Points Market per 6
2016 Brunello di Montalcino ‘Madonna delle Grazie’, Il Marroneto 99 £1,735
2016 Brunello di Montalcino, Fuligni 98 £365
2016 Brunello di Montalcino ‘La Casaccia’, Canalicchio di Sopra 98 £970
2016 Brunello di Montalcino ‘La Cerbaiola’, Salvioni 97+ £840
2016 Brunello di Montalcino ‘Piero’, Talenti 97 £475
The Fuligni estate is synonymous with high quality Brunello. Founded in 1923, the estate is managed by Maria Fuligni and her nephew, Roberto, who looks after the vineyards. Just a couple of miles northeast of Montalcino, the 12 hectares of Fuligni’s vineyards are planted at between 350 and 450 metres, allowing the fruit to retain acidity even in the warmest of vintages. Stylistically, the wines here are made in a more traditional way, mostly matured in large oak botti with little new oak employed, leading to impressive ageworthy Brunello of understated elegance. As Eric Guido of vinous.com wrote earlier this year: ‘In my opinion, the Brunello produced at this address are some of the classiest, most refined and long-aging wines being made in Montalcino today.’
We are pleased to have secured stock in both bottle and magnum format. Please see pricing and Guido's note below: