Wine Advisor
Fuligni, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2017
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
The Fuligni 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is a beautiful wine, and it shines a much-deserved spotlight on one of the most consistent estates in Montalcino. It is bright and luminous with a dark ruby shine. The bouquet reveals deeply layered tones of red cherry, wild berry, rose, earth and candied violets. Give the wine an extra twirl or two, and you get some rosemary and lavender. Soft dusty mineral and limestone also appear. I'd definitely put this bottle on a short list of the most recommended bottles from the 2017 vintage.
Reviewed by: Eric Guido
The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is punchy and spry from the first tilt of the glass, featuring raspberry, roses, licorice and hints of flowery undergrowth. The bouquet darkens over time, taking on shades of cedar, along with blue and purple flowers. It’s silky, pliant and savory, masses of black cherry and spice filling the palate with silky textures that leave saturating minerals in their wake. This tapers off long, dry and primary, perfumed with violets and lavender, as cheek-puckering, tart red berries linger on. The 2017 may be a riper interpretation of Fuligni Brunello, but it has enough power and energy to be quite pleasurable and balanced over the medium term. All of the Riserva juice from 2017 went into the estate Brunello.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Plenty of complexity to this, with cherry, plum, blackberry and hints of cedar and stone. Full-bodied with layered, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Punctuated and defined for the 2017 vintage. Drinkable now, but better after 2023.
About the Producer
The Fuligni Family, of ancient Venetian origin, moved to England in the 14th century to lead a Free Company supporting Edward III, receiving favours and honours from the Crown. When the Habsburg-Lorraine became head of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Luigi Fuligni moved to Tuscany as a general of the new rulers. The vineyards, of approximately fourteen hectares, are mostly located on the north-eastern slope of Montalcino, with the classic exposure for Brunello. Other vineyards are located south-east, where the soil is mixed (tuff and clay). The vines are on average around 15 years old, although there are some mother vines which are over forty years old and which carry older clones of Sangiovese (with a lower yield per hectare).
