2014 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 750 ml

We felt like we’d stumbled upon the very essence of Brunello di Montalcino: With a candelabra lit and flickering on the table beside massive Slavonian oak barrels, we were completely absorbed in the Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino, taking in the smoky, floral aromas and exquisite concentration borne of the rocky, ancient soils.

This is the wine that Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate called simply “beautiful,” and “a wine that offers more balance, intensity and depth than a good majority of its peers.” 

The estate lies high above the hills of Cottimelli at elevations of up to 1,480 feet. The slopes below are a patchwork of forests, fields, and vineyards bordered by narrow roads. The vineyard faces mostly east, soaking up perfect early-morning sunshine and imbuing the wines with the type of depth and complexity that makes Fuligni’s releases centerpieces in Italian collections worldwide.  

While the property’s historic buildings will occupy architecture nerds for hours, the real beauty lies in the vineyards. 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. 

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 2014 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. 

This is the Fuligni wine that out-performed their neighbors—one that boasts an “impressively concentrated core of red-cherry and red-plum flavor,” according to James Suckling. 

We’re offering it today for a fraction of what other top-tier Brunello typically costs. Wine Advocate called it “one of the best interpretations you will find” of the vintage. Reserve your bottles while they’re still available.