Fuligni, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany, Italy, 2021

Named James Suckling's #1 Italian Wine of the Year 2026

Overview of the Wine
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).

Giovanni Maria Fuligni moved to Montalcino at the beginning of the 1900s, where he started to produce wine, as his family had done before him in their lands in Maremma, mainly in Scansano. The Fuligni winery of Montalcino has been managed for decades by Maria Fuligni. The estate spreads over approximately 100 hectares of land with varying exposure. The vineyards, of almost 400 hectares, are on the north-eastern side of Montalcino, with the classic Brunello exposure. There is a cellar in the historic seat of Fuligni, a 17th century palazzo where the Medicean Grand Dukes used to reside, although the majority of the cellars are situated in Località Cottimelli, 3 km from Montalcino in the direction of Siena. The tasting rooms are in this same venue, in an ex-convent of nuns, dating back to the 16th century, which has recently been renovated. Since the passing of Giovanni Maria Fuligni in 1971, the winery has been managed by his daughter Maria Flora, a graduate in philosophy and a true woman of wine, who lovingly manages the inherited lands with the same wisdom and passion as her ancestors. 

The Fuligni family has always been characterized by a strong female presence: before Maria Flora, countess Matilde Armelani De’ Vanni managed the large farmlands in Maremma with great passion until her death in 1936. Today, Maria Flora manages Fuligni side by side with Daniela Perino, a graduate in business economics, who is her right hand and a key figure in all of the winery's activities. 

Winemaker
Paolo Vagaggini

Grape / Blend
100% Sangiovese

Origin
Tuscany, Italy

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Brunello Fuligni Regular is refined for four years as per regulation, two and a half (sometimes three) of which are in wood. It has the characteristics of a long-living wine, but, unlike the Riserva, it is ready to drink. An elegant fusion of fruit and spices, Brunello Fuligni comes from a careful selection of prestigious grapes. We keep a low yield per hectare and if a vintage is not good enough we decide not to make any Brunello Fuligni because the quality of the grapes would not match the high standards of our winery.

99 Points - James Suckling (#1 Italian Wine of the Year 2026)
So perfumed and seductive on the nose, with black cherries, minerals and rose petals that follow through to a medium body with ultra-fine tannins. Its finesse and vision tell you why Brunello is great. Long, vivid and beautifully balanced. Already a joy to taste, but best after 2027.

96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
Displaying a jeweled ruby hue, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino is refreshing and complete, with ripe red cherries, orange peel, dusty earth, potpourri, cocoa, and bright spice on the nose, along with hints of floral incense and delicate smoky earth. The palate is medium to full-bodied and energetic, with refined, angular tannins, zesty lift, and balanced length that keeps it classic and vibrant. I love this vintage for Fuligni, and it should continue to improve with time. Drink 2026-2040. 

96 Points - Wine Advocate
The Fuligni 2021 Brunello di Montalcino is an elegant expression with layers of dark fruit and blackcurrant that give way to pressed rose, grilled herb and petrichor, recalling rocks bathed in hot sunlight. The wine is chiseled and refined, owing to the classic nature of the vintage and the restrained, non-extractive house style that distinguishes Fuligni, a historic estate based just outside the village of Montalcino on higher-elevation sites. The wine shows precision with fine tannic tension and a linear, poised finish, making it an ideal match for traditional Tuscan dishes such as pappardelle al cinghiale or grilled lamb with rosemary. 

94 Points - Wine Spectator
Focused on its cherry and blackberry core of fruit, this red is generous, vibrant and expressive. Dense tannins add lift, while the finish picks up woodsy, underbrush notes. Balanced and open for the vintage, this should be approachable soon. Best from 2028 through 2045. 

Product size: 750ml