May 6th: Fuligni - Brunello di Montalcino Vertical Tasting
At Vinonueva | 5582 NE 4th Ct, Miami, FL, 33137 | 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Click HERE to get tickets
In partnership with Empson USA
Join us for a seated tasting featuring the wines of Fuligni, one of Montalcino's historic estates.
We'll explore a vertical selection of Brunello di Montalcino from different vintages, offering a unique opportunity to experience how Fuligni's wines evolve over time. Known for their elegance, structure, and sense of place, these wines reflect the estate's deep roots on Montalcino's eastern slopes and a long-standing commitment to quality across generations.
This guided tasting will take place in a seated format to allow for thoughtful discussion and comparison.
BACKGROUND
Estate & Terroir
The Fuligni estate covers around 100 hectares on the eastern slopes of Montalcino, long considered one of the most traditional zones for Brunello. Fourteen hectares are planted to vines, mainly in Cottimelli. The soils are predominantly rocky marl from the Santa Fiora formation, with a cool northeast exposure that contributes to the unique characteristics of the wines. Other vineyards specifically destined for the production of Rosso di Montalcino and IGT wines are located east, around Villa San Giovanni a Semini, which dates back to the 17th century.
Centuries of History
The Fuligni family's story stretches back to the 14th century when their Venetian ancestors moved to England to lead a Free Company in support of Edward III. After receiving honors from the Crown, the family eventually settled in Tuscany in the 18th century, when Luigi Fuligni arrived as a general under the Habsburg-Lorraine rule. In return for his service, Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo granted him land in the Maremma, where the family began farming and winemaking.
The wine production in Montalcino began in the early 1900s when Giovanni Maria Fuligni moved from the Maremma and began cultivating vineyards on the town's eastern slopes. Since 1971, the estate has been led by his daughter, Maria Flora Fuligni—one of the first women in Montalcino to manage a winery. Today, she manages the estate with longtime collaborator Daniela Perino, combining tradition with a clear-eyed view of quality.
Cellars & Aging
The cellars are spread between two locations: an ex-convent in Cottimelli, just outside Montalcino, and the historic 16th-century palazzo in town, once used by the Medici. Beneath this palazzo are the original cellars—still in use today—where wines age in large Slavonian oak casks under naturally ideal conditions.
Vineyards & Farming
Vineyard work is meticulous. Fuligni practices low-yield farming. Grapes are hand-picked with strict selection in the vineyard and again before fermentation. The vines are, on average, around 15 years old, but some parcels contain vines that are over 40 years old, which carry older clones of Sangiovese.
Each vineyard plot—such as San Giovanni, Il Piano, Il Ginestreto, San Luigi, Matilde, Margherita, Poggi I, II and III, and La Bandita—is vinified separately, according to each specific terroir and exposure. Only the best lots are blended into Brunello or Riserva, and in challenging vintages, the estate may forgo production entirely.
Winemaking Team
The winemaking is overseen by Paolo Vagaggini, a renowned Sangiovese specialist whose family has worked with Fuligni since the 1960s. His son, Jacopo Vagaggini—Oxford-educated and Bordeaux-trained—has recently joined him in continuing this long-standing collaboration. In the vineyards, agronomist Federico Ricci and vineyard manager Simone Bacconi ensure that each vintage is approached with precision and respect for the site.
Style & Philosophy
In the best years, Fuligni's Brunello Riserva stands among one of the region's most elegant and age-worthy expressions. The wines are marked by their clarity, depth, and balance—true to the estate's classic style and the special terroir.
Fuligni Brunello 2017 - 96 pts - '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.' - James Suckling, Oct. 2021
Fuligni Brunello 2018 - 98 pts - 'Ripe berry, Mediterranean brush and spice aromas mingle with new leather on this classy, vibrant offering from historic estate Fuligni. Full-bodied and gorgeous, the savory palate features juicy Morello cherry, star anise, almond and saline mineral notes framed in taut, polished tannins. Bright acidity keeps it balanced and energized.' - Kerin O’Keefe, Nov. 2022
Fuligni Brunello 2019 - 98 pts - 'Pale medium red. Penetrating aromas of sweet blonde tobacco, red cherry, crystallized raspberry, vanilla and black pepper. Elegant full and rich on the palate, with a touch of youthfully chewy oak that will need a few years to resolve fully, but there’s so much fruit crammed into every glass here that I have no doubt this will develop very nicely. A beautiful Brunello that closes long, dense and suave, this is another winner of the 2019 vintage.' - Ian D'Agata, March 2024
Fuligni Brunello 2020 - 95 pts - 'Rich and exuberant in the glass, the 2020 Brunello di Montalcino bursts with autumnal spices, crushed raspberries, shaved cedar and dusty rose. It impresses further with a core of ripe red berry fruits that saturate deeply, displaying a pleasant inner sweetness offset by a salty core of minerality. The 2020 leaves the palate drenched in primary concentration with a tart cranberry, licorice resonance and grippy tannins, all while maintaining a remarkably fresh persona. The 2020 has a large-scale feel with expertly maintained balance.' - Eric Guido, Vinous, Nov. 2023
Check out the lineup for this tasting:
- Fuligni Brunello 2017
- Fuligni Brunello 2018
- Fuligni Brunello 2019
- Fuligni Brunello 2020
- Fuligni San Jacopo Rosso Toscana 2020
- Fuligni Rosso di Montalcino Ginestreto 2022