The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino from Fuligni was a littler juicier, richer and rounder than the Costanti. Few producers do a better job of bridging modern and traditional styles than Fuligni. What a beautiful wine.

Sweet flowers, with blueberries and blackberries on the nose. Toffee and creme brulee. So complex and subtle with everything there. Full and very velvety with soft and silky tannins and a long, long finish. Beautiful polish to this wine. Best after 2013.

At 15 years old, this has reached that magical tipping point between youth and evolution. It has shed any teenage sullenness but is in no hurry to retire. Evocative hints of wild woodland strawberries, juniper, heather, porcini and dried leaves emerge one after the other. On the palate, its firm, iron backbone is supported by sinewy, taut flesh. Mouth-watering acidity and saline notes beg for well-seasoned braised meat. You can open the 2006 now but there is no rush. Zefferini describes the summer of 2006 as fresher than 2007. There were hot intervals, but periods of cooler temperatures and rain served to slow down ripening. Drinking Window: 2022 - 2037
Tasted by: Michaela Morris (at Fuligni, Montalcino, 23 Nov 2021)
Part of Michaela Morris: my top wines of 2022

Fuligni's 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is one of the stars of the vintage. Sweet floral notes weave through a core of expressive red fruit as the wine opens up in the glass. The 2006 shows incredible purity and finesse, most notably in its silky, polished tannins. This isn't a blockbuster, but rather a wine that conquers through its sheer finesse. The wine spent 27 days on the skins. The volume and weight are influenced by the modern school, everything else is traditional all the way. The 2006 is the first vintage in which the percentage of French oak has been dropped to 25%, which has allowed the purity of the fruit to shine through to a degree that I have seldom, if ever, seen here. Rain during June naturally lowered yields and may partly explain why Fuligni's 2006 is so phenomenal. Simply put, readers won't want to miss this superb Brunello. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. AG

Bright dark red. Captivating nose shows a medicinal quality to the notes of sandalwood, minerals, graphite and orange peel. At once silky and explosive in the mouth, providing oustanding density without heaviness and saturating the entire mouth with sweet flavor. A wine of incredible aromatic thrust. The floral lift on the extremely long finish gives the wine an almost Lafite-like clarity.

Shows fine intensity to its cherry, cedar, licorice and tobacco notes. There's sweetness at the core, with a supple texture and well-integrated tannins. Features a long, spicy aftertaste and wonderful harmony. Best from 2012 through 2024. BS