As mentioned by Jane MacQuitty in the Times yesterday in her article: ‘The best lighter red wines’, Roberto Fuligni’s 2012 pure Sangiovese ‘Ginestreto’ makes the ideal alternative to the big heavy winter reds traditionally rolled out at this time of year.
Made by one of Montalcino’s top producers, at c. £20 a bottle the Ginestreto is a snip of the price of a Brunello (although relatively speaking Fuligni’s Brunellos still blow the socks off Bordeaux wines at the same price point), but still offers a beautifully balanced wine; its ripe cherry fruit and hints of tobacco leaf dressed in light satin tannins with a thirst quenching strand of acidity makes a wine suited to drinking on its own or paired with lighter dishes.
2012 ROSSO DI MONTALCINO Ginestreto Fuligni
‘The idea is that Rosso, made like Brunello from Sangiovese Grosso, gives a taste of Brunello in a softer, more approachable and affordable style. Fuligni’s, from grapes grown in a different part of the vineyard from the Brunello (above), does exactly that, with its flowing, sweet, cherryish fruit, tobacco leaf, spicy tobacco and chestnut flavours and light, easy tannins.’ 90/100 www.thewinegang.com (Oct 2014)
Grapes: Sangiovese Grosso
Origin: Italy, Tuscany Sub-district: Rosso di Montalcino
ABV: 14.5%
Price:
75cl bottles £21.50 Case price £19.50
Other reviews and comments
‘Back to sangiovese’s best: alas Brunello di Montalcino is now absurdly expensive, so plump for the next best lighter and earlier-maturing thing, a good, ripe, velvety, savoury 2012 Rosso di Montalcino from Ginestreto Fuligni…a third of the price of the same estate’s brunello.’ Jane MacQuitty – The Times (Nov 2014)
Fuligni – Full Wine List and Profile
Founded in 1923 round a Medici villa and a country convent of the Renaissance era, the Fuligni estate is co-owned by Robert Guerrini Fuligni and his delightful aunt Maria Flora Fuligni. Together with his aunt, Roberto makes the wines with oenologist Paola Vagaggini, while agronomist Federico Ricci looks after the vineyards. The estate covers 100 hectares, of which 25 are under vine, almost all planted with Sangiovese, with a small amount of Merlot for the IGT blend.
Fuligni Estate
The ‘Rosso’ now comes from a defined part of the vineyard, on clay and tufa rather than the marl of the Brunello. It is made from the outset as a Rosso, with different clones and the intention to make a wine which will be approachable at a much younger age.
Related Wines
2007 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO Riserva Fuligni
Tuscany Italy 14.5% Red
Sangiovese Grosso
‘For all its expressive concentration and power, this is a seamlessly elegant Brunello, with deep, pure fruit, smoke, herb, spice and autumnal undergrowth flavours and effortless tannins. Drink anytime from now until well into the next decade.‘ 94 www.thewinegang.com (Oct 2014)
Bottle price £66.50 bottles Case price £59.50
Don’t forget to check out our current Christmas Champagne offers & wine selections