Fuligni S.J. Toscana IGT 2022 750ml

Fuligni is a genuinely historic name in Montalcino, tracing its winemaking roots back to 1923, and best known for its acclaimed Brunello di Montalcino — a wine that's earned scores as high as 98 points from James Suckling in recent vintages. S.J. represents the estate's own thoughtful "variation on the Sangiovese theme," as Cellar 18's own copy puts it, a Tuscan IGT blend that lets Fuligni experiment a bit outside Brunello's strict, single-varietal requirements.

The wine is built predominantly from Sangiovese grown on Fuligni's own estate vines, joined by Merlot sourced from the Bandita vineyard, aged several months in French oak tonneaux — a comparatively gentle aging regime designed to add structure without overwhelming the wine's naturally bright Sangiovese character. As Cellar 18 describes the intent: the oak treatment "affords a slightly soft impact preserving the brilliant quality and freshness of the Sangiovese grape."

We don't have independently published tasting notes specific to the 2022 vintage, so rather than borrow flavor descriptors from a different year, we'll let this particular vintage speak for itself once it's open. For genuine house-style context, Cellar 18's own description of recent vintages of S.J. calls it "concentrated and voluptuously textured. Rich, ripe, mellow, structured, packed with berry fruit, and intriguing nuances of underbrush, spices, and incense" — recommending it specifically with "porchetta dusted with herbs and fennel seeds" or white poultry dishes. This is genuinely serious, food-friendly Tuscan wine from an estate whose reputation for Sangiovese runs deep.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Fuligni is a historic winery in Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy, with roots dating to 1923, best known for its acclaimed Brunello di Montalcino. The estate is committed to traditional winemaking, focused primarily on Sangiovese, with grapes hand-harvested to ensure quality.

S.J. is Fuligni's own Tuscan IGT blend, built predominantly from estate-grown Sangiovese, joined by Merlot sourced from the Bandita vineyard. The wine ages several months in French oak tonneaux, a comparatively gentle regime intended to add structure while preserving the Sangiovese's natural freshness and brightness.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Porchetta dusted with herbs and fennel seeds
• White poultry dishes
• Grilled or roasted meats
• Aged Italian cheeses