Montalcino, Italy

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 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 the wine is so phenomenal. A superb Brunello. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. Rated 96 points by Robert Parker, Wine Advocate.

Pair with: roasted lamb, ribeye steak, and veal cutlets.