Fornacina

True to the more classic style of Fornacina's red wines, the Rosso also shows an earthy and ripe nose with dark fruits, plums and dried blackberries. The wine offers plenty of tradition thanks to its linear and robust fruit profile. Dark spices, liquorice, tar and some cedar smoke add elegance and complexity to this pretty Rosso. Great value! SUPERIORE.DE

When we discovered this winery by chance at the beginning of the 2000s, we were immediately impressed by the modesty and purism of the Biliorsi winemaking family. This is still the case today, they remain true to themselves and their philosophy and in good years, they produce just 10,000 bottles of a "slightly different" Brunello in the cellar.

Deep dark ruby red, with a bouquet of small black berries, cedar wood, forest floor and a fine nutty roasted flavour. The palate is multi-layered and powerful, with earthy, rustic nuances and a complex blend of dark fruit, precious woods, a fine plum note and some chocolate. Very intense, impulsive and long and not at all for lovers of polished, standardised wines. SUPERIORE.DE

"Complex and smoky wine. On the nose there is a dominance of graphite and toasted notes. Red cherries, raspberries and pomegranates are layered with floral nuances and leather. Firm tannins with supple fruit, medium body and a refreshing finish." James Suckling

"The organic Fornacina 2020 Brunello di Montalcino shows tart fruit flavors with dried redcurrant, Tuscan cigar and grilled herb. This pretty mix of aromas comes together with elegance and complexity. The bouquet offers pretty intensity, but the palate ultimately closes on a more powerful note with ample oak spice, freshness and firms tannins." Wine Advocate

The grapes for Fornacinas Riserva come from a small 5 hectare plot and the result offers a wonderfully firm structure with plenty of warmth and harmony. On the palate, it convinces with textural richness and wonderful secondary aromas that come with three years of oak ageing. The initially crisp tannins will stand another year or two of bottle ageing to become softer and more relaxed. A top-year classic with a wonderfully intense and long final. SUPERIORE.DE

"This is very fine-tannined and silky with cherry and orange-peel aromas and flavors. It’s medium-to full-bodied with lots of berry, earth, walnut and dried-flower character at the end. From organically grown grapes. Very attractive now, better in a few years." James Suckling

"Traditional stone farmhouses in Tuscany always have a bread oven, or "forno" in Italian, somewhere near the entrance of the home. That wood-burning oven is a symbol of family warmth, inclusiveness and home. I'd like to think that this is the spirit with which Fornacina (the "little oven") is named. The estate's 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (a certified-organic wine) is a bottle I happily recommend to those looking for under-the-radar names in Montalcino. I love the delicate and bright nature of this wine and the subtle manner in which the wine's acidity and lean-bodied texture enlivens the palate." Wine Advocate

Gentle balsamic notes with rosemary and lavender scents on the nose. When it opens in the glass, you can get a clear picture of the dark fruit at its centre and the delicate particles of chalk dust that frame the bouquet. The fruit for this wine comes from a five-hectare plot with alkaline soils that are rich in numerous mineral components. The complexity of the soils is reflected in the attractive bouquet, and this outstanding Riserva vintage offers a rich structure, velvety tannins and persistent intensity. SUPERIORE.DE

"This wine is more characterised by blue fruits and shows blueberry pie, hints of violets and spice. Medium to full-bodied with a structure of grainy tannins and a good acid backbone. The finish is firm, the tannins slowly dissolve and become light as a feather. It needs a few years to mellow." James Suckling

"The Fornacina 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a decidedly powerful wine with aromas of candied cherries and orange peel peppered with exotic spices and cloves. The wine's tannins are fine-meshed, dense and rich. Like the Annata Brunello, the Riserva is made from the estate's five hectares of Brunello vines, but this particular selection results in a small production run of 2,666 bottles." Wine Advocate