La Fortuna Brunello Riserva 2019: power and citrus

The Consorzio gave 2019 five stars, its highest rating. The season was warm, without heat spikes, with rain at the right moments.

La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2019 has power, but the surprise is the citrus. A citrus-rich powerhouse, less earthy than I expected. I tasted it at La Grande Bellezza in Amsterdam.

La Fortuna Brunello Riserva 2019 in brief

The Riserva is Sangiovese Grosso, DOCG, from vines 30 to 40 years old. The harvest ran from 23 to 30 September. Fermentation lasted fifteen days at controlled temperature, without selected yeasts, with 25 days of skin contact. A production of just 50 hectolitres, so a scarce bottle.

The alcohol is 15%. A Riserva may only go on sale on 1 January of the sixth year after harvest, a year later than a regular Brunello. The Consorzio requires at least two years in wood and six months in bottle. The 2019 could therefore reach the market from January 2025.

Tasting Note

Tasting Note

Appearance

Ruby with the first garnet tones at the rim.

Nose

A warm blanket of ripe red fruit with cherries up front. Alongside it lovely citrus, orange and a touch of mandarin, with plenty of herbs and spice, tobacco and cacao.

Palate

Powerful and citrus-rich. High acids and high tannins in fine balance but clearly present. Less earthy than you would expect from a Riserva.

Finish

Long and firm, with a structure that betrays serious ageing potential.

Quality

A powerful, surprisingly citrus-driven Riserva with the building blocks for a long future. I am curious where this stands in ten to twenty years.

Two honest caveats. First, those tannins: nicely balanced, yes, but clearly present and asking for time or for hearty food. Drinking it solo now does the wine no justice. Second, the profile: anyone expecting a classic earthy Riserva, with damp earth and mushroom, may be surprised by how citrus-driven and fresh this 2019 is. That is not a flaw, but it is a stylistic choice not everyone seeks.

Drink or keep? Keep with conviction. The power and the structure are here, the finesse ripens over the coming years. This one is for the cellar.

Producer

La Fortuna

Wine

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2019

Vintage

2019

Region

Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

Grape

Sangiovese Grosso (100%)

Harvest

23 to 30 September, 25 days skin contact

Fermentation

15 days, without selected yeasts

Production

50 hl

Alcohol

15%

Sources

• Tenuta La Fortuna (official): tenutalafortuna.it
• Consorzio Vino Brunello di Montalcino: consorziobrunellodimontalcino.it
• La Grande Bellezza (tasting): lagrandebellezza.com

Tasted at La Grande Bellezza 2026 in Amsterdam. No partnership, independent assessment.