La Fortuna Brunello Riserva 2019: power and citrus
La Fortuna Brunello Riserva 2019: a powerful, citrus-rich Riserva from a hot year with serious ageing potential. My tasting note.
2019 was hot and dry in Montalcino, a powerful year that produced firm, tannic Riservas. La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2019 carries that power with flying colours, but the surprise is the citrus. This is not an earthy Brunello, this is a citrus-rich powerhouse. 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.
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
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.
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