When Vittorio Frescobaldi met Robert Mondavi in the early 90s, a new chapter in the history of the great Tuscan wines was written. From that meeting, a wine came to life inspired by the desire to make a dream come true: to create a wine in Montalcino, a land of choice for the production of excellent wines, that went beyond the boundaries of tradition, while acknowledging and celebrating it, by treasuring the experiences of two historic families in the world of wine. This ambitious project took the name of Tenuta Luce, a name that evokes the sunlight of Montalcino, which is the source of life and nourishment, and marks the passage of the seasons and sets the pace for any and every agricultural activity. Since then, Tenuta Luce has always honoured this vision and the symbolic wine of the Tenuta, Luce, has been joined by other exclusive wines, capable of going beyond the boundaries of their territory and earning unanimous approval nationally and internationally.
Tenuta Luce’s vineyards are a true mosaic of different exposures, variety of soils and altitudes – ranging from 280 at 418 meters above sea level. The soils are schistose in the upper range, mixed-clayey in the lower one, rich in yellow sands and sandstones in the central belt. Of the 88 hectares of vineyards owned by the estate, 11 are registered in the “Albo del Brunello di Montalcino.”
This is where the Sangiovese for Luce Brunello is born – a tiny plot called ‘Madonnino’. This special vineyard has the ideal exposure and soil composition (galestro) to fully express the perfect combination of structure and elegance typical of Sangiovese.
After harvest, the grapes are vinified in cement with indigenous yeast for around 10 days. After a total 4 weeks of skin maceration, the wine is transferred in big Slavonian oak barrels where the Brunello will rest at least 24 months.
A cold, dry winter ushered in the 2019 growing season, encouraging a textbook budbreak in the first week of April. A rainy spring followed, with below-average temperatures, particularly during May, conditions that built up significant groundwater reserves but slowed vine growth. The arrival of heat in June, however, unaccompanied by any rainfall, stimulated canopy development and brought an excellent flowering, in the latter half of the month. Summer proceeded along the norm, with no excessive heat spells, and with some rains between late July and early August that spurred continued canopy development. Mild temperatures in September and a good groundwater supply favoured gradual and consistent ripening, along with optimally ripe tannins, impressive concentrations, and vibrant, crisp aromatics. The harvest started on 1 October under perfect weather conditions of mild day-time temperatures and refreshingly cool nights. Ideally sound, healthy grapes made it possible to produce a well-balanced Luce Brunello with a firm structure and pronounced, beautifully-integrated tannins.
Luce Brunello 2019 appears an intense ruby red.
The nose immediately impresses, with intensely-fragrant liqueur cherries, red plum, and orange zest that meld into smooth impressions of pipe tobacco and black liquorice.
The palate is striking for its approachability, vibrant and enfolding, with a structure admirably bolstered by perfectly ripe tannins that proceed to a citrus-edged finish.
100% Sangiovese
cork
15%
