Tenuta Luce Brunello featured image
Tenuta Luce Brunello 2020
Vintage
2020
Region
Tuscany
Country
Italy
Style
Still
Grape Varieties
Sangiovese
ABV
15%
Dietary
Vegetarian
Sustainability
Sustainable Certification
Tenuta Luce
Tenuta Luce is a Montalcino estate in Tuscany, Italy, the first wine in Montalcino to bring together Sangiovese and Merlot. Founded in the early 1990s, the estate is a joint venture between the Frescobaldi family and Robert Mondavi, Luce was among the first estates to challenge convention in Montalcino by combining Sangiovese with Merlot. It helped establish a new category of premium Tuscan wines that sit between Brunello tradition and Super-Tuscan innovation. Located south-west of Montalcino, the estate produces premium Tuscan red wine, Brunello and Super Tuscan-style expressions from a landscape of varied soils, altitudes and exposures. The estate offers a distinctive bridge between Montalcino tradition and contemporary fine wine.
Read MoreViticulture
Luce Brunello 2020 is produced from 100% Sangiovese grown in Montalcino. The grapes were harvested on 23 September, with harvest values of 252g/l sugar, 6.97g/l total acidity and pH 3.20. These figures reflect the balance of ripeness and acidity required for long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. The wine’s structure is shaped by Sangiovese’s natural freshness, extended skin contact and traditional maturation in Slavonian oak ovals.
Vinification
Fermentation took place in concrete vessels at 26?C and lasted 10 days. Maceration on the skins continued for four weeks, supporting colour, structure and aromatic complexity. The wine was matured for at least 24 months in Slavonian oak ovals, following the traditional Brunello di Montalcino ageing approach. Bottling took place in July 2024.
2020
The 2020 season was marked by a mild, dry winter that encouraged rapid budbreak from the last week of March. Fine spring weather followed, with light rain in May supporting normal canopy development and early June flowering. Rain between the second and third weeks of June helped berry development before a hot, dry summer. Three late-August rainstorms relieved the vines and prevented heat stress. After beneficial day-night temperature variation, harvest began on 23 September in excellent conditions.
Tasting Note
Shimmering ruby red in colour. The nose is multifaceted and complex, with red berry fruit, sweet violet and smooth spice. The palate is full-bodied and vibrant, combining ripe Sangiovese fruit with crisp acidity and glossy tannins. Citrus and spice notes add lift and detail, while the texture remains polished and structured. The finish is long, fresh and refined, showing the depth and ageing potential of Luce Brunello 2020.
Food Pairing
Pair with bistecca alla Fiorentina, roast lamb, wild boar pappardelle, porcini mushrooms, truffle dishes, aged Pecorino, game, slow-cooked beef or Tuscan bean stews.
Bottle Shots - Tenuta Luce Brunello 2020
