Tenuta Luce Lux Vitis 2021
Vintage
2021
Region
Tuscany
Country
Italy
Style
Still
Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, 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
Lux Vitis 2021 is produced from Cabernet Sauvignon with a small amount of Sangiovese, grown for Tenuta Luce’s top Cabernet-led Tuscan wine. Harvest took place on 28 September, with grapes showing 260g/l sugar, 6.8g/l total acidity and pH 3.38 at picking. These values supported full ripeness, freshness and structure, giving the wine the concentration and balance expected from a premium Cabernet-based Toscana IGT.
Vinification
Fermentation took place in concrete vats at 28?C and lasted 12 days. The wine remained on the skins for 20 days, building colour, depth and structure. Malolactic fermentation took place in oak barrels. Ageing was carried out for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels, adding structure, polish and complexity. Bottling took place in December 2023.
2021
The 2021 vintage began with a mild, dry winter, leading to slightly early budbreak in the first week of April. A sharp temperature drop on 8 and 9 April slowed shoot growth but did not damage the vines. May and June were consistent and not too hot, supporting excellent flowering and fruit set. A dry, warm summer led to veraison in late July, before two August rains refreshed the vines. A sunny September with strong night-time temperature variation supported ideal ripening.
Tasting Note
Intense ruby red in colour. The nose is rich and complex, with ripe black fruit, blackberry, mulberry, juniper and thyme, completed by sweet tobacco notes. The palate is balanced, vibrant and full-bodied, combining concentration with freshness and precision. Silky, elegant tannins support the dark-fruit core and oak-aged complexity. The finish is beautifully persistent and fresh, giving Lux Vitis 2021 both power and refinement.
Food Pairing
Pair with aged beef, venison, roast lamb, truffle, grilled rib-eye, braised short rib, wild mushroom dishes, blue cheese or rich game stews.