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.
The beginning of the year was characterized by a mild January and a cold February, with abundant precipitation both snowy and rainy, which helped rebalance water reserves. During the course of spring, temperatures were recorded above the seasonal average, which coupled with frequent rains allowed a rapid development of the buds. The prolonged presence of rains, even in the period of flowering, occurred at the beginning of June and led a lower productive load per plant. Later, the summer was affected by mild weather, without the presence of excessive rainfall or high temperatures. These conditions favoured proper cluster development and led to rapid veraison, which occurred in the first week of August. During the month of September some rains continued to keep the climate mild, thus allowing the grapes to preserve all their aromatic freshness and to reach full phenolic ripeness. The harvest took place on the 2nd of October.
Luce Brunello shows an intense ruby red colour.
The nose is complex and fragrant, with notes of ripe red fruit, supported by pleasant
sensations of blond tobacco and exotic spices. In the mouth, the wine is harmonious, rich and highly structured, with silky tannins that together with freshness give a very long persistence. A sophisticated and powerful wine
100% Sangiovese
cork
15%
