Frescobaldi - Tenuta Luce della Vite : Lucente 2018

An elegant and enveloping great wine from Tuscany by Frescobaldi

The estate

A great Florentine family dedicated to the production of Tuscan wines, the Frescobaldis have been established on this historical territory for over 1000 years. Their influence considerably increased during the Florentine Republic, while the city’s banking industry was developing. Notably, the family took part in large-scale infrastructure projects of the time, such as the Ponte Santa Trinita and the Basilica di Santo Spirito. Located in the Montalcino region, south-west of the medieval town, Tenuta Luce Della Vite, one of the Frescobaldi family’s estates, produces crus which rank among the greatest Tuscan and Italian wines.

The vineyard

The estate covers 192 hectares, of which 55 are planted with vines, and with an average density of 6100 vines per hectare. With an altitude between 350 and 420 hectares above sea level, Tenuta Luce Della Vite holds one of the region’s highest vineyards. The soils are rich in pebbles and sediment but poorer in organic materials, with a beautiful south-facing exposure that brings together the perfect conditions to produce great Sangiovese wines through a slow ripening process. The Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are planted on the lowest part of the vineyard, on clay soils.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage was characterised by its winter and spring which were rainier than usual, allowing the soil to regenerate. At the same time, the rather high temperatures allowed the Sangiovese and Merlot to develop most uniformly. Rainy spells arriving at the time of flowering reduced the vineyard’s yield. Summer was dry and enjoyed regular, moderate temperatures. The temperature fluctuations between days and nights during harvest time allowed for a perfect ripening process and a sublime aromatic expression.

 Winemaking and ageing

After the harvests, which took place on 10 September for the Merlot and 1 October for the Sangiovese, the grapes fermented for 10 days in thermoregulated stainless steel tanks at 28°C. Pellicular maceration took place over 20 days so as to fully develop this cru’s aromatic expression. The wine is then aged for 12 months in new barrels. Bottling took place in September 2020.

The blend

Merlot and Sangiovese.

The tasting

Colour

Lucente 2018 is a bright, deep red.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet reveals an intense fruitiness marked by blackberry, plum and blackcurrant combined with toasted and vanilla notes.

Palate

Lucente 2018 is a mouth-coating and greatly elegant wine. The suppleness of its structure continues up to a long finish, which leaves a most pleasant sweetness and fruitiness on the palate.