Frescobaldi - Tenuta Luce della Vite : Luce 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Luce 2023 by Frescobaldi - Tenuta Luce della Vite

Tasting Notes

Appearance
Luce 2023 displays an intense ruby colour, reflecting a healthy and fully ripe harvest.

Nose
The nose opens with aromas of well-ripened red fruit, enhanced by spicy and cedar notes from ageing in barrels.

Palate
The palate is rich and velvety, balanced by a pleasant freshness in the mid-palate. The finish stands out for its perfectly smooth tannins, revealing all the refinement and elegance of the wine.

Food and Wine Pairing
This rich, structured wine pairs beautifully with bistecca alla fiorentina or any grilled red meat, its texture matching the wine's tannic power. It also shines alongside braised dishes such as ossobuco, game in sauce like a wild boar stew, or herb-roasted meat. For cheese lovers, a well-aged Tuscan pecorino will engage in a fine dialogue with the wine's aromatic concentration.

Serving and Ageing
Luce 2023 is best served between 16 and 18°C, a temperature that preserves its aromatic freshness while revealing the finesse of its tannins. Decanting before tasting will help open up its bouquet, particularly in its early years.

An Emblematic Sangiovese and Merlot Blend from Tuscany by Frescobaldi - Tenuta Luce della Vite

The Estate
Born in 1995 from the official agreement between the Frescobaldi and Mondavi families, Frescobaldi -Tenuta Luce della Vite spans 192 hectares, including 88 hectares of vines, on the hills above Montalcino, in Tuscany. Since 2005, the estate has belonged entirely to the Frescobaldi family, who have made it one of the flagship names in their Tuscan portfolio. Farmed organically, the estate stands out for its high-altitude terroir and its pioneering status in the Sangiovese-Merlot blend at Montalcino.

The Vineyard
The Tenuta Luce vineyard is set between 260 and 450 metres above sea level on the south-western slopes of Montalcino, within IGT Toscana. The Sangiovese plots occupy the highest positions, on soils of galestro, schist and friable limestone, while Merlot is planted on the lower, clay-rich land, better suited to retaining freshness during the hot summers. This plot organisation, combined with organic farming, allows each grape variety to express its full potential.

The Vintage
Winter 2023 was fairly mild and dry, marked by a snowfall at the end of January. Spring proved unpredictable, with heavy rainfall in May and June requiring rigorous work in the vineyards. Summer, hot and punctuated by storms, helped ease water stress and allowed for a slow, gradual ripening of the grapes. Harvest began on 1 September with Sangiovese, followed by Merlot on 14 September, under ideal conditions combining sunny days and cool nights, favourable for aromatic freshness and beautifully mature tannins.

Winemaking and Ageing
To craft Luce 2023, the grapes are vinified separately in cement tanks at a fermentation temperature of 28°C for 12 days, followed by a 22-day skin maceration. Malolactic fermentation then takes place in barrels. Ageing continues for 24 months in barrels, 80% of which are new oak and 20% one-year-old barrels, before bottling in November 2025.

Grape Varieties
Luce 2023 is crafted from a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese, the two emblematic grape varieties of Tenuta Luce della Vite.