Frescobaldi - Tenuta Luce della Vite : Luce 2023

Characteristics and tasting tips for Luce 2023 from Frescobaldi - Tenuta Luce della Vite

Tasting

Colour
Luce 2023 displays an intense ruby colour, reflecting a healthy harvest that reached full ripeness.

Nose
The nose opens with aromas of ripe red fruit, enhanced by spicy and cedar notes from its time in barrel.

Palate
The palate is rich and silky, balanced by a pleasant freshness on the mid-palate. The finish stands out for its perfectly integrated tannins, revealing the wine's full refinement and elegance.

Food and wine pairings
This rich, structured wine is a delightful match for bistecca alla fiorentina or any grilled red meat, whose texture stands up to the wine's tannic power. It will also pair well with slow-cooked dishes such as ossobuco, game in sauce such as wild boar stew, or herb-roasted meat. For cheese lovers, a well-aged Tuscan pecorino will complement the wine's aromatic concentration.

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

An iconic Tuscan Sangiovese and Merlot blend from Frescobaldi - Tenuta Luce della Vite

The estate
Founded in 1995 through an official partnership between the Frescobaldi and Mondavi families, Frescobaldi -Tenuta Luce della Vite covers 192 hectares, 88 of which are under vine, on the heights of Montalcino in Tuscany. Since 2005, the estate has been wholly owned by the Frescobaldi family, who have made it one of the flagship brands of their Tuscan portfolio. Farmed organically, the estate is distinguished by its high-altitude terroir and its status as the pioneer of the Sangiovese-Merlot blend in Montalcino.

The vineyard
The Tenuta Luce vineyard lies at altitudes of 260 to 450 metres on the south-western slopes of Montalcino, within the IGT Toscana. The Sangiovese plots occupy the highest positions, on galestro soils, schist and crumbly limestone, while the Merlot is planted on the lower, clay-rich ground, which is better able to retain freshness during hot summers. This plot layout, combined with organic farming, allows each grape variety to fully express its potential.

The vintage
Winter 2023 was fairly mild and dry, marked by snowfall at the end of January. Spring proved unpredictable, with heavy rainfall in May and June demanding meticulous work in the vineyard. The hot summer, punctuated by storms, eased water stress and allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and steadily. Harvest began on 1 September with the Sangiovese, followed by the Merlot on 14 September, in ideal conditions combining sunny days and cool nights, conducive to aromatic freshness and beautifully ripe tannins.

Winemaking and ageing
To produce Luce 2023, the grapes are vinified separately in cement vats, fermenting at 28°C for 12 days, followed by 22 days of skin maceration. Malolactic fermentation then takes place in barrel. The wine is subsequently aged for 24 months in barrels, 80% new oak and 20% one-year-old barrels, before being bottled in November 2025.

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