Frescobaldi - Tenuta Luce della Vite : Luce 2019

Rich and deeply colored, evoking black cherry, blackberry, plum, tar, wild herb and spice flavors. Dense yet retains a sense of freshness, with refined tannins lining the finish. Nicely integrated and long. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2038. 7,916 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

A bright and animated nose exhibits lovely precision of liquorice, red cherry, orange peel and forest floor. The oak is well embedded, imparting Christmas spice to the generous plum-filled core. Supple yet tightly woven tannins meet fresh acidity. 2019 was among my top wines of this 30-year vertical and unquestionably the most finessed. I expect it will show even more of its intricacies with time – although Lamberto says he has already finished drinking his allocation!

Inky in colour, and a beautifully enjoyable wine right from the first sip. There is still the flash of heat that you find in Lucente, but here it comes across as ripe, generous raspberry and loganberry fruits held perfectly in balance by clove, black tea, turmeric, leather and black pepper spices. Concentrated and muscular, this is a delicious vintage of Luce. Nicolo d'Afflitto director, Alessandro Marini winemaker.

Violets, fresh mint and raspberry come together with reductive notes of tar as well as tobacco, leather and spices—cardamom jumps out in particular—on the complex nose of this wine. Dark berries emerge on the palate, with more herbs, spices, bitter chocolate and coffee grinds. The dusty tannins and searing acid confirm time will elevate this even further.