Luce Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016《Terroir Collection - ZTI990》
Region：Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Grapes : 100% Sangiovese
Alcohol : 15%
Winemaker: STEFANO RUINI
🌟 long term high rating Brunello Di Montalcino winery
🌟 Regular high rating wine, good value Brunello Di Montalcino
🌟 Aged in Slavonian oak for 24 months.
🏅 James Suckling 98 pts
🏅 Falstaff 97
🏅 Wine Spectator 96 pts
🏅 Decanter 95 pts
🏅 Wine Advocate 94 pts
🏅 Wine Enthusiast 92 pts
🏅 Vivino 4.5
The history of Tenuta Luce
When Vittorio Frescobaldi – in the early Nineties – met Robert Mondavi, they gave life to a new chapter in the history of the great Tuscan wines, in the history of fine wines.
From that meeting, came Luce. It all started from the desire to make a dream come true: create excellent wines from Tuscany in a particularly suitable terroir, Montalcino.
An ambitious project called Luce della Vite, a tribute to this primary element that gives warmth, energy, and life: in nature, nothing would exist without light.
Over the years, Tenuta Luce honoured this vision and became a cradle where exclusive wines are born, wines that earned a widespread, international appreciation among the great wines from Tuscany.From one generation to the other, the baton was given to Lamberto Frescobaldi, son of Vittorio.Under his direction, Tenuta Luce della Vite has further strengthened the universe of expertise and knowledge, of discipline respectful of the rhythms of nature, of high quality oenological work thanks to which the fruits of the vines are transformed into excellent wines from Tuscany.Tenuta Luce’s project is now enriched by a new Cellar, perfectly inserted in the land of Montalcino, and by Collezione Luce.Like an ancient library, the latter preserves and tells the story of Luce. Here, just like in all the estate, the rhythm of Nature, and the rhythm of the wine dominate.Man becomes the keeper of a knowledge learnt from Nature itself.A radiating sun with twelve flames is the emblem of this ambitious project.A golden sun with a twofold meaning: a source of life and nourishment, and a sign of the roots of our cultural tradition. Over the centuries, and especially in Tuscany, the emblem of the Sun has had a prominent role both in secular and religious iconography.Indeed, the emblem used in Luce’s brand is inspired by the Sun on the altar of Santo Spirito in Florence, a basilica built on land donated by the Frescobaldi family.The altar, a masterpiece produced by ducal artisans between 1599 and 1607, is decorated with marble intarsia, enhancing the colours of lapis lazuli, onyx and different marbles.The recurrent cycles of human history, the infinite alternation of generations, of existences.A perpetual rhythm, under the Sun that each day rises and shines brightly in the sky, or peeks between the clouds, and each day falls behind our gentle hills covered in vines.
Tenuta Luce: elements in harmony in the heart of Tuscany
In Tenuta Luce, each plot has different features.The altitude varies between 200 and 430 metres above the sea level. The Land varies greatly in terms of soil, with three main areas: mixed-clayey soil below; sand and cleavage on top; gold sand and sandstone in the middle area.Different soil skeletons, different balance of nutrients, which we respect in each step when we work in the fields: microorganisms and insects help make this soil, rich in minerals and organic matter, a living support. And a living soil is the best premise for a balanced ecosystem and a vineyard in harmony.The first step towards the production of wines that are considered everywhere among the Tuscany’s finest wines.
In perfect coherence with the climate of the terroir of Montalcino, the hills of Tenuta Luce della Vite also enjoy the wind’s effect, keeping the Air healthy and constantly clean; facing south, our vineyards enjoy long, hot and sunny summers.
The Sun is therefore a crucial element: an alley we must respect and understand during the long summer months so that it can make our grapes slowly and fully ripe.
Luce Brunello
Of the 88 hectares of vineyards owned by Luce della Vite, 11 are registered in the Albo del Brunello di Montalcino.This is where the Sangiovese for Luce Brunello is born. This wine is our tribute to this excellent wine born in Montalcino in the second half of the 19th Century. It was the first wine in Italy to achieve, in 1980, the Denominazione d’Origine Controllata e Garantita. Today it’s one of the emblems of fine wines made in Italy.Luce Brunello di Montalcino thus continues a journey of the highest quality inspired by this unique territory and the great wines that are born here.
Weather conditions in 2014 were characterised by a sunny spring season with pleasant temperatures. Summer was cool with a few beneficial rain showers that helped the grapevines
reach the ripening phase in excellent condition. The period immediately prior to the harvest (in the second half of September) was perfect: no rain, plenty of sun and significant night/
day temperature variations, all of which helped produce fantastic grapes for an excellent Brunello.
Ruby red colour with purple highlights, this Brunello welcomes us with notes of kirsch and spices and initial complex and balsamic nuances. In the mouth, the wine shows its power
and substance free, however, from any excesses. Soft and well-rounded it also surprises with a crispness supported by minty highlights.
🏅 James Suckling 98 pts
Ripe, decadent aromas of blackberries, black truffles and black cherries with hints of violets. Dark, wet earth, too. Full-bodied with a solid core of beautiful, pure fruit and creamy, round and fine tannins. Tight and reserved, but showing wonderful potential.
🏅 Falstaff 97 pts
Powerful ruby with a fine garnet edge. Very compact nose with inviting notes of ripe, dark cherries, blackberries, fine savouriness in the background. Juicy and round in approach and course, shows a lot of vivid fruit, fine-meshed tannin in many layers, in the final firm drive, compact.
🏅 Wine Spectator 96 pts
Pure black cherry, blackberry and black currant flavors abound in this rich red, supported by graphite, earth, wild rosemary and anise notes. Balanced and almost approachable now, yet the refined tannins and bright acidity should allow this to develop for decades.
🏅 Decanter 95 pts
Lighter in colour than the Luce, higher acidity even on the aromatics, gorgeously sculpted and nuanced, with kick and backbone. A savoury edge to the fruit, and strong spices, we are here at almost five years since harvest and you feel the softened tannins with tobacco and olive paste alongside still bright cherry fruits. This is sliding towards being ready to drink, although a few more years will really open things up.
🏅 Wine Advocate 94 pts
From the Frescobaldi family of Florence, the Luce della Vite (or Tenuta Luce) 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Luce is a wine of depth and intensity. This 2016 vintage goes further and offers more substance than most of the recent vintages we've seen. It reveals a dark color and appearance with cocktail cherry, balsam spice and a touch of white chocolate. The tannins are dry, but the wine compensates with a good dose of that concentrated fruit richness that defines this classic vintage.
🏅 Wine Enthusiast 92 pts
The shy nose eventually reveals balsamic aromas of menthol and cedar that mingle with underbrush, leather and baked plum. The full-bodied palate recalls cherries marinated in spirits, licorice, vanilla and grilled porcini while assertive, close-grained tannins clench the finish.
