Luce was the first wine from Montalcino made by blending Sangiovese and Merlot grapes. It was thanks to the collaboration of the Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi and Robert Mondavi Families that came the idea of matching the roundness and softness of Merlot with the elegance and structure of Sangiovese in the land of Brunello di Montalcino, the worldwide famous Italian wine made strictly from Sangiovese grapes.
Since 2002, Lamberto Frescobaldi is completely responsible for this project. In the land of Brunello di Montalcino he continues to write the history of Luce, a Super Tuscan wine appreciated all around the world. In his work, he continues to unite the tradition of Sangiovese, a typical local grape variety, with the innovation of Merlot, first introduced in Montalcino in the Seventies.
Weather conditions throughout 2016 will be remembered as perfectly regular. Spring was mild, if with frequent rain showers, which determined an earlier start to the budding phase both for the Merlot and Sangiovese grapes that took place between the end of March and beginning of April. Summer was also quite wet, with over 15mm worth of rainfall between the middle and end of August. Temperatures in the summer were not excessively high, which helped reduce water-related stress and supported a gradual and complete ripening of the grapes.
The 2016 vintage, distinguished as it was for its regular weather conditions free of excessive rain or heat, possesses a distinctive “terroir†effect further enhanced by the excellent conditions at the end of summer and during the harvest, which allowed the grapes to reach a wonderful ripeness. The wine possesses a rich, deep colour accompanied by an aromatic bouquet of fresh fruit and a smoothness distinguished by elegant and pleasant tannins that, while present, to not overwhelm the palate. This is a sincere and succulent wine that offers a pleasant balance of crispness, fruitiness and density, and an extremely elegant finish.
Sangiovese, Merlot
AVERAGE YIELD PER HECTARE
30 hl/ha
HARVEST PERIOD
Sangiovese: last week in September; Merlot: First week in September
SUGAR AT HARVEST
Sangiovese: 257 g/l, Merlot: 265 g/l
TOTAL ACIDITY AT HARVEST
Sangiovese: 6,81 g/L, Merlot: 6,55 g/L
PH AT HARVEST
Sangiovese: 3,24, Merlot: 3,40
FERMENTATION THANK
temperature-controlled stainless steel vats
FERMENTATION TEMPERATURE
28°C
FERMENTATION DURATION
12 days
MACERATION ON THE SKINS
4 weeks
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION
Barriques
TYPE OF CONTAINER USED FOR AGING
Oak Barriques 85% new, 15% second use
AGING
24 monthss
BOTTLING
December 2018
TECHNICAL DATA:
ALCOHOL
14,85% Vol.
TOTAL ACIDITY
6,06 g/l
PH
3,42