Tenuta Luce 2011 Brunello di Montalcino

Here's a rare 8 year old Brunello from the esteemed 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 Creating Luce. It all started from the desire to make a dream come true: create excellent wines from Tuscany in a particularly suitable terroir, Montalcino. Over the years, Tenuta Luce has produced exclusive wines that have earned a widespread, international appreciation among the great wines from Tuscany.

The 2011 growing season followed its regular course of alternating days of sun and rain marked by the mild temperatures that the Mediterranean spring is known for. The early summer’s warm and pleasant climate allowed the vines and grapes to reach the veraison in optimal conditions. The second part of August saw a distinct rise in temperatures, which is what Sangiovese grapes need for an extraordinary ripening distinguished by high concentration and excellent health. 

The wine aged Over 24 months in hand-split French barriques 90% one-use and 10% new and Slavonian oak casks.

The Wine Advocate scored this 93 points saying "As the years go by I appreciate the timeless beauty of the Luce della Vite label design. I can't think of a label that I like to look at more. The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a plump and juicy wine that is packed tight with all the flavors and goodies you should expect from this celebrated appellation. The Frescobaldi family has taken great care to move away from the overripe and over-extracted style that they championed in the past. Instead, we've started to see elegant and streamlined expressions from this historic Tuscan estate. I would say that this tendency also applies to this wine, although the warm 2011 vintage definitely leaves its mark. The wine is rich and fruit-forward with opulent and fleshy layers. It is coming along nicely despite some young fruit sourness that should flesh out with a few more years of cellar aging. I suggest you drink this wine after 2018."

James Suckling scored this 95 points saying "This is fabulous for the vintage with blackberry, blueberry and toffee-barrel aromas and flavors. Full and very deep. Fine tannins. Bright finish. Very flashy and I like it. Drink or hold."