2018 Tenuta Luce, della Vite, Toscana

The 2018 Luce della Vite is loaded with inky dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice and espresso. Rich and sumptuous in feel the 2018 is an extroverted wine to be sure, but it avoids the heavy, over-extracted style of the past. What comes through is the natural intensity, texture and radiance of Montalcino. This is very nicely done.

An icon wine of the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Tenuta Luce 2018 Luce is recognized far and wide for its pretty sunshine motif on the front label. This mix of equal parts Sangiovese and Merlot is a symbolic marriage of Italy and France blended to safeguard the core identities of its two vinous protagonists. The Sangiovese adds wild rose, cherry and freshness; the Merlot brings on softness and texture. Each actor plays off the other in a flirtatious but ultimately complementary manner. This is a full-bodied Tuscan blend (aged for 24 months in 80% new French barrique) that will definitely give pleasure to that large crowd of Luce enthusiasts out there. Production is exactly 91,734 bottles.