Luce Brunello di Montalcino 2013 (OWC 3)

Description

Winemaker notes

This brilliant ruby-red Brunello introduces itself with a nose distinguished by balsamic notes, mediterranean scrub, blond tobacco and cocoa followed by notes of ripe black fruit and brandied cherries. In the mouth, the wine expresses elegantly-balanced and explicit tannins supported by stimulating flavor and crispness. The finish is beautifully persistent with sweet tobacco and blackcurrant jam.

By James Suckling (JS96)

The citrus, dark fruit and leaf aromas are intense. Full body, polished and chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Extremely structured and beautiful. Needs two or three years to soften.

By Wine Advocate (WA94)

The Frescobaldi family is behind this very handsome bottle from Tuscany. The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Luce is packed tight with brightness and sunshine. Compared to the family’s other Brunellos made under the Castelgiocondo brand, this wine is more opulent, more concentrated and more modern or contemporary overall. It is designed to appeal to an international audience for sure and most certainly delivers the goods if you are looking for roundness, ripe fruit and thick texture. It is deliciously irresistible with bold cherry, exotic spice and tobacco. That bright acidity on the close will help the wine age carefully over the next 10 years.

By Tom Cannavan in 2019 (TC93)

First released in 2003, 2013 brought a rainy spring and early summer, but followed by a hot, but not extreme, summer providing ideal ripening conditions. 100% Sangiovese harvested at 34 hl/ha, the wine spent 24 months in Slavonian oak barriques, only 10% of which were new. Perfumed and lifted compared to the Luce, tobacco and spices dominating the sappy cherry. More sour acidity here, proper Italianate acidity, draped with the red and black fruits into a long, spicy finish.