Lucente
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from the vintage release, offering immediate approachability while possessing the structure to develop beautifully with short-term cellaring.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Slow-cooked wild boar ragù with pappardelle, rosemary-rubbed roasted lamb chops, and aged Pecorino Toscano cheese.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Lucente is the highly acclaimed second wine of Tenuta Luce, the visionary estate in Montalcino born in the early 1990s from a historic partnership between Vittorio Frescobaldi and Robert Mondavi. The estate's emblem—a brilliant sun with twelve radiating flames—is inspired by the high altar of Florence's Santo Spirito church, built on land gifted by the Frescobaldi family during the Renaissance. Crafted as a contemporary interpretation of the Montalcino terroir, Lucente is a masterfully balanced blend of Merlot and Sangiovese. The grapes are sourced from the same high-altitude vineyards as the flagship Luce, where clay and schist-rich soils yield intense concentration. The wine undergoes careful fermentation before aging for approximately 12 months in French oak barriques. This process tempers the vibrant acidity of the Sangiovese and rounds out the lush, black-fruit character of the Merlot, resulting in a wine of remarkable silkiness, structure, and immediate accessibility.
🍾 wine.about_producer
With a legendary winemaking heritage spanning over 700 years and thirty generations, the Frescobaldi family stands as one of Tuscany's most prestigious and historic wine dynasties. Headquartered in Florence, the family manages an extraordinary portfolio of historic estates across Tuscany's finest terroirs, including Castello Nipozzano in Chianti Rufina, Tenuta Castiglioni, and CastelGiocondo in Montalcino. Their production philosophy seamlessly blends deep-rooted Tuscan traditions with modern viticultural innovation, focusing on expressing the unique microclimates of each estate. Frescobaldi is globally celebrated for its diverse and elegant portfolio, ranging from classic Sangiovese-based expressions like Nipozzano Riserva and Montesodi to opulent, internationally styled Super Tuscans such as Giramonte, Lamaione, and the iconic Luce.