A wine that, over thirty vintages, embodies the passion and love for an enchanting terroir.
Tenuta Luce presents Luce 2022, a vintage that marks an important milestone: the 30th anniversary since the first bottle was produced, from the 1993 vintage. A journey that, from the very beginning, has combined tradition and innovation, giving birth to a wine that, year after year, has established itself as a global must-have.
“Luce represents much more to me than just a bottle of wine,” says Lamberto Frescobaldi, President of Marchesi Frescobaldi. He continues, “It is an experience, a personal journey in winemaking, allowing me to explore new techniques and methods, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, and during the aging process, enhancing a unique terroir. Each vintage has been an adventure and an opportunity to deepen my knowledge and enrich my passion. Luce has profoundly shaped my life and work: it has been the means through which I have discovered the world, meeting people who share the same passion for wine, with whom I have also shared stories and cultures.”
To celebrate 30 years of Luce, the auction house Christie’s has been involved in creating unique lots for auction worldwide, retracing the evolutionary history of each vintage. For this project, Tim Triptree, Master of Wine and International Director of the Wine & Spirits Department at Christie’s, tasted the 30 vintages alongside Lamberto Frescobaldi and winemaker Alessandro Marini, contributing to the creation of The Anthology, a unique with the tasting notes of each vintage (1993-2022), the history of Luce from its origins to today. “In September 2024, I was thrilled to be invited to the vertical tasting of the thirtieth vintage of Luce, the iconic wine of Tenuta Luce in Montalcino, Tuscany,” says Tim Triptree, Master of Wine and International Director of the Wine & Spirits Department at Christie’s. He continues, “The tasting included 30 vintages of Luce, from the first in 1993 to the latest in 2022. I had the honor of sharing this experience with Marquis Lamberto Frescobaldi. The vertical tasting was a fascinating opportunity to study the evolution of the estate’s wines, both in winemaking styles and in the additional complexity gained through bottle aging. The event began with a tank sample of the 2022 vintage, a promising start: this wine, already moving and harmonious, promises an extremely bright future. The tasting highlighted many extraordinary vintages, demonstrating the excellent quality and freshness of all Luce vintages, as well as their undeniable ability to evolve and age in the bottle.”
From the outset, the philosophy behind Luce’s production has been rooted in the idea that wine should be the most natural expression of the place where it is produced, as well as the specific characteristics of the grape varieties it comes from. The result is a perfect balance between grape variety and terroir. Every human intervention has always been minimal and non-invasive, with the primary goal of preserving this harmony. Since its first vintage, Luce was conceived as the harmonious meeting point between the elegance and structure of the native Sangiovese grape and the roundness and fullness of Merlot. The thirtieth vintage, Luce 2022, confirms this vision: a wine that, thanks to its structure and complexity, is well-suited for long bottle aging and will continue to evolve over time. It represents the essence of what Tenuta Luce has always aimed to offer wine lovers: a wine that tells the story of passion for the land and the vine, the desire to innovate, and deep respect for the territory.
LUCE 2022
The 2022 growing season began with a harsh and dry winter. The vine’s cycle was then accompanied by a spring with little rainfall and a rapid rise in daytime temperatures starting in May. These conditions favored excellent flowering between late May and early June for both grape varieties. Throughout the summer, the climate remained hot and dry. Under these conditions, the plants managed to self-regulate optimally, reaching excellent vegetative conditions at the beginning of veraison in early August. Two significant rainfalls of 30 mm each, recorded on July 28 and August 15, helped relieve the vines and initiate the grape ripening phase. Harvest began on August 28, with small clusters in excellent health. The harvest was slightly anticipated to preserve the freshness of the grapes and maintain their aromatic potential. September was perfect, with temperatures dropping in mid-month, allowing for significant temperature variations between day and night—ideal for completing the maturation of Sangiovese. Luce 2022 presents a bright ruby-red color. The nose expresses fresh sensations of red fruits, such as blackcurrant and pomegranate, surrounded by delicate floral aromas. The palate is elegant, with a vibrant freshness in the mid-palate, soft tannins, and a long, savory finish.
TENUTA LUCE
The vineyards of Tenuta Luce are immersed in nature, on the high hills of Montalcino, Tuscany. The ancient walls of Montalcino, a village linked to Etruscan civilization, still stand majestically to the east. Further south, an ancient volcano, Mount Amiata, dominates the medieval landscape of the Val d’Orcia. The Mediterranean vegetation—an ecosystem of oaks, pines, and other plants, with juniper bushes—surrounds Tenuta Luce, protecting the vines. Cool breezes from the Tyrrhenian Sea, even during the hottest hours of summer, envelop the vineyard rows and contribute to maintaining the ideal acidity of the grapes at harvest time. Dense forests, intense sunlight, and fresh, healthy grapes are inextricably linked to Luce’s grape blend, just as the founders intended. The rich tannins and juicy texture of Merlot are softened by the structure, finesse, and brightness of Sangiovese. Cherries, violets, orange peel, chocolate, and licorice—these are all vibrant notes that emerge with surprising clarity, born from the combination of warm light, moist clay, and rocky schist. The Luce vineyards, located in the highest part of the estate, are exposed southeast and southwest to capture the soft afternoon sunlight and benefit from nighttime coolness.
The bright light and fresh, ventilated air due to this unique exposure, along with the variety of soils and altitudes, make Tenuta Luce a privileged place, where the balance of all these elements is preserved with deep respect. This respect is also found in the cellar, where each step is meticulously cared for to enhance the precious harmony achieved in the vineyard between Sangiovese and Merlot.
From this philosophy and unique terroir comes Luce, which, with the 2022 vintage, celebrates 30 vintages. A radiant wine of remarkable balance and exceptional freshness, elegantly expressing its Mediterranean character.