Tenuta Luce - Lux Vitis

Tenuta Luce Lux Vitis 2020 Toscana IGT

Lux Vitis 2020 is Tenuta Luce's most ambitious Cabernet Sauvignon (90%)/Sangiovese (10%) blend, born in the hills surrounding Montalcino , where the estate boasts some of the highest vineyards in the region. The wine comes from older Cabernet vines on a separate part of the estate and is produced in very limited quantities. Why is Lux Vitis 2020 considered one of Tuscany's most exceptional red wines? Because it's almost pure Cabernet with a small portion of Sangiovese, aged for 24 months in new French oak, and crafted to reveal its full depth only after years of bottle aging.

Vineyards and region

Tenuta Luce is located near Montalcino in Tuscany, on hills between 350 and 420 meters above sea level. The vineyards benefit from abundant sunshine, cool nights, and well-draining soils containing clay and rock, resulting in powerful yet refined grapes. For Lux Vitis, the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are selected from vineyards with vines that are now over 12 years old, supplemented with a small amount of Sangiovese from the same estate. The combination of altitude, southerly exposure, and poor soils produces grapes with high concentration, ripe tannins, and a striking freshness—precisely the profile found in this Tuscan IGT.

Vinification and maturation

The harvest is entirely hand-crafted, with the grapes rigorously selected first in the vineyard and then again in the cellar. Fermentation takes place in concrete tanks at controlled temperatures, with skin maceration for approximately 20 days to carefully extract color, aroma, and structure. Following alcoholic fermentation, malolactic fermentation takes place in barriques, softening the acidity and making the mouthfeel creamier. Lux Vitis 2020 is then aged for 24 months in brand-new French oak barriques, giving the wine its signature character of pure fruit, dark spices, and precisely measured oak notes. After blending, the wine is bottle-aged before release, allowing its concentration to better balance with the elegance Tenuta Luce strives for.

Grape composition

Cabernet Sauvignon – Tenuta Luce, Montalcino
90% of the blend is Cabernet Sauvignon from higher altitude plots, bringing a core of black fruit, concentration and powerful yet ripe tannins.

Sangiovese – Tenuta Luce, Montalcino
10% Sangiovese rounds off the blend with extra freshness, tension and a subtle spicy note that gives Lux Vitis a recognisably Tuscan signature.

Tasting notes and serving suggestions

In the glass, Lux Vitis 2020 reveals a deep, intense ruby ​​red color. The nose is complex, with layers of ripe red and black fruit, followed by spices, cocoa, light toast, and a hint of toasted notes from the new oak. The palate is full-bodied and powerful, yet remarkably balanced, with a perfect balance of alcohol, acidity, structure, and a refined tannic texture. The finish is very long and aromatic, with fruit, spice, and wood slowly ebbing away. Serve this wine preferably around 18–20°C and decant well in advance, especially when young. At the table, Lux Vitis 2020 pairs beautifully with grilled or roasted red meat, lamb dishes, game, and slow-cooked stews, but its concentrated, elegant style also pairs perfectly with aged hard cheeses. With aging potential of at least 10 to 15 years, this is a wine that will continue to develop in a good cellar for a long time.

Awards

• 2020 – 97 p (Doctor Wine)