Luce Della Vite Luce IGT Toscana 2008 ( 95 pts JS)

critical acclaim:

"Aromas of dark berries, currants, toasted oak and chocolate. Full and velvety, with soft and silky tannins and a long delicious finish. I really appreciate the balance to this."

95 Points

James Suckling

At the start of harvest, the grapes appeared in healthy, sound condition and of excellent quality. Spring brought abundant rains, with markedly lower than average temperatures. Rain and wind during the flowering in June resulted in clusters with fewer berries, particularly for Sangiovese and Merlot. The summer months, though, including September, were hot and sunny, and the lack of problems related to scarcity of water encouraged optimal ripening in all of the varieties. Together, these factors contributed to outstanding quality in the harvested fruit, and the 2008 wines are firmstructured and very well balanced. Luce 2008 appears a very dense, concentrated purple-red. The nose exhibits remarkable finesse, releasing notes of wild blackberry and sour cherry, backgrounded by peppery eucalyptus and minerally impressions of pencil lead. Capping the aromatic array are appealing notes of baker’s chocolate and tobacco leaf. The wine shows a superb attack, with the densest of tannic suites. The palate expands impressively, with a tasty vein of acidity that beautifully knits together all of its constituents. A near-endless finish adds the final harmonious touch.

GRAPE VARIETIES Sangiovese 45%, Merlot 55% AVERAGE YIELD PER HECTARE 30 hl /ha TOTAL BOTTLES PRODUCED 75,000 HARVEST PERIOD Sangiovese: The first week of October; Merlot: The first week of September SUGAR AT HARVEST Sangiovese: 230 g/L, Merlot: 245 g/L TOTAL ACIDITY AT HARVEST Sangiovese: 7.50 g/L, Merlot: 6.25 g/L PH AT HARVEST Sangiovese: 3.30, Merlot: 3.45 FERMENTATION VESSEL Temperature-controlled stainless steel FERMENTATION TEMPERATURE < 30°C FERMENTATION PERIOD 12 days MACERATION ON THE SKINS 4 weeks MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION Carried out in barriques TYPE OF CONTAINER USED FOR AGING Hand-split oak barriques: 90% new, 10% one-used AGING 24 months BOTTLING January 2011 TECHNICAL DATA ALCOHOL 14,5% TOTAL ACIDITY 5.99 g/L PH 3.47