🏰 The 2021 Luce della Vite is a 【beautiful Super Tuscan, elegant with linear fruit and polished tannins】, earning a 98/100 score from Natalie MacLean. The 2021 vintage in Tuscany was characterized by a mild, dry winter, an early spring with a brief frost in April (which the Luce vineyards at higher elevations largely avoided), followed by a hot, dry summer. Two providential rains in mid-August and a textbook-perfect September with significant day-night temperature differentials favored high concentrations of aromatic precursors and polyphenols in the grapes. Luce was the first wine from Montalcino made by blending Sangiovese and Merlot grapes, a bold proposition at its inception in 1995 by Vittorio Frescobaldi and Robert Mondavi. This intense ruby red wine offers complex and elegant aromas of ripe black fruits, particularly wild blackberry and mulberry, lifted by delicate nuances of sweet violets and other blossoms, and smooth impressions of mixed spices. On the palate, it is harmonious, lively, with excellent structure, balanced by vibrant acidity and soft, silky tannins, crafting a very balanced mid-palate crowned by a near-endless, spice-infused finish. Critics note blackcurrants, minerals, mint, and hints of chocolate, with polished tannins. It is currently very young and tannic, needing time to develop. 🍴 Excellent with bean-based dishes, lamb chops, chateaubriand, and cheddar cheeses. Also pairs well with roast white meats, braised dishes, white sauce pasta, and fried food. 🥂 A superb choice for a sophisticated dinner party, a special celebration, or a vertical tasting for collectors, especially given its aging potential. It's a wine that demands attention and appreciation.