Tenuta Luce, della Vite, Toscana 2019

Sophisticated aromas of lead pencil, graphite and blackcurrant. Hints of black olives and herbs, too. Full-bodied, yet tight and deep, with super precision and intensity to the tannins. Incredible balance of structure and finesse to this. Give it time in the cellar. Better after 2027.

A dark tone to the nose, black pepper, liquorice and black cherries with hints of rose. So fruit forward and expressive on the palate, a riot of wild strawberries, herbal-touched raspberries and spiced liquorice sticks exude from the glass giving nuance and complexity on the palate. This is clean and crisp with fine but softly creamy tannins, weighty structure and such sweet, succulent fruit. Intense yet delivered with a slight of hand that gives definition and layers, it's fun and serious - just wonderful. So much going on here. Ageing for 24 months in barriques (80% new, 20% one year old).

Inky in colour, and a beautifully enjoyable wine right from the first sip. There is still the flash of heat that you find in Lucente, but here it comes across as ripe generous raspberry and loganbery fruits held perfectly in balance by clove, black tea, turmeric, leather and black pepper spices. Concentrated and muscular, this is a delicious vintage of Luce. Nicolo d'Afflitto director, Alessandro Marini winemaker.