2000 Luce Sangiovese Merlot

The Frescobaldi-Mondavi joint-venture in Montalcino is a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. This year’s wine, Luce 2000, attempts to straddle the New World and the Old World. A deep, brilliant ruby, its roasted nose – not unusual in the very hot 2000 vintage – offers very ripe red fruit, vanilla, smoke, and tar, and much alcoholic warmth. The flavors are sweet, the texture round, and the medium body supported by some unobtrusive tannins. Yet there is some loss of momentum and volume on the close and a slight dryness of tannins. A good effort for the vintage, anything but easy in this zone, but nothing comparable to the truly superior 1999, the best Luce produced to date. Drink: 2004-2010. Importer: Robert Mondavi Imports; Napa, CA; tel. (800) 228-1395