June 14, 2019

TENUTA LUCE Lucente 2016

(Tuscany, Italy) $30

What turns good Tuscan wines into great Tuscan wines in the presence of food? I would argue that it’s the wines’ subtle suggestion of saltiness. It’s not overt or obvious, but once you think about it, you see it—a definite (and delicious) sprinkle of salt. No one knows where this comes from (and of course there’s no actual salt in any wine). But the best Tuscan wines possess this salty sense and it magnifies the flavors of foods served with them. Try this soft, juicy Lucente and you’ll see. The wine itself is a swirl of long woodsy and fresh cherry notes, and is effortless to drink. Lucente (loo-CHEN-tay) is the “little brother” of the famous Tuscan wine Luce (LOO-chay) which costs four times more. It’s a 50/50 blend of merlot and sangiovese. To die for with homemade pasta in Bolognese sauce. (Just a thought). (13.8% abv)

90 points KM

Available at Vivino.com

The three renowned Sonnenuhr vineyards of Germany’s Mosel region are named for the giant what in their midsts?

A. Sundials

B. Wild boars

C. Alpine horns

D. Wind chimes

The vineyards of the Mosel are the steepest in Germany and among the steepest in the world. Indeed, the expanse of vineyards from the village of Zelting to the village of Bernkastel along the Mosel River, is considered the longest stretch of near-vertical vineyards anywhere on the globe. Many of the top Mosel producers, including the three renowned Sonnenuhr—Sundial—vineyards are clustered in the middle section known as the Mittelmosel (middle Mosel). They are the Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr, and Zeltinger Sonnenuhr.

The Mosel vineyards are also among the most northern vineyards in Germany, meaning that the sun is in contact with the vines for limited, precious hours each day. The total number of sunlight hours during the growing season is also modest (the Mosel gets, in a good year, about a third of the sunlight hours that Provence does). If fine wine is to be made, vineyards must be nothing short of perfectly sited, so that each ray of light and warmth is maximized. As a result, the Mosel’s vineyards hug only south-facing slopes. In addition, the best vineyards are quite close to the river itself, for even the reflection of light off the water becomes one more increment in the quest for ripeness.

The huge sundials that give the Sonnenuhr vineyards their names were built as far back as the early 1600s in the sunniest part of three excellent slopes, so that vineyard workers would know when to stop for lunch or for the day. Because the vines in the vicinity of the sundial also got the most sun (and made the richest wine), the areas around the sundials soon came to be considered separate vineyards. Today the Sonnenuhr vineyards are among the best along the Mosel.

John Fox

John Fox, owner of once-leading wine retailer Premier Cru, admitted scamming at least $45 million dollars from his customers. As part of the massive Ponzi scheme, an estimated 4,500 customers paid some $45 million for… Continue reading

TENUTA LUCE Lucente 2016

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