Tenuta Luce’s Lucente 2011 is the estate’s Merlot-led “second wine,” produced in Montalcino and bottled as Toscana IGT to allow a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese outside Brunello rules. The estate itself was founded in the early 1990s as a partnership between Marchese Vittorio Frescobaldi and Robert Mondavi, with the Frescobaldi family taking full control later; Lucente is positioned as an earlier-drinking, more approachable companion to the flagship Luce.

Professional reviews for the 2011 are notably strong, led by an excellent 93-point score from James Suckling. He highlights a youthful aromatic profile—“wild, dark fruits of blueberries plus mushroom and fresh herbs”—and describes a palate that is “full body” with “chewy tannins and loads of plummy character.” Suckling also frames the intent clearly, calling it the “Second wine of Luce,” adding, “Always delicious. Drink or hold.”

Wine Spectator’s 90-point review reinforces the wine’s ripe, modern styling and the role of Merlot in the blend. The magazine calls it “ripe and somewhat exotic,” pointing to “boysenberry, candied cherry and floral flavors” with darker accents “singed by chocolate, coffee and tar notes.” Their note suggests the wine’s fruit intensity is the main driver: “The fruit carries the day,” even as it “trump[s] the burly tannins and layer of new oak.” Wine Spectator is explicit about audience and profile—“For fans of the style”—and provides a longer runway than the “second wine” framing might suggest, recommending it “Best from 2017 through 2028.”

Taken together, Lucente 2011 reads as a polished, fruit-forward Tuscan red with savory complexity and enough structure to reward patience, especially if you enjoy oak-influenced, dark-fruited blends.