Tuscan Wines from Tenuta Licinia in Lucignano: The Beauty of Flavor in Every Soil

Posted by Rowena Dumlao Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 12/15/2025

Tuscan Wines from Tenuta Licinia in Lucignano: The Beauty of Flavor in Every Soil

Tenuta Licinia sits quite literally behind my house, yet it took a visit with James Marshall-Lockyer to fully grasp the depth of thought behind this small but serious Tuscan estate. Walking through the vineyards with him and his dogs, it quickly became clear that Licinia is not just a place where wine is made, but where ideas are tested, refined, and translated into the glass. James, born and raised in England with a doctorate from Oxford, speaks about wine much like one might speak about philosophy or art, focusing on balance, texture, freshness, and the quiet beauty of flavor.

The estate lies a few kilometers from the borgo of Lucignano, at the southern edge of Tuscany between Siena and Arezzo, an area with a long but interrupted winemaking history. Today, Tenuta Licinia is the town’s only wine producer. The Tenuta was founded by Jacques de Liedekerke, a Belgian lawyer and grandfather of James Marshall-Lockyer, who replanted in 2007 the historic vineyard Sasso di Fata, formerly known as Vigna del Calcione. Jacques had a particular fondness for Cabernet Sauvignon and aimed to craft wines that were precise, site-driven, and expressive of their soils, rather than large-scale Tuscan Cabernet blends. The first single-vineyard expression from Sasso di Fata appeared in 2019. In 2020, James took over as winemaker, expanding the project to recover several Sangiovese vineyards with distinctive geologies.

Today, Tenuta Licinia farms 12 hectares of vineyards and produces six different labels from its various terroirs. The soils, primarily friable clay-rich schist with thin topsoil, naturally limit vine vigor, encourage deep root growth, and maintain ideal water balance. James emphasizes that what lies beneath the soil shapes the wines, guiding tactile viticulture practices from pruning to harvest. The estate is certified organic and increasingly biodynamic, with low yields and a hands-on approach. In the cellar, fermentations occur in stainless steel with gentle extraction and aging in large-format oak, enhancing texture while preserving the vineyard’s character.

“There are some great wines that didn’t need much explanation and everyone loved them, and that’s the kind of wine I aim to make,” James says, adding that the beauty of flavor is everything. At Licinia, wines reveal the depth and character of the soil beneath the vines, prioritizing authenticity over trends, and expressing the terroir with clarity and elegance.

Tasting the Wines of Tenuta Licinia

Montepolli 2023
Montepolli, the estate wine of Tenuta Licinia, reflects the character of its vineyard, Borgo Rione, where grapes from different plots are carefully combined to create balance and depth. The vines grow on clay and limestone terraces, with some of the more vigorous vines and larger bunches from the top sections adding complexity. Harvested by taste to capture optimal ripeness, the grapes are aged in large oak barrels and breathable concrete tanks. The blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc results in a full-bodied yet elegant wine with fine, velvety tannins. On the palate, it reveals savory notes, subtle bitterness, and delicate hints of roses and rosemary, highlighting both the distinctive soils and the meticulous, hands-on work behind each bottle.

Sasso di Fata 2022
Comes from a small, single-vineyard plot of the estate, planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot on thin, calcareous slate soils. The wine is made with gentle, cool fermentation and aged 10 months in French oak barrels and another seven months in concrete. On the nose, it shows delicate floral aromas of dried roses and hints of fresh berries. The palate is elegant and lively, carrying the floral notes through while revealing subtle graphite and savory flavors. It is structured yet refined, with smooth tannins, bright acidity, and a long, mineral-driven finish.

Sasso di Fata 2023
Sasso di Fata 2023, still unlabeled and not yet released, already shows the signature elegance of its vineyard. The nose is lifted, with prominent rosemary and fresh herbs, complemented by ripe dark fruits that add depth, echoing the floral and aromatic character of the 2022 vintage. On the palate, the wine is dynamic and velvety, with fine, well-integrated tannins and a subtle smoky, graphite edge that reflects the calcareous slate subsoil. Balanced and mineral-driven, Sasso di Fata 2023 promises a refined, terroir-focused experience that captures the unique character of its site.

L'Isolato 2023
L'Isolato 2023 comes from a small, 1-hectare calcareous plot at 420 meters altitude, west-facing, part of the Primo Rione selection. As the first Sangiovese from Tenuta Licinia, it is crafted with low yields, late picking, gentle extraction, and careful aging—11 months in large-format oak and 6 months in breathable concrete. The nose is refined and polished, showing violets, ripe cherries, and red berries, lifted by a delicate floral note that reflects the calcareous soils. On the palate, it is fresh, full-bodied, and elegant, with supple, concentrated tannins, juicy red fruit, and a lingering finish. The gentle extraction works beautifully, making it a Sangiovese you won’t want to put down. This light-handed approach highlights the vineyard’s character, producing a wine that is precise, expressive, and perfectly balanced.

Onda 2023
Onda 2023 comes from a tiny 0.5-hectare calcareous slate parcel, one of Tenuta Licinia’s top single-vineyard selections. The exceptionally thin soils give the wine its distinctive elegance. Only the best bunches are hand-harvested, with careful sorting to leave out less ideal sections. Fermentation is gentle and slightly cooler, with short maceration and light early punch-downs, followed by 11 months in large-format oak and 6 months in breathable concrete. This 100% Cabernet Franc offers a floral nose with hints of pepper and vanilla. On the palate, it is savory and lightly spiced, with pine notes and silky tannins that wrap the mouth, finishing refined, elegant, and lingering—a true reflection of its vineyard and the beauty James aims to achieve.