Description

Pierlugi Tolaini is a true rags to riches story. A young Italian peasant boy, who immigrated alone to Canada without knowing any English. And after creating a transportation empire, he returned home almost 50 years later with the dream of making Tuscany’s greatest wine.

A four-year search resulted in Tolaini discovering the diverse soils and perfect climate of the amphitheatre shaped vineyard of Montebello in Castelnuova Berardegna. You may know this specific region from purchasing Bonelli and Felsina Sangiovese wines from me.

Tolaini believes in people, and he hired the finest minds and palates in the world to accomplish his goal, including Michel Rolland and our friend Lucca d’Attoma in 2015 to oversee the entire project which is organically farmed.

Haven’t heard of Tolaini’s Legit? Because who looks for serious, unblended, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the small village of Castelnouva Berardegna,in the southernmost Chianti Classico zone of Tuscany? Having visited this small village and the surrounds numerous times, we do!

Last year, quietly flying under the radar, nobody noticed when the 2013 LEGIT received Wine Spectator’s 2019 – #26/Top 100 with a 94 point rating.

Not fake news! LEGIT is the real thing! The 2016 LEGIT received a 95 point rating from Wine Spectator earlier in the year and was ranked #13 in the WS’s annual 2020 Top 100 Wines of the Year!

“An impressive red of breadth and depth, featuring black cherry, plum, leather, earth, iron and cedar aromas and flavors. This is solidly built and well-balanced, with finely honed tannins and lively acidity providing backbone. Best from 2021 through 2040. 15,000 cases made, 2,500 cases imported.” Release price: $45. 95 points – Wine Spectator (BS) – October 31, 2020

Yowser!  Wine Spectator’s review is spot on!!  Saturated dark ruby color.  Perfectly ripened, and redolent, gorgeous BLACK CHERRY fruit is on full display — the same one finds in the defining Sangiovese from this region.   Complex aromatic nuances are a mingling of cedar and anise, with a back drop of black suede.  Savory palate flavors are similar to what one expects from the intoxicating nose.  Across the palate the wine flexes its greatness and class.  The slightly gritty, but fine tuned tannins, assure along life.  The irony of the tribute to Thelonious Monk, is there is NOT one discordant note to this wine.  Just the opposite!  Fresh and alive!  Perfect balanced!  Harmonious, finally tuned, and ready to perform for what should be your standing ovation!