TOLAINI 08 "VALDISANTI" TOSCAN
WINE ADVOCATE 90 POINTS - “The 2008 Valdisanti impresses for its layered personality, something that was quite difficult to achieve in this vintage. Plums, black cherries, sage, incense and sweet tobacco are some of the many notes that are woven into a soft fabric of notable class. Floral notes add freshness and balance on the finish. Valdisanti is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018.”Tolaini’s Cabernet based “Valdisanti” made a big impression last year with a luxuriously rich style and 93 points from Wine Advocate. The newly released 2008 Valdisanti marked another critical milestone, garnering the highest award for Italian Wines, Gamberro Rosso’s Tre Bicchieri. It’s true, there were 375 award winners last year for the Tre Bicchieri, but when you consider that Gamberro Rosso tastes over 40,000 wines each year, it’s easy to understand why Italian winemakers esteem the Tre Bicchieri award so highly. Tolaini’s reputation is being built on a ripe and ready, “spare no expense” style. The estate vineyards sit in the acclaimed sub-region of Chianti Classico, Castelnuovo Berardenga, known for producing the darkest, ripest Sangiovese wines in the appellation. Bordeaux’s most famous winemaker, Michelle Rolland, adds his talents as winemaking consultant. Look for growing aromatic complexity and brightness in the Valdisanti, complimenting a core of rich black fruit and toasty oak that has been part of the house-style since the first release in 2004.
