CASE PRICE = $23.99 per
bottle (add 12+ quantity to
your basket)
Notes from the Winemaker:
Success has taught Pierluigi that greatness is achieved by bringing together the best minds and talent possible,
and so, began his collaboration with world-renowned enologist Michel Rolland. Famous for creating high quality, sensual, full-bodied wines, Rolland in turn, was inspired by Pierluigi's pursuit for excellence and most importantly, the potential of the vineyards and winery. The talent at the Tolaini Estate extends to include the vineyard workers and winery staff all of whom form a team whose solitary focus is to create the world's finest wines.
Valdisanti is an elegant, full-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc with spicy complexity imparted by its time in French oak. Patient cellaring is rewarded as it permits Valdisanti to mature further in bottle allowing tannins to mellow, thus enriching its complexity.
The chalice and serpent image on the label is taken from a painting in the 16th century church in the Valley, bordering the San Giovanni vineyard. The work by famous Tuscan artist Rutilio Manetti commemorates a story of two saints, Duesanti, who exchanged gifts: a tray of fruit from St. Nicola di Bari and a chalice of wine with a serpent from St. Giovanni Evangelista. Valdisanti celebrates the Valley, the Saints, and the rich symbolism of Manetti's painting, where the fruit represents the promise of the soil, and the wine and the serpent represents the passion of our labors.
The grapes for this blend come from the estate’s two vineyards, Montebello and San Giovanni, which are only 4 km apart. The grapes are manually harvested and then undergo a strict selection process; first as bunches and then once they are de-stemmed, again as individual grapes. Each varietal is vinified separately in three tier stainless steel tanks, with frequent remontage and then undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation. The wine is then raised for 18 months in new French barriques. The symbol on the label of the chalice and the serpent was taken from a 16th century painting in the church bordering the Montebello estate. Rutilio Manetti, a famous Tuscan artist, commemorated a story of two saints exchanging gifts; a tray of fruit from Saint Nicola Di Bari and a chalice of wine with a serpent from Saint Giovanni Evangelista. The House of Tolaini has named its wine after the Saints and for the symbolism of Manetti’s painting: the fruit representing the richness of our soil and the serpent representing the passion of our labors.
Grape varieties:
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc
Malolactic fermentation:
French oak barriques (70% new and 30% used one year)
Maturation: On fine lees for 6 months in barriques
Aging: 16 months in barriques, 12 months in bottle
exposure:
West/Southwest
altitude:
320–380m A.S.L.
soil:
Lime and clay, with a considerable presence of gravel
yield:
3,000 kg per hectare
alcohol:
14.00%
What Does It Taste Like?
Youthful, rich dark fruit, berry and cassis aromas meld with notable
French oak spice. On the palate, Valdisanti is full-bodied with deep but
reserved fruit flavors framed by rich oak. The excellent balance of
fruit intensity with fi ne tannins indicates a cellar worthy wine.
Ratings & Reviews
92 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine:"Pretty aromas of crushed raspberry, cherry, vanilla and spice lead to a full body, with velvety tannins and a lot of toasty oak and currant. Long and rich. Very polished. Best after 2011. 5,000 cases made." –JS (10/31/2009)
92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:"The estate’s 2006 Valdisanti is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc. Here the fruit is marvelously rich and decadent, with layers of cherry preserves, roasted coffee beans, new leather and French oak all woven together in fabric of notable class. The sheer richness of the fruit should allow the Valdisanti to develop gracefully in bottle for a number of years. Dried flowers and mint linger on the long finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024." (11/10)
90 Points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:"($40; a blend of cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese and cabernet franc) Deep, full ruby. Aromas of blueberry, black cherry, graphite and balsamic spices, lifted by black pepper. Fat and soft but with lovely freshness and good depth to its flavors of black cherry, cassis, licorice and coffee. Finishes with palate-dusting tannins, a note of graphite and excellent length. My only caveat is that you can hardly taste the sangiovese at all." - Ian D'Agata (July/Aug 2010)
93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate ('07 Vintage):"The 2007 Valdisanti is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc that spent 16 months in French oak. It is the most complete of these 2007s, redolent with heady scents of dark fruit, licorice, leather and smoke. Balsamic notes develop in the glass, adding further layers of complexity and depth. This finishes with a joyful exuberance that is impossible not to admire. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022.
This is another strong set of wines from Tolaini, an estate that continues to show significant improvement. Pier Luigi Tolaini had previously focused solely on international-styled blends, but in 2008 there is a new Chianti Classico Riserva. The sweet spot in this lineup is with the mid-priced bottlings." - Antonio Galloni (Aug 2011)
90 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine ('07 Vintage):"A chewy and layered red, with blackberry and toasty oak. Though there's a little too much new oak, this is rich and impressive. Best after 2010. 9,165 cases made." –JS (Oct 31, 2010)
2 Glasses - Gambero Rosso's Vini d' Italia 90 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine ('05 vintage)
91 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine ('04 vintage)
