Terroir wines, handmade without compromise.

When Pier Luigi Tolaini left his Tuscan home for North America as a young man, he dreamed that he would make his fortune and then return to , buy land and settle down. His energy and passion for excellence saw him build a transportation and logistics company that ranks among North America’s best. But it was to be almost half a century before he returned to his roots to make great wine. Pier Luigi’s four-year search for a top Tuscan vineyard brought him to Chianti Classico, to the prestigious region of , and to the properties at Montebello and San Giovanni where he founded the Tolaini Estate in 1998.

Today Pier Luigi’s daughter, Lia Tolaini Banville, continues his dream at Tolaini of making top Tuscan wines honoring the distinctive terroir of Castelnuovo Berardenga. The Estate and the Land Tolaini Estate covers 108 Ha of which 50 Ha are planted to vines in two major vineyards:

• The Montebello and Vallenuova vineyards have signature Galestro (friable clay and limestone) soils, a highly appreciated characteristic of Chianti’s terroir • The San Giovanni vineyard has more porous tufa soils. Both sites overlie limestone to create outstanding conditions for long-term vine growth

The new vines include clones of the classic Tuscan variety Sangiovese, as well as international varieties that have found special favor under the Tuscan sun:

• Cabernet Sauvignon • Cabernet Franc • Merlot

Viticulture: Cover Crop: Precison Farming: • No Pesticides • Natural Fertilizing • Vineyards Zoning • No Herbicides • Effi cent Water • Cutting Edge • Respect for the Consumption Decision Environment • Biodiversity Enhancement

VALLENUOVA CHIANTI CLASSICO

There is a certain magic about the relationship between sun (southern exposure), soil (galestro / clay), and altitude, which when combined give life to this Sangiovese. The Chianti Classico Vallenuova is made from a strict selection of Sangiovese harvested from the Estate. The wine matures for 10 months in oak casks, followed by 4 months in bottle. The result is a wine that is juicy and elegant. The name Vallenuova is the historic name of the site and today is still the formal address of the winery.

• GRAPE: 100% Sangiovese • EXPOSURE: West/South-West • ALTITUDE: 450 mt • SOIL: Galestro and limestone mostly clay with gravel size stones • PLANT DENSITY: 7,300 plants/ha • YIELD: 60 qt/per hectare • AGING: 10 months in large oak fermenter wood casks of 48, 25 and 20 hl, 4 months in bottle VIGNA MONTEBELLO SETTE CHIANTI CLASSICO GRAN SELEZIONE

The team at Tolaini discovered that the spectacular clay and galestro soil, slope and exposition of Tolaini Montebello vineyard number 7 produced impeccable Sangiovese: pure in spirit, and transcendent in quality. Their mandate became clear: to create a 100% Sangiovese, Chianti Classico Cru, a wine of extraordinary complexity, with powerful aromas and a palate of explosive cherry, tobacco, leather, licorice and spice notes, with a fi rm, balanced structure of tannin and acidity.

• GRAPE: 100% Sangiovese . Single Vineyard • EXPOSURE: West/South-West • ALTITUDE: 450 mt • SOIL: Galestro and limestone mostly clay with gravel size stones • PLANT DENSITY: 7,300 plants/ha • YIELD: 60 qt/per hectare • AGING: 18 months in tonneaux and in large oak fermenter wood casks of 48 hl, 12 months in bottle AL PASSO AT TOLAINI AL PASSO

Al Passo is a small circular forest with an interior passage (“al passo”) at the highest point of the Tolaini vineyard with a breathtaking view of the towers of , the town of Montalcino and of Montepulciano to the east. It was in Al Passo that we discovered and restored an Etruscan tomb and ruins. This wine is a synthesis of the indigenous and international varieties we have at Tolaini. One third each of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese.

• GRAPE VARITIES: Equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese • EXPOSURE: West/South-West • ALTITUDE: 320-380 mt • SOIL: Lime and clay with a considerable presence of gravel size stones • PLANT DENSITY: 6,900-11,000 plants/ha • YIELD: 60 qt/per hectare • AGING: 10-12 months in French oak barrels, 12 months in bottle VALDISANTI

San Giovanni is the name of our vineyard near the town of . In the church adjacent to our vineyard there is a painting by Rutilio Manetti, depicting Saint John the Evangelist (“San Giovanni”) offering to Mary, a chalice with a serpent, the international symbol of Saint John and chosen for this label to honour this historic land that bears his name. Cabernet Sauvignon, with 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc; an elegant, structured and full-bodied wine with rich dark berry fruit and cassis aromas, the lush fruit framed by balanced oak.

• GRAPE VARIETIES: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Franc • EXPOSURE: North/South • ALTITUDE: 320-380 mt • SOIL: Lime and clay with considerable presence of gravel • PLANT DENSITY: 6,900-11,000 plants/ha • YIELD: 60 qt/per hectare • AGING: 16 months in French oak barriques, 12 months in bottle

PICCONERO

The goal of Pier Luigi Tolaini is to produce a great wine without compromise in the style of the distinguished Bordeaux Châteaux. Picconero is produced only in the best vintages, and only from the fruit of the best parcels of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This is a rich, complex and muscular, yet balanced wine with deep tiers of cherry, plums and wild berries, and nuances of spice and currants. Picconero is a cellar-worthy wine.

• GRAPE VARITIES: 65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc • EXPOSURE: West/Southwest • ALTITUDE: 320-380 mt • SOIL: Lime and clay with a considerable presence of gravel size stones • PLANT DENSITY: 6,900-11,000 plants/ha • YIELD: 50 qt/per hectare • AGING: 18 months in new French oak barriques, 12 months in bottle LEGIT CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Lia Tolaini Banville’s collaboration with the Monk family began in 2016 when she was tasting barrels of the 2013 Cabernet with a colleague at Tolaini. They agreed this wine was a LEGIT Cabernet Sauvignon, with a true sense of place and an Italian soul. In wanting to pursue the name LEGIT, only one person came to mind. A person who embodied stylish originality and eternal hipness, an artist referred to as the “Genius of Modern Music” – Thelonious Monk. Thelonious Monk, one of the most LEGIT musicians of our time, was a perfect choice for our label. The photo is from Monk’s album cover, recorded at his concert in Milan in 1963.

• GRAPE VARITIES: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon • EXPOSURE: North/South • ALTITUDE: 320-380 mt • SOIL: Lime and clay with a considerable presence of gravel size stones • PLANT DENSITY: 6,900-11,000 plants/ha • YIELD: 60 qt/per hectare • AGING: Malolactic fermentation takes place in French oak barriques (70% new and 30% used one year). The wine matures for 24 months in barriques (70% new and 30% used one year) and then for 36 months in bottle.

Tolaini Societa’ Agricola s.r.l.

Strada Provinciale 9 di Pievasciata, 28 Loc. Vallenuova 53019 Castelnuovo Berardenga Siena

Tel. +39 0577 35 69 72 Fax +39 0577 35 67 01

[email protected] www.tolaini.it

@tolainiwine @tolainiwine @tolainiwines