Legit Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is one of those impulsive purchases that turn out to be treasure finds later. We are big fans of international varietal wines from Italy because they show a different side of familiar wines in different terroirs. It’s like having a favorite brand of vanilla ice-cream and falling in love with a different one during travels abroad.
When we buy unfamiliar wines, we always make a point of tasting them first and learning about them later. We didn’t know that 2016 Legit received a 95 point rating from Wine Spectator earlier in the year and was ranked #13 in the Wine Spectator’s annual 2020 Top 100 Wines of the Year!
2016 comes from Toscana, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see it on the restaurant menu as “Super-Tuscan.”
Tolaini Estate
Pierluigi Tolaini is the founder and visionary of the Tolaini estate is a genuine rag to riches story. A young, ambitious Italian guy, who immigrated alone to Canada with no English, made himself and created a transportation empire. When Pierluigi left his home in Toscana, he knew that he would return one day, buy some land, and make great wine. And he did. Almost 50 years later, he came back on a wine quest.
A four-year search resulted in Tolaini discovering the diverse soils and perfect climate of the amphitheater shaped vineyard of Montebello in Castelnuovo Berardegna.
He hired the finest minds and palates in the world to accomplish his goal, including wine consultants Michel Rolland and Lucca d’Attoma in 2015 to oversee the entire project.
In a bottle of LEGIT Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Ever since the Super-Tuscans took the world by the storm, Italian winemakers demonstrated that they can produce world-class. They showed that they can do Cabs and Merlot and give the French run for their money. Toscany was in the heart of that wine revolution in Italy.
What does it have to do with Legit? The place where the first Super-Tuscans came was hardly considered prime real estate in Toscana.
Moreover, international varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc were all the rave. In that regard, Legit is somewhat mainstream because it’s 100% Cab Sauv from Toscana. Nevertheless, it’s a rebellion of sorts. Why?
Who looks for serious, unblended, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the small village of Castelnuovo Berardegna, in the southernmost Chianti Classico zone? It’s like one big Chianti Classico “Cosa Nostra” area. It’s against the practical and business logic to grow non-Sangiovese grapes and produce non-Chianti wines. Why? Because based on Chianti Classico DOCG laws, the winery may not print the prestigious “Chianti Classico DOCG” on the label. It’s a substantial commercial risk.
Still, it doesn’t make any less “legit” 2016 Legit’s vinous and commercial success. Last year, quietly flying under the radar, the 2013 LEGIT received Wine Spectator’s 2019 – #26 on the Top 100 list with a 94 point rating. They upped the ante in 2020 by earning the 13th spot on the list and 95 points.
So what’s in a bottle? It’s a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon made with organically grown grapes. Grapes were carefully selected during harvest in the vineyard and by an optical sorter at the winery. After destemming, the whole berries were transferred into French oak barrel fermenters. Grapes went through temperature-controlled fermentation and 30 days on skin maceration to extract more color, tannin, and flavors. During the fermentation, pigeage (punch down) and remontage (pumping over) were done manually every 4 to 6 hours with one delestage (draining and returning wine) per week.
The wine went through malolactic fermentation and 24 months of ageing in French oak barriques (70% new and 30% used). During ageing, the wine spent 6 months on the lees to add an extra layer of flavors.
In the Legit Glass
We got a lot of classic out of Chianti Classico Cabernet Sauvignon, pun intended.
We sensed the aromas of black currant, plum, dark chocolate truffle, sage, cedar, and a touch of vanilla.
It’s a full-bodied wine with powerful tannin and flavors of black cherry and currant, plum and dark chocolate, and dried Turkish apricot finish on the palate.
Legit-imate Finish
2016 Legit Cabernet Sauvignon is a masculine expression of this varietal, especially in comparison with fruit-forward Californian Cabs. It’s for you if you love powerful unapologetic tannins and Rib Eye Steak.
This wine begs for food that can tame its tannin and highlight the fruit. It’s ready now, but in our view, it can benefit from some time in the cellar to tame its tannic character. We look forward to opening the next bottle in 5 years, then 10 and 15. We wish we had a time machine.
Thanks to its rankings and points, the 2016 Legit Cabernet Sauvignon sells at $45-50 now, making some snobby Chianti Classico labels jealous. Looks like being rebellious in a Legit-imate way pays.
What are your thoughts if you tasted 2016 Legit Cabernet Sauvignon or other Italian Cabs? We would love to hear your recommendations.