[90 James Suckling] A wine with spicy, earthy and berry character. Full-bodied, with soft and velvety tannins. Made from Sangiovese and Merlot. Delicious now (December 26, 2011)[89 Wine Advocate] The 2008 Al Passo is a delicious entry-level red from Tolaini. A blend of 85% Sangiovese and 15% Merlot, Al Passo jumps from the glass with super-ripe dark cherries, plums, incense and tobacco. Layers of fruit build to the rich, enveloping finish laced with hints of espresso and mocha. This is impressive for the money (29th Jun 2012)Winery's Notes: A small, circular forest tops the tallest hill on the Tolaini Estate. This unique forest is known as al passo where centuries ago local landlords hunted using trained birds as decoys to lure the prey into the passage (passo). Today this hill still offers magical, breathtaking panoramic views of the countryside and sunsets over the towers of Siena.Named for this unqiue forest, Al Passo is the most traditional of the Tolaini Estate wines in that Sangiovese, the backbone of modern Chianti, is the major grape in the blend. Al Passo is also a modern wine, a Tuscan blend that showcases the natural affinity of Sangiovese and Merlot. The wine exhibits an intense and enticing bouquet of ripe fruits and spicy oak that leads to a balanced medium-bodied palate with ripe fruit and fresh acidity. While Al Passo drinks well upon release, it has potential for several years of bottle development.
