A LEGIT Cabernet Sauvignon, with a true sense of place and soul. In naming it, 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, whose enduring legacy continues to inspire listeners, artists around the world. The picture from his live album recorded in Milan.

Lia Tolaini Banville is an importer of Italian fine wines who held the idea of pursuing a truly LEGIT Cabernet Sauvignon from within Chianti Classico, UNBLENDED unlike many of the area’s notorious Super Tuscans.

With the idea of pursuing the name LEGIT, Lia envisioned a label dedicated to the single person who embodied stylish originality and eternal hipness, an artist referred to as the “Genius of Modern Music” – Thelonious Monk.

The photo on the label first graced the album cover of one of Monk’s most famous live concert recordings. ‘Thelonious Monk in Italy’ recorded live April 21st, 1961 in Milan by Riverside Records. Thus began the quest to receive permission from the photographer and Monk’s family to use the iconic photo for the LEGIT label. An adventure that was born as a business endeavor, evolved into collaboration, and has grown into a wonderful friendship. We are proud to offer this wine as a tribute to the timelessness of Monk’s music. Pulitzer Prize winner, respected composer (his single “Round Midnight” is the most recorded Jazz single to date) AND who today is still referred to as the epitome of Jazz, Thelonious Monk has and will always set the bar for all things LEGIT!

A wine born of soul and depth, a harmonious and unlikely marriage of American Jazz and Italian tradition that is as stylishly “LEGIT” as the artist who inspired it.

NOTABLE POINTS

• Organically farmed
• San Giovanni vineyard in Castelnuovo Berardenga, Tuscany, 20 year old vines, lime and clay with gravel
• Hand-picked grapes
• Must is kept in contact with the skins for about 30 days where manual pigeage and remontage are carried out frequently, throughout the day every 4-6 hours and one delestage is performed per week
• Malolactic fermentation takes place in French oak barriques (70% new and 30% used one year)
• 24 months in barriques (70% new and 30% used one year) and then for 36 months in bottle