Everyone remembers an epiphany wine. For me, one of mine was back when I was in graduate school. My parents and I enjoyed a relatively young bottle of 2000 Leonetti Merlot and I was just amazed to see how beautifully done this wine was. It was a great example of benchmark North American Merlot.
Leonetti has always been a highly traditional winery, making several wines each year and not branching out to new projects. For the past few years they are producing an amazing single vineyard project is a great chance for owner and winemaker Chris Figgins to show how different terroirs are reflected in his Cabernet Sauvignon. He makes the finest Aglianico you will taste in the Pacific Northwest.
I love the new 2019 Leonetti Cellar Aglianico (OB, 96) which is a stunning edition of this wine and is already drinking marvelously. I am enamored once again by the 2022 Leonetti Cellar Sangiovese (OB, 95) which is dense and heady stuff that has a long life to go in the cellar. I adore the 2022 Leonetti Cellar ‘Reserve’ Red Wine (OB, 99) which I tasted over several days. This is a total masterclass in terms of flavor density and texture. Learn more about these stunning new wines at http://leonetticellar.com/ Here are my reviews of the beautiful new future release Leonetti Cellar wines.
2022 Leonetti Sangiovese- The 100% varietal 2022 Leonetti Sangiovese was stored for 22 months in new and once-filled French oak barrels and neutral oval Botti before bottling. This edition, like the 2021, was sourced from the Holy Roller, Loess, Seven Hills and Mill Creek Upland Vineyard Vineyards. Needing about 30 minutes in the decanter to fully get going, this emerges with menthol aromatics that combine with red florals, wild blackberry, loamy soils and shades of damp suede that all take shape in the glass. Offering a deep core considering the varietal, the palate is nicely concentrated and round, with a refined mouthfeel and good sense of weight despite the coolness of the vintage. You won’t find a finer example of this varietal in the Pacific Northwest. A dazzling wine to enjoy now, savor this beauty over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2023 Leonetti Merlot- The 2023 Leonetti Merlot is a revelation and has a long way to go in the cellar. Like the ’22, the ’23 Merlot is a pure varietal wine that really needs about an hour in the decanter before enjoying. Coming from the Loess, Mill Creek Upland and Leonetti Old Block Vineyards, this opens with milk chocolate and black tea aromatics that combine with suggestions of boysenberry compote and sous bois alongside sweet pipe tobacco and milk chocolate dusted cherry with lifted red florals. The beautiful aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is dense and full-bodied, with a refined texture and good sense of weight. Try to resist this beauty for another year. Drink 2026-2045- 95
2022 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon- A gorgeous effort from this slightly cooler vintage, the opulent 2022 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon has a long way to go in the cellar. Needing about an hour in the decanter to be fully expressive, this edition is nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon with 6% Malbec blended in. Black currants and allspice combine on the nose with suggestions of cigar box, and Turkish coffee notes that all meld in the glass. The palate is generous and round with a terrific underlying verve. Gorgeous and mineral-laden, enjoy over the next twenty years. Tasted over several days. Drink 2026-2050- 97
2022 Leonetti ‘Reserve’ Red Wine- A stunning rendition of this wine, the 2022 Leonetti ‘Reserve’ is a world-class bottling that combines 75% Cabernet Sauvignon with 19% Malbec, and the remainder Petit Verdot. Arabica bean aromatics combine with shades of loamy soils, dark currant cordial, Cuban cigar and blackberry compote. The palate is viscous and concentrated with serious underlying tension that runs through the core of black and blue fruits. Broad-shouldered and full-bodied, this is a resounding success from a difficult vintage. Tasted over two days, try to resist this beauty for at least another two years. Drink 2027-2050- 99
2019 Leonetti Aglianico- An incredible wine from this cooler vintage, the 2019 Leonnetti Aglianico is once again 100% varietal, that had extended aging for 44 months in terracotta amphorae, as well as new and neutral French oak barrels prior to bottling. Flavors of tar and tobacco leaf combine with brilliant blue fruits on the palate. Dense and nervy, with refined tannins, this is already neatly evolved stuff that will drink well for decades to come. Give this about 30 minutes of air if enjoying now. Drink 2025-2042- 96