It was a Friday but busy work day. My day continued as I sat down to review more than twenty wines. The last wines I tasted were from Leonetti, their single vineyard wines that continue to impress. This set of wines come from the warm, relatively easy 2023 vintage. Consistency from this year has been seriously good — and better than ’22 for Bordeaux varietals. I loved revisiting these wines the next night. They are opulent, dense and marvelously show off the warmth of the vintage.
The wines come from the warm 2023 vintage, one that was an even growing season with few 100 degree days. I was blown away with the 2023 Leonetti Cellar ‘Loess Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) which is thrilling with its rocky, sage character alongside dense dark fruits. Learn more at https://leonetticellar.com and here are my reviews of the incredible new single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon wines by Leonetti Cellar and winemaker Chris Figgins.
2023 Leonetti Cellar ‘Holy Roller Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from this site in the Walla Walla Rocks District, the 2023 Leonetti Cellar ‘Holy Roller Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is marvelously stony on the tongue with a refined mouthfeel and terrific volume. Dense dark fruits mingle well with fresh sage, smoldering stone and salty minerals on the palate. So good now, watch this evolve over the next ten plus years — but why wait? Drink 2026-2038- 98
2023 Leonetti Cellar ‘Serra Pedace Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from this high elevation location in the SeVein project, the Serra Pedace Vineyard is set in the southern part of the Walla Walla Valley at 1,200 feet. Dark currants, violets, tar and tobacco leaf all emerge on the nose. The palate is decadent and mineral-laden with loads of stony and salty minerals. A hedonistic monster that has a long way to go in the cellar, with a massive core of dark fruits, dark chocolate and Arabica bean, enjoy this beauty over the next twenty years. Drink 2027-2057- 99
2023 Leonetti Cellar ‘Loess Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The suave and dense 2023 Leonetti Cellar ‘Loess Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon flirts with perfection and was sourced from this eastern Walla Walla Valley location that is nestled on the edge of the Leonetti Estate. Thyme, crushed mint and shades of black licorice all emerge on the nose alongside heady dark fruits and black florals. The palate is dense and decadent with a terrific mouthfeel and sense of opulence. Try to resist this stunning wine for at least another year. Drink 2027-2047- 99
2023 Leonetti Cellar ‘Mill Creek Upland Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A gorgeous edition of this wine, the 2023 Leonetti Cellar ‘Mill Creek Upland Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a massive wine that has a long life in front of it. Soruced from this location on the eastern side of the Walla Walla Valley, this offers chocolate cake, creme de cassis, anise and wet rocky nuances on the palate, with great loamy soil character. While obviously having a great black fruit core, the non-fruit nuances and graphite edge of this wine really impress. Be sure to give this an exceedingly long decant if consuming in its full-throttle youth. Drink 2026-2046- 99