Every so often you encounter a wine from a familiar grape or from a familiar AVA that defies categorization. This is one of those wines. Mint, allspice, cinnamon, and wild blackberries on the nose—with just a hint of upland pine forests. The blackberry fruit I taste on the front of the tongue immediately transitions into a conveyor belt of sensations. Its medium-bodied tannic structure delivers high notes of vanilla and low notes of dark chocolate, and it finishes with the softness of milk chocolate—which would potentially be cloying, except it’s offset by some herbal high notes (maybe cumin?). This is a fabulously sophisticated wine. The mouthfeel reminds me of a Médoc from a good vintage year, but it’s sensorium is like no other Cab I’ve had. Really really lovely and unique! I was a fool not to buy a case of this
— 5 years ago
The 2014 Sangiovese from Leonetti was Sourced from the Seven Hills, Loess, Mill Creek Upland and Serra Pedace vineyards, and incudes a small percentage of Aglianico (5%). This absolutely stunning Sangiovese opens with intense aromatics of red cherries, raspberries, cigar box and rose petals. The palate has wonderful minerality and shows impressive mid-palate weight, with flavors of dark cherry, red raspberries, pipe tobacco, milk chocolate, mint and pencil shavings that expand effortlessly. The astringency is absolutely wonderful, as is the long, mineral and dark fruit driven finish. This wine will cellar exceedingly well for a decade or more as this is a tremendous showing by Chris Figgins who has carefully crafted one of the most compelling examples new world Sangiovese that you will find. Drink 2019-2029- 94 — 5 years ago
Feels like tiny little bulls are dancing the tango on your tastebuds. Don’t worry, the bulls are wearing tuxedos and one of them has a mustache. He’s very distinguished. — 6 months ago
This outstanding 100% Merlot was largely sourced from the Loess Vineyard (66%) with smaller portions from the Mill Creek Upland and their 40-year-old original block at the Leonetti winery. Needing a two hour decant to fully open, the 2018 Leonetti Merlot slowly unveils layers of toasty oak that are woven together with black cherry cordial, sagebrush and milk chocolate tones that all come together in the glass. The silky texture truly impresses, as the wine effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. Cocoa powder dusted red cherries greet you, while flavors of underbrush, damp earth and espresso bean all enliven the senses. A complete wine, the 2018 Leonetti Cellar Merlot will enjoy a long life in the cellar. Try to resist this stunning new wine for at least another two years. Drink 2022-2040- 95 — 5 years ago
Nice mineral and citrus. Not overly oaky. Drinks like a white burgundy. — 9 months ago
Sourced from the Loess, Seven Hills, Holly Roller, Serra Pedace, Mill Creek Upland and Leonetti Old Block Vineyards, the red blend was aged for 22 months in French oak before bottling. The final blend is a smaller than usual portion of Cabernet Sauvignon (73%) and an unusually high portion of Malbec (22%) with just a touch of Cabernet Franc (5%). This wine needs a two hour decant before enjoying. Once aroused, this slowly unveils green bell pepper, blueberry compote, creme de cassis and sagebrush tones that fill this highly perfumed nose. The palate is decadent, revealing an exceedingly plush texture. With bright acidity and serious weight, the wine expresses copious dark fruits with sweet pipe tobacco, blueberry compote and dark chocolate shaving flavors. Seductive in its youth, this stunning new bottling will have an exceedingly long life ahead of it. Try to resist this beauty for at least another year. Drink 2020-2045- 97 — 5 years ago
Tom Casagrande
This is delicious and extraordinarily well-preserved. Earthy and a little feral, still with sappy, juicy, kirschy, rhubarby fruit present. There’s the classic Yakima ashy fire pit scents as well (thank you Mt. St. Helens!). So velvety in the mouth, with meaty, savory, and still vaguely berryish flavors. A treat! — 2 months ago