Bottle Notes, Cabernet Sauvignon

1999 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon – Bottle Notes

Leonetti Cellar was founded in 1977 by Gary and Nancy Figgins. Leonetti, along with Quilceda Creek and Woodward Canyon put premium Washington Cabernet Sauvignon on the radar of wine consumers across the United States. Leonetti also produces one of the very best domestic Merlots.

Leonetti is near and dear to me as a wine consumer, and I’ve been on their mailing list for 20 years. Vintages like the ’92 Merlot and ’98 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon are included among my most memorable wines.

Crimson in color. 13.7% ABV. 89.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.4% Merlot and 2.1% Petite Verdot. Fruit sourced from Seven Hills, Mill Creek Upland, Pepper Bridge and Windrow Vineyards. Earth, leather, cedar and plums on the nose. Tart cherries, cranberry, currant and tobacco on the palate. The finish is long and sweet. This was my last bottle of a 6 pack and I think this wine should be opened in the near term. Previous bottles showed better and I suspect the wine is on the decline.

My rating: 90 points.

Leonetti has a full mailing list but the wine is readily available at retail in late-March. The winery has done an exceptional job at holding the line on prices and you should be able to find bottles right around $85.

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