Chris Figgins, son of Leonetti Cellar founder Gary Figgins, assumed full responsibility for winemaking at Leonetti in 2001. FIGGINS was launched in 2008 with the idea of making one wine from a single estate vineyard. Toil Oregon, a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir project, was launched in 2012. Chris is also the winemaker for Doubleback which is owned by longtime friend Drew Bledsoe.
This past Sunday I poured all four wines at a sit down event fulfilling a donation made to our children’s school. Below are notes on each of the wines.
- 2012 Toil Oregon – Ruby red in color and unusually cloudy. Unique citrus flavors of blood orange and mandarin. There is a strong earthy component here as well. I’m looking forward to following this wine and this project as a whole for years to come. Drink over the next 2-4 years. My rating: 92 points.
- 2002 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon – Purple in color. Great nose of cherries, licorice and spice. Cassis, cocoa, leather, raspberries, plums and currants on the palate. Richly textured with great acidity. Super showing for this 12 year old Cabernet. No rush if you are fortunate enough to own bottles. My rating: 94 points.
- 2010 FIGGINS Estate Red Wine Black in color. Huge wine. Large scaled and complex. Big nose of leather, graphite and cocoa. Tightly wound with eucalyptus, currants and black fruits on the palate. You would be well advised to keep these in the cellar for at least five more years. My rating: 96 points.
- 2011 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon – Black in color. Tightly wound and a little unforgiving right now. Cherries, toast, dark chocolate and some floral notes were all I could coax out of the glass at this tasting. Another wine that will reward patience. My rating: 92 points with potential upside in years to come.
Each wine is a triumph and should be included with the very best the Pacific Northwest has to offer. To that end I am on the mailing for each of the projects.
I’ve blogged about Chris and his wines previously in Barrel Tasting with Chris Figgins.
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Nice notes. Your experience with the 2002 is very similar to mine with a recent opening of a 2003. Wish I had more!
Thanks Kevin. I really like the 2003 as well but it has been a few years. I have a few left and will open one soon.
The tasting notes for the 2010 FIGGINS Estate Red Wine have peaked my interest. This winery looks very interesting. I’m going to check out their website. Thanks for pointing them out, Tom!