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 part of Figgins Family Wine Estates. Chris Figgins is now in charge of the winemaking.
I opened this bottle on day 2 of the #coronaviruswinechallenge. Tag me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram if you want to participate.
Dark crimson in color. 14.3% ABV. 100% Merlot from Estate Vineyards. Spellbinding nose of black fruits, anise, smoke and leather. Medium to full bodied. Impeccable balance. Plush and concentrated. Currants, cassis liqueur, chocolate and baking spices on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish with a mouthful of silky, fine grained tannins. As good as domestic Merlot gets. Remarkably this wine will age well for another 2-4 years.
My rating: 94 points.
Leonetti was one of my very first mailing lists. Twenty five years later I am still a buyer and the wines are better than ever. The winery has done an exceptional job at holding the line on prices. Although the mailing list is full and the waiting list is long the wine is readily available at retail in late March. Look for the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2018 Merlot in the weeks to come. In other news Leonetti also recently released their first set of single vineyard wines from the 2016 vintage.
Also consider reading The Wines of Chris Figgins and Barrel Tasting With Chris Figgins.