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.
77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 4% Carmenere and 3% Malbec from Mill Creek Upland, Loess and Seven Hills Vineyards.
Purple in color. 14.6% ABV. Breathtaking nose of black fruits, Whitman Sampler box, leather and graphite. Big, rich and full bodied. Incredibly plush and concentrated. Supremely balanced. Black currants, creme de cassis, espresso and dark chocolate on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long and seamless with a shroud of silky tannins. This wine is just a baby and should easily cruise to twenty years of age. Stunning Cabernet Sauvignon.
My rating: 96 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 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2019 Merlot at retail next Spring. The Leonetti single vineyards wines from the 2017 vintage will be released within the next month.
Also consider reading The Wines of Chris Figgins and Barrel Tasting With Chris Figgins.