1994 San Leonardo
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Tasting notes
On the label: Vino da Tavola di Vallagarina. I originally suggested a drinking window of 2002–2010 and gave it a score of 16.5. Shaded ruby. An old nose! With acidity a bit more obvious than fruit on the palate. Bone dry finish. A bit decrepit by now, alas. But you can taste the elegant Cabernet original intention. (JR)
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Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
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The 1994 San Leonardo is pretty and understated in the glass. The 1994 shows bright cherry with dusty sweet floral perfumes and just a hint of white pepper. It's silky and textural, yet quickly firmed up by a mix of acids, saline-minerals and tart red berry fruit, creating a pleasing yet savory and tactile expression. The 1994 is literally buzzing with energy from start to finish. Youthful tannins still hold on with resonating tension and purity of fruit. It’s a beautiful wine from start to finish, currently drinking very well, and it should continue to do so for another five to ten years.
The 1994 San Leonardo is born from a classic vintage that awarded good results to those who took care to harvest at peak ripeness. The harvest came early forcing farmers to work intensely in a shorter amount of time. The fruit purity is proudly on display with pretty tones of dried cherry, red currant, chopped mint, cola, toasted almond and Indian spice. In the mouth, the wine shows polished tannins with very focused mineral definition on the close. It drinks beautifully right now and should continue to hold. This vintage shows a lot of territory identity and evokes the clay, sand and gravel soils that characterize this part of northern Italy near the Adige river bed.