2011 Leonetti Merlot Walla Walla Valley
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Tasting notes
(aged in about one-third new oak): Good deep red with ruby highlights. Sweet aromas of cassis, licorice, bitter chocolate, cocoa powder and spicecake. Sweet, suave and lush; wonderfully pliant for 2011. Really saturates the palate with dark berry, dark chocolate and spice flavors. Finishes impressively broad and fine-grained, with ripe, mouthcoating tannins and outstanding length. A very fine and thoroughly satisfying Washington merlot.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Coming from the estate Loess, Seven Hills and Mill Creek Upland vineyards in Walla Walla, the 2011 Merlot is a superb, plush and yet gorgeously elegant and detailed effort that boasts knockout aromatics of spring flowers, black cherry, plum, licorice and dusty mineral on the nose. Already complex and approachable, it nevertheless has full-bodied richness on the palate, as well as a supple, mouth-filling texture, juicy acidity and no hard edges. Drink it over the coming decade. Drink now-2023. Located in Walla Walla, made by Chris Figgins and a benchmark estate, Leonetti Cellars produces seriously rich efforts that have a perfect blend of power and finesse, with gorgeously managed tannin, seamless textures and awesome purity. While the 2010s here are some of the greatest wines of the vintage, the 2011s are more fresh, up-front and will be approachable at an earlier stage. leonetticellar.com