2020 San Leonardo Vigneti delle Dolomiti
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Tasting notes
The 2020 San Leonardo is a historic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Merlot born from the vision of the Guerrieri Gonzaga family and the legendary Italian enologist Giacomo Tachis, who worked on this wine from 1985 until 2002 (when current winemaker Carlo Ferrini took over). San Leonardo shares a similar blueprint as Sassicaia, and like that giant of Tuscany, this bottle really starts to strut its stuff with at least 10 years of bottle age. At this young stage, it shows tart berry flavors and some green herbal overtones. Experience teaches us that the wine starts off slow but eventually leans into polished, silky tannins and bright flavor intensity. Patience is required.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2020 San Leonardo wafts up with a deeply alluring bouquet that blends nuances of Earl Grey with white pepper, dried roses and crushed raspberries. It is soothingly round and savory, as tart red fruits flow across the palate, leaving a sour citrus tension and salty mineral saturation toward the close. Classically dry and refined, this leaves smooth tannins and a sour berry resonance to contrast as minty herbal tones fade slowly. The 2020 is simply stunning and possesses an old-school feel, matched by a modest 12.5% alcohol.
Full bottle all of 1,415 g – I'm sad that San Leonardo seem to have chosen a heavier bottle for their artist's label series. This label shows Linda Fregni Nagler's rendition of Leonardo da Vinci's glass airlock which seems to be in the family's museum – though I may have misunderstood! Just 999 bottles were produced with this label. Already quite a mature, shaded ruby. Lovely rich nose with marked acidity and only light tannins. I wonder whether there is some Carmenère influence here? There's usually about 30% of this sometimes green-tasting variety but no details of this vintage have been posted on their website yet. Very mellow tannins for a Cabernet-based wine that's only five years old! (JR)