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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 93.3 pts. and median of 94 pts. in 44 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by SnobNouveau on 10/27/2023 & rated 95 points: Nose is fragrant with the subtle scent of expensive perfume. Not fruity but the umami behind the fruit.
The mouth is bright with notes of strawberries and vanilla then as the wine coats the back of your mouth the mid note takes over in a gradual crescendo that gives off leather and tobacco and velvet. Gradually lowers for the next 30 seconds and the continues to give off a distant vibration for 90 seconds. A remarkable finish (705 views) | | | Tasted by SnobNouveau on 4/6/2023 & rated 94 points: Meandering elegant and luscious with a georgeous and big nose. Dark fruit and strength with smooth transitions. Lingers for 45 seconds plus. Really and elite presentation of what Washington wine can be at its peak. Drink now. (884 views) | | | Tasted by SnobNouveau on 4/15/2022 & rated 94 points: This is in a league of its own. The nose is full of varied notes, and the flavor has a beautiful arch with a long finish. Don’t hold much longer, not sure it can improve from here. (1537 views) | | | Tasted by Topper on 2/9/2021 & rated 96 points: For full disclosure, my son opened this wine while I was gone and left half the bottle for me to find when I returned 3 days later. Whatever happened over that time certainly did the wine no harm and may have improved it. It was soft, silky, supple and sublime. This experience suggests that if opened and drunk immediately, it might still benefit from another 3-4 years in the cellar (2676 views) | | | Tasted by tomlee on 1/1/2021 & rated 97 points: Purple in color. 14.7% ABV. Spellbinding nose of dark fruits, scorched earth, Whitman Sampler box and violets. Exceptionally plush and concentrated. The classic iron fist in a velvet glove. Black currants, cassis liqueur, plums and anise on the palate. The finish is long and seamless with ultra fine tannins. Breathtaking wine that is aging brilliantly. This should cruise to 20 years of age and beyond. (2378 views) | | | Tasted by tcosgriff on 9/18/2018 & rated 94 points: Purple color with a bouquet and flavor of blackberries, dark cherries, chocolate, and vanilla oak. More closed than the regular 2005 bottling with more aging potential. Think that this will improve over the next few years. Good balance with a fairly long finish. Drunk with its junior cousin at Emeril's on the beautiful beaches of highway 30A in the Panhandle. A good match for the wonderful short ribs. (3005 views) | | | Tasted by Burgundy Al on 5/20/2017 & rated 92 points: Leonetti Cellar Round Table Tasting (Knightsbridge - Northbrook IL): Tasting, brief note. Black currant , black cherry and cassis with dark chocolate, cigarbox and slightly sweet spice. Very good balance and length, certainly very good overall. (4674 views) | | | Tasted by Redteeth on 3/31/2017: This bottle was great. It received a full decanting and then was enjoyed leisurely. It was still youthful, dark in color and had a good balance of Bordeaux style fruit, tannins and the signature Leonetti oak. Wish I had more of this vintage. (3532 views) | | | Tasted by winejnky on 1/7/2017 & rated 92 points: Inviting nose of menthol,oak and cherries leads to fresh blackberry and blueberry fruit flavors with a bit of vanilla and oak on the finish. Still fresh, young and tannic, this bottle was in very good shape, continuing to open up and evolve over several hours. (3243 views) | | | Tasted by Tahoebrad on 11/29/2016 & rated 94 points: Very nice. Full flavor but not overly big. On the younger side still but very drinkable. Overall, very well balanced. (3341 views) | | | Tasted by klmarshall on 7/30/2016 & rated 96 points: This wine was outstanding. Soft, silky tannins. Nice big red and black fruit. Chocolate on the finish. Good stuff. (3304 views) | | | Tasted by Stevethebeav on 4/22/2016 & rated 94 points: Outstanding. Drinking wonderfully right now. Rich and powerful with dark berry, ripe plum fruit and a burnt cedar smoky layer. Gives way to a sweet white chocolate finish. Tannins still on the gritty side but the overall length and silky mouthfeel is wonderful. Great example of how good Washington Bordeaux style blends can be. (2394 views) | | | Tasted by Knicksfan on 9/26/2015 & rated 94 points: These are very pleasant now; great fruit and tannins are soft. Delightful (2831 views) | | | Tasted by Knicksfan on 9/19/2015 & rated 94 points: consistent notes (2522 views) | | | Tasted by Topper on 4/5/2015 & rated 93 points: Very nice wine. Drank well right out of pop&pour. Very tasty. Nicely in balance. Bigger than a bordeaux but less powerful than a cult cab. Really nicely put together wine that would make many drinkers happy. (3081 views) | | | Tasted by f22nickell on 9/29/2014 & rated 95 points: Another outstanding bottle of Leonetti Reserve. A stand out for me (and several others) in a lineup of great W2 wines. (3152 views) | | | Tasted by ewsds on 3/30/2014 & rated 92 points: Decanted for one hour, and it could have benefited from additional time in the decanter. Bright dark fruits and a bit of funk on the nose. Very dark but bright deep purple color, still showing its relative youth. On the palate it's got a stout structure with solid acidity, ample tannins and a lively and fresh finish. Still seems young and with a good life ahead of it. 92++. (3773 views) | | | Tasted by jmcmchi on 3/23/2013 & rated 94 points: Purple rim hinting at high Petit Verdot content. Closest to a classic Bordeaux nose of tasting. Small berries reflected in firm structure. Beautiful overwhelming fruit and mocca-chocolate Lots of juice with tannins nicely integrated. Seems to be at a peak now (4234 views) | | | Tasted by walkerjfw on 12/10/2012 & rated 93 points: Dinner with Jim Dullanty and Dave Mullen at Crabtrees in Chappaqua. Jim'a WOTN. Only decanted for about 30 minutes, would suggest longer decant on this wine. Some funk and alcohol on the nose, settles down after an hour.
dark fruit am integrated oak, chocolate, cedar. Well made wine, long life ahead of it, this one is still a baby. (4285 views) | | | Tasted by cadams on 10/8/2012 & rated 92 points: Very muted nose, some alcohol, purple fruit
Palate- one dimensional very red fruit driven
medium finish (4145 views) | | | Tasted by petitblanc on 10/6/2012 & rated 90 points: CT Wisconsin Offline 2; 10/5/2012-10/6/2012 (Madison, WI): Very muted nose, showing some smoky fruit and faint horsey funk. Purer fruit on the palate, medium body. Light tannins and warm alcohol. Generally pleasant and interesting. French in style. Tasted blind. Group #6 of 10, my #3 of 10. (4294 views) | | | Tasted by IWineAlot on 10/6/2012 & rated 91 points: CT Offline WI Take 2: Judgement of Madison(Paris) Tasting & BYOB Dinner (Madison, WI): Mint, berries and vanilla on the nose.
I like the mintyness in the palate along with plums and raspberries.
Sorta watered down, hollow mid palate.
SS 91pts. (4546 views) | | | Tasted by NomadicEntrepreneur on 10/31/2011 & rated 92 points: Wow. Still too huge. Needs another 2 or 3 more years. (3520 views) | | | Tasted by DrX on 3/20/2011 & rated 92 points: Good wine after a short decant. Lots of berries and a touch of earth to mellow them. Bad part is there are 10 or 12 better locals wines in the cellar for 1/2 the cost. (3424 views) | | | Tasted by beezer6 on 2/20/2011 & rated 92 points: Washington Red Retrospective (Dennis' Place on Erie): Darker color. Black veg, anise, molasses, kind of pruney. A little raisinated - almost reductive.
Dryer on the mouth. Shows some nice grip. The finish could be more balanced. Still a nice wine. Needs some more time. Young. (4237 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Eric Guido
Vinous, Making History: 21 Vintages of Leonetti’s Red Wine Reserve (Oct 2023) (10/1/2023)
(Leonetti Cellar Red Wine Reserve Washington Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (4/15/2022)
(Leonetti Cellar Walla Walla Valley Reserve, United States) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, November/December 2008, IWC Issue #141
(Leonetti Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Walla Walla Valley) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and JamesSuckling.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Leonetti Cellar Producer website
For more than 30 years, the Figgins Family has been producing wines of consistently high quality at Leonetti Cellar, which was bonded in 1977 by Founders Gary and Nancy Figgins. What started as Gary’s vision to make world-class wines in Walla Walla has turned out to be a true American success story. Today, Leonetti Cellar produces some of the most sought after wines in the world.Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.Reserve The Wine News | Wine Country This Week | Wine Lover's PageUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.
Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.
Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.
History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.
State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.
Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.Walla Walla ValleyThe name translates as easily as it rolls off the tongue: Walla Walla. Many Waters. To the earliest Native tribes, the many waters came from the nearby Blue Mountains and gathered to form the Walla Walla River on its way to join the Columbia to the west. The waters flowed first; however, into a fair-sized Valley carved in the mountain's foothills, and bordered in part by the terrain of what is known as the Columbia Plateau. Tribal members knew the Valley's generally milder climate could maintain their people in winter villages. There were lush wild grasses which could sustain horses and attract game from the winter snows of the nearby Blues, or from the giant high plateau that becomes desolate and dangerous during the cold season. The rolling terrain and numerous watersheds offered protection from nature and other hazards of the day. Here the water was plentiful and full of fish and seldom froze, even in the coldest years. The meadows were wonderful places to gather with other people to trade, compete and celebrate treaties. Compared to the region around them, the Walla Walla Valley was a safe refuge from the treacherous conditions which can often be found during the winter for hundreds of miles around. In this unique growing region, most of the earliest records of grapes and winemaking reference the Italians who had immigrated here in the mid to late 1800's and who brought with them their tradition of growing, making and drinking wine. Vines with these origins still exist in the Valley today. The first post-prohibition winery was Blue Mountain Vineyards. It was bonded in 1950 by the Pesciallo family where they produced Black Prince and other Italian varietal wines for a period of several years before succumbing to economics and climate. To the wine world of today, Walla Walla has become know for the quality and style of its red wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with Syrah gaining notoriety in recent years. In the1970's, the pioneers of today's wine community began to think similar thoughts: that the Walla Walla Valley, with its long history of fruit growing, moderate climate, wine-making heritage, and interesting terrain might just be a place to grow vines and make wine on a commercial scale. These pioneers of the region applied for and received approval of the Walla Walla Valley as a unique American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1984. It was the third in Washington State and also includes a portion of land in Oregon. In the time leading to the recognition of the appellation, four wineries had been bonded starting with Leonetti Cellar, and shortly thereafter, Woodward Canyon. L'Ecole Nº 41 and Waterbrook soon followed. In addition to the smaller vineyards that were being planted, the Valley's first large-scale, commercial vineyard Seven Hills was established. By the time the BATF recognized the Walla Walla Valley AVA, the Valley was beginning to gain attention from within the wine industry, as well as attracting publicity from journalists and media outside the region. The foundation for today’s industry had been laid and the benchmark for quality had been set. In addition, fruit from the area was now being harvested and a baseline for understanding the local growing conditions was being constructed. Every few years another winery would join the fold and take up the challenge of producing the highest quality wine and the growing of outstanding fruit. Seven Hills Winery and Patrick M. Paul each got their start during this time. More vines were added, although acreage increases were small each year. The industry was small and everyone knew everyone else involved, while the welcome mat remained out for any newcomers. Growers and winemakers alike regularly shared time in the cellar or at the table and together learned more about wines and vines. By 1990 there were just six wineries and the Valley's grape acreage stood at perhaps 100 acres. The total collective production of wine was microscopic by any measure, but it was the quality that was being noticed by many inside and outside the trade. As the tiny trickle of wine produced in the Walla Walla AVA began to flow to the outside world, a "wine renaissance" was beginning to happen globally. The Pacific Northwest had staked a claim in this new wine world and as people learned about the region, they also began to hear about Walla Walla. This interest spread rapidly to those with Walla Walla connections. The early 1990s saw the planting of more vines and the establishment of another large-scale vineyard, Pepper Bridge. At the same time, a group of local investors, working closely with the Napa based Chalone Wine group, laid the foundation for Canoe Ridge Vineyard, the Valley's first winery supported in part by a major outside investor. As the industry has grown, many new wineries have gotten their start in the arms of an established winery. Waterbrook Winery's modern production facility started the trend, sharing space, equipment, and any help needed. Other wineries also adopted “extra guests,” a practice that has helped form close, personal relationships throughout the local industry. By the turn of the new century, the Walla Walla Valley wine industry had 22 wineries and 800 acres of grapes. In the year 2000 the AVA had been expanded back to the original boundaries proposed in the1984 application. The year 2000 also saw the formation of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance with 100% of the Valley's wineries and 98% of the Valley's planted acreage represented. Today, more than 60 Walla Walla Valley wineries and more than 1,200 acres of Walla Walla Valley grapes contribute to the ever growing, international acclaim garnered by the wines of this newly-emerging region of Washington State. |
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