Community Tasting Notes 9

• forceberry wrote: 93 points

  May 29, 2023 - From a double magnum that had been open for some 18 hours.
  
  Evolved yet still quite dark and almost fully opaque blackish-red color with a brick-red hue that gets more apparent towards the rim. The nose feels moderately evolved and quite savory, yet coming across somewhat darker-toned and showing a bit more ripeness than the 1993 that we tasted at the same time. There are aromas of licorice root and tobacco, some autumnal notes of damp leaves, a little bit of smoked game, light sweet nuances of wizened cherries and ripe redcurrants, a hint of something metallic, a touch of freshly ground coffee and a whiff of old, dry wood. The wine feels dense, dry and quite velvety on the palate with a medium body and quite intense developed flavors of wizened redcurrants and ripe blackcurrants, some licorice root, a little bit of tobacco and autumnal notes of dry old leaves, light crunchy notes of fresh red plums, a hint of leather and a touch of something metallic. The wine is rather high in acidity and although the tannins feel rather ripe and resolved, they still do pack some grip. The finish is dry, moderately evolved and somewhat grippy with a rather long aftertaste of sour red plums and redcurrants, some tobacco, a little bit of savory old wood, light sweeter notes of dried dark fruits, a hint of old leather and a touch of something metallic.
  
  Tasting this side-by-side with San Leonardo 1993 (also from a double magnum), this wine feels slightly more impressive and a bit more substantial in nature, but at the same time there's a bit of that metallic character (not present in '93) that distracts a little bit from the pleasure. Both these wines are very lovely indeed, but it is hard to say which one is ultimately the better one. Without that metallic character this '95 would win easily, but now the match is more even. Anyways, I feel like the wine is quite evolved, either on its plateau of maturity or maybe almost on it - it's definitely possible the wine can develop a tiny bit further from here (well, at least in a double magnum, like this bottle). However, there is no need for any additional aging. Good stuff, drink or keep for another decade or so.

  Comment

• Ben Christiansen wrote:

  March 26, 2022 - Very tobacco.

  Comment

• 5laton wrote:

  November 8, 2019 - Developing with a dark ruby color and aromas of smoke, celery salt and green tobacco. This was in an awkward state where the fruit is starting to drop out but there's not enough savory goodness developing yet on the palate to fill in the void. Feels like a solar, muscular vintage and the structure is not yet completely softened. I think this needs another 5-10 years.

  Comment

• Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 93 points

  October 11, 2016 - Takes about half an hour to open up and then it shows dark fruit, licorice, tobacco and very discernible nose of of green bell pepper.
  Fine, resolved tannins, refreshing acidity and lots of tobacco and char coupled with a nice fruit core. Long lovely finish. A gem at that price point! Drink now and for the next 3-5 years.

  Comment

• Old Vino Likes this wine: 95 points

  November 27, 2015 - Mature delicious Bordeaux-style blend. Similar to many super tuscans, however from a vineyard 200 miles north of Tuscany. Bob Parker missed it. His new associate Monica Larner nailed it at 95 pts (WA #216 Dec 2014).

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Pro Reviews 5

Wine Definition

• Vintage 1995
• Type Red
• Producer Tenuta San Leonardo
• Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
• Designation San Leonardo
• Vineyard n/a
• Country Italy
• Region Trentino-Alto Adige
• SubRegion Trentino
• Appellation Vallagarina IGT

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 56 (51%)
• Consumed 53 (49%)

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