Winemaker Notes
The wine is a brilliant ruby red with attractive depth, exhibiting alcohol- and fruit-rich aromas in its youth that mellow with bottle aging into ripe plum layered over a subtle grassy note, while the palate is dry, soft, and well-balanced, finishing with a pleasing bitter twist and good aromatic length, and it pairs ideally with rice and pasta in tomato or meat sauces, filled pasta, grilled meats, poultry, white meats, and soft cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Herby accents of green olives, white pepper and stems to the fresh red cherries and tobacco leaves. Juicy and medium-bodied on the palate with fresh acidity, crunchy fruit and firm tannins. Slightly herbal, but not over the top.
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Vinous
Darkly floral and earthy in the best possible way, the 2020 Terre di San Leonardo wafts up with savory herbal tones, pepper-tinged wild berries and wet stone aromas. It sweeps across the palate with a wave of tart wild berry fruits lifted by brisk acidity. Saline minerals saturate toward the close. This leaves green olive notes and savory spices lingering. The finish is remarkably fresh.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
A mountainous northern Italian region heavily influenced by German culture, Trentino-Alto Adige is actually made up of two separate but similar regions: Alto Adige and Trentino.
Trentino, the southern half, is primarily Italian-speaking and largely responsible for the production of non-native, international grapes. There is a significant quantity of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Merlot produced. But Trentino's native and most unique red variety, Teroldego, while still rare, is gaining popularity. It produces a deeply colored red wine rich in wild blackberry, herb, coffee and cocoa.
The rugged terrain of German-speaking Alto Adige (also referred to as Südtirol) focuses on small-scale viticulture, with great value placed on local varieties—though international varieties have been widely planted since the 1800s. Sheltered by the Alps from harsh northerly winds, many of the best vineyards are at extreme altitude but on steep slopes to increase sunlight exposure.
Dominant red varieties include the bold, herbaceous Lagrein and delicate, strawberry-kissed, Schiava, in addition to some Pinot Nero.
The primary white grapes are Pinot grigio, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinot blanc, as well as smaller plantings of Sauvignon blanc, Müller Thurgau. These tend to be bright and refreshing with crisp acidity and just the right amount of texture. Some of the highest quality Pinot grigio in Italy is made here.