Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Savory spices, dried leaves, red plums, charcoal, currants and iron on the nose. Juicy and fine-grained on the palate, with a medium body and a succulent, peppery finish. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and carmenere.
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Wine Spectator
Bay leaf, cedar and leather aromatics lace the ripe currant and green olive flavors on display in this expressive red. Fresh and well-knit, with fine, taut tannins through the lingering, creamy finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère. Drink now through 2035.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère, the Tenuta San Leonardo 2021 Terre di San Leonardo offers a little more volume than the 2022 vintage of this same wine. The 2021 growing season was slightly cooler, and as a result, you get dark fruit flavors with blackberry and plum. Both vintages have a mid-weight finish, but you get more length here.
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.