93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
92 Points - James Suckling
92 Points - Wine Spectator
The beautiful underlying tannin structure of this wine, along with its complexity and ample fruit will continue to evolve. Enjoy now or cellar for 15-20 years.
WINEMAKING
Harvested in the early morning hours, this Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot were carefully destemmed and sent to tank for a whole-berry fermentation. The grapes were cold-soaked in tank at 45 degrees for 4-7 days, allowing for increased color, aroma, and flavor extraction. After inoculation, the grape must (juice, skins, and seeds) fermented at 82 degrees, which allowed for a hot extraction on the skins. For fermentation cap management, we pumped juice over the skins two times per day, wetting the cap evenly for a nice healthy fermentation. After fermentation and pressing, the wine was sent to 65% new French oak, 35% neutral French oak barrels, aging for 26 months. The final blend for the Leonardini Estate is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot and was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
VINTAGE
The 2016 vintage began with a mild winter and not much rain, leading to an early bud break and an early start of our growing season. Spring weather was cool and summer was warm, allowing the fruit to mature at a steady pace. By September and October, the grapes were harvested at optimal ripeness. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot in this wine were harvested from our Oak Glen, Leonardini, Millennium MM, and Fawn Park Estate vineyards.
Winemaker: Jason Moulton
Vintage: 2016
Appellation: 100% Napa Valley
Varietal Composition: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot
Alcohol: 14.9%
All Wines
93 Points
Inviting aromas of dark red fruit, blood orange and fresh plum on the nose, with undertones of rose petals, cinnamon bun, and gingerbread. Flavors of dark fruit, black olives and blackberries, are followed by hints of moss and savory dried herb.
94 Points
Aromas of fresh peach, Asian pear, citrus, and honeycomb to delight your senses. The flavors are just as complex with delightful, with hints of Madagascar vanilla, followed by fresh lemon, green apple, wildflower honey, stone fruit, and a touch of lavender. The rich, dense texture is balanced by its juicy acidity, leading to great minerality and a long, satisfying finish.
93 Points
Quintessential Napa style... Rich and full-bodied, graced with an elegant structure and richly nuanced flavors of blackberries and ripe cherries. A subtle waft of roasted coffee beans and lightly toasted almonds entwines with soft raspberries in a luxuriously long and persistent finish.
New Release
Opens with plum, rose hip, blood orange, fresh peach and cherry in the nose, with undertones of laurel and dried orange peel. Flavors of juicy red fruit explode on the palate, and an uplifting freshness carries the mid-palate with a complex and dense tannin structure.
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