Whitehall Lane
2018 Red Blend
, Napa Valley
Tre Leoni

90 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

Black cherry cordial, fresh blackberries, strawberry rhubarb pie, mocha, cedar, dark chocolate, and a hint of graphite on the nose.  The palate is bursting with mixed berry compote, blackberry jam, cacao bean, and toasted walnuts on the finish.  This wine has great texture that ultimately finishes with round, silky smooth tannins.  A ferociously fun blend with depth, balance and big flavors.  You'll want a box of this around to keep everyone's glass topped up.

Enjoy with your next barbecue or gatherings with family and friends.

WINEMAKING

Three generations of the Leonardini Family (Tre Leoni) are responsible for this expertly made proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel. Each grape varietal was fermented and aged as separate lots in French and American oak barrels. Winemaker Jason Moulton tasted through each lot and put the final blend after aging 18 months. The lions share of the wine is Cabernet Sauvignon with equal, lesser percentages of Merlot, and Syrah with a small amount of Zinfandel. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.

VINTAGE

For the 2018 vintage, bud break began in late March to early April, leading to a Spring that was mild and dry. Flowering proved to be long and gave way to a healthy set of uniform grape clusters. Summer was also quite warm and long, leading to a cooling effect near the end of the season and into Fall. Throughout the vineyard growing season, there were no heat spikes and the temperatures were steady and even-keel. The Merlot and Zinfandel grapes were the first to ripen in mid-September followed by the Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah in late September and mid-October.

Winemaker: Jason Moulton
Vintage:  2018
Appellation:  100% Napa Valley
Varietal Composition:  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel
Alcohol: 14.7%

Tasting Notes  PDF

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