San Leonardo 2000

Details :

San Leonardo is the magical heir to a tradition known the world over as Bordeaux blending. Dreams and heritage mingle to bring you a wine that conveys all its land-rooted character and genuine territory-focused appeal. A powerful yet elegant red, San Leonardo brings together the colours, aromas and savours of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot aged in small oak barrels, melding them harmoniously into a uniquely intense, full-bodied wine with superb depth of flavour.

The History of Vintage :

San Leonardo's winemaking history began in the early 1980s but the first true year of production was 1983. A wine of high, and well-justified, ambitions, San Leonardo is released only in vintages that ensure a product of appropriate quality. In other words, it is made only in growing years that offer all the elements necessary to create a wine of outstanding personality and character.

That is why San Leonardo has skipped vintages like 1984, 1989 (a superb vintage in Piedmont and Bordeax, but not in Trentino), 1992, 1998 and 2002. Average annual production of San Leonardo is currently running at 60,000 bottles. In a few years, we look forward to achieving our projected maximum output of 100,000. Production of our Merlot di San Leonardo is around 50,000 bottles.

It is not our place to express a judgement on these vintages, but in the course of many vertical tastings dedicated to Tenuta San Leonardo wines by specialist journalists from Italy and abroad (Il Consenso, Degustation Wine News Letter, Il Sommelier Italiano, Enogea and others), the most favourable comments have been made about the 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1995 wines.

We are convinced that prospects are excellent for the two most recent vintages, the currently released 1996 and the 1997, which is still maturing and we do not expect to release before 2001. These wines, we feel, will continue San Leonardo's consistency of style and evolve satisfactorily, maintaining the ageing potential of at least ten years that we demand from our flagship wine.

We recommend that purchasers enhance San Leonardo's potential as a "vin de garde" by storing the bottles, particularly the magnums with their greater longevity, in a dark, undisturbed cellar, at a constant temperature and an appropriate level of humidity.