Tenuta San Leonardo, Producer
Tenuta San Leonardo in Trentino has been home to the Guerrieri Gonzaga family for over three centuries. However, it was only in the latter half of the twentieth century, under the leadership of Marchese Carlo, that the estate began to take wine production seriously. After working at Tenuta San Guido alongside Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, the creator of Sassicaia, Carlo was inspired to explore whether the clay-limestone soils of his family’s estate could produce wines of similar caliber.
The Guerrieri Gonzaga family is one of the great names in Italian wine. Over the years, they have produced a number of outstanding Bordeaux-influenced reds at San Leonardo. In 1978, the first Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted alongside the existing Merlot and Carmenère, which had long been established at the estate. By 1982, the inaugural vintage of the flagship San Leonardo was produced, swiftly earning its place among Italy’s finest wines.
Tenuta San Leonardo, Winemaking
Following a gentle crushing process, the grapes undergo fermentation in concrete vats using wild yeast. Fermentation lasts between fifteen and eighteen days, with frequent pump-overs and délestages to enhance extraction. The wine then undergoes malolactic fermentation in vats before aging for twenty-four months in a combination of new, first-, and second-fill French oak barrels.
Tenuta San Leonardo, Vineyard
Merlot is cultivated in pebble-rich soils, which were once part of a tributary of the Adige River, while Cabernet Sauvignon and the older Carmenère vineyards thrive in predominantly sandy soils. These well-drained, low-fertility soils contribute to the concentration and complexity of the wines. The vines range in age from twenty to fifty years on average.
Tenuta San Leonardo, Tasting Notes
San Leonardo’s flagship wine is crafted in an elegant and refined style, prioritising finesse over sheer power. Ripe forest fruits and fine tannins are beautifully complemented by a complex array of tobacco, spice, and herbal notes. Bright acidity lends freshness and vibrancy, ensuring a wine of remarkable balance and longevity.
Food pairing suggestion: Pot-au-Feu
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