Gary Figgins kick-started Walla Walla’s modern wine era in 1977 by founding Leonetti Cellars, the first winery in the region. The vineyards produce five wines: Merlot, Aglianico, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Reserve blend. The 2018 Reserve blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12.5% Malbec, and 12.5% Petit Verdot is bold and expressive yet balanced and structured. Black cherry, blueberries, fig, coffee, and dark chocolate flavors abound and are elevated by building tannins and energetic acidity. This is an absolute stunner, a wine masterfully built to impress. It is immensely pleasurable now and worthy of a spot in the cellar.
Leonetti Cellars, Walla Walla Valley (Washington) 2018
By Miranda Franco