FFW 2021 Wine Catalogue

ITALY NORTHEASTERN ITALY

MEET THE GROWER Tenuta San Leonardo

We are extremely pleased towork with Tenuta San Leonardo, which is currently headed by Marchesi AnselmoGuerrieri Gonzaga. Likemost great Europeanwines, San Leonardo begins with the church. A Trentinomonastery dedicated to San Leonardo, patron saint of prisoners, made wine here under the noble de Gresti family. The family bought the estate from the church in 1724 and it remains with their ancestors today. Marchesi CarloGuerrieri Gonzaga (Anselmo’s father) andGiacomo Tachis brought the estate into the modern era, utilising classic Bordeaux varieties. Tachis was the winemaking genius behind Sassicaia, Solaia and Tignanello. Carlo found his calling in themodern oenology schools of Switzerland and as a cellarhand at Tenuta San Guido, home of Sassicaia, in the 1960s. Tachis consulted at the estate between 1985 and 1999 before handing over to another famous Tuscan, Carlo Ferrini. The style of the estate has remained constant, themain focus on elegance. The estate has practised organic viticulture for the last seven years. Anselmo takes inspiration from the biodynamicmovement though avoids some of the more unusual practices - like planting a horn of animal dung in the soil. Anselmo noted the effect the conversion hadmade upon the wine quality and vine health, not tomention the vineyard’s biodiversity since the conversion. The blend is always 60%Cabernet Sauvignon, 30%Carmenere and 10%Merlot. The wine is aged in 20-25%new French oak barrels and 700 litre tonneau for four years prior to release.

VINOUS 95 POINTS

SANLEONARDO TENUTA SAN LEONARDO 2015 DRINK2025 - 2043

6x75 £270

A beautiful ruby colour in the glass. There’s more red than blackfruit here despite the warmvintage. There’s a real purity of fruit with prominent fresh tobacco leaf. There’s a balanced acidity and long fruit driven finish, the purity can’t be overstated: cherry fruit and wild strawberry. As with all young San Leonardo wines it will put onweight in bottle so expect this to keep developing. Excellent from the great 2015 vintage and amere 13% abv. Perfect.

CLASSIC GRAPE VARIETALS Corvina, Glera (Prosecco) and Garganega

FAVOURITE PRODUCERS Quintarelli, Dal Forno, Masi, i Campi and San Leonardo

AREA UNDER VINE 8,100 ha (Valpolicella)

SOIL TYPE Calcerous and volcanic

93

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