The 2006 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon was the winning bottle in the April Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. I opened the wine about an hour before serving with a variety of grilled meats but I did not decant.
Leonetti Cellar was founded in 1977 by Gary and Nancy Figgins. Leonetti, along with Quilceda Creek and Woodward Canyon put premium Washington Cabernet Sauvignon on the radar of wine consumers across the United States. Leonetti also produces one of the very best domestic Merlots. Leonetti is part of Figgins Family Wine Estates. Chris Figgins is now in charge of the winemaking.
79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Malbec from a number of Walla Walla Vineyards including Seven Hills, Mill Creek Upland, Pepper Bridge and Old Winery Block.
Bright crimson in color. 14.6% ABV. Absolutely gorgeous nose of creme de cassis, molten licorice, tobacco and Whitman Sampler box. Big, plush and concentrated. Layered and complex with silky fruit that glides across the palate. Flavors of black cherry, blackberry liqueur, smoke and currants. The finish is exceptionally long with a big shroud of fine grained tannins. Although approachable now this wine will certainly benefit from more time in the cellar. Best over the next 4-7 years.
My rating: 96 points.
Leonetti was one of my very first mailing lists. Twenty years later I am still a buyer and the wines are better than ever. The winery has done an exceptional job at holding the line on prices. Although the mailing list is full and the waiting list is long the wine is readily available at retail in late March so look for the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2018 Merlot next Spring. You might even be able to find current releases at high end wine stores.
Also consider reading The Wines of Chris Figgins and Barrel Tasting With Chris Figgins.