Leonetti Cellar Merlot 2018 750ml - SPIRITED Wines
Wines , cheeses, gourmet foods, liquors, craft beers and more. in Lenox, MA.
Leonetti Cellar Merlot 2018 750ml
SKU: 64671

Leonetti Cellar Merlot 2018

  • jd94
  • v93
  • we93
  • wa92

750ml
$110.00
Save $22.00 (20%)
$88.00

Available for:
Pickup
Delivery
Shipping
Share
Category Red Wine
Varietal
Origin United States, Washington, Walla Walla Valley
Brand Leonetti Cellar
Alcohol/vol 14.4%
Our first release from 2018 is a true marker of this extraordinarily high-quality vintage. Extremely dark and impressively structured. Bursting from the glass are aromatics of roses, other florals, ripe mixed plums, planed cedar, and a creamy cinnamon roll note that is enticingly seductive. The wine is broad and rich on the palate with incredible density of fruit and very fine-grained tannins. In a vintage like this one, the blend simply beckoned to be a 100% Merlot as it needs no support from other Bordeaux varieties. Our exceptional Loess Vineyard fruit makes up a full two-thirds of the blend with the balance contributed by Mill Creek Upland as well as our 40-year-old original block at the Leonetti winery.
Jeb Dunnuck
  • jd94

Already bottled, the 2018 Merlot comes from a mix of vineyards in Walla Walla (Loess, Mill Creek, and Leonetti) and spent 15 months in new and once-used French oak. Juicy, vibrant, and pure, yet also with plenty of power, it is loaded with ripe currants and black cherry fruit as well as notes of chocolate, leafy herbs, and graphite. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, with ripe tannins, it's a rocking Merlot that's going to benefit from just a year or two of bottle age and drink brilliantly for 8-10 years.

April 15, 2020
Vinous
  • v93

Bright ruby-red. Musky aromas of cassis, blackberry, bitter chocolate and cocoa powder; shows some almost liqueur-like ripe notes as well as a menthol hint. Enters the mouth with good density and chocolatey sweetness, with harmonious acidity framing and energizing the dark berry-dominated middle palate. Conveys a sense of controlled sweetness. This very suave, seamless wine boasts lovely definition of flavor, purity and lift, with ripe acidity contributing to the impression of energy. Tannins are fine-grained and suave, and the long finish features captivating rising violet perfume and a repeating note of dark chocolate. Not quite as tightly wound as the '17 was last year, but this splendid example of Washington Merlot is an energetic, seriously structured wine for at least mid-term aging.

December 2020
Wine Enthusiast
  • we93

This wine is 100% varietal-what a glorious example of Merlot. Aromas of dark-raspberry compote, plum, dark chocolate and cedar are followed by textured, layered, rich flavors that a firm spine of tannins stands up. Lovely acidity brightens it.

October 1, 2020
Wine Advocate
  • wa92

Beginning with a heady nose of spiced plum and Chambord notes, the 2018 Walla Walla Merlot pops out of the glass with dark cherry reduction and purple flowers. Full-bodied, the palate is generous with the red spice and potpourri elements. The wine's robustness offers gobs of pleasure but is not as complex as the rest of the range. The Merlot ends with a long, lingering finish with spiced plum notes.

October 22, 2020

Are you 21 years old, or older?

No