98 - Points, Top 10 Italian Wines For 2024, James Button, Decanter.
The 2019 opens with the most gorgeous, complex fragrance of sage, menthol and clove, slightly creamy black berries, damp earth and spice. In the mouth it's really intense, textured and precise; a core of ripe black berries and some red fruit touches, framed by wood, tobacco and fine, supple tannins. There's a ferrous, saline vein coursing through the centre, and it reaches a lingering finish showcasing sapid dark berries, balsamic herbs and gentle spice, evolving into fresh and dried cherry as it strides away into the sunset. Generous yet beautifully poised, this is among the finest vintages of Tenuta San Leonardo so far.
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Carmenere, 10% Merlot, ageing of 24 months 70% in barriques and 30% in New French oak barrels with medium roasting of first, second and third pass, followed by the final assembly. The wine is finally bottled and stays for at least 24 months in the cellars before release. 
 
98-Points by James Suckling.
The cool profile of this wine is clear from the fresh and spicy aromas of red currants and blackcurrants, leafy lightness, bell peppers and leather, with hints of smoke. The complexity of the nose is supported by an elegant palate (don’t look for power here), with a structure of filigreed tannins, crisp, integrated acidity, a medium body and a long, super savory aftertaste reminiscent of dark cherries. 
 
Without a doubt the most famous wine of the Trentino-Alto Adige region in Italy, where the heart of the Dolomites is located. The new release just came out, very limited in supply (only 14 sixpacks), and this is a very collectible wine. For Bordeaux style of blends in Italy, for collectors, it is this wine below, then of course, some of the iconic wines from Bolgheri in Tuscany (Guado al Tasso, Ornellaia, Sassicaia, etc). Giacomo Tachis, the most famous winemaker in the history of Italy, famous for helping create some of the most famous Super Tuscans in Italy, also helped create this wine below. Lastly, for 2025, not only did this wine below wine the Tre Bicchieri award (highest award in Italy) from Gambero Rosso, but also was awarded Winery Of the Year for 2025!
Located in the Vallagrina, an area carved out by the Adige river, San Leonardo enjoys a temperate climate that benefits from the Ora del Garda wind. Once a medieval fief that spanned over 740 acres, San Leonardo has been producing wine for centuries. Under the ownership of the Guerrieri Gonzaga family since the mid 18th century, this estate has often been the setting of historical events, from the marriage of Longbard kings to the negotiation of the WWI armistice with Austria.
Today, San Leonardo has approximately 50 acres of vineyards planted with international varietals that thrive in the varied microclimates of the estate. The majority of the vineyards are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, but Carmenere, Cabernet Franc and Merlot are also abundant. Cultivation is focused on low yields and highly concentrated grapes. The resulting wines have a great depth, concentration and an aristocratic finesse that can go toe-to-toe against the world’s finest Bordeaux blends.
Winemaker Notes: The Tenuta San Leonardo is a project built on the passion to perfect the Bordeaux grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere and Merlot planted in Trentino since the beginning of the 20th century. The productive course of San Leonardo began during the early 1980 and the first vintage has to be considered the one of 1982. A wine of great and justified ambitions, San Leonardo is produced only in those vintages that ensure a quality result up to the winery expectations and when all elements ensure the production of a wine with a great personality and character.