USA

This Cabernet dominant blend has a stunning nose of tar, iron minerality, cassis, and dried flowers ~ especially lavender. On the palate, the wine is powerful and pure, repeating the note of cassis liqueur and black olive compote.

Explosive nose of vanilla crème brûlée and stovetop-reduced dark cherry, red currant, and blueberry compote. Very subtle hints of cocoa, anise, buttered toast, and kalamata olive. I’m absolutely enamored with the nose on this wine. On the palate the cocoa becomes more pronounced and thicker with ripe but fresh fruit. The generous mid-palate is full and plush with soft, integrated, tannins and a lovely lingering finish.

The Serra Pedace vineyard is a high-elevation site that was named after ancestors Frank and Rose Leonetti’s hometown in Calabria, Italy. The 2018 offers anise, tar and black licorice notes combined with suggestions of black cherry syrup on the nose.