San Leonardo, Cabernet Franc 2021

We’re thrilled to offer the second vintage of San Leonardo C.F.. Quality is sky-high, quantities are tiny—just 1,000 bottles—and despite rising costs, the price remains unchanged from the 2020. The wine’s origin lies in a quirk of San Leonardo’s history: in 1990, vines thought to be Cabernet Franc were revealed as Carmenère, leaving just a tiny 0.5ha pergola vineyard of true Cabernet Franc planted in 1989. Long blended in small amounts, its outstanding 2020 expression convinced star oenologist Carlo Ferrini it deserved the spotlight as a single-varietal wine. Knowing our love of special barrel projects, Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga asked if we'd like to collaborate on bringing the wine to life as a global exclusive. With Cabernet Franc enjoying a renaissance worldwide, and 2021 being an exceptional vintage, this release promises something very special indeed. "The vintage is glorious, a vintage of light, and the vines have responded in a terrific way. The organic cultivation added to many of the biodynamic practices we have adopted have given the fruits a great life inside and this is reflected in the wines. Alcohol always extremely well balanced not exceeding 13.00 % which gives the possibility of great drinkability as usual. Wines are very ripe and ready but have lovely acidity." Marchese Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga, San Leonardo What the critics say about San Leonardo: “. ..astoundingly consistent quality… beautifully low-key and like the most refined red bordeaux imaginable ”. Jancis Robinson “ …one of the great wines of Italy… Sassicaia and San Leonardo seem like brothers separated in childhood ” Monica Larner “ Surely the most successful Bordeaux blend of Northern Italy ” Jancis Robinson “ This blockbuster Bordeaux Blend from Trentino is clearly the Sassicaia of the north. ” James Suckling