2022 Leonetti Merlot Walla Walla Valley

JD94 All Merlot aged in once-filled and neutral oak, the 2022 Merlot sports a vivid ruby/purple hue as well as solid aromatics of ripe black cherries, cedary herbs, dried flowers, and a kiss of background oak. It’s medium to full-bodied, has a pure, elegant mouthfeel, polished tannins, and a great finish. It will keep from 10-12 years with ease.
JS94 I like the chocolate and Oreo cookie aromas to the black plum fruit. Oranges and bay leaves, too. It’s full-bodied, full of character and expansive on the palate, with a toasty, firm tannin frame. Remains elegant. 100% merlot. Drink from 2025.
WA93+ Deeply colored and extracted for a Merlot, the 2022 Walla Walla Merlot displays mocha notes with plum and blackberry compote with soft notions of brown baking spices that sway from the glass with a firm, mineral essence. Full-bodied, the palate is still tight with firm,. gripping tannins that will release with additional years in the cellar yet will remain food-friendly for the next decade. The wine spent 15 months in a mix of new and used French oak and neutral botti. 23,448 bottles were made.
Estate Notes: This wine is densely colored garnet to the rim. It opens with rich aromatics of graham crackers and blackberries poured over vanilla ice cream with a subtle note of rich medium roast coffee. Sweet and dense fruit notes on the mid palate are bolstered by grippy tannins that recede at the perfect moment. Each sip leaves you with a supple but chalky finish that lingers. A truly sensational Merlot from the ’22 vintage that must be experienced. Aged 15 months in new and once-filled French oak barrels and neutral oval Botti. 100% Merlot.