Leonetti Cellar 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley 750ml

In 1906, Francesco and Rosa Leonetti established a farm on a quiet dirt road outside Walla Walla, Washington. Their grandson-in-law, Gary Figgins, grew up making weekend trips down that same road to visit them, absorbing a connection to this land that would eventually run far deeper than family sentiment. In 1974, on that exact site, Gary planted a handful of Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling cuttings — not knowing he was about to establish an entire American wine region. Three years later, in 1977, Gary and his wife Nancy founded Leonetti Cellar, Walla Walla Valley's first commercial winery, named in honor of the family whose land made it all possible.

The 1978 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon — the winery's very first vintage — was recognized as the best Cabernet in the country in a Wine & Spirits Magazine blind tasting and landed on the cover of a national wine publication. It was a stunning debut for a region nobody in the wine world had yet taken seriously, and it set in motion everything that followed: in the 1980s, Leonetti's Merlot helped prove that Eastern Washington could produce red wine at the highest international level, putting the entire state on the map. Chris Figgins, Gary and Nancy's son and the fourth generation to work this land, took over as head winemaker in 2001 and now serves as CEO and Winemaking Director, with his sister Amy Figgins overseeing operations. Leonetti remains, by wide consensus, one of the original American cult wineries — the wine that proved Washington belonged in the conversation with the world's great reds.

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Malbec, aged 22 months in a combination of new and once-filled French oak barrels and neutral oval Botti. James Suckling and Vinous each awarded 95 Points; Wine Spectator awarded 93 Points, describing "a powerfully built red, with muscular tannins framed by black cherry, red currant, pencil shavings and dusky spices as this gathers tension and grip on the finish. Best from 2027 through 2035." Vinous's Eric Guido found the wine entices "with wild blueberries and plum mixed with sweet violet and lavender tones," seducing "with soft textures and a soothingly round personality, as crisp red and black fruits drench the palate in primary concentration." The estate's own notes describe intensely dark garnet color, beautiful and integrated aromatics loaded with ripe plum and candied black cherry, followed by understated hints of chamomile tea and vanilla — a rich, ample palate with a beautifully finessed balance of fruit, tannin, and acid, closing on a long, supple finish. Only 2,989 cases made. Decant for at least a couple of hours before serving. This is Walla Walla's founding wine, still performing exactly as it did the year it changed everything.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Leonetti Cellar was founded in 1977 by Gary and Nancy Figgins in Walla Walla, Washington — the valley's first commercial winery, built on land with a family history stretching back to 1906, when Gary's grandparents, Francesco and Rosa Leonetti, established their farm there. Gary planted his first commercial vineyard on that same ground in 1974, using cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling, unknowingly laying the foundation for what would become the modern Washington wine industry. The winery's 1978 debut Cabernet Sauvignon was named the best Cabernet of the vintage in a national blind tasting, immediately establishing Leonetti's reputation. Chris Figgins, the fourth generation of the family, took over winemaking duties in 2001 and today serves as CEO and Winemaking Director, with his sister Amy Figgins overseeing winery operations.

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from estate and grower vineyards across the Walla Walla Valley AVA, blended at 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Malbec. The wine is aged 22 months in a combination of new and once-filled French oak barrels alongside neutral oval Botti — large, traditional wooden vessels that allow gentle oxygen exchange without imparting additional oak character, contributing to the wine's structured but seamlessly integrated finish. 2,989 cases were produced.

Critics Reviews

James Suckling — 95 Points:
"Cigar box, tobacco, black olives and black fruit on the nose, followed by a full-bodied, savory and structured palate. Firm tannins run the length of the wine. Long and tight finish. 94% cabernet sauvignon and 6% malbec. Try from 2028."

Vinous (Eric Guido) — 95 Points:
"The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon entices from the glass with wild blueberries and plum mixed with sweet violet and lavender tones. It seduces with soft textures and a soothingly round personality, as crisp red and black fruits drench the palate in primary concentration. The finish is structured and impressively long, leaving crunchy tannins and a resonance of blue and purple floral tones."

Wine Spectator — 93 Points:
"A powerfully built red, with muscular tannins framed by black cherry, red currant, pencil shavings and dusky spices as this gathers tension and grip on the finish. Best from 2027 through 2035. 2,989 cases made."

CellarTracker community — 94 Points average (3 reviews)

Leonetti Cellar official tasting notes:
"Intensely dark garnet to the rim. Beautiful, integrated, and developed aromatics, loaded with ripe plum and candied black cherry, followed by understated hints of chamomile tea and vanilla. The palate is rich with ample red and black fruits. A beautifully finessed balance of fruit, tannin, and acid, with a long, supple finish."

Ken's Wine Guide (extended tasting note):
"This hazy midnight purple colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Leonetti opens with a faint raspberry and cedar bouquet with hints of violets, fig, and cinnamon. On the palate, this wine is full bodied with integrated medium acidity. The mouthfeel is well-balanced, round, and seamless. The flavor profile is black plum and tobacco blend with notes of graphite, boysenberry, and cedar. We also detected hints of nutmeg, black tea, and a touch of chocolate. The finish is dry, and its flavors, acidity, and moderate polished tannins linger and last for a while."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Intensely dark garnet to the rim, hazy midnight purple in tone. Beautiful, integrated, and developed aromatics open with ripe plum and candied black cherry, joined by wild blueberries and sweet violet and lavender tones. Cigar box, tobacco, and black olives add savory depth, alongside understated hints of chamomile tea, vanilla, and a faint raspberry-cedar undertone touched by fig and cinnamon.

Palate
Full-bodied, savory, and structured, with crisp red and black fruits drenching the palate in primary concentration. Rich and ample, carrying a beautifully finessed balance of fruit, tannin, and acid. Black plum and tobacco combine with graphite, boysenberry, and cedar, while firm tannins and dusky spice provide real structural grip. Nutmeg, black tea, and a touch of chocolate add layered complexity through the mid-palate.

Finish
Long, tight, and impressively structured, leaving crunchy tannins and a resonance of blue and purple floral tones. Pencil shavings and dusky spice gather tension through the close. A long, supple finish that confirms real aging potential — critics recommend a drinking window opening around 2027-2028 and extending through 2035.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Porterhouse steak or slow-cooked beef ribs
• Dry-aged prime ribeye
• Grilled portobello mushrooms
• Bacon-wrapped dates
• Roasts and braises