Arte a San Leonardo + Tenuta San Leonardo Duo, 2021
Arte a San Leonardo + Tenuta San Leonardo Duo, 2021
- 75cl
- 13%
- Red Still
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Merlot
- Organic
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Est. delivery late 2026
A parcel of San Leonardo 2021, and the 2026 edition of ARTE (75cl)
For ARTE, a contemporary artist is invited to create a memento of the history and identity of the San Leonardo Estate. Each edition symbolically begins and ends at the beginning of spring, following the seasonal cycle of wine production, and unfolds in different moments: residency, research, design and production.
This fourth edition (San Leonardo, 2021 vintage) features a project designed by Chiara Camoni specifically for the “greenhouse” space. Composed of five elements - three plant impressions on silk and two glazed stoneware sculptures - the work is conceived as a direct dialogue with the estate’s greenhouse.
"...there is little reason to doubt that 2021 ranks among the most complete and cellar-worthy San Leonardo releases in recent years."
Raffaele Mosca, Decanter
Tenuta San Leonardo has been crafting Italy's most distinguished Bordeaux-style blend in the Dolomite foothills since the 1980s, and the 2021 vintage shows why their reputation extends far beyond Trentino. The estate's flagship wine combines Cabernet Sauvignon with Carménère and Merlot from vineyards that benefit from dramatic diurnal temperature swings and mineral-rich soils.
What the critics say:
"A complex style with a spicy nose, showing lots of toasty aromas, red and black currants, pure leather and a whiff of leaves typical of this wine. Medium-bodied, silky and soft with sleek, elegant tannins and midpalate weight. Brilliant integrated acidity tingles in the superpolished, amazingly long finish of licorice and dark fruit. Drink or hold."
"Slightly riper on the nose than both 2019 and 2020, the 2021 San Leonardo shows notes of blackberry yoghurt, graphite-laced cassis and cedar mingling with signature bell pepper touches from the generous Carmenere component, and a refreshing balsamic lift. Powdery dark chocolate and undergrowth add further complexity as it breathes. The palate is more tightly wound than the aromatics suggest: bright acidity runs alongside grippy yet fully integrated tannins, supported by just enough creamy, structural red and black fruit to avoid austerity. At 13% alcohol, the finish is ample rather than warm, with a peppery echo bringing extra liveliness, and a saline edge carrying through the aftertaste. A multilayered, shape-shifting San Leonardo that won't require long ageing to be fully enjoyable – yet it has the energy and depth to last several decades."
The vineyards sit at 150 metres elevation in the Vallagarina valley, where the Adige River creates a unique microclimate between the Dolomites and Lake Garda. Glacial moraines and limestone-rich soils provide excellent drainage, while dramatic day-night temperature differences preserve acidity and aromatic intensity. The mountain influence gives these Bordeaux varietals an Alpine freshness impossible to replicate elsewhere.
Trentino DOC allows for international varietals alongside native grapes, reflecting the region's position as a cultural bridge between Italy and Austria. The denomination encompasses diverse terroirs from Lake Garda to the Dolomites, but San Leonardo's specific location in the Vallagarina benefits from perfect conditions for Bordeaux varietals. This flexibility within Trentino DOC has allowed pioneering estates like San Leonardo to craft wines that respect local terroir while embracing international styles.
The 2021 growing season in Trentino started promisingly with a mild winter and early budbreak, only to face late spring frosts that caught many growers off guard. Summer brought intense heat waves interspersed with timely rainfall that kept the vines hydrated without encouraging rot. The Alps provided their usual moderating influence, but temperatures still spiked well above average in July, pushing some vineyards to their limits before cooler nights in late August and September rescued the ripening process.
What emerged was a vintage of surprising concentration and freshness, particularly for the indigenous varieties that thrive in these mountain foothills. The Pinot Grigio shows more texture and mineral backbone than usual, while Teroldego delivered wines with proper mountain structure rather than the soft, jammy character that can plague hot years. Most 2021s are drinking beautifully now, offering immediate pleasure with enough acidity to carry them until 2028, though the best Teroldego and Lagrein examples will reward patience for another few years.
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