Vineyards Magazine

 

All of the Italian wine guides put them in first place

This year belongs to the Bordeaux blends. That is the authoritative message from the annual wine guides–Bibenda, Doctorwine, Espresso, Gambero Rosso, Maroni, Slowine, Veronelli, and Vitae--which, for once, are unanimous in bestowing their top awards on these two Italian champions.

San Leonardo and Sassicaia have always stood out for consistency of style and overall elegance. The first is produced in Borghetto all’Adige by Marchesi Guerrieri Gonzaga, while the latter is Marchese Incisa della Rocchetta’s interpretation of the terroir of Bolgheri. The common factor that unites them is that both were among Giacomo Tachis’ most cherished creations, since that great winemaker—who died last February—lavished on each his expertise and attention at the moment of their birth.      

Carlo Guerrieri Gonzaga, who launched San Leonardo in 1982, finds it “a great joy for me, for my son Anselmo, who is deeply involved in its operations, for Carlo Ferrini, who gives us inestimable guidance in crafting our wines, and for our entire winery team to see our San Leonardo sharing the topmost rung with Sassicaia. Behind this accolade lies a truly collective effort, as well as the shared conviction that once set upon our path, we should not allow ourselves to be distracted by current fashions or market demands; rather, we should unswervingly follow our vision, which above all is grounded in our distinctive self-identity. As I am fond of saying, our earth is the soul of our profession.” 

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More than 1000 years ago, it was a monastery, but for over 3 centuries now San Leonardo has served as the residence of the Marchesi Guerrieri Gonzaga family, its passionate protectors. Today, the San Leonardo estate is a garden of vineyards and roses, protected by the massive barrier of the Alps, which blunt the force of the cold northern winds, while the valley floor benefits from, and in turn releases, warmth from nearby Lake Garda. The Tenuta remains an ancient world, in which winemaking practices, still uncompromisingly artisanal, yield wines that are true gems of Italy’s wine tradition, marked by freshness, harmony, and an innate elegance.