Leonetti Cellar Merlot 2020

Leonetti Cellar is hands down, the most prestigious estate in Walla Walla, Washington. Founded in 1977 by the Figgins family (whose ancestors were the Leonetti's who established Leonetti Farm in 1906 on the land that would become Leonetti Cellar's first vineyard), today in 2022, Leonetti Cellar is not resting on its laurels. Winemaker/owner Chris Figgins continues to work vigorously to produce the absolute best wines in the valley, working alongside his sister Amy Figgins, and a small crew of dedicated staff.

Merlot is often thought of as Cabernet’s little sister, but the folks in Washington State strongly believe that in the Walla Walla Valley, Merlot produces wines capable of standing on their own merits and time has proven this there, just as on the Right Bank of Bordeaux (Pomerol and Saint Emilion leap to mind!). Leonetti Cellar grows Merlot on their cooler sites with slightly heavier soils. It becomes a wine of intensely focused fruit and silky tannins.

Leonetti Cellar Merlot is made from fruit from Seven Hills, Loess, Mill Creek Upland and Leonetti Old Block (where we stood between the rows, the morning they picked it during harvest 2021!). Aged 15 months in new and once-filled French oak barrels and neutral oval botti from Italy. 100% Merlot, 14.6% alcohol.   

Back at the turn of the century, the Leonetti farm had an unknown little gem for its time — a south facing hillside of an acre and a half where Chris Figgins' father Gary planted a few hundred cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling. Then Gary Figgins proceeded to establish an entire industry for Walla Walla valley out of the back of a ’67 Chevy pickup. Building off the inspiration he gleaned from his grandfather’s bubbling fermentations in the dirt floor basement, the only logical thing to do to honor his family’s roots would be to name the winery Leonetti Cellar. Chris Figgins continues this hopeful vision and tenacity of his great grandparents, grandparents and parents before him.

Gary and Nancy Figgins worked with inspiration and passion to have a better and more prosperous life than their ancestors. Today, Chris and Amy consider themselves the lucky benefactors to see firsthand that hard work is the true key to success. Some think that second generation winemakers have it easy. Chris thinks it is much more difficult as he has assimilated his forefather’s spirit of relentless improvement and the seeking of new opportunities. The Leonetti team works tirelessly to continue to improve on a defined “classic” that Chris' parents have created. The current generation seeks new and exciting opportunities to continue the longevity of Leonetti to many generations to come.