Leonetti Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Leonetti Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is a premium Walla Walla Valley red wine in a standard 750ml bottle, blending 82% Cabernet Sauvignon with Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. This vintage earned 98 points from Jeb Dunnuck, the highest score among several major critics who rated it 93 points or above.

Quick Facts: Origin: Walla Walla Valley, Washington  |  Vintage: 2020  |  Blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc  |  Producer: Leonetti Cellar

Production & Heritage

Leonetti Cellar, founded in 1977 by Gary Figgins, holds the distinction of being the first commercial winery established in the Walla Walla Valley. Alongside Quilceda Creek and Woodward Canyon, Leonetti is recognized as one of Washington State's original "cult wine" producers — a reputation built over nearly five decades of focused Bordeaux-varietal winemaking. The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 22 months in a combination of new and once-filled French oak barrels and puncheons alongside neutral oval botti, a regimen that integrates oak influence without overwhelming the fruit concentration the estate is known for.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with an explosive wave of pure cassis, ripe plum, and plum flower, layered with baking spices and honey. Deeper notes of leafy tobacco, graphite, and chocolate emerge as the wine breathes, joined by dried rose petals and a distinctive sourdough-like yeastiness.

Taste: The entry is viscous and creamy, immediately delivering dense blackcurrant and dark cherry fruit. Mid-palate, red currant and fresh herbs add complexity, while walnut and licorice tones build toward a structured peak. Fine-grained tannins are firm and slightly chewy, providing a muscular framework that carries the wine's considerable weight.

Finish: Long, luscious, and intense, the finish lingers with spicy oak, graphite minerality, and dark fruit echoes. The tannin structure resolves gradually, leaving a persistent impression of cassis and dried herbs.

How to Drink Leonetti Cabernet 2020

This wine is best served at cellar temperature (60–65°F) and benefits from at least 30 minutes of decanting to open the layered aromatics. Given its density and structure, it drinks well neat and will reward cellaring through the late 2030s.

Best For

• Cellaring for collectors building a Washington State vertical
• Gifting a serious wine enthusiast who values cult-status producers
• Anchoring a tasting flight comparing top Walla Walla Valley Cabernets
• Pairing with a special-occasion steak dinner or holiday roast

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Leonetti Cabernet 2020 taste like? It delivers dense blackcurrant and dark cherry fruit wrapped in fine-grained, slightly chewy tannins, with layers of graphite, tobacco, baking spices, and fresh herbs through a long, intense finish.

How does Leonetti Cabernet compare to Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are founding members of Washington State's cult wine triumvirate and produce structured, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon from the Columbia Valley and its sub-appellations. Leonetti's 2020 leans toward a viscous, creamy texture with prominent spice and tobacco notes, while Quilceda Creek is often cited for darker, more brooding concentration — though both regularly score in the mid-90s and above from major critics.

Is Leonetti Cabernet 2020 good for cellaring? Yes — the firm, fine-grained tannin structure and balanced acidity suggest a drinking window extending well into the mid-to-late 2030s, and the 98-point Jeb Dunnuck score reflects a wine built for long-term development.

Where is Leonetti Cabernet made? Leonetti Cellar is located in Walla Walla, Washington, within the Walla Walla Valley AVA, a sub-appellation of the larger Columbia Valley in the southeastern corner of the state.

What foods pair well with Leonetti Cabernet 2020? Grilled bone-in ribeye matches the wine's weight and tannin structure. Braised short ribs echo its dark fruit and spice layers. Aged Gruyère or Comté complement the graphite and tobacco undertones. Lamb loin with rosemary mirrors the herbal notes, and dark chocolate desserts align with the wine's cocoa-inflected finish.

What sizes does Leonetti Cabernet come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Leonetti Cabernet 2020 worth the price? Leonetti positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon, and its 98-point Jeb Dunnuck score alongside five additional ratings of 93–95 points places it among the most critically acclaimed wines in the 2020 vintage from the region — strong justification for its price point relative to comparable cult-status producers.

Why Leonetti Cabernet 2020?

The 98-point score from Jeb Dunnuck marks this as one of the top-rated wines in Leonetti's long history of exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon production. Its 22-month aging program — blending new French oak barrels, once-filled puncheons, and neutral botti — produces a texture that is simultaneously dense and refined, a hallmark of the estate's approach since 1977. As one of only three original Washington State cult wineries, Leonetti carries historical significance that few domestic producers can match. The 2020 vintage demonstrates why the winery's allocation-only Cabernet remains one of the most sought-after reds in the Pacific Northwest.