Tenuta San Leonardo : Riesling 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the 2023 Riesling from Tenuta San Leonardo

Tasting notes

Colour
In its youth, this Italian white wine reveals a lovely straw-yellow hue, brightened by subtle greenish highlights.

Nose
Pleasantly intense, the bouquet reveals citrus aromas such as lemon, intertwined with yellow-fleshed fruit notes like peach and apricot. These are complemented by delicate floral notes of linden blossom and orange blossom, a touch of honey, as well as a mineral imprint reminiscent of gunflint and subtle smoky nuances.

Palate
Dry and structured, the palate offers a lively, perfectly integrated acidity. Ageing on the lees lends this wine a silky texture and a medium to full body. The finish stands out for its lovely length, carried by refreshing salinity and minerality.

Food and Wine Pairings

Ideal as an aperitif, this white wine pairs wonderfully with raw fish (tartares, sushi, ceviche) or a seafood platter. It also elevates a risotto with herbs or asparagus, light white meats with lemon, as well as lightly aged hard cheeses.

Serving and Cellaring

With excellent ageing potential, this 2023 Riesling can be enjoyed now or cellared until around 2033, a period during which it will develop complex tertiary notes.

The Freshness and Minerality of a Great White Wine from Trentino

The Estate

A former monastery with origins dating back more than a thousand years, Tenuta San Leonardo was reorganised as a wine estate at the end of the 18th century. Located in the Vallagarina, in the Trentino-Alto Adige region of Italy, the estate extends over 25 hectares of certified organic vineyards, surrounded by vast forests. Today, the Guerrieri Gonzaga family, owners for more than three centuries, still runs the estate. A true place of memory that has hosted historic negotiations, the estate stands out for its artisanal approach and its strong environmental certifications.

The Vineyard

The grapes come from the Val di Cembra, a high-altitude terroir situated between 600 and 700 metres, whose climatic conditions recall those of neighbouring Alto Adige. Facing south-west, the 10- to 30-year-old vines thrive in sandy-loam soils of moraine origin, resting on a bedrock of volcanic porphyry. Trained using the Guyot method with a high planting density, they benefit from significant diurnal temperature variations, which promote slow ripening and great aromatic concentration.

Vinification and Ageing

After destemming, the berries undergo a short cold maceration of around 12 hours before gentle pressing. Fermentation of the 2023 Riesling takes place in stainless steel tanks at a low temperature (13°C) for 20 to 25 days. The wine is then aged on its fine lees for 12 months in 700-litre French oak barrels of first and second fill, before resting for a further 6 months in bottle.

Grape Variety

100% Riesling