Tenuta San Leonardo, Vette di San Leonardo Sauvignon Blanc, 2024
Tenuta San Leonardo, Vette di San Leonardo Sauvignon Blanc, 2024
- 75cl
- 12.5%
- White Still
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Organic
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Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2030
A monastery of over 1000 years heritage (Roman frescoes adorn the old chapel), for over 3 centuries San Leonardo, at the foot of the Dolomites, has served as the residence of the Marquis Guerrieri Gonzaga family, its proud custodians.
Whilst its red Bordeaux grape blends are the most vaunted in Northern Italy their Sauvignon Blanc, a more recent addition to the range, has proven to be a perfect balance between the sophistication of Sancerre and the exuberance of Marlborough.
"This one took me by surprise when tried on their first release - San Leonardo and white wine production did not compute in my mind. However it was a matter of moments to get with the programme."
Tom Harrow, Wine Guru
This 2024 is drinking beautifully now in its primary fruit phase, showing vibrant peach and citrus flavours with crisp mineral backbone. Over the next year or two, expect the tropical elements to integrate further while maintaining its essential freshness. After 2030, the wine will still be enjoyable but the primary fruit will have mellowed, revealing more mineral and herbal complexity. Unlike age-worthy reds, this style is best appreciated for its youthful vitality rather than long-term development.
Tasting Notes
AppearancePale gold with green highlights, crystal clear.
NoseImmediate lift of citrus zest and elderflower, followed by fresh herbs and a whisper of mountain minerality. There's restraint here rather than tropical exuberance, with subtle gooseberry and a hint of white pepper adding complexity.
PalateCrisp and focused with bright acidity driving flavours of lime, green apple, and fresh herbs. The mountain influence shows in the wine's mineral backbone and precise structure. Clean and elegant rather than rich, with perfect balance between fruit and acidity.
FinishLong and mineral-driven with lingering citrus zest and a saline edge.
Overall impressionSophisticated Sauvignon Blanc that marries Sancerre-like restraint with just enough New World brightness.
Food Pairings
In Trentino, this would pair beautifully with local lake fish like trout or perch, simply grilled with herbs from the mountain slopes. The region's prized white asparagus, when in season, makes a classic match, as do the local soft cheeses like fresh ricotta with mountain honey. Traditional dishes like canederli in brodo (bread dumplings in clear broth) or risotto with porcini mushrooms complement the wine's mineral backbone perfectly.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve well chilled at 8-10°C in a medium-sized white wine glass that allows the aromatics to concentrate. No decanting necessary, but do allow it fifteen minutes in the glass to show its full character. The wine benefits from being properly chilled but not ice-cold, which would mask its subtle complexity.
The Vette vineyard sits in the foothills of the Dolomites in Trentino, benefiting from significant diurnal temperature variation that preserves acidity while allowing full ripening. The calcareous soils with volcanic influences provide mineral backbone, while the alpine climate tempers the variety's more exuberant tendencies. This mountain setting creates wines with both precision and surprising longevity for the variety.
Trentino DOC encompasses the valleys around Trento in northern Italy, where the dramatic Alpine landscape creates ideal conditions for both red and white wines. The region's high altitude vineyards and limestone-rich soils produce wines with notable mineral character and bright acidity. While historically known for local varieties like Teroldego, international varieties like Sauvignon Blanc have found their voice here, often displaying more restraint than their southern Italian counterparts.
The 2024 vintage in Trentino delivered one of those seasons that reminds you why this corner of the Alps produces such distinctive wines. Spring arrived early with warm, dry conditions that had the vines racing ahead, but summer brought welcome relief with cooler temperatures and well-timed rainfall that slowed things down beautifully. The harvest stretched later than many expected, giving the grapes that crucial extra hang time to develop the kind of mineral precision that makes Trentino special.
What emerged from the cellars shows remarkable purity across the board. The Pinot Grigio has that lovely tension between ripe stone fruit and mountain-stream freshness we adore, while the reds—particularly Teroldego—show real substance without losing their Alpine lift. These wines are drinking gorgeously now if you want immediate pleasure, but we suspect the best examples will reward patience over the next five to eight years. Quality feels consistent rather than spectacular, which in our book often makes for the most satisfying drinking.
FAQs
What does this Sauvignon Blanc taste like?
It strikes a lovely balance between Loire elegance and New World fruit, with white peach, elderflower, and crisp minerality from its Alpine setting.
When should I drink this wine?
It's drinking beautifully now and will remain at its best until 2030, though we'd recommend enjoying it within the next few years while the fruit is at its most vibrant.
What food pairs well with this wine?
Think fresh seafood, particularly white fish or shellfish, goat's cheese salads, or classic Italian antipasti. It's also excellent with asparagus and herb-driven dishes.
How should I serve this wine?
Serve well chilled at 8-10°C in a standard white wine glass. No need to decant, but let it warm slightly in the glass to appreciate its full aromatics.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
While it will keep for several years, this style of Sauvignon Blanc is best enjoyed for its youthful freshness rather than aged complexity. Drink it within 4-5 years for optimal enjoyment.
How does this compare to other Sauvignon Blancs?
It sits beautifully between Sancerre's mineral restraint and Marlborough's tropical exuberance, with a distinctly Italian personality that's both sophisticated and approachable.
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