Tenuta San Leonardo, Villa Gresti Di San Leonardo, 2006
Tenuta San Leonardo, Villa Gresti Di San Leonardo, 2006
- 75cl
- 13%
- Red Still
- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère
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Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2032
Named after Gemma di Gresti — the family ancestor known for her extraordinary humanitarian work repatriating Italian POWs after the First World War — this cuvée carries a sense of history as well as style. Made predominantly from Merlot, it’s a plush, velvety expression of the estate’s gravelly terroir, offering deep, dark fruit, gentle spice and a refined, almost Pomerol-like richness.
2006 was a classic, slow-ripening year in Trentino, delivering structured, age-worthy wines with freshness and poise. Villa Gresti shows this beautifully: still vibrant, beautifully layered, and very much at its peak.
This 2006 Villa Gresti has reached its optimal drinking window, with the primary fruit now fully integrated into secondary complexity. The wine's structure and natural acidity mean it will hold this peak for several more years, but we wouldn't push it much beyond 2032 as the fruit may start to fade. Over the next few years, expect the earthier, more savoury elements to become more prominent whilst the plush Merlot character gradually softens. This is a wine to enjoy now whilst it's showing its full personality, rather than one to cellar for further development.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceDeep garnet with brick highlights at the rim, showing its twenty years with dignity.
NoseMature dark plum and blackberry meld with cedar, leather, and a whisper of tobacco. There's an elegant earthiness underneath, like wet stones after rain, with hints of dried herbs and sweet spice. The fruit feels integrated rather than primary, showing the wine's graceful evolution.
PalateVelvety and refined, with that signature Merlot plushness still very much present. Dark chocolate and espresso weave through the fruit, whilst soft tannins provide structure without dominating. The acidity feels fresh and lively, a testament to the alpine climate and the quality of the vintage.
FinishLong and savoury with lingering notes of dark fruit, spice, and a mineral persistence that speaks to the gravelly terroir.
Overall impressionA wine that has reached its graceful peak, showing the sophistication that made Tenuta San Leonardo famous.
Food Pairings
In Trentino, this would accompany the region's hearty mountain cuisine: think brasato al Barolo-style braised beef with polenta, or the local specialty of cervo in salmì (venison stew with juniper and red wine). The alpine influence means rich game dishes, aged mountain cheeses like Trentingrana, and mushroom risottos made with porcini from the Dolomite forests. Speck, the region's famous smoked ham, would make an elegant antipasto pairing, whilst canederli (bread dumplings) in rich broth would complement the wine's earthier notes.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at 16-17°C to allow the wine's complexity to unfold without masking its elegance. At twenty years old, this Villa Gresti will benefit from gentle decanting for about 30 minutes to open up the mature aromas, but don't overdo it as older wines can lose their charm with too much air. Use large Bordeaux glasses to concentrate the evolved bouquet and allow the wine's layers to reveal themselves gradually.
The vineyards sit on ancient glacial deposits of gravel and stone in the Adige Valley, sheltered by the Dolomites to the north and warmed by Lake Garda's moderating influence. This gravelly terrain provides excellent drainage whilst the alpine climate preserves natural acidity, creating ideal conditions for slow ripening. The combination of warm days and cool nights allows the grapes to develop complexity whilst retaining freshness, producing wines with both power and elegance.
Trentino DOC covers the southern portion of Trentino-Alto Adige, where the alpine climate meets Mediterranean influences from nearby Lake Garda. The appellation permits both international varieties like Merlot and Cabernet alongside regional specialities, with many estates focusing on Bordeaux-style blends. Trentino's gravelly soils and temperature variation produce more structured, age-worthy reds than many expect from northern Italy, rivalling some of the better Bordeaux satellites for elegance and longevity.
The 2006 vintage in Trentino arrived after a growing season that kept producers guessing right until harvest. A warm, dry summer had everyone braced for another scorching year, but September brought cooler temperatures and just enough rain to slow ripening and preserve the acidity that makes Trentino's wines so food-friendly. The mountains did their usual magic, creating those diurnal temperature swings that lock in aromatics whilst allowing sugars to develop steadily.
What emerged was a vintage of surprising freshness and mineral precision, particularly for the region's Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, which retained that Alpine crispness we love from this corner of northern Italy. The reds, especially Teroldego from Campo Rotaliano, show more restraint than the blockbuster 2003s, with savoury tannins and bright cherry fruit that feels distinctly mountain-influenced. Most 2006 Trentinos hit their stride around 2010 and the whites have largely drunk beautifully by now, though the better Teroldego and international varieties will continue drinking well until 2028.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
It's a plush, velvety wine with mature dark fruit, gentle spice, and an almost Pomerol-like richness. After twenty years, it's developed lovely secondary complexity with cedar, leather, and earthy mineral notes.
When should I drink this wine?
Right now is perfect. This 2006 Villa Gresti has reached its graceful peak and will drink wonderfully until around 2032, but we wouldn't wait much longer.
What food pairs well with this wine?
Think rich, savoury dishes: braised beef, venison stew, aged mountain cheeses, or mushroom risotto. The wine's maturity and elegance make it perfect for special occasion dining.
Should I decant this wine?
Yes, but gently. Thirty minutes in a decanter will help the mature aromas open up, but don't over-aerate it as older wines can lose their charm with too much air exposure.
Is this wine worth the investment?
At twenty years old and drinking at its peak, this represents excellent value for a mature, estate-grown Bordeaux-style blend from one of Italy's most respected producers. It's ready to enjoy now rather than cellar further.
How does this compare to Bordeaux?
The Merlot-dominated blend and gravelly terroir produce something genuinely reminiscent of right-bank Bordeaux, particularly Pomerol, but with the freshness and elegance that comes from Trentino's alpine climate.
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