From another very sunny and dry vintage, the 1995 San Leonardo is an excellent wine with enormous power, intensity and determination. This edition shows muscle and brawn with dark cherry and blackberry followed by spice, leather and tobacco. The wine shows bold structure and a compact build with tannins that are firm and structured. San Leonardo has not completed its evolution and still offers youthful points of bright fruit. It can withstand a longer decanting period of three hours or more and will continue to age well for more years to come.

These wines have a tendency to be too herbaceous for my taste, but after enjoying the 1994, I thought the 1995 was the best wine I have yet tasted from San Leonardo. Although it retains some herbaceousness, that component is much more subtle. This is a dense ruby/purple-colored wine with a smoky, tobacco, spice, and earthy red and black fruit-scented bouquet, medium to full body, and a chewy, rustic personality. It will last for a decade, but I would opt for drinking it over the next 5-7 years.Importer: Vias Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 629-0200