This beautifully blended 2018 Rassi Cabernet Sauvignon is exquisitely balanced with excellent fruit concentration. On the nose, this wine offers Bing cherries, cassis, dried cranberries, black cherry cola, mixed berry jam, and a touch of brioche. The palate offers plush but delicate tannins, sweet black plums, strawberry rhubarb pie, red raspberry coulis, toasted bread, and cocoa dust that lingers on the finish. This offering is enjoyable today but will also evolve with cellar aging through 2030.
Vintage Notes
Named after our Rassi vineyard located on the eastern slope of Sonoma Valley just at the base of the Mayacamas Mountain range. The Leonardini family purchased the Rassi vineyard in 2012, adding it to the portfolio of great vineyards they already own. The vineyard is predominantly a gravelly sandy site, offering excellent free-draining soils that are prefect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. Whitehall Lane and the Leonardini’s are known for making elegant, sophisticated Cabernets.
Winemaker Notes
Upon hand harvesting in the early morning hours, our grapes were carefully destemmed and sent to tank for a whole berry fermentation. The grapes were cold-soaked in tank at 45° F for 4-7 days, allowing for increased color, aroma, and flavor extraction. After inoculation with a select yeast, the grape must (juice, skins, and seeds) fermented at 82°F, which allowed for a hot extraction on the skins. For fermentation cap management, the juice was pumped over the skins two times per day, wetting the cap evenly for a nice healthy fermentation. After fermentation and pressing, the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were aged in 30% new French and American oak for 18 months before bottling. The final blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot and was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Specs
Vintage: 2018
Appellation: Sonoma Valley
Composition: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot
Alcohol: 14.8%
Winemaker: Jason Moulton
2017 Tre Leoni Red Blend, Napa Valley
90 points ~ Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
This ferociously fun blend has depth, balance and big flavors. The nose evokes black cherry cordial, fresh blackberries, strawberry rhubarb pie, mocha, cedar, dark chocolate, and a hint of graphite. On the palate, it bursts with mixed berry compote, blackberry jam, cacao bean, and toasted walnuts on the finish. This wine has great texture that ultimately finishes with round, silky smooth tannins. Enjoy Tre Leoni with your next barbeque and when gathering with family or friends.
Vintage Notes
The 2017 growing year was picture perfect with warm spring and summer days making optimum conditions for flavor development in every grape cluster. The Merlot and Zinfandel grapes were the first to ripen in mid-September followed by the Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah in late September and mid-October.
Winemaker Notes
Three generations of the Leonardini Family (Tre Leoni) are responsible for this expertly made proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel. Each grape varietal was fermented and aged as separate lots in French and American oak barrels. Winemaker Jason Moulton tasted through each lot and put the final blend together after aging 18 months. The lion’s share of the wine is Cabernet Sauvignon with equal, lesser percentages of Merlot, and Syrah and a small amount of Zinfandel. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
We are a small, family-owned winery in Napa Valley’s historic Rutherford appellation. We own approximately 110 acres of prime Valley-floor vineyards including the Leonardini Vineyard in St. Helena and are committed to making the finest Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Reserve wine using Napa Green certified and sustainable practices.
The winery continues to receive accolades and awards for producing some of the greatest wines in the world. In Wine Spectator’s year-end ranking of wines, Whitehall Lane has been honored an unprecedented three times in five years for producing wines rated among the top five in the world. The winery has also been voted Winery of the Year from the Quarterly Review of Wines and Wine and Spirits Magazine.
In our short history, Whitehall Lane has developed into a world-class winery. The efforts of the Leonardini Family are evident in the recent run of accolades from wine publications but are even more apparent in the beautifully made, elegant wines we continue to make.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
I’m very happy to be reporting in as a Lab Rat for tonight’s offer. I recruited a friend to have another person’s opinion and we used a De Long tasting note sheet as a framework to form the following notes.
Color depth: Deep
Color hue: Ruby
Clarity: Clear
Aroma intensity: Powerful
Development: Youthful
Aromas: Black cherry, blackberry, plum, and strawberry.
Dry/Sweet: Definitely dry, but a little bit of perceived sweetness from the fruit.
Body: Full-bodied
Acidity: A mix between tart and crisp. My friend said it reminded him what it’s like when you eat an apple. I can agree with that.
Tannins: Medium and round.
Balance: Good
Flavor intensity: Flavorful
Flavors: Black cherry, blackberry, and strawberry. There’s a bit of spice, possibly white pepper. We also came up with cocoa powder, but more so as a textural element.
Finish: Long
Conclusion: We both really enjoyed this Napa blend. It has enough acidity to pair well with food, but it can also be enjoyed on its own. It’s somewhat fruit forward which lends it a little bit of perceived sweetness, but make no mistake this is definitely a dry wine. I’d say this can be enjoyed now if you prefer a youthful and fruit forward wine, but in my opinion I think some time in the cellar would do it wonders and your patience would pay off. If the winery chimes in, I’m curious to see what they say about the aging potential of this. I checked the website and it’s normally $32 per bottle. At the Casemates price, this is a no brainer. It’s a well made wine you can enjoy at home on a weeknight, as well as bring to a party for others to enjoy (if you don’t mind sharing).
As always, many thanks to @winedavid49 , @wccwinegirl and the entire Casemates crew for all the work you do. It is very much appreciated, and so is the opportunity to be a Lab Rat. Cheers!
@kawichris650 I checked in with the vintner & he’s unable to jump on today but here is what he had to say about aging:
“The 2017 Tre Leoni will continue to age nicely. We have made this wine for seven vintages with a Bordeaux backbone and all vintages are still showing very nicely. The 2017 is drinking great and definitely could be aged for a little longer but wouldn¹t cellar it for another 10 years, maybe three, but we like the way it¹s drinking now.”
Wine Enthusiast on the 2018 Rassi:
88 Points. Blended with 15% Merlot, this affordable red is nutty and herbal in cedar, with strong elements of toasted oak. Dark fruit presents as full bodied and deeply concentrated, with moderate structure giving it a supple foundation of power. VB 12/31/20
and WE on the 2017 Tre Leoni:
90 Points. A proprietary blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel, this red is substantial in weight, with huge tannins and oak at the center of its style. Baked blackberry, plum, leather and tobacco give it a rich flavor. VB 7/1/20
Spectator on the Rassi:
87 Points. Direct, with cherry and plum fruit lined with savory and warm earth hints, showing a flash of tobacco on the open-knit finish. Drink now through 2022. 4,179 cases made. — JM Web Only 2020
Once I received the bottle from UPS I noticed a rather hefty bottle with a cool-looking label and pressed cork.
I gave the wine a day’s rest then popped her open with a clean cork extraction. The first sniff was a good amount of leather and some nondescript dark fruit. My first impression was meh, so I decided to give it an hour to come out.
Oh, boy did that help! Once it opened up I got lots of dark fruits such as plum and cranberry, a bit of leather and tobacco, with a chewy mouthfeel followed by some vanilla notes. I was surprised by the amount of leather/tobacco and earthy tones(though very enjoyable) I was getting from a Sonoma cab.
Overall a tasty midweek drinker. Thanks again for the opportunity!
I’ve been fond of the Whitehall Napa half bottles sold earlier this year and if the style is similar would like these. If any Houstonites would go 2 or 3 way split I’d be in.
2018 Rassi Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
Vintage Notes
Winemaker Notes
Specs
2017 Tre Leoni Red Blend, Napa Valley
90 points ~ Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
Vintage Notes
Winemaker Notes
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$396.00/Case at Whitehall Lane Winery for 6x 2018 Rassi Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley, 6x 2017 Tre Leoni Red Blend, Napa Valley
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Dec 13 - Monday, Dec 20
Whitehall Lane Mixed Reds
4 bottles for $74.99 $18.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $199.99 $16.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2018 Rassi
2017 Tre Leoni
2017 Whitehall Lane Tre Leoni
I’m very happy to be reporting in as a Lab Rat for tonight’s offer. I recruited a friend to have another person’s opinion and we used a De Long tasting note sheet as a framework to form the following notes.
Color depth: Deep
Color hue: Ruby
Clarity: Clear
Aroma intensity: Powerful
Development: Youthful
Aromas: Black cherry, blackberry, plum, and strawberry.
Dry/Sweet: Definitely dry, but a little bit of perceived sweetness from the fruit.
Body: Full-bodied
Acidity: A mix between tart and crisp. My friend said it reminded him what it’s like when you eat an apple. I can agree with that.
Tannins: Medium and round.
Balance: Good
Flavor intensity: Flavorful
Flavors: Black cherry, blackberry, and strawberry. There’s a bit of spice, possibly white pepper. We also came up with cocoa powder, but more so as a textural element.
Finish: Long
Conclusion: We both really enjoyed this Napa blend. It has enough acidity to pair well with food, but it can also be enjoyed on its own. It’s somewhat fruit forward which lends it a little bit of perceived sweetness, but make no mistake this is definitely a dry wine. I’d say this can be enjoyed now if you prefer a youthful and fruit forward wine, but in my opinion I think some time in the cellar would do it wonders and your patience would pay off. If the winery chimes in, I’m curious to see what they say about the aging potential of this. I checked the website and it’s normally $32 per bottle. At the Casemates price, this is a no brainer. It’s a well made wine you can enjoy at home on a weeknight, as well as bring to a party for others to enjoy (if you don’t mind sharing).
As always, many thanks to @winedavid49 , @wccwinegirl and the entire Casemates crew for all the work you do. It is very much appreciated, and so is the opportunity to be a Lab Rat. Cheers!
@kawichris650 Thank you for the great rattage.
@kawichris650 I checked in with the vintner & he’s unable to jump on today but here is what he had to say about aging:
“The 2017 Tre Leoni will continue to age nicely. We have made this wine for seven vintages with a Bordeaux backbone and all vintages are still showing very nicely. The 2017 is drinking great and definitely could be aged for a little longer but wouldn¹t cellar it for another 10 years, maybe three, but we like the way it¹s drinking now.”
@WCCWineGirl
That is useful insight. Thank you!
I somehow have both of these in my cellar, different vintages though.
I’d consider splitting a case with someone in Atlanta (east side Decatur area). Message me if interested.
@lionel47 I’m interested in a split case. OTP on 75.
Ree-vue…? Sure
Wine Enthusiast on the 2018 Rassi:
88 Points. Blended with 15% Merlot, this affordable red is nutty and herbal in cedar, with strong elements of toasted oak. Dark fruit presents as full bodied and deeply concentrated, with moderate structure giving it a supple foundation of power. VB 12/31/20
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/whitehall-lane-2018-rassi-cabernet-sauvignon-sonoma-valley/
and WE on the 2017 Tre Leoni:
90 Points. A proprietary blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel, this red is substantial in weight, with huge tannins and oak at the center of its style. Baked blackberry, plum, leather and tobacco give it a rich flavor. VB 7/1/20
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/whitehall-lane-2017-tre-leoni-red-napa-valley/
Spectator on the Rassi:
87 Points. Direct, with cherry and plum fruit lined with savory and warm earth hints, showing a flash of tobacco on the open-knit finish. Drink now through 2022. 4,179 cases made. — JM Web Only 2020
fwiw
I always appreciate the opportunity to Rat!
2018 Rassi Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
Once I received the bottle from UPS I noticed a rather hefty bottle with a cool-looking label and pressed cork.
I gave the wine a day’s rest then popped her open with a clean cork extraction. The first sniff was a good amount of leather and some nondescript dark fruit. My first impression was meh, so I decided to give it an hour to come out.
Oh, boy did that help! Once it opened up I got lots of dark fruits such as plum and cranberry, a bit of leather and tobacco, with a chewy mouthfeel followed by some vanilla notes. I was surprised by the amount of leather/tobacco and earthy tones(though very enjoyable) I was getting from a Sonoma cab.
Overall a tasty midweek drinker. Thanks again for the opportunity!
@Nel250 thanks for the report
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings)
Whitehall Lane Mixed Reds - $25 = 11.10%
I’ve been fond of the Whitehall Napa half bottles sold earlier this year and if the style is similar would like these. If any Houstonites would go 2 or 3 way split I’d be in.
In for a case to split.
/giphy crimson-silent-sneeze
/giphy jolly-singing-chimes
