Tenuta San Leonardo, Villa Gresti Di San Leonardo, 2021 - Magnum
Tenuta San Leonardo, Villa Gresti Di San Leonardo, 2021 - Magnum
- 150cl
- 13%
- Red Still
- Merlot, Carménère
- Organic
Couldn't load pickup availability
Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2038
Est. delivery in October, 2026
Villa Gresti is named after Gemma di Gresti, a remarkable ancestor of the family who played a key role in repatriating thousands of Italian prisoners of war from Russia after World War I.
Much like its namesake, this wine is both impressive and full of character. Made from 90% Merlot, it offers a unique take on the estate’s terroir—not a second wine, but a distinct expression. With its rich, velvety texture and deep, layered flavours, Villa Gresti can easily rival some of the top Pomerols, often at a fraction of the price.
Right now, Villa Gresti 2021 is in a genuinely enjoyable early phase, with primary fruit still vivid and the tannins already well-integrated. Over the next two to three years, the cherry and violet freshness will begin to give way to more complex secondary notes — leather, dried herbs, pencil shavings — as the wine settles into itself. The magnum format will extend this development curve noticeably, so expect the wine to reach a plateau of complexity somewhere around 2029 to 2032. It should hold there comfortably until at least 2038, after which the fruit may begin to lighten and the wine to decline. There is no need to rush.
What the critics say:
"The 2021 Villa Gresti di San Leonardo is peppery and intensely floral, with a bouquet of geraniums, dried roses and lavender giving way to cedar shavings and mentholated wild berries. Streamlined and youthfully poised, this wine dances on the razor's edge, with crisp red and blue fruits that ride a silky textural wave framed by nuances of sour citrus that curl the tongue. It tapers off with excellent length and a chewy sensation, as edgy tannins resonate, offset by a bump of residual acidity."
Tasting Notes
AppearanceDeep, clear ruby with a lively garnet rim that speaks to the freshness of the vintage.
NoseDark cherry and blackcurrant upfront, then violets and a thread of dried Mediterranean herbs. Cedar and a faint mineral quality emerge with a little air, giving it that characteristic San Leonardo poise.
PalateMedium-full bodied with a silky, fine-grained texture — the Merlot doing its best work here. There is good concentration of dark fruit, balanced by a cool freshness and a savoury, earthy undercurrent that lifts the whole thing.
FinishLong and composed, with a mineral persistence and a whisper of graphite that lingers well after the glass is down.
Overall impressionA genuinely elegant Bordeaux-style red from the Alps, with the structure to age and the generosity to drink now.
Food Pairings
In the Vallagarina and wider Trentino, this style of wine would traditionally sit alongside a Sunday roast of local lamb or veal, slow-cooked with mountain herbs and served with polenta or roasted potatoes. Braised beef dishes — the local brasato, cooked low and slow in red wine — are a natural match for the wine's structure and savoury depth. A board of aged Trentino cheeses, particularly the nutty, semi-hard Spressa delle Giudicarie, would be a more casual but entirely convincing companion. In the colder months, a rich venison stew would be the local answer to the wine's darker, more earthen notes.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at around 17°C — cool enough to keep the freshness alive, warm enough to let the perfume open up. In magnum format, a decant of 45 minutes to an hour will do the wine real favours, softening the tannins and coaxing out the floral and mineral layers. A large-bowled Bordeaux glass is the right vessel, giving the wine room to breathe and concentrate the aromas.
The San Leonardo estate sits in the Vallagarina, the southern arm of the Adige Valley, where the vineyard soils are predominantly alluvial gravel and sand over clay, deposited by ancient glacial action. Altitude and a northerly aspect keep temperatures cool relative to much of Italy, while the valley channels warm southerly air during the growing season, giving the grapes excellent phenolic ripeness without losing freshness. The combination of diurnal temperature shift, good drainage, and stony soils produces wines of notable elegance and mineral definition.
Villa Gresti is classified as an IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti, the broader geographical indication that covers the alpine foothills of Trentino and Alto Adige. This designation allows producers like San Leonardo to work with Bordeaux varieties outside the stricter constraints of the DOC system, giving them freedom over blending and winemaking while still anchored in a specific and distinctive landscape. The Vallagarina sits at the southern edge of this zone, where the climate is marginally warmer and the wines typically show more structured, Bordeaux-inflected character than those from further north.
The 2021 growing season in Trentino started promisingly with a mild winter and early budbreak, only to face late spring frosts that caught many growers off guard. Summer brought intense heat waves interspersed with timely rainfall that kept the vines hydrated without encouraging rot. The Alps provided their usual moderating influence, but temperatures still spiked well above average in July, pushing some vineyards to their limits before cooler nights in late August and September rescued the ripening process.
What emerged was a vintage of surprising concentration and freshness, particularly for the indigenous varieties that thrive in these mountain foothills. The Pinot Grigio shows more texture and mineral backbone than usual, while Teroldego delivered wines with proper mountain structure rather than the soft, jammy character that can plague hot years. Most 2021s are drinking beautifully now, offering immediate pleasure with enough acidity to carry them until 2028, though the best Teroldego and Lagrein examples will reward patience for another few years.
FAQs
What does Villa Gresti taste like?
It leads with dark cherry, violets, and blackcurrant, underpinned by cedar, dried herbs, and a cool mineral edge. The tannins are silky rather than grippy, and the finish is long and composed. Think Bordeaux in character but with an Alpine freshness that sets it apart.
When should I drink this?
It is drinking well right now and will continue to develop until around 2038. In magnum format, the development curve is slower, so there is no pressure to open it early. If you can wait until 2029 or so, you will find the secondary complexity really starting to emerge.
What food does it pair well with?
Roasted or braised lamb and veal are the obvious calls, as are slow-cooked beef dishes and rich venison. Aged semi-hard cheeses also work well. Essentially anything with a bit of richness and some earthy, savoury character will find a friend in this wine.
How should I serve it?
Serve at around 17°C and decant for 45 minutes to an hour. A large-bowled Bordeaux glass will give it the space it needs to open up. Being in magnum, it is worth being patient — this format rewards a little extra time in the decanter.
Is this related to San Leonardo's flagship wine?
Yes. Villa Gresti is effectively the second wine of Tenuta San Leonardo, made from the same estate vineyards in the Vallagarina in Trentino. It shares the same Bordeaux-variety DNA and the same winemaking philosophy, but is built for earlier drinking than the flagship San Leonardo blend, which can age for 20 years or more.
Is it worth buying in magnum?
Very much so. Magnums age more slowly and more gracefully than standard bottles, which means the fruit stays fresher for longer and the complexity has more time to build. For a wine like this, with genuine ageing potential, the magnum format is not just a statement piece — it genuinely improves the outcome.
What are you looking for tonight? Tell me the occasion, a grape, a region — or just try a suggestion below.
Your recommendations will appear here.
-
-
Speak to one of our Wine Gurus
Speak to a Wine GuruWith years of experience, our team can help you with all your wine buying and selling needs