Celebrating Winemaking Excellence
Whitehall Lane is renowned for their single varietal wines – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – and has been honoured three times for producing wines rated among the top five in the world by Wine Spectator Magazine’s year-end ranking of wines. The estate’s success is a reflection of their vineyards, situated in Napa’s prized appellations of Rutherford, St. Helena and Oak Knoll and primarily on the valley floor, the ideal terroir for opulent and long-lived wines.
The winery is now also known for their art of blending following the creation of a 
proprietary blend in 2010, meant as an homage to the owners, the Leonardini family, and three generations of commitment to winemaking excellence. ‘Tre Leoni’ is that wine, one the winery calls a serious blend but also “a little fun and distinctly delicious”, a testament to the family’s vision and to winemaker Jason Moulton’s skills. An interesting Canadian connection to the wine: since 2015 the bottles have showcased the unique and arresting lion painting by illustrator and Hamilton native Jacqui Oakley.
The 2018 vintage – mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with equal parts Merlot and Syrah and a small amount of Zinfandel – is from a long, even growing season that allowed fruit to gain complexity and character. Each varietal was fermented and aged separately in oak and the final blend was made after 18 months. With aromas and flavours of black cherry pie, tar, liquorice, black olives, vanilla, pencil shavings, chocolate, fresh blackberries and toasted walnuts, ‘Tre Leoni’ is clearly a wine that speaks to the varietal characteristics of its individual parts, and creates a sum that is far greater.
We are delighted to have the 2018 ‘Tre Leoni’ along with two other exceptional wines from Whitehall Lane. The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc is a dynamic wine with layers of ripe fruit, florals and lush mid-palate weight. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a balanced and elegant wine with incredible complexity and depth, a cellar keeper for 10+ years.
Whitehall Lane 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
Retail: $36.95 / btl
Whitehall Lane 2018 ‘Tre Leoni’, Napa Valley
Retail: $59.95 / btl
Whitehall Lane 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Retail: $84.95 / btl
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The Wines
Whitehall Lane 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
90 points – Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
“With 11% Sémillon, this white is balanced in acidity and weight, with a viscosity that presents as opulent and lush. Stone fruit, Meyer lemon and green apple accent a lengthy, complex palate of varietal expression and exuberance.”
Whitehall Lane 2018 ‘Tre Leoni’, Napa Valley
90 points – Jeb Dunnuck. jebdunnuck.com
“A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel, the 2018 Red Blend Tre Leoni has a rich, impressive bouquet of ripe black fruits, scorched earth, graphite, and vanilla, with plenty of classy oak making an appearance. This carries to a rich, full-bodied red that offers a mouth-filling texture, chewy tannins, and a great finish. This character-filled 2018 has lots to love, although I wouldn’t push the aging curve too much.”
Whitehall Lane 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
92 points – James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, December 2021
“Notes of blackcurrants, baking spices and chocolate with leafy character. Full and chewy with soft tannins that frame the wine. Sensation of graphite-like minerality. Tight finish. Drink after 2023.”
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About Whitehall Lane
Founded in 1979, and owned by the Leonardini family since 1993, Whitehall Lane is one of the most identifiable wineries in Napa. Located on Hwy 29, just south of St. Helena, this striking yellow winery is actually in the Rutherford appellation.
Seven diverse vineyards, comprising 160 planted acres, are situated primarily on the valley floor — Napa VALLEY being the Leonardini’s hallmark. These estate-owned and managed vineyards represent a remarkable resource:
- Leonardini Vineyard, St. Helena AVA, adjacent to the Leonardini Sr. family home
- Fawn Park Vineyard, St. Helena AVA, on Silverado Trail
- Estate Vineyard, Rutherford AVA – where the winery is located
- Bommarito Vineyard, Rutherford AVA
- Millennium MM Vineyard, Rutherford AVA
- Oak Glen Vineyard, Oak Knoll District AVA
- Vineyard, 12 acres on Sonoma Mountain AVARassi
Tom Leonardini Sr. is a native of San Francisco, and a serial entrepreneur. His love of wine inspired him to open the Napa Valley Winery Exchange in 1987, one of the premier wine shops in the city (and still owned by the family). This intro into the world of wine was obviously not enough, and he took the full plunge 6 years later. Tom Jr. and his sisters are now fully immersed in the winery, as it has matured into a vineyard-driven benchmark for valley-floor Napa Cabernet. The full range of wines totals about 50,000 cases annually. In 2010, Wine Spectator included Whitehall Lane in their survey of the 50 Best Cabernet Producers.
Jason Moulton joined Whitehall Lane in 2016, taking over from original Leonardini-era winemaker Dean Sylvester, and the results are already quite dramatic. He finished and bottled the 2014 Cabs, and has taken the white wines in an entirely new and exciting direction. Jason has extensive experience – including a stint at Quail Ridge in Kelowna – and counts icons David Ramey and Philippe Melka among his mentors. He has experience at both Long Meadow Ranch and Cliff Lede in Napa, as well as Sonoma, South Africa and Bordeaux. His degree is from the Lincoln University Viticulture & Enology program in New Zealand. And he’s a Certified Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers).
