Vinography Unboxed: Weekly Wine Highlights for the Week of August 10, 2025

Welcome to this week’s installment of Vinography Unboxed, where we explore an array of noteworthy wine samples received recently.

This week features wines from the young producer Luca Leggero in Piedmont, showcasing two distinct expressions of Erbaluce, a white grape that is experiencing a renaissance in this predominantly red-wine region of Italy. Both bottles are exceptional, but I found the older vintage particularly captivating as it revealed some intriguing characteristics of age. Additionally, Leggero’s Langhe Nebbiolo offers a classic take on the varietal, providing accessibility without sacrificing quality.

Alongside Leggero’s offerings, I tasted several releases from Arnot-Roberts Winery, including some personal favorites. Their Trousseau is elegantly balanced, combining savory flavors with berry notes; the Gamay is vibrant with stony blood-orange fruit; the Heaven & Earth Pinot stands out for its sophistication, and their two Syrahs are simply mouthwatering.

I also recommend exploring wines from Cantina San Felice in Chianti. Their Borgo and La Piave bottlings excel in traditional Chianti style, and they have intriguingly chosen to bottle the obscure grape Pugnitello independently. This grape, usually a minor blending component, offers a distinct, dark character worth exploring.

Below are detailed tasting notes on these wines.

Tasting Notes

2021 Luca Leggero “Rend Nen” Erbaluce, Piedmont, Italy

• Appearance: Pale gold
• Nose: Yellow flowers, candied lemon peel, butterscotch
• Palate: Saline flavors of candied lemon and butterscotch, silky texture, excellent acidity
• Score: ~9
• Alcohol: 13.5%

2023 Luca Leggero “Turciaura” Erbaluce, Piedmont, Italy

• Appearance: Pale gold
• Nose: Vanilla, yellow plums, lemon pith
• Palate: Lemon pith, yellow plum, poached pear, crisp stony quality
• Score: 8.5-9
• Alcohol: 13%

2023 Arnot-Roberts Trousseau, North Coast, California

• Appearance: Light ruby
• Nose: Dried flowers, berries, herbs
• Palate: Bright chopped herbs, strawberries, blood orange, dusty roads, good acidity
• Score: 9-9.5
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Buy Here

2023 Arnot-Roberts Gamay, El Dorado, California

• Appearance: Light ruby
• Nose: Blood orange, dried herbs, forest floor
• Palate: Ethereal blood orange, weightless on the palate
• Score: 9-9.5
• Alcohol: 13%
• Buy Here

2023 Arnot-Roberts “Heaven and Earth Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Sonoma, California

• Appearance: Medium to dark garnet
• Nose: Raspberry, herbs, forest floor
• Palate: Muscular tannins, core of raspberry, sour cherry, herbal finish
• Score: 9-9.5
• Alcohol: 12%
• Buy Here

2021 Luca Leggero “Maura Nen” Nebbiolo, Piedmont, Italy

• Appearance: Light to medium blood red
• Nose: Dried rose petals, strawberries
• Palate: Juicy fresh berries, layered with herbs and brightness
• Score: 8.5-9
• Alcohol: 14%
• Buy Here

2023 Arnot-Roberts Syrah, Sonoma, California

• Appearance: Dark garnet
• Nose: Blueberry, white pepper, dried herbs
• Palate: Fleecy tannins, blackberry and blueberry flavors
• Score: 9-9.5
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Buy Here

2022 Arnot-Roberts “Que Syrah” Syrah, Sonoma, California

• Appearance: Dark garnet
• Nose: Struck match, blueberry, herbs
• Palate: Herbal notes with a savory, saline quality
• Score: ~9.5
• Alcohol: 12%
• Buy Here

2022 San Felice “Borgo” Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy

• Appearance: Medium to dark garnet
• Nose: Wet earth, dark berries, herbs
• Palate: Muscular grip, savory and dark
• Score: ~8.5
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Buy Here

2021 San Felice Pugnitello, Tuscany, Italy

• Appearance: Very dark garnet
• Nose: Blackberry, black cherry, earth, charred wood
• Palate: Dark fruit, mysterious flavors
• Score: ~8.5
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Buy Here

2021 San Felice “Gran Selezione – La Pieve” Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy

• Appearance: Dark garnet with ruby highlights
• Nose: Espresso, black cherries, herbs
• Palate: Core of black cherry with fine tannins
• Score: 8.5-9
• Alcohol: 14%
• Buy Here

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!