Leonetti owners launch new winery, cattle company

WALLA WALLA - One of Washington's oldest and most successful wine producers hopes to catch lightning in a bottle again with the launch of a new winery and high-end cattle company.

Today the owners of Leonetti Cellar in Walla Walla, Wash., are announcing the launch of Figgins Family Wine Estates and Lostine Cattle Co.

"It's not a second label to Leonetti," said Chris Figgins, CEO and winemaker for Leonetti Cellar. "It's not even a sister winery. It's a stand-alone project."

As he stood above a 32-acre vineyard planted six years ago in the northeastern Walla Walla Valley, he said the goal is to produce wine that reflects the quality of a unique location. The grapes planted here - Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot - will be blended into a single wine under the name "Figgins." The first, from the 2008 vintage, will be released in fall 2011.

Figgins said the exact price has not been set, but he expects it to cost between $80 and $85, about the same as a bottle of Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon. About 900 cases of the first vintage will be produced.