A single-vineyard, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Pritchard Hill’s famed Montagna Vineyard, embodying the spirit of “Transcende Te Ipsum.”
September 9, 2025 (Napa Valley, CA) — Moone Tsai Wines, the acclaimed Napa Valley winery founded by MaryAnn and Larry Tsai, proudly announces the inaugural release of LEONIDAS, a noble Cabernet Sauvignon that crowns the couple’s three decades of experience crafting rare and pedigreed wines rooted in exceptional fruit, world-class terroir, and artisanal winemaking.
Born of a philosophy to rise above expectations — Transcende Te Ipsum — LEONIDAS is a transcendent and timeless expression of single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the renowned Montagna Vineyard atop Pritchard Hill. Only 600 bottles of the 2021 vintage have been produced, making it the rarest wine in the Moone Tsai portfolio.
“LEONIDAS is the purest reflection of what we strive for: to honor an exceptional vineyard site through winemaking of depth, precision, and grace,” said Larry Tsai, Co-Founder of Moone Tsai. “It is both a culmination and a beginning, a wine that reflects the journey we’ve taken, and the standard we will continue to set.”
Perched at 1,200 feet in the Vaca Mountains, the Montagna Vineyard is revered for its iron-rich, volcanic soils that drain freely, yielding small, intensely flavored berries with remarkable structure. LEONIDAS hails from the prized Block 7, planted to Clone 337 on 191 rootstock, a combination that delivers a distinctive signature found nowhere else in Napa Valley.
“From the moment we first walked Montagna’s Block 7, we knew this site had the power to create something extraordinary,” added MaryAnn Tsai, Co-Founder of Moone Tsai. “LEONIDAS captures not just the essence of the vineyard, but the relationships, risks, and rewards that have shaped our work over the years.”
In collaboration with renowned winemaker Philippe Melka, the Tsais harvested the fruit at peak ripeness, fermenting it in stainless steel tanks with an average three-day cold soak and 21 days on the skins. The wine then underwent 26 months of aging in 100% new French oak, and was bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its depth and purity.
The result is a Cabernet Sauvignon of profound concentration and elegance, offering layered aromas of dark cassis, blackberry, and graphite, with hints of violet, cocoa, and warm spice. Silken yet structured, LEONIDAS carries an energy and precision that will reward careful cellaring for decades.
Since their first harvest, the Tsais have been guided by the belief that the finest wines are born from deep roots: in the vineyard, the community, and the relationships nurtured with legendary growers and sites. Their portfolio, which includes symphonic Cabernet Sauvignon blends from Napa’s most acclaimed vineyards, now welcomes a rare soloist in LEONIDAS, a wine as bold and individual as its namesake.
The 2021 LEONIDAS Cabernet Sauvignon will be allocated to select collectors, fine dining establishments, and members of Moone Tsai’s allocation list. Each release is presented in three-bottle boxes, with a limited number of large-format bottles available for special request, underscoring the wine’s rarity and distinction.
For more information, including videos exploring the Montagna Vineyard, the winemaking process, and the Tsais’ story, visit https://leonidas.moonetsai.com/.
About Moone Tsai Wines
Founded by MaryAnn and Larry Tsai, Moone Tsai produces elegant, expressive wines that embody the soul of Napa Valley’s most exceptional vineyard sites. With an unwavering commitment to quality and a deep respect for the land, the winery sources fruit from acclaimed vineyards including Pritchard Hill, Howell Mountain, and the Russian River Valley. Crafted in collaboration with winemaker Philippe Melka, Moone Tsai wines are recognized for their sophistication, balance, and age-worthiness.
