One of the top renditions of the variety outside of Italy, Chris’s 2010 Sangiovese (89% Sangiovese and 11% Syrah) spent 22 months in a combination of new French oak Puncheons and neutral French oak Botti, which are the equivalent of foudre in French and are very large oak casks. Showing a deep black cherry driven core of fruit that’s intermixed with notions of spice box, aged beef, leaf tobacco and dusty minerality, it flows onto the palate with the expected Sangiovese edge and dusty tannin, yet also possesses fantastic fruit and a seamless, elegant profile. Already reasonably approachable, it should have 10-15 years of prime drinking. Drink now-2025. Located in Walla Walla, made by Chris Figgins and a benchmark estate, Leonetti Cellars produces seriously rich efforts that have a perfect blend of power and finesse, with gorgeously managed tannin, seamless textures and awesome purity. While the 2010s here are some of the greatest wines of the vintage, the 2011s are more fresh, up-front and will be approachable at an earlier stage. leonetticellar.com