2018 San Felice, Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino, $65

Winery Info: San Felice is based in Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the southern part of Italy’s Chianti Classico zone.  

They produce wines from other parts of Tuscany as well, including Montalcino, from which this wine is sourced. They bought their Campogiovanni estate vineyard here in the 1980s and their Campogiovanni Brunello is now one of their flagship wines, regularly garnering top accolades and awards.

Grapes: 100% Sangiovese Grosso. Aged 36 months in 500-liter French oak barrels and 60 hectoliter Slavonian oak, followed by 12 months in bottle.

Vineyard: Their Campogiovanni estate vineyard, on the gently sloping south quadrant of the Montalcino hill, where weather conditions and the combination of soils promote optimal ripening of the Sangiovese Grosso grape. The vineyard is divided into different zones, with distinct soil types that highlight different characteristics of the vines. The fruit gets power from the calcareous soil, softness from the clay, and elegance from the alluvial soil.

Flavor Profile: The Campogiovanni Brunello is very classic in style, with beautiful structure and ripe, layered flavors of dark fruit. The style has evolved over the years and, while still big and silky, the newer vintage has a much broader spectrum of flavors, with more savory, earthy notes. With a rich, textured mouthfeel, balanced tannins, and a long, elegant finish.

Availability: This vintage has just come into the market and should be in good supply.

Drinking Window: While you could enjoy it now, it will continue to develop for another five years or so.

Food Pairing: They suggest red meats, particularly game or wild boar, or with aged pecorino cheese.

2022 Woodward Canyon, Chardonnay, $46

Winery Info: Woodward Canyon is the second oldest winery in the Walla Walla Valley, founded in 1981 by Rick Small and his wife Darcey Fugman-Small. It continues to be one of the most highly regarded wineries in the state and is still family-owned and operated. Today they have 41 acres of estate vineyards in the Walla Walla Valle. They source fruit from other top vineyards in the state as well. Kevin Mott has been winemaker at Woodward Canyon since 2003.

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay, aged five and a half months in 100% French Sirugue oak, 20% new, with no malolactic fermentation.

Vineyard: Sourced from their Woodward Canyon Estate vineyard. Established in 1977, on what was originally the Small family’s dry land wheat farm, it is the westernmost vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA, about 15 miles west of Walla Walla with silt loam soil over fractured basalt.

Flavor Profile: A beautiful, meticulously made Washington Chard, with inviting aromas of white flowers, orchard fruit, and a hint of spice, and ripe flavors of stone fruit and citrus. It has lovely texture and weight, perfectly balanced by its clean, fresh acidity.

Availability: 706 cases produced. Just released, this one should be available for a while.

Drinking Window: It is beautiful now, but it should continue to develop for another three years.

Food Pairing: The winery notes that it pairs well with roasted poultry or creamy pasta dishes.