Chip Hughes

9.2

Yuzu, citron and sour yellow fruits. Broad and noticeably saline on the palate. Long, ripe and potent finish. Easily another 20 years here...but who has the discipline to resist now? — 2 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.2

Kaboom. Explosive and engaging; so concentrated that it expresses as camphor, pine resin and even turpentine...then the rich, ultra-savory, dryish and nutty palate kicks in. Greatness here. — 9 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.2

What an elegant, almost Burgundian thing. As the Languedoc becomes increasingly hotter, this consistently checks in at 13% abv. 55% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 15% Carignan, given a long cold soak before fermentation, then polished in old Champy Volnay barrels. Fraises, framboises and an appropriate bittering element from the Carignan. Think of it as the anti-Orin Swift. — 9 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.2

Needs a couple of days for a whiff of SO2 to blow off. Then, it’s all white peaches and wet slate. Incredibly pure and nimble, even though the concentration and weight are massive. — 3 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.3

Dégorgement 9/18. Dominated by creamy, pure Cramant, with a lime leaf/galangal edge from other crus. Only 4g/L dosage, so it’s quite bracing. Always a favorite from the Côte des Blancs. — 6 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.2

2018 rosés are total fatties all over Europe. No exception here: cherry Life Savers and minerals galore. Perfect ripeness balanced by good acidity. — 9 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.4

Wow. Six days open, and still a riveting blast of black cherry and Côte de Beaune sap. A whiff of new oak has blown off with aeration. Elevated acidity matches palpable extract; a very typical 2015. This is as good as Monthelie can be. — 12 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.2

Amazingly consistent year to year. Apple blossom, subtle mineral underpinning and plenty of fresh acidity. Night harvesting here is a big plus in countering the effects of a warming climate. — 4 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.5

Old school. Truffle, black tea, game juices, mushrooms, nutmeg. Massively tannic and structured, but quite exuberant and forward enough to enjoy now (interestingly, the regular cuvée has completely shut down). Suspect this will drink well at every point over the course of a long evolution. Exceptional. — 9 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.4

A powerhouse combination of pear, fleur de sel, lees, grated spices and a “cold steel” quality that seems to be the annual signature of this cuvée. Bone dry and surgically clean; no petrol...just pure, incisive transparency. One of the greatest entry-level Alsace Rieslings you can imagine. I’ve probably underrated this, if anything. — 12 days ago