Chip Hughes

9.0

Big, rich and dark...but nicely balanced and neither overextracted nor too high in alcohol. Always good value. — a day ago

Chip Hughes

8.8

Needs at least a day of aeration. Goes from simple and smelling like mediocre Hermitage Blanc to a more open, exotic profile: jasmine, chamomile, white flowers and almonds. Tannins have resolved. Not exceptional, but a very competent effort. — 14 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.3

Seamless. Roast plum, confit raspberries, country ham, game juices. Dense, yet well-structured and long on the palate. Dry farming really beginning to show its value here. — 17 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.3

Still the gold standard. Rich, elegant, persistent. Especially fresh in ‘15. — 5 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.0

Gateway Savoie? Fresh, with aromas and flavors of white flowers and citrus blossoms. A noticeable hit of RS makes it go down easy but doesn’t manage to cover for the low (for Savoie) acidity or clipped finish. A great wine for the hardcore Chardonnay crowd, though. — 11 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.3

Super fruity, energetic and pure. Cherries and minerals. Just the tiniest bit of brett adds bottom notes and complexity. Kind of perfect for what it is. — 15 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.1

I miss when Rosenblum was the shit. Coffee grounds, forest floor, porcini, wet potting soil, black tea. Entering the relaxed, savory/sweet part of its lifecycle. I always felt like a smart guy when I could score all of this wine I wanted while all the collector types drove up the price of Ridge York Creek. — 22 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.2

Proper Barbaresco from a great vintage. Right in the sweet spot: burnt sugar, quatre épices, roasted plums. The ultra-structure that all the great ‘10s have make this a likely candidate to drink well for another 10 years. Amazing that this is still in stores for $30 or less. — 9 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.3

I’m old enough to remember when Bordeaux wasn’t a Parkerized delivery system for skullbusting levels of alcohol. This reminds me of a charming, “luncheon claret”-type Right Bank thing that used to be the mainstay of good stores and restaurant wine lists: cranberry, raspberry, a touch of Cab Franc sap and herbs. The world needs more truly medium-bodied reds like this. — 14 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.0

No longer carbonic, it’s rounder and richer than in years past and is more evocative of the pure fraise side of Grenache. Superb pink wine where it’s evident someone sweated the details. — 17 days ago