Alex Hughes

8.6

This is a 1995- Past it’s prime but has held up well considering- red cherry core with a lot of tertiary - dried leaves, leather, chocolate, and secondary of toasted oak. Merlot element gives it a little too much fleshiness but the wine has a nice silky texture. Overall, a little out of balance with the oak over powering the fading fruit. — 2 years ago

Alex Hughes

9.3

Very enjoyable. Lots of red, blue and slightly dark fruits, followed by lavender, toasted oak and cigar box (that is very well integrated) and a notable amount of Bordeaux-like graphite. Intensity is med (+) on the nose and palate, medium bodied with a slightly inky weight, and only medium alcohol (impressive). The finish is long and complex. . — 3 years ago

Alex Hughes

8.8

A Pinot that wants to be a Merlot. I still enjoyed it this one time. The alcohol is a whopping 14.7% but I didn’t get too much heat. Dark fruit. Full and smooth. — 3 years ago

Alex Hughes

9.1

Unique and expressive wine- sound all the way around. — 2 years ago

Alex Hughes

9.3

Outstanding example of Savennieres. — 2 years ago

Alex Hughes

9.3

Had this at Batard in Tribeca last night.. a very interesting wine. Had a smoky, flinty reductive character (reminded me a bit of Dag Selix) but with a rich mouth texture. Finish was long. Very enjoyable.
— 3 years ago

Alex Hughes

9.3

Alex had this 3 years ago

Alex Hughes

8.7

Evidently, even Ridge’s chardonnays need a long time to age. The oak on this is still way too pronounced for my taste.. Wood juice. — 2 years ago

Alex Hughes

9.3

Dark cherry core with lots of floral and tertiary. Med + tannins, high acidity, med + finish. Wine has a lots of character. Very enjoyable. — 2 years ago

Alex Hughes

9.7

2004 Bruno Giacosa Le Rocche Falletto Riserva:

pale garnet color with notable tearing.
Initial impressions upon opening: Still a little closed. . . medium intensity of cherry, rose petal, balsamic, orange spice herbs (rosemary, oregano), fig, tar, tea, eucalyptus, Beachwood. On the palate, high acid, high alcohol, light-body, really finely grained tannins - polished - and high intensity of flavors echoing the nose but in an ethereal body that feels weightless. The finish is very long. Seems to end but then comes back for a second and third lap.
After 2 hr decant: nose opening up - aromas similar but medium (+) to pronounced with an added cola element and anise.
After 4 hrs: more tea and forest floor. The second day, it showed a lot more tertiary notes.

I enjoyed it most at a 2 hr decant.

Overall, it is a brilliantly balanced wine with a ton of complexity and potential. Drinking it this early though is to cut it short. Better to wait another 10+ years and enjoy it at its fullest. — 3 years ago