Chip Hughes

9.2

Côtes Catalanes as of this vintage. Riesling-like stone fruit blossoms, lime leaf, galangal, lemongrass, chamomile. Savory and saline, then tender and refined. 12% alc. A miracle, given the blazing hot growing season. #rocdesanges #roussillon #côtescatalanes — 6 years ago

Chip Hughes

9.3

To my taste, the best year-in, year-out red of French Catalonia. The confit red fruits, pie spice, bramble and wood smoke on the nose make you think it’s going to be a sledgehammer...and then it’s all elegance, filigree and lift on the palate, as it’s only 12.5% alcohol. Simple, non-interventionist vinification, but none of that natural bullshit. Everything in perfect order. #rocdesanges #roussillon #grenache #syrah #carignane — 6 years ago

Chip Hughes

9.5

Achingly pure, filigreed and delineated...not the words you associate with Roussillon wine. But old vines, careful bio viticulture and the daring to harvest at the precise arrival of ripeness (13%) make for a modern-day version of iron fist in velvet glove. And on top of all that, the Catalan qualities shine through more and more with each successive vintage. Fraises, bramble, confits of tiny red fruits and the persistent haunt of black, low pH schist. Extraordinary. #rocdesanges #grenache #carignane #roussillon #catalonia — 6 years ago