August 2025 2 Whites – Everyday
Gentil HUGEL 2018 – A kaleidoscope of grapiness
Produced exclusively from hand harvested grapes in predominantly clay and limestone vineyards, from a dozen of the most favored localities in and around Riquewihr. Gentil “Hugel” allies the suave, spicy flavour of Gewurztraminer, the body of Pinot Gris, the finesse of Riesling, the grapiness of Muscat and the refreshing character of both Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner.
THE VINTAGE
If the short crop of 2017 caused a lot of frustration, 2018 wiped it out completely with a mythical year. This cult vintage to be took a while to start, though, with a late budding on April 10th. But the warm conditions, continued long after the end of harvest treated the vine to offer us an unprecedentedly early vintage. Blooming completed on June 5th after 10 days! Ultra-fast canopy development had us run behind our vines all season long. Harvest started on September 5th (record early date) with quite a few gems made; the Pinot Noirs and the sweet wines are the true stars of this remarkable vintage. 2018 is a warm year, but without excess. 2018 vintage will be a great one!
QUICK VIEW
The perfect introduction to Alsace wines as it combines the qualities of all our white varietals. This wine revives an ancient Alsace tradition that wines assembled from noble grape varieties were called “Gentil”. Gentil “Hugel” allies the suave, spicy flavour of Gewurztraminer, the body of Pinot Gris, the finesse of Riesling, the grapiness of Muscat and the refreshing character of Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner.
VINEYARDS & VINIFICATION
A kaleidoscope of grapiness, produced exclusively from hand harvested grapes in predominantly clay and limestone vineyards, from a dozen of the most favored localities in and around Riquewihr. A cool and long growing season gives this unique dry wine great finesse and unequalled drinkability. The grapes are taken in small tubs to the presses, which are filled by gravity, without any pumping or other mechanical intervention. After pressing, the must is decanted for a few hours, then fermented in temperature-controlled vats (at 18 to 24°C). The wine is racked just once, before natural clarification during the course of the winter. The following spring, the wine is lightly filtered just before bottling, and the bottles are then aged in our cellars until released for sale. The whole production of this wine is closed with DIAM the cork without the risk of cork taint.Alcohol level: 12.7°
Residual Sugar (g/l): 4.3
Acidity (g/l): 6.06
pH: 3.2
Age of vines: 26
Yields: 65 hl/ha
Grapes: Gewurztraminer 21.6%, Pinot Gris 18.4%, Sylvaner 21.4%, Riesling 23.3%, Pinot Blanc 10.5%, Muscat 4.8%
Tasting notes by Serge Dubs, World’s Best Sommelier 1989.
It was a great pleasure to taste the Gentil 2018, such a wonderful year with a nice maturity and a healthy harvest of grapes that presented their flavour and character with purity and honesty. For this very fine year, the Gentil has produced blends of Alsace grape varieties that are all young and dashing, pale yellow with the green highlights of lime tree foliage and primrose and that wonderful sparkle and crystalline youthful and alert sheen.
The bouquet is youthful and refreshing, spontaneously expressing an agreeable aroma of green apple, pear, lychee, passion fruit, rose and the lightest touch of muscat.
On the palate
Cicada Rouge by Chante Cigale, Vin de France 2024
Grape Varieties: Grenache Noir 80%, Carignan 20%
Classification: Vegetarian, Vegan
A robust, fruit-forward red from the Southern Rhône.
PRODUCTION
Alex Favier sources the grapes for his Vin de France Rouge from land the family owns in the Vaucluse. Grapes for this come from 2 lieu-dits in Travaillan to the west of Gigondas. These include La Marteillère with clay soil for the Grenache and L’Hers on limestone for the Carignan. The vines are 30 years old. The grapes are hand-harvested and de-stemmed. Grenache undergoes a short maceration in concrete, and the Carignan is aged in 5 year old Burgundy barrels to round out the tannins.
TASTING NOTE
Fresh, ripe red berries with a touch of forest floor on the nose. The wine features robust flavours of red and black cherries, a pinch of spice, and some smooth tannins. It is definitely punching above its modest Vin de France classification.
FOOD MATCH
Great on its own or with pasta, grilled lamb and ratatouille.
CICADA BLANC BY CHANTE CIGALE, VIN DE FRANCE 2024
FRH204 DOMAINE CHANTE CIGALE RHÔNE, FRANCE 13% | 6 x 75cl | Cork
Grape Varieties: Viognier 30%, Piquepoul Blanc 30%, Grenache Blanc 40%
Classification: Vegetarian, Vegan
Cicada takes its name from the famed ‘singing cicadas’ of Provence and the wine too sings of the warm vineyards of the south.
Boutinot WINES
PRODUCTION
An unusual blend of Viognier (30%), Picpoul Blanc (30%) and Grenache Blanc (40%). The grapes are sourced from clay limestone soils in Richerenes in the Vaucluse for the Grenache Blanc and Picpoul, with the Viognier sourced in the Northern Rhône (so the wine is classified as Vin de France). The wine is vinified in stainless steel, with a short maceration of one week. Alex Favier then puts the final blend together.
TASTING NOTE
Easy-drinking, unoaked and a classic french-style table wine. It presents citrus and pear on the nose with citrus flesh. There is nice weight on the palate, more ripe pear and some silky minerality on the finish.
FOOD MATCH
Coconut flavoured Thai and Vietnamese dishes, or as a delicious foil to barbecued or grilled mackerel.
