After the vacation, we return to old habits and taste great wines.

The Charles Heidsieck 1995 Blanc des Millenaires is, as always, the perfect ripe Champagne with white chocolate, white nougat, brioche, some butterscotch, medium to full body, long finish and perfect balance. The Champagne is lush, complex, dense and mineral and needs enough air. 19.5/20 points.

The W.E. Frank 2018 Riesling Hipping is a power Riesling with character and has herbs, apricot, peach, quince, phenolic notes, full body, long finish, balance, and some tannin. 18.5/20 points.

The Molitor 2015 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese*** (white capsule) has a complex nose with apricot, orange zest, herbs, Earl Grey, and a full body. The wine is elegant and perfectly balanced. 19.3/20 points.

The Joseph Phelps 2004 Insignia has a slight fruit sweetness, but is less sweet than more recent vintages. The wine has cassis, blackberry, full body, light animalism, a long finish, high density, good balance and is decidedly mineral. 18.3/20 points.