Every now and then some forumites proclaim how everyone here is always talking about white Burgundy but people never talk about the unheralded star of Burgundy, Aligoté. I find that notion quite offensive and more or less an attack on a personal level (not really!), as I’ve been posting notes on our Aligoté sessions here on a semi-regular basis since the very first one that we had! Now we’re on the fifth iteration - and if people want to check out the older ones, they are here:
The Other White Burgundy aka. Aligoté
Aligoté, pt. 2: another study of 14 wines
Aligoté study, pt. 3
Aligoté study, pt. 4
While I enjoy the “traditional” expressions of Aligoté (simple, direct, bracing acidity but quite neutral fruit) and I consider them pleasant and reliable everyday whites, I rarely find them particularly interesting. They are wines I can happily drink, but maybe they are not ones I’d buy for myself. If I want something simple, mineral, rather neutral and acid-driven, I’d rather go with Muscadet as the prices of many Aligotés have slowly crept up. A good Muscadet, on the other hand is still dirt cheap! Conversely, that’s why I tend to prefer Aligotés with a bit more character and complexity rather than a crisp but linear and neutral fruit profile. Anyways, here we go again. A good bunch of different Aligotés we had here.
We also had a lovely Walter Massa Timorasso, but that bottle didn’t make it to the photo sessions.
- 2022 Domaine Fabien Coche Bourgogne-Aligoté Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (12.8.2024)
100% organically farmed Aligoté from a plot planted in the 1950's in Meursault. Fermented spontaneously, aged in old, neutral 500-liter oak barrels. Bottled unfiltered. 12% alcohol.
Medium-deep lime-green color with lemon-yellow highlights. The nose feels quite youthful and somewhat sweet-toned with aromas of cantaloupe, some ripe Golden Delicious apple, light steely mineral tones, a little bit of rubbery reduction and a primary hint of gummi candies. The wine feels broad and textural yet fresh on the palate with a medium-to-moderately full body and somewhat linear flavors of sweet Fuji apple, some mineral notes of wet rocks and incisive steely character, light grapefruit tones, a little bit of chalky bitterness and a savory hint of something salty or umami. The high acidity lends good sense of balance and structure to the wine. The finish is clean and crunchy with a medium-long aftertaste of lemony citrus fruits, some fresh red apple tones, a little bit of steely minerality, light salty nuances and a hint of cantaloupe.
A pleasant, balanced and quite ripe Aligoté that shows some surprising sense of breadth for the variety, but otherwise is a bit on the somewhat neutral and direct side. While showing good sense of freshness, I feel the fruit department is a tiny bit more ripe than I'd like it to be. However, at the same time, the overall feel is a bit simple and one-dimensional. This is a good and thoroughly enjoyable weekday white, but not really an Aligoté that'd make you notice. I hope the wine develops some depth and complexity as it ages. At approximately 15€ this is nevertheless pretty good value, all things considered.
(87 points) - 2021 Maxime Dubuet-Boillot Bourgogne-Aligoté Dorè - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (12.8.2024)
100% Aligoté Doré from lieu-dit Les Lameroses in Meursault, planted in the 1960's. Fermented spontaneously in stainless steel, aged in oak barrels (20% new) for 13 months. 12,5% alcohol.
Medium-deep and slightly hazy yellow-green appearance. The nose feels characterful, somewhat ripe and a bit funky with aromas of sweet yellow fruits and juicy apricot, some wild waxy tones, a little bit of leesy richness, light honeyed nuances, a hint of savory wood spice and a touch of sweeter toasty oak. The wine feels broad, firm and slightly funky on the palate with a medium body and nuanced, somewhat concentrated flavors of fresh Golden Delicious apple, woody notes of savory oak spice, a little bit of waxy funk, light cantaloupe nuances, a hint of stony minerality and a touch of creamy oak. The high acidity lends great sense of structure to the wine, keeping the overall feel wonderfully fresh and harmonious. The finish is ripe and rich yet still wonderfully fresh and precise with a long, rather concentrated and slightly wild aftertaste of juicy Golden Delicious apple, some waxy funk, a little bit of stony minerality, light honeyed nuances, a savory hint of wood spice and a touch of creaminess.
A harmonious, attractive and characterful Aligoté. There's a subtly funky wild edge, but the overall feel is nevertheless pretty clean and sophisticated - not natty in any way. A great combination of old-vine concentration, judicious use of oak, subtly sauvage undertones and that crisp freshness that is so typical of Aligoté. A lovely effort, recommended.
(92 points) - 2021 Ballot-Millot & Fils Bourgogne-Aligoté - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (12.8.2024)
100% organically farmed Aligoté from 50 yo vines. Fermented spontaneously in oak. 12,5% alcohol.
Pale, youthful whitish-green color. The nose feels fresh and lively with bright aromas of Granny Smith apple and white currants, some mineral notes of wet rocks, a little bit of ripe citrus fruit and a hint of herby character. The wine feels crisp and lively on the palate with a medium body and crunchy, linear flavors of Granny Smith apple, some ripe lemony tones, a little bit of steely minerality, light herby nuances, a hint of sweet Fuji apple and a touch of tangy salinity. The brisk, racy acidity makes the overall feel pretty lean and high-strung. The finish is crisp, bright and moderately long with a rather intense aftertaste of Granny Smith apple, some crunchy white currant tones, a little bit of saline minerality and light herby nuances.
A crisp, precise and quite structured Aligoté that shows good sense of freshness, but comes across as pretty lean, direct and neutral. This is a lovely, acid-driven everyday white, but that's about it. Even with the old vines and spontaneous fermentation in oak, the overall feel is quite simple, lacking the depth and nuance of the best Aligotés. Maybe the wine might pick up some breadth and complexity as it ages. Nevertheless, at just 17,50€, this is solid value for the money.
(88 points) - 2021 Simon Colin Bourgogne-Aligoté - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (12.8.2024)
100% biodynamically farmed Aligoté from a 0,22-hectare parcel planted in 1988. 12,5% alcohol. Total production 1378 bottles and 18 magnums.
Pale lime-green color. The nose feels quite understated and somewhat sweetly-fruited with aromas of ripe white fruits, some fresh red apple tones and a mineral hint of wet rocks. The wine feels crisp, direct and somewhat understated on the palate with flavors of lemony citrus fruits and fresh red apples, some crunchy whitecurrant tones, a little bit of stony minerality, light notes of white peach and a hint of something metallic. The finish is dry, crunchy and quite long with a fresh aftertaste of Granny Smith apple, some mineral notes of wet rocks and incisive steely character, light crunchy whitecurrant tones, a little bit of something metallic, a hint of salinity and a touch of lemony citrus fruit.
A pleasant but also rather simple and linear Aligoté with very little besides the tart green apple and lemony fruit flavors and crisp acidity. I do enjoy the fresh, palate-cleansing acidity here, but otherwise the wine seems a bit understated and comes across as rather one-dimensional when tasted alongside a dozen other Aligotés. Furthermore, there is a tiny bit of something metallic in the taste that distracts a bit from the pleasure, taking a minor toll on the final score. Enjoyable, but nothing memorable. Priced somewhat according to its quality at 20,67€.
(86 points) - 2021 Domaine Marc Morey & Fils Bourgogne-Aligoté - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (12.8.2024)
100% Aligoté from a 35-yo vineyard in Côte de Beaune. Fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. Bottled fined and filtered. 12,5% alcohol.
Rather pale to medium-deep lime-green color. The nose feels somewhat reductive but also wonderfully nuanced with aromas of lemony citrus fruits and stony minerality, some smoky notes of struck flint and matchstick smoke, a little bit of Granny Smith apple, light herby nuances, a hint of cantaloupe and a touch of honeyed richness. The wine feels ripe, fresh and somewhat textural on the palate with a moderately full body and intense, youthful flavors of sweet red apple, some crunchy notes of fresh white peach, light reductive notes of gunpowder smoke, a little bit of ripe nectarine, a hint of cantaloupe and a mineral touch of wet rocks. The high acidity lends a good sense of structure and energy to the wine. The finish is ripe yet crisp and fresh with an intense aftertaste of lemony citrus fruits, some stony mineral notes, a little bit of ripe cantaloupe, light sharp notes of tart Granny Smith apple, a hint of tangy salinity and a reductive touch of gunpowder smoke.
A taste, crisp and precise Aligoté where the smoky reductive nuances lend a very Coche-Dury or PYCM-like character that nicely adds to the whole without overwhelming anything. The wine tiptoes the fine line between freshness and ripeness, introducing elements from both sides in a wonderfully balanced fashion. A delightful expression of Aligoté that drinks really well right now and might benefit from a few additional years, although I don't see this wine as a keeper. I'd say drink this sooner rather than later.
(91 points) - 2021 Emmanuel Rouget Bourgogne-Aligoté - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (12.8.2024)
100% Aligoté. Bottled unfiltered. 12% alcohol.
Youthful, intense yellow-green color. The nose feels open, surprisingly ripe and quite aromatic with aromas of juicy Fuji apple, some honeyed tones, a little bit of cantaloupe, light primary pear tones, a reductive hint of sulfurous funk and a touch of chopped green herbs. The wine feels firm, lively and a bit neutral on the palate with a medium body and somewhat ripe flavors of juicy white fruits, some smoky reductive nuances, a little bit of cantaloupe, light primary notes of fresh pear, mineral hints of salinity and wet rocks and a touch of leesy creaminess. The high acidity lends good sense of brightness and precision to the wine. The finish is quite long, dry and crunchy with flavors of whitecurrant, some fresh apple, light honeyed nuances, a little bit of stony minerality, a primary hint of pear and a touch of salinity.
This has been an Aligoté that is consistently lovely and thoroughly enjoyable. This vintage, however, felt a bit more neutral than any of the vintages I've had before - and it also showed some candied primary fruit flavors, which I'm not a big fan of. At the moment this is not as terrific as the older vintages of this cuvée that I've tasted, but it might be just because this is still so youthful - I can imagine this wine getting better with some additional age. A nice and pretty serious Aligoté that just calls for a bit more aging for now. Priced according to its quality at approx. 35€.
(90 points) - 2021 Camille Thiriet Bourgogne-Aligoté du Jardin - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (12.8.2024)
100% organically farmed Aligoté Doré from a very old vineyard in Pommard and a younger (70-yo) parcel in Comblanchien. Fermented spontaneously, macerated for 3 days on skins. Aged for 1 year in oak. 12,5% alcohol. Total production 4195 bottles.
Pale, limpid lemon-yellow color. The nose feels rich, sweetish and subtly wild with aromas of peachy stone fruit, some honeydew melon, a little bit of creamy oak, light phenolic spicy nuances, a hint of ripe Golden Delicious apple, a touch of waxy funk and a whiff of zesty citrus fruit. The wine feels crisp, precise and still relatively substantial on the palate with a medium body and intense, nuanced and somewhat concentrated flavors of crunchy red apple, whitecurrant and stony minerality, some cantaloupe tones, a little bit of waxy funk, light phenolic nuances of savory and subtly bitter spice, a hint of creamy oak and a touch of smoke. The racy acidity lends great sense of freshness and structure to the wine, making the overall feel wonderfully harmonious. The finish is long, crunchy and nuanced with an intense aftertaste of cantaloupe and zesty citrus fruit, some creamy oak tones, a little bit of waxy funk, light spicy and smoky phenolics, a hint of crunchy whitecurrant and a touch of savory wood spice.
An excellent, characterful and wonderfully precise iteration of this quite idiosyncratic old-vine Aligoté. The 2022 vintage we tasted earlier this year was a bit too rich and exotic in style with a bit too little acidity and the oak still pretty much to the fore, unintegrated. This 2021, on the other hand, is a completely different beast; you can taste it is cut from the same cloth, but the wine feels less exotic and more zesty, racy - yet without losing that old-vine concentration and sense of richness. There's a tiny bit of waxy funk in the nose and on the palate, lending a subtly sauvage touch to the flavors, only adding to the complexity. A fantastic, singular Aligoté that drinks beautifully right now, but will continue to age and improve for at least a few years more. Superb value at approx. 35€. Highly recommended.
(93 points) - 2021 Paul Pillot Bourgogne-Aligoté - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (12.8.2024)
100% organically farmed Aligoté from vineyards in Remigny (60%) and Chassagne-Montrachet (40%). Average vineyard age 45 to 50 years. Fermented spontaneously. Aged in old 350-liter oak barrels. 12,5% alcohol.
Youthful and rather pale yellow-green color. The nose feels slightly reductive at first with some skunky sulfurous tones, but this quickly blows off revealing clean, ripe aromas of fresh white fruits, some crunchy red apple tones, a little bit of leesy creaminess and a hint of steely minerality. The wine feels crisp, steely and rather understated on the palate with a light-to-medium body and dry, linear flavors of ripe lemony citrus fruits and tart Granny Smith apple, some steely mineral notes, a little bit of crunchy whitecurrant and a faint hint of something metallic. The bracing acidity lends a tremendous sense of energy to the wine, but with the somewhat underwhelming fruit department makes the wine feel a bit austere. The finish is crisp, clean and somewhat neutral with a medium-long aftertaste of tart Granny Smith apple, some stony mineral notes, a little bit of lemony citrus fruit, light leesy nuances and a hint of crunchy whitecurrant.
A wonderfully fresh and precise but at the same time rather neutral and linear Aligoté that seems a bit simple and thin - not really under-ripe or green in any way, but still somewhat lacking in the fruit department. This is basically all about lemony citrus fruits, tart Granny Smith apples and racy acidity - there's not much depth or nuance to speak of. This is good if you want a refreshing glass of crisp white wine on a hot summer's day, but otherwise doesn't leave a lasting impression. Feels pricey for the quality at approx. 33€.
(85 points) - 2021 Domaine Roulot Bourgogne-Aligoté - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (12.8.2024)
100% biodynamically farmed Aligoté. Fermented and aged for 12 months in stainless steel. 11,5% alcohol.
Youthful, pale and rather neutral whitish-green color. The nose feels clean, fresh and somewhat reductive with aromas of fresh yellow apple, some smoky notes of struck match, a little bit of ripe Meyer lemon, light stony mineral tones, a hint of cantaloupe, an oceanic touch of salty sea air and a sweeter whiff of ripe yellow fruits. The wine feels precise, steely and very direct on the palate with a light-to-medium body and quite intense but also rather one-dimensional flavors of steely minerality and crunchy whitecurrant, some zesty citrus fruit notes, a little bit of saline minerality, light sharp Granny Smith apple tones and a hint of smoky reduction. The bracing acidity lends quite a bit of structure and energy to the wine. The finish is ripe and juicy yet also dry and crunchy with a moderately long aftertaste of fresh Golden Delicious apple, some steely mineral notes, a little bit of zesty citrus fruit, light salty nuances and a smoky hint of reduction.
An enjoyably crisp and zippy little white from the lighter and also somewhat underwhelming end of the spectrum. It is wonderfully brisk and precise, but also showing very little depth or complexity - at least this young. The fruit profile is quite linear and on the simple side, making the overall feel somewhat tightly-wound and a bit too young for its own good. I can imagine the wine will pick up some additional depth and nuance as it ages, so there's definitely no hurries with this wine. In its current shape the price of the wine (75€) doesn't make sense one bit, so I really hope the wine turns into something more interesting with age. At the moment the wine is a textbook example of how Aligoté wines were viewed in the past: shrill, simple and neutral - probably best in Kir.
(89 points) - 2021 Jean-Claude Ramonet Bourgogne-Aligoté - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (12.8.2024)
100% Aligoté. Aged in predominantly old oak barrels for 10 months. 12,5% alcohol.
Youthful and quite intense lime-green color. The nose feels relatively ripe, tropical and somewhat sweet-toned with expressive aromas of passion fruit, some creamy oak tones and savory wood spice, a little bit of fresh pineapple, light floral notes of apple blossom, a hint of cantaloupe, a subtly sweet touch of apple jam and a whiff of lemon rind. The wine feels fresh, airy and nuanced on the palate with a medium body and bright, dry flavors of honeydew melon and ripe yellow apple, some stony mineral notes, a little bit of sawdusty wood, light pineapple nuances, a hint of vanilla pod and a touch of citrus fruit. The high acidity makes the overall feel enjoyably fresh and structured. The finish is dry and fresh with a rather long aftertaste of ripe yellow apple, some stony mineral notes, a little bit of creamy oak, light woody or sawdusty nuances of savory oak spice, a hint of tart pineapple and a sweeter touch of apple jam.
A nice, tasty and balanced Aligoté with good sense of freshness and a subtle kiss of oak that lends a slightly creamy and vaguely tropical edge to the otherwise more zesty fruit flavors. The overall feel is still maybe a bit nervous and slightly all over the place - although the wine is quite enjoyable at the moment, I can see the wine benefiting from a few additional years in a cellar. While not as terrific as Ramonet's 2021 Bouzeron, this is still a nice and promising Aligoté. Just let it wait for a couple of years more.
(90 points) - 2021 Jean-Claude Ramonet Bouzeron - France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Bouzeron (12.8.2024)
100% Aligoté (exclusively Aligoté Doré, according to some sources) from vineyards in Bouzeron. Aged for 14 months in oak. 12,5% alcohol.
Youthful and quite intense yellow-green color. The nose feels maybe a bit restrained but also quite fine-tuned with layered aromas of fresh pineapple, some sawdusty oak tones, light smoky notes of struck matchstick, a little bit of sweet Golden Delicious apple, a nutty hint of almond paste, a youthful touch of ripe pear and a whiff of creamy oak. The wine feels firm, precise and somewhat concentrated on the palate with a medium body and nuanced flavors of cantaloupe and stony minerality, some crunchy Golden Apple tones, a little bit of creamy oak, light reductive notes of flint smoke, a hint of tangy salinity and a touch of savory wood spice. The brisk, racy acidity lends great sense of structure to the wine and serves as a nice counterpoint to the sense of concentration. The finish is long, dry and complex with an intensely-flavored aftertaste of tangy salinity and steely minerality, some crunchy red apple, light creamy oak tones, a little bit of nutty wood, a hint of fresh apricot and a touch of smoky reduction.
A lovely, nuanced and still quite tightly-knit Aligoté with great sense of depth and intensity. The woody notes do not dominate, but are still somewhat to the fore - and I'd rather have them a bit more in the background. I can see the wine losing some of its reduction and integrating those woody nuances better with the fruit flavors, which is why I'd let the wine age a handful of years more - even if it is pretty lovely already now. This is definitely a step up in intensity, depth of flavor and sense of structure after the 2021 Ramonet Bourgogne Aligoté. Terrific stuff with upside. Priced according to its quality at 37,20€.
(92 points) - 2017 Benoit Ente Bourgogne-Aligoté - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (12.8.2024)
100% biodynamically farmed Aligoté from three parcels planted in 1949, 1953 and 2002 in Puligny-Montrachet. Aged for 18 months in oak barrels, then blended into tanks and left to age for another 6 months. Bottled unfiltered. 12% alcohol. Total production 8990 bottles.
Youthful, pale yellow-green color. The nose feels a bit understated but also wonderfully nuanced with layered aromas of zesty citrus fruits and salty sea air, some creamy oak tones, light evolved notes of beeswax, light ripe apricot nuances, a sharp hint of crunchy Granny Smith apple, a touch of savory spice and a whiff of fresh white peach. The wine feels ripe and somewhat concentrated yet relatively airy on the palate with a medium body and intense flavors of zesty citrus fruits and fresh apricot, some developed creamy nuances, a little bit of crunchy red apple, light mineral notes of wet rocks and salinity, a hint of savory wood spice and a touch of beeswax. The high acidity lends the wine a great sense of structure, freshness and intensity. The finish is crisp and lively with a long aftertaste of tart Granny Smith apple and lemony citrus fruits, some saline mineral notes, a little bit of chalky bitterness, light woody nuances of savory oak spice, a hint of ripe peachy fruit and a mineral touch of wet rocks.
A wonderfully fresh, structured and intense Aligoté that over-delivers for what one might normally expect from this often derided variety. The wine shows an impressive sense of depth, complexity and minerality along with its great acid structure. It is starting to show the first signs of age with its evolved creamy nuances and hints of beeswax, but at the same time the overall feel remains very youthful and fresh. This is pretty amazing now, but I can see the wine still evolving and improving further from here. The best of the three Benoît Ente Aligotés we tasted (2017, 2018, 2020) and among the best Aligotés I've tasted. Yet still, I find the current price (approx. 90€) a bit too high for the quality. This is outstanding, but maybe not THAT outstanding.
(94 points) - 2018 Benoit Ente Bourgogne-Aligoté - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (12.8.2024)
100% biodynamically farmed Aligoté from three parcels planted in 1949, 1953 and 2002 in Puligny-Montrachet. Aged for 18 months in oak barrels, then blended into tanks and left to age for another 6 months. Bottled unfiltered. 12,5% alcohol. Total production 9173 bottles.
Pale lime-green color. The nose is absolutely horrible with a huge hit of mildew and dusty attic. I can't remember the last time when I've had a wine so badly corked as this! (NR/flawed) - 2020 Benoit Ente Bourgogne-Aligoté Antichtone - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté (12.8.2024)
100% biodynamically farmed Aligoté from three parcels planted in 1949, 1953 and 2002 in Puligny-Montrachet. Aged for 18 months in oak barrels, then blended into tanks and left to age for another 6 months. Bottled unfiltered. 12% alcohol. Total production 7800 bottles.
Pale lime-green color. The nose feels crisp, sharp and very youthful with aromas of fresh white peach, some stone dust, light sawdusty notes of untoasted wood, a little bit of crunchy whitecurrant, a hint of salty liquorice, a touch of leesy creaminess and a zesty touch of grapefruit. The wine feels rather broad but still pretty airy on the palate with a medium body and nuanced flavors of ripe white fruits and fresh red apple, some woolly tones, a little bit of leesy creaminess, light sweet-toned yellow fruits, a hint of oak spice and a candied touch of primary fruit. The moderately high acidity keeps the wine enjoyable in balance. The finish is lively and quite crunchy with a rather long aftertaste of tart Granny Smith apple and ripe citrus fruit, some saline mineral tones, a little bit of leesy creaminess, light sawdusty notes of untoasted wood, a hint of fresh white peach and a touch of grapefruit.
A nice but somewhat undistinguished Aligoté. The wine shows good sense of balance and nuance, yet still the wine comes across as somewhat underwhelming and neutral compared to the amazing 2017 Benoît Ente Aligoté that was tasted at the same time. This was just a nice wine, but nothing special to write home about. Ridiculously poor QPR at approx. 70€.
(88 points) - 2018 Vigneti Massa Derthona - Italy, Piedmont, Colli Tortonesi (12.8.2024)
100% Timorasso made with fruit sourced from all Walter Massa vineyards. Cold-soaked with the skins for about 48 hours before fermentation, fermented spontaneously, aged for 12 months on the lees in stainless steel tanks. 13,5% alcohol.
Luminous, medium-deep neon yellow-green color. The nose feels rich, fragrant and vaguely Riesling-ish with layered aromas of nectarine and beeswax, some ripe Golden Delicious apple tones, a little bit of honeyed richness, light herby nuances, a hint of apple jam, a touch of lemon curd and a floral whiff of apple blossom. The wine feels ripe, rich and slightly oily on the palate with a full body and intense flavors of honeydew melon and stony minerality, some floral spice, light apple jam tones, a little bit of nashi pear, a hint of beeswax and a touch of juicy nectarine. Despite its quite substantial and somewhat viscous overall feel, the wine comes across as wonderfully balanced and structured with its impressively high acidity. The finish is rich, fresh and juicy with a long, youthful aftertaste of sweet Golden Delicious apple, some savory spice, light steely mineral tones, a little bit of acacia honey and beeswax, a floral hint of apple blossom and a touch of juicy apricot.
A rather ripe yet still remarkably fresh, balanced and structured vintage of Massa's Derthona. With its somewhat Riesling-like aromatics, slightly viscous and oily texture and impressive sense of structure, this is simply a textbook Timorasso. It's remarkable how even in such a warm vintage Massa manages to coax out enough freshness and structure from his Timorasso grapes so that his wines don't come across as heavy or ponderous despite their impressive sense of substance. This is darn good stuff. Terrific now, but will evolve and improve over the next handful of years - maybe even longer. Highly recommended.
(92 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
