Andrew Cullimore

9.6

Medium ruby , slightly lighter rim , touch of terracotta . This is really quite complex , with more development than the others. Slightly more spiced cherry , touch of smoky tea , high toned with rose , truffle and leather . Each time you return to the glass you can find something new . On the palate this is very fresh , some earthy sous bois , red cherry , porcini , elegant and refined , very long length. Spiced cherry , earthy , truffled finish . Polished but noticeable tannins , fresh acidity , perfectly balanced , alcohol completely integrated . Really refined and elegant, enormously complex and thrilling to drink . Just starting to drink quite well with time and will probably continue at this level if not improve over the next 10-15 years — 10 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Tasted blind. Medium light garnet , showing more age than wine 1 , quite wide garnet terracotta rim . More spice , with a sweet tobacco , dried raspberry , some cherry and earthy herbal , black tea notes . This is more tertiary than 1 wine . On the palate this also has quite high acidity, lightly gritty tannin with dried cherry , herbal hints . Quite fresh herbal tinged finish . Ok length . This improved quite a bit with air , showing more fruit and floral character after a while . This is probably close to peak drinking now but no rush should continue to show well over the next 5-10 years or so — 7 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium ruby with quite a terracotta , garnet rim . Quite sweetly spiced nose , red cherries , cedar , dried spice and some strawberry coulis , earthy undertones . Pretty young and fruit forward at the moment . This is quite elegant and perfumed on the palate with lots of fresh red fruits , cedar and dried sage . Balanced acidity and ripe but slightly grippy tannins . This has good length and a saline finish . Quite young still but enjoyable at the moment , will continue to show well over the next 10 years , maybe more. At Doppo restaurant, Soho . — 10 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Medium light garnet , quite wide terracotta rim . Top shoulder ullage . Slightly herbal , old mahogany, hickory , chestnut, minty , dried fruits with sous bois underneath, hoisin . On the palate this has some sweet red fruits , touch of coffee , old wood , earthy , meaty hints . Good acidity and slightly grippy tannins . Not bad length. This bottle shows surprisingly well considering its state , and is very drinkable . Drink now , as this deteriorated quite quickly once in the glass — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

More or less similar colour , quite wide terracotta rim . Slightly more complex nose , with hickory , cedar , some vestiges of darker fruit , iodine, after a while floral, becoming quite expressive . On the palate this is denser and plusher , with more roundness and darker, riper fruit , good freshness and longer length, cedar , saline hints on the finish. This is more complete and compelling than the others . Still showing well, drink now and over the next few years . This improved with a little time in the glass which was quite impressive considering its age. — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium ruby garnet, quite thin garnet terracotta rim . Quite rich , with ripe red fruits , some tobacco , warm spiciness , cigar box , ripe cassis , sous bois , after a while touch of coffee. On the palate this also shows good roundness with ripe red and dark fruits, cassis , red plum , grafite , touch of earthiness . Balanced acidity and rounded sweet tannin . Quite juicy with a grafite edged finish . Pretty good length. This is at peak now . For now and over the next 5 -8 years. Quite generous and showy , ripe but balanced, a good showing. — 7 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Medium light garnet , terracotta with terracotta rim . Quite herbal and cedary, light sous bois , earthy . On the palate this has quite fresh acidity , slightly herbal character, light sous bois and tobacco notes, grafite , quite light tannins . Alright length and balance . Drink now , probably would have been better some years (decade ?) ago . However quite commendable for a difficult vintage from a petit chateau . Tasted at Hedonism Wines , London . — 10 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Quite deep garnet , just a hint of ruby and a wide garnet , terracotta rim. Touches of chestnut , dark fruits , earthy liquorice , dry spice and black tea . On the palate this is very classically styled , with dark liquorice tinged blackberry, raspberry , spiced black tea and menthol tinged good long length finish . Balanced acaidity and quite high , grippy tannins. With time this is beginning to show quite well , but will not doubt improve over the next 5 perhaps 10 years and last well a further 10 . Really quite classic and imposing in style , but detailed and complex. — 6 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Slightly lighter garnet core , lighter terracotta rim . Quite muted on the nose , quite herbal and spiced notes, some red plum and floral sous bois , black tea . After a while this opens up slightly , showing a bit more detail , but never jumps out and grabs your attention as other bottles have. On the palate this is better , with the roundness and slightly sweet , red plum , summer fruits , sous bois and lightly herbal , grafite tinged , saline finish of reasonable length . Quite refreshing acidity and suave tannins . On this basis drink now and over the next few years. However , there are better bottles out there . This was disappointing compared with other bottles I’ve had , though the palate was more sound and it wasn’t flawed. A bit of a perplexing bottle. — 7 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Ruby core with quite wide garnet , terracotta rim . Quite deep and reserved at first , floral , red berry , strawberry, raspberry , red cherry , very fruit forward . On the palate this is also very primary , with lots of sweet strawberry , raspberry and cherry . Really fruit driven , so young . Bright acidity , quite strict tannin frame . This is a mineral saline note after a while , lots more complexity hidden underneath all plushness of the fruit . Perfectly balanced and proportioned with a long finish . Really promising and the finest of all the wines on this night but you will need to wait for the real fireworks to begin , a wine for the future . Wait 10 years and will probably show well a further 15 -20. — a year ago