Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium deep ruby , quite thin garnet rim . Aromatic and open at the start , dried herbs , rosemary , thyme , hedgerow , dried dark cherry , black tea , black pepper and touch of anis. On the palate this is quite rich , but with refreshing acidity , dried dark fruits, black tea and dried wild herbs , hedgerow notes . Quite fine tannins and surprisingly integrated alcohol with a long dried rose , herbal tinged finish . This is perfect now but no rush though is unlikely to improve, from now and over the next 5 -8 years . A unique take on Valpolicella , complex, lively and though
Weighty is extremely well balanced . — 7 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium deep ruby garnet core , quite narrow garnet ruby rim. Grafite , cassis , deeper , darker fruit than the 2017. Blackberry and some ash and tobacco. On the palate this is deeper, with more darker fruit also, grafite , cassis and with a roundness and richness that the 2017 doesn’t have . Quite fresh acidity and gritty tannins , good length with grafite and cassis freshness . This is showing well but can still improve over the next 5 or so years and will last well over the next 10 years if not more . Quite refined , complete and well balanced for Sociando Mallet — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.7

Medium deep ruby with quite a thin bright ruby garnet rim . On the nose this is quite dense and ripe , with cassis , blackberry , dark chocolate , dark cherry , and touch of toasty oak. The palate is a little harsh, slightly angular acidity and grippy tannin . Blackberry and dark cherry . A little forced with the alcohol a touch noticable too. Perhaps a bit short on the , grafite , cocoa tinged finish. This is quite serious and structured in style . Might improve over the next 5 years or so , and keep well over the next 10, I just worry that this may never fully integrate the acidity and tannin before it looses its fruit . — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Quite a healthy ruby garnet core and thin garnet rim . Quite herbal and funky on the nose at first , then with spiced cherry, pomegranate, leather and dried sage. On the palate this has sweet red fruits , pomegranate and high acidity , fine tannins and a decent dried herb tinged finish . This is drinking well now and will continue to do so over the next 5 years — 10 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Quite a deep colour , deep garnet , with a medium wide garnet rim . Needs time to open , quite discreet but quite deep and dark on the nose , with some blackberry tinged , liquorice , dark cherry , earthy sous bois . This opens up after a while to show more floral influences, lighter , redder fruits . On the palate this is quite dense , with a blackberry , dark cherry hint , earthy , mineral with quite grippy tannins . Good volume and density . Balanced acidity and earthy , mineral tinged finish. This needs time and improved quite a lot with air but really needs a few more years in the cellar , maybe come back in 5 years and will last well at least another 10. Promising . — 10 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Medium ruby , quite light garnet rim . Lightly herbal on the nose , with grafite , cool cassis , some redcurrant , red plum and violet . On the palate quite spicy and more red fruited , red currant , light cassis , red plum , grafite and tobacco touches . Fresh acidity and medium grippy tannin , with a grafite , cool redcurrant , light cassis finish of reasonable length . Quite light in style , a little green , rustic but refreshing and enjoyable. Don’t see this being particularly long lived but drink from now and over the next 10 plus years . — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.7

No formal notes. Medium , deeper lemon yellow , certainly deeper than the Pouilly Fuissé. Quite rich , slightly smoky , ripe citrus . Also similar no the palate , quite dense with spiced citrus , touch of vanilla , ok acidity but just slightly flat , could do with a bit more freshness , quite short finish . A bit simple , and a bit of disappointment. Drink from now and over the next 5 years perhaps longer, but this doesn’t appear to have the extract or freshness to age that long. — a month 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. — 10 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

From half bottle . Medium light garnet . This is quite closed at first , cool sous bois , touch of dry spice and some dried cherry, a bit difficult to read. Touch smoke , black tea , grafite and earthy notes after a while . On the palate this is better with fresh dark cherry , raspberry , blackberry , touch of liquorice and some earthy , grafite notes . Quite serious with quite grippy tannins still , touch of bitterness but balanced fresh acidity . Quite good sweetness on the mid palate and decent length , earthy finish . Gains in intensity and complexity with time in the glass . Still pretty young and tannic , like a lot of 2005s . Needs a bit of time to open, but should last well a further 5-8 years maybe longer , though this may never completely integrate those tannins. — 24 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium light lemon yellow. Quite open and fruited at first with pear , quince , white flowers, then after a while slightly smoky , chalky , wet stones . On the palate this is strict and mineral , much more so than the nose indicates. Green apple , pear and quince , lemon peel. Quite refreshing , sharp acidity , good wet stone , grafite , green apple tinged finish. Young needs another few years and will last well another decade maybe longer . — a month ago