Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Quite pale colour , light straw . Quite discreet on the nose at first , a bit o candle wax , lime juice , and wet wool . Quite classic and showing a little maturity . On the palate this is reasonably intense though elegant with lime syrup , touch of vanilla , lots of freshness still , but a lightly creamy mid palate and good length with lightly toasty finish . This is perfect now but will last well a further decade I would imagine . At Guy Savoy , Caesars Palace , Las Vegas — a day ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.6

Quite light ruby , with a wider garnet , terracotta rim. Really aromatic and open , starberry jam , raspberry , dried flowers , dried rosemary , earthy spices , orange rind and black tea. On the palate this has a juicy red fruit character , raspberry and strawberry preserve , earthy notes , liquorice touches , and herbal bitters . Very fine , slightly grippy tannins , with extract and substance on the finish , lively even though the acidity isn’t that high. Long and balanced on the finish , red fruits , herbs and aromatic bitters . Shows already some development, but will continue to show well over the next 10 years if not more . Elegant and charmingly aromatic , lovely balance and showing no excess weight or heat form the 15% alcohol , quite a feat . — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.6

Tasted Blind. Maybe slightly lighter appearance than 1 , with ruby centre and lighter garnet rim . Slightly more floral in tone, touches of spice and elegant redder fruits . The most aromatic of all coming back to this . On the palate this has lovely red fruits , very precise with a juicier mouthfeel , velvety tannins and refreshing acidity . Long very well balanced finish, slightly saline hint. Long and very pretty . Tonight more aromatic , more joyful than all others , long and detailed , in a lovely place now and over the next 10-15 years. Margaux ? — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium deep ruby , bright ruby rim . Exuberant and open from the first with tobacco , cedar , deep crème de cassis , violets . On the palate this is intense and richly fruited but remains really well balanced , with great freshness . Spicy creme de cassis , blackberry , grafite , really quite classic. Reminds me of St Julien with the radiance , sunshine and brightness of Napa. Fresh acidity , ripe but grippy tannins , excellent length and balance , grafite , cassis tinged finish. Lovely now , but still quite youthful, from now and over the next 10 -15 years. At Guy Savoy, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas — a day ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium lemon yellow . Quite closed at first , with some toasted brioche and touch of lemon peel , white flowers, stem ginger , quite rich impression . On the palate this is quite creamy and rounded , candied peel , honey , rich pastries , with quite high mineral tinged acidity . Good long , mineral tinged finish . Needs a bit more time though I don’t get the feeling this will be as profound or as long lived as the 2012. Better in 5 years and will continue to drink well a further 10. — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Tasted Blind. Again very similar appearance with ruby centre still , slightly thinner garnet rim . Different on the nose and on the palate to the others . Sweeter more toasty notes , earthy also , tobacco touches , bonfire , fire side hints. On the palate this has a spicy note , with a mix of red and black fruits , that earthy fireside hint . Good tobacco tinged finish . Juicier tannins , and balanced acidity . Really poised and pretty , spiced fruits, perfectly balanced . Lovely to drink now , though will give another decade of enjoyment . Haut Brion ? — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium ruby garnet , medium garnet rim . This is quite aromatic with dusty summer fruits , tobacco , burnt embers , quite classic . On the palate this is quite strict with refreshing acidity , spicy mix fruits , slightly gritty tannins. Quite good length , with dusty , grafite tinged finish . Quite classic and lean in style , with good balance and length . Perfect now and over the next 10 years . — 21 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium ruby garnet , with quite thin light garnet rim . Quite open and lively , with spicy hedgerow fruit , touches of tobacco, some floral hints too , quite charming . On the palate this is quite lean , with more of those red plum , raspberry notes , lightly herbal touches. However this fills out quite well on the mid palate . Quite fresh acidity , and delicate tannins . Reasonable herbal tinged red fruit finish . This is showing well , with a suave red fruit, herbal tinged personality . From now and over the next 5-8 years . — 23 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Tasted blind. Again medium deep ruby with medium wide garnet rim . Again slightly aloof , showing a touch of herbaceous blackcurrant , mineral and slate notes . Probably the most closed of all coming back . Quite deep and rich again , mineral , blackcurrant, wet stones . Muscular tannins and balanced acidity , deep with a slight herbaceous touch on the decent finish . Latour ? Compared with the rest this is slightly pedestrian, even though it is still an excellent wine it’s not as thrilling as its Pauillac stablemates Lafite or Mouton. Perhaps needs even more time , come back in 5 years and will last well a further 10 -15. — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Tasted blind. Medium ruby garnet , medium garnet rim . Quite classic and elegant, with cigar box , grafite and some dried earth , some slightly toasty notes also . On the palate this shows good balance , fresh acidity , classic blackcurrant , cigar box , earthy touch . Good depth and length , grafite tinged finish , quite correct and no extra sweetness or weight . Good length and a spicy , mineral , blackcurrant tinged finish . Lafite ? Still young , really well balanced. From now and over the next 10 to 15 years. This was actually the Mouton , which was a great surprise, but certainly a pleasant one ! — a month ago