Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium deep ruby garnet with a quite wide medium garnet rim . This has quite an open personality with cigar box , earth , grafite and cedar and some spicy cassis underneath. Showing maturity and quite classic in style. On the palate suave and polished , with resolved fine tannins . There is good depth with some sous bois , but mostly mixed summer fruits , earthy dark cherry and grafite. Good length , perfectly balanced alcohol, and lovely salivating freshness . This grows in the glass , showing more facets , at a great moment , without the need for an extended decant . After a while this become a touches more smoky , hints of soy sauce , violet and sea spray. Grafite tinged saline finish . Perfect now , though no rush , best over the next 5-8 years . At Hawksmoor , Liverpool , 26th July . — 5 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Médium garnet with quite wide garnet terracotta rim. Touches of cut herbs , wild hedgerow fruit , violets , with some earthy , smoky hints . On the palate this has good density and roundness , with some ripe cherry , red plum , wild fruits and a touch of spice . Good acidity and fine , ripe tannins , good energy and freshness . Good length and a ripe red fruits, scorched earth tinged finish . Quite fresh and aromatically complex , probably the most enticing wine this evening and probably the most ready to drink. Very polished and complete. From now and over the next 10 years . — 8 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby with a medium garnet rim . Touch more sweetness on the nose , with rose , ripe cherry , red plum , raspberry , blood orange and some slightly toasty notes . On the palate this is juicy and quite sweet fruit profiled with raspberry, strawberry, quite fruit dominated . Rounded but noticeable tannins , fresh vibrant acidity and decent length . This is quite young, certainly compared to the Malconsorts , pretty sweet fruit , but overall well balanced and probably just needs a little more time . Quite a lot appears to be hidden at the moment , comes across a little one dimensional, but I think it will get there . Come back in 5-8 years, should drink well a further 10, if not more. — 8 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby , with a medium wide garnet rim . Cut herbs and some spice on the nose , sage , thyme , porcini and cedar . There is some spiced cherry fruit and rose underneath , this shows some development . On the palate there are spiced red cherries , dried herbs, gaining complexity with time in the glass. Fresh acidity and grippy tannin . Good menthol tinged finish . This is well balanced , though there is still good density the alcohol is balanced. It is showing a bit of development, the aromatics are really inviting and there is good complexity on the palate too. The last glass was the best , showing ample structure and a darker fruit character so I think this will age a bit further the tannins are still a bit noticeable, so from now (with time in the glass or decanter ) and over the next 8-12 years. At Ristorante Buca Lapi, Florence . — 8 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Slightly brighter and more ruby garnet appearance . Narrow garnet rim . This has more crunchy , cherry fruit focus , with some chalky , dried flowers , wet stone hints . On the palate this mineral note is also present but with strawberry and red cherry , a bit more structure , tannins a little more present , but still with good refreshing acidity . Lightly mineral , cherry tinged finish . Pretty decent length and freshness , though the Malconsorts does appear to have more layers . This is slightly rustic , less polished in comparison with the Malconsorts, a little more nervy and edgy . Pretty young still , I would give this a bit more time, another 3-5 years or so , and then should drink well over the following 5-10 years . — 8 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium deep lemon yellow , showing a bit of age but not unduly so . On the nose this is quite rich and ripe , some apricot , lemon peel , melted butter , sea breeze and toasted hazelnuts . On the palate this also shows that richness , with ripe yellow fruits , peach , citrus peel and toasty hazelnut . This has just enough acidity along with balanced alcohol , though quite weighty and rich in style it is also balanced by its sheer extract and intensity . Good length with toasty , yellow fruit tinged finish . Quite a rich , generous Batard , though it is overall well balanced and starting to show very well , no rush here but it’s probably in its prime drinking window . From now and over the next 5 -8 years perhaps . — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Light copper colour, hints of salmon pink , fine constant perlage . On the nose this shows strawberries and cream , sage and some baked bread notes , though is still fresh and lively . On the palate this has lightly spiced strawberry fruit , brown bread , white chocolate , good freshness and some structure . Herbal red fruit tinged , chalky finish of reasonable length. Certainly an interesting and intriguing wine , a well made sparkling that is not Champagne , obviously , but is made in that mould and shows what can be done. Already almost 10 years old this is showing at peak I would imagine , no rush , so drink over the next 3-4 years . Had a ‘home’ here in Florence . — 8 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Noticeably deep colour , deeper than all the others , medium deep ruby quite thin ruby rim . Quite herbal and deep on the nose , with darker fruit profile . Blackberry , dark plum, dark cherry , earthy herbal touches. On the palate this is quite dense and rich with dark cherry , kirsch, blackberry , and a richer frame . Quite gritty but ripe tannins , with balanced acidity . Decent lightly chalky cherry , blackberry, herbal tinged finish . Very different from all others , darker and richer , riper . However , still well made , though not that charming or , dare I say it ‘Burgundian’ , probably as expected . I believe this also needs some time , come back in 5 years and drink over the next 10 or so. — 8 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium light lemon yellow , touch of green . Quite a lot of struck match , quite young and reductive on the nose . Some ripe lemon hints , smoky yellow fruits , peach , apricot and honeysuckle. On the palate this is quite intense and structured with the citrus and yellow fruits mixed with a chalky notes . This has good length and extract and refreshing acidity with creamy mouthfeel , after a while becoming even more mineral and fresh with an intense finish. Showing pretty young still , needs a bit of time to wake up but lots of potential . Even better in 5 years or so and will last well a further 5 - 10 . — 8 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.8

Medium ruby and a thin ruby garnet rim . On the nose this shows some development with tobacco , coffee , spicy herbal tinged blackcurrant, some red plums and a touch of cocoa . Shows some quite classic Bordeaux traits , doesn’t immediately shout that it comes from a hot and pretty dry island in the middle of the Mediterranean! On the palate this shows more of the blackberry and plum fruits , dusty herbal notes with some oak spice. There is a slightly bitter hint from the tannins , and some fresh, slightly jarring acidity . However overall it’s pretty well balanced , with well integrated alcohol . This is not as round or juicy as expected , medium bodied with a reasonable tobacco , cocoa and spicy plum tinged finish. Probably at peak drinking , though no rush I don’t think it will improve much from here . Quite ambitious, a bit of a work in progress perhaps , but is certainly well made and shows what can be done . At the Westin Dragonara Resort , St Julian’s , Malta . — a month ago