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 — 13 hours ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Pale lemon color with aromas of stone fruits and blossom and spice, fruit from the Martinelli Charles Ranch, two miles in from the Pacific, aged for 12 months in 25% new oak. On the palate flavors of apple and pear with a touch of zesty lemon, crisp, with nitty vanilla notes. Nice mouthfeel, vivid acidity, medium+ finish ending with fruit, vanilla and citrus mineral character. Nice! — 7 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Deep ruby , thin pink rim . Fresh cassis , blackberry , quite spicy with a touch of vanilla, red plum . Quite open and enticing . On the palate this is somewhat linear with cool dark fruits , cassis , red plum , grafite and saline touch . Fills out well with quite grippy , cool tannins , fresh acidity , and good length with grafite , cassis finish . This is obviously not ready , however it was an enjoyable wine to drink over dinner , the freshness and cool fruit character are quite apparent , and the tannins though gritty are somewhat in the background . Though it was worth the experience , I would leave bottles a further 10 years before trying another. This is an elegant and well judged wine . — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium light ruby , garnet wide light garnet rim . On opening this was very fruit forward , strawberry, orange rind, raspberry and with some floral, liquorice and spice hints . On the palate again fruit forward , sweet strawberry , raspberry and some red cherry . Just balanced alcohol with fresh acidity . Tannins were quite rounded and sweet , it seemed to lack a little structure . Coming back to this a day later there is much more tannin which is ripe but gritty and more structure noticable . Bizarre how this happens quite often with young Barolo, they appear lighter and more fruit forward than they actually are on opening . A bit more serious too, showing more nuances . Herbal hints , with lightly smoky darker cherry , liquorice and stony, mineral hints on the medium length finish. You could drink this now (if you do what I did last night and just pop and pour), but will be better in 5 years or so and last well a further 5-10. — 5 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby garnet core with quite wide garnet rim . On the nose this shows some development with dry spices , leather , dark cherry, cedar , dried rosemary , sage with some meaty hints . On the palate there is quite a lot of structure with gritty , somewhat rustic tannins and fresh acidity . Menthol tinged dark cherry , liquorice , dried sage and dry spices . Good length and balance with fresh acidity , the alcohol though is a little warming so I would drink this on the cooler side . This is quite a structured , traditionally styled Brunello but with personality and presence . Drinking quite well and showing some development, will perhaps continue to improve over next few years and last well a further 5-10 . — 7 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.2

Solid, gritty and aromatic Fichots. Even in a forward vintage like 17 Fichots is still a bit closed at 8 years old. Needs 3-4 years as Fichots needs more time than any Pernand 1er Cru. — 9 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Pretty deep ruby , thin ruby rim . This is quite closed at first , but very focused mineral and grafite , oyster shell notes with dark blackcurrant and blackberry notes , spicy touches too . On the palate this is really focused and reserved , lots of mineral tinged black fruits , tobacco , oyster shell . Quite rich yet very good balance, fresh acidity . Ripe but gritty tannins , saline and really long finish . Accessible now , but really destined for the long term. Wait another 5-10 years , will drink well a further 20 . At Vinous Icons, Pier 60 NY, Feb 2025 — 3 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby garnet , narrow garnet rim . Quite deep spicy tobacco , cassis , redcurrant , grafite , smoky herbal notes on the nose. On the palate this is quite restrained and elegant , with a mix of red and dark fruits , cassis , blueberry , red currant , touch of menthol also . Good refreshing acidity and slightly gritty tannins , good length with grafite and tobacco stained finish . This is showing well and is probably at peak at the moment , no rush as it will stay here for another 8-10 years or so . — 7 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

No formal notes . Medium deep garnet ruby . Quite closed at first more mineral , but with some earthy, smoky notes . A bit rounder on the palate , earthy , with some cassis, red pepper , truffle notes , tobacco. Good acidity and quite gritty tannins still . Showing really well , bit more linear and strict, but enough substance and good tobacco, mineral tinged length. Drink now with a decant and over the next 5 perhaps 10 years . — 9 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium ruby garnet , quite narrow terracotta rim . Quite aromatic , sous bois , dried rose , some spice , truffle . On the palate this is lean in style , with some dried rose , red fruits , liquorice and mint . Quite dry , gritty tannin , balanced acidity . Medium length , liquorice, dried rose finish . Drinking well now and over the next 5-8 years . — a year ago