Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium ruby , medium wide garnet rim . Quite open and exuberante , lots of sweet red cherry, raspberry and touch of menthol and sweet spices, hickory . Quite sweet profile. On the palate this has nice spice and menthol hints , sweet red cherry fruit , ripe tannins , but with good grip, quite gritty with good length . Balanced acidity , touch of alcohol noticeable . Overall quite sweetly red fruit focussed , pure and expressive. This is showing quite well , though still young and fruit focused. Probably better in 3-5 years and will continue to show well over the next 10 years or so . — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium deep ruby with a thin garnet ruby rim . Quite closed with some grafite, hickory , cedar and crème de cassis , dark cherry , red plum , quite dense but with quite a classic , dusty profile . On the palate this is again quite classic , with crème de cassis , cedar , blackberry, plum . Good acidity and fine , gritty tannin , well balanced . Pretty good length with a saline, grafite touch. With time
in the glass this is drinking quite well , still showing dark fruit and youthfulness but at the same time quite classic and serious. Probably will improve over the next 5 years or so and last well a further 5-10 — 3 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. — 8 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Fruit exclusively from the Martinelli Charles Ranch, two miles in from the Pacific, aged for 12 months in 25% new oak. Pale lemon color with aromas of stone fruits and blossom and spice. On the palate flavors of apple and pear with a touch of zesty lemon, crisp, with nitty vanilla notes. Nice mouthfeel, long finish, vivid acidity. — a year 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 . — 2 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Pretty deep ruby with medium wide pink rim . Quite closed and mineral focused nose , with grafite , wet stone , dark cherry , blackberry and touch of toast . On the palate quite elegant dark fruits , with dark cherry , blackberry , grafite and cacao . Medium bodied with very fresh quite intense acidity and gritty , quite dry tannins . Medium length crushed rock and grafite tinged finish. This needs more time , better in 3-4 years and will last well a further 5-8 — 2 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Médium ruby , medium ruby pink rim . Needs time to open up , with spiced red cherry , cut herbs , violets , slightly toasty hints . On the palate very intense red fruits , high acidity and quite gritty tannin . Quite raw and young this , really needs time . Quite saline and mineral on the long , quite lean finish , menthol tinged finish . Needs 5-10 years really will last a further 10 . Very promising . — 2 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Slightly deeper more ruby , wide rim but brighter and redder , less garnet than the RSV . Younger looking certainly . Deeper , spicier with darker fruits on the nose , some blackberry , dark cherry , exotic spices , pomegranate tea , violets , quite exuberant and dashing . On the palate this is denser and richer , deeper more velvety fruits , dark cherry , blackberry , spice and rounded but noticeable tannin . Balanced acidity. Quite gritty finish, darker and richer , long suave dark fruit finish . Really quite primary still, though with more time this does show some more wet slate and mineral side. This grows in the glass becoming more expressive and complex , showing something new each time you come back to the glass . Enjoyable due to the richness of fruit , but probably deserves more time , very promising however , the richness and decadence of 2009 seems to suit Richebourg . Better in 5 years and will last well a further decade if not more . — 2 months 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 — 8 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 . — a year 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 . — a year ago

Andy Thomson

9.1

Lovely nose, lots of fruit! — 2 years ago

with Cheryl

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Garnet core , terracotta , browning rim . Quite tertiary with black tea , sous bois , dried cherry ,old wood , spice , dried sage . Quite good density on the palate , dried red fruits , rose , spiced dried cherry. Fresh acidity and quite gritty tannin , spiced sour cherry and black tea stained finish . This is pretty mature , but though very tertiary on the nose on the palate fills out quite well . Starting to dry out on the finish should have been drunk by now but still holding on , drink now . — 2 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Medium ruby garnet , quite light garnet , terracotta rim . Quite spicy , tobacco , earthy , sous bois tinged nose . On the palate quite strict , slightly lean red fruited sous bois , tobacco , earthy coffee tinged. Refreshing high acidity , slightly gritty , and drying tannin . Ok length and balance . Showing quite well , at peak, now and over the next 5 years . — 2 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Actually deeper colour than the 1962 and 1959 . Slightly more medicinal nose , touch of swimming pool , lightly herbal with some dried fruit . On the palate this has a drier profile , darker dried fruit , slightly astringent acidity and quite gritty , rustic tannins . Slightly dry on the mid palate , but good earthy tobacco notes . Quite dense and robust , showing good backbone and body . Reasonable length , with earthy , gritty finish . Quite dense and structured. Not elegant but quite impressive for a 76 year old wine . Now and over the next 5 or more years , though obviously won’t improve. — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

It has been a while since I’ve opened a Clemence. A favorite of mine & Sofia once upon a time. Still drink it, just not as often as I have moved to mostly Extra Brut. This is a Brut at 8g. Excellent Champagne & value at $44.99.

I believe there are only two resellers you can acquire it, one east coast & one west-K&L. You have to buy it pretty quickly once they get their container. It took several yrs building that relationship as Launois is careful about who they let resell their cuvées. In fact, it is even difficult to get in France. K&L has standing orders from some French citizens they ship back to France once they receive it. Kinda crazy.

The palate has nice mousse with lively acidity and micro oxygenation. Lime/lemon pulp w/ zest, stone fruits-white dominant, grapefruit w/ pith, bruised red/golden apples, Bosc pear, caramel, vanillin, some yeast, baguette crust, white spice, gritty, grey volcanics, chalky bits, limestone marl, oyster shells, yellow flowers/lilies, spring flowers with a little greens mixed in, very good acidy, well; made/balanced/tensioned with a smartly polished, elegant finish that lasts minutes and land on excellent minerality.

If you get to Champagne, visit. They have a huge museum of champagne/wine artifacts that date back to BC. My two pics do not show its enormity. They are about 35-40 minutes south of Reims.

They are the only producer I know of that places a rubber casket attached to the bottom of their corks. So, next to never do their cuvées have cork taint.

Enjoying it with the Jasper Hill Farms - Willoughby, buttery washed soft white cheese. Try with Rainbow Crisp crackers or warm baguette. Also, on apples with and w/o honey. — 5 months 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 . — a year 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 . — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby , quite wide garnet rim, clear and bright . Cassis , blackberry , sous bois , mint , cedar , grafite , good clarity and surprisingly fruit driven still . Good volume on the palate , dark fruits , mint , good acidity and still quite gritty tannins. Saline and grafite tinged finish . Good length . Drinking very well now and over the next 5 years . For 2002 this is showing very well, classic and surprisingly elegant, a really nice surprise! — 2 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Deep and quite opaque , narrow ruby rim . Quite a lot of wood spice though with time in the glass there is a lot underneath that oak , dark cassis , ripe blackberry and a mineral undertone . Quite round and ripe on the palate , almost ‘new world’ in style compared to some of the preceding vintages , rounded but gritty tannin , balanced acidity . Generous and round, but with balanced alcohol , good length. Dark cassis , blackberry dark cherry notes. A strong oyster shell , saline component after a while in the glass . Needs time obviously , even though this is quite round and ripe. Intense with great potential. Better in 10-15 years will last well a further 10-15. — 2 years ago