Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Medium ruby garnet , with quite a orange tinged terracotta rim . Spice tinged , red fruits , dried herbs, with touch of liquorice , tar . Quite sweet and rounded on the palate , with ripe red fruits , quite noticeable rounded sweet tannins , balanced acidity , medium plus alcohol . Slightly lifted , balsamic note . Medium length liquorice and spice tinged finish . This is fully mature and still very enjoyable . Drink now and over the next 5 years or so — 14 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Medium garnet ,medium terracotta rim . Quite spiced , dried fruits, tobacco , touch of caramel , warm earth . Smoky . On the palate quite sweet mix of red and dark fruits, red plum , dark cherry , spiced tobacco, hickory . Quite sweet on the finish , menthol hint, with a touch of caramel on the finish, slightly grippy tannin. This improved quite a lot in the glass , with more fruit noticeable , fills out quite well , better balance. Drink now and over the next couple of years. — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Quite light ruby , wide garnet , terracotta rim . Fruit forward , with red cherry , strawberry , rose , pomegranate with sweet spices , anis . On the palate lovely sweet cherry , strawberry , light red fruits , crunchy with quite fresh acidity . Polished and sweet , but very present tannins , this is still very young. Saline and sweet spice tinged finish , good length. This is drinking well, however is still very fruit driven and just improved throughout the evening . From now but will improve over the next 5-10 years and last well a further 10, especially in magnum. — 3 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium ruby , wide garnet / terracotta rim . Quite floral, violet and iris , red cherry, strawberry, cranberry and red currant . On the palate quite light and aromatic , sweet red fruits dominating, red cherry , red currant , raspberry with a slightly mineral stained chalky finish of medium length. Quite light tannins and refreshing acidity. This is showing well , very elegant and precise . Now and over the next 5-8 years — 4 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Brief , informal notes . Medium deep ruby garnet , quite narrow terracotta garnet rim . This was quite exuberant and fruit driven at first, with blackberry jam , cassis , touch of spice and wood smoke . After a while becomes a bit more serious , with mineral and a touch of coffee , seaweed notes . On the palate quite rich and dense , with dark fruits , chocolate , coffee and granite hints . Medium currant and coffee tinged finish, slightly warming alcohol . Balanced acidity and pretty gritty tannins . This is drinking well now last well a further 7- 10 years or so . — 21 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium ruby , quite wide garnet , terracotta rim . Quite spiced tobacco , red focused sous bois , warm spice , coffee and cacao , a little foursquare , rustic perhaps . On the palate better , quite juicy and rounded , spiced red plum , dark cherry , dry spice . This becomes more saline with time in the glass, balanced acidity and some slightly gritty tannins. This is probably in the middle of its drinking window , and will remain here over the next 5-10 years perhaps. Within the context of Haut Brion , this perhaps is just a little below par . — 2 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium garnet , medium wide garnet terracotta rim . Tobacco , sous bois , touch of ash and coffee . On the palate quite rounded but firm tannins , dark cassis , cedar , sous bois . Good acidity and medium grafite tinged finish . Overall a touch rustic in comparison to the other Leovilles , but this is drinking perfectly now , no rush however as this held up well in the glass,
so now and over the next 5-10 years — 3 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium ruby , garnet rim, touch of terracotta rim . Slightly dusty , animal touch , with leather , spicy and herbal , soy , iodine . On the palate quite strict , grafite , slightly more red fruit , cranberry , then blackcurrant and grafite . Slightly dusty dry tannins , balanced acidity . Slightly spicy , mineral , grafite tinged finish . This needs a bit of time to open but shows quite well , slightly herbal , and perhaps lacks a little charm , but is quite classic in style if not a great 1985. From now and over the next 10 years . On the night this was probably only ahead of the 1977 , and my least favourite of the 1980s vintages . — 23 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Quite light garnet , wide terracotta rim , more delicate and lighter than expected . High toned sweet , confected spiced strawberry nose, with a slightly smoky hint. On the palate sweet red strawberry , raspberry and red cherry notes , touches of spice and anis , but elegant and silky in texture , with very fine , rounded tannins and fresh acidity . This has good length , detailed and precise finish with anis , fruit pastels and almost chalky hints . Elegant and refined. Very distinctive, really quite unique in style , but very well made and enjoyable at the moment . Drink from now for the next 5-10 years. — 2 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Quite light garnet , wide terracotta rim . Aromatic and enticing with sweet ripe strawberry , raspberry , dried spices and fresh herbs, rose , grafite , orange rind; this really does change in the glass . On the palate lovely freshness , pure red fruits , strawberry , raspberry , touch of liquorice , dried spices . Long and detailed , herbal tinged finish , polished quite light tannins . Great now but will probably will age well over the next 5-10 — 4 months ago