Andrew Cullimore

9.6

Medium ruby , slightly lighter rim , touch of terracotta . This is really quite complex , with more development than the others. Slightly more spiced cherry , touch of smoky tea , high toned with rose , truffle and leather . Each time you return to the glass you can find something new . On the palate this is very fresh , some earthy sous bois , red cherry , porcini , elegant and refined , very long length. Spiced cherry , earthy , truffled finish . Polished but noticeable tannins , fresh acidity , perfectly balanced , alcohol completely integrated . Really refined and elegant, enormously complex and thrilling to drink . Just starting to drink quite well with time and will probably continue at this level if not improve over the next 10-15 years — 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

8.9

Medium light garnet , terracotta with terracotta rim . Quite herbal and cedary, light sous bois , earthy . On the palate this has quite fresh acidity , slightly herbal character, light sous bois and tobacco notes, grafite , quite light tannins . Alright length and balance . Drink now , probably would have been better some years (decade ?) ago . However quite commendable for a difficult vintage from a petit chateau . Tasted at Hedonism Wines , London . — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium garnet ruby core , terracotta rim . This is quite reserved on the nose with some dried spices, cured meat , porcini , light sous bois , dried red fruits . On the palate this has quite high acidity and a linear personality, quite mineral with some red fruits , cured meats and liquorice , black tea hints . Slight gritty tannin and medium length . This is drinking well now and will continue over the next 5-10 years or so . — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium garnet core with garnet terracotta rim . Slightly more dry spice on the nose , porcini , dark tea , and dried rose . This is more tertiary on the palate too with dried mushroom , black tea , sweet dried red cherry and rose . This has quite fresh acidity and medium gritty tannins . Less body and structure than the 2012 but well balanced. This is showing well and will continue well for the next 5-8 years — a year ago

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 — 2 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

medium ruby with quite wide terracotta rim . Quite light spice filled nose at first , allspice , clove , nutmeg with some liquorice and herbal , tobacco and red plum touches. On the palate a bit leaner than the 1993 , but light dried red fruits, sous bois , tobacco and herbal notes. Good length, really nice balance and intensity with fresh acidity and melted sweet tannins . This is still showing well and can last perhaps a further 5 years or so . Quite elegant and classic in style . — 2 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

More or less similar colour , quite wide terracotta rim . Slightly more complex nose , with hickory , cedar , some vestiges of darker fruit , iodine, after a while floral, becoming quite expressive . On the palate this is denser and plusher , with more roundness and darker, riper fruit , good freshness and longer length, cedar , saline hints on the finish. This is more complete and compelling than the others . Still showing well, drink now and over the next few years . This improved with a little time in the glass which was quite impressive considering its age. — 2 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium ruby garnet, quite thin garnet terracotta rim . Quite rich , with ripe red fruits , some tobacco , warm spiciness , cigar box , ripe cassis , sous bois , after a while touch of coffee. On the palate this also shows good roundness with ripe red and dark fruits, cassis , red plum , grafite , touch of earthiness . Balanced acidity and rounded sweet tannin . Quite juicy with a grafite edged finish . Pretty good length. This is at peak now . For now and over the next 5 -8 years. Quite generous and showy , ripe but balanced, a good showing. — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium ruby with quite a terracotta , garnet rim . Quite sweetly spiced nose , red cherries , cedar , dried spice and some strawberry coulis , earthy undertones . Pretty young and fruit forward at the moment . This is quite elegant and perfumed on the palate with lots of fresh red fruits , cedar and dried sage . Balanced acidity and ripe but slightly grippy tannins . This has good length and a saline finish . Quite young still but enjoyable at the moment , will continue to show well over the next 10 years , maybe more. At Doppo restaurant, Soho . — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Medium light garnet , quite wide terracotta rim . Top shoulder ullage . Slightly herbal , old mahogany, hickory , chestnut, minty , dried fruits with sous bois underneath, hoisin . On the palate this has some sweet red fruits , touch of coffee , old wood , earthy , meaty hints . Good acidity and slightly grippy tannins . Not bad length. This bottle shows surprisingly well considering its state , and is very drinkable . Drink now , as this deteriorated quite quickly once in the glass — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium ruby garnet , medium terracotta rim . Quite reserved at first with some sweet spice and touch anis and strawberry, red cherry notes . Red plum tea , touch of seaside as well. On the palate this is quite nicely sweet with red fruits , delicate and perfumed . Cherry , strawberry , touch of anis and sweet tannin , balanced acidity and generous finish . This still comes across as quite young and fruit driven . However is giving lots of pleasure now with time in the glass . From now and over the next 10 years — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Pretty deep ruby garnet with garnet , terracotta . Quite sweet , spiced , dried fruit nose , slightly volatile nose . On the palate this is better , meaty and rich spiced dried dark fruits, plum , fig. Quite grippy tannins and balanced acidity . Good density and rich meaty finish , a little porty, pretty good length . Dense and rich , much more than expected . Still dense and really quite young, held up well in the glass , this would probably continue at this level for a further 5-10 years . — 2 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby garnet , garnet terracotta rim. Slightly sweet , roasted nose, with chestnut some sous bois , grafite , slight seaside hints. After a while a touch more herbal. On the palate quite stern dark fruits , mineral , grafite notes , quite dry tannin and ok balanced acidity . Reasonable length and sous bois , grafite tinged finish . This is still quite young though its appearance is slightly more advanced than the 1988 . Needs a decant and held up well over the 5 hours we had it open . Drink now and over the next 5-10 years. A little pedestrian overall and is outclassed by the superior 1988. — 2 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Quite deep garnet , just a hint of ruby and a wide garnet , terracotta rim. Touches of chestnut , dark fruits , earthy liquorice , dry spice and black tea . On the palate this is very classically styled , with dark liquorice tinged blackberry, raspberry , spiced black tea and menthol tinged good long length finish . Balanced acaidity and quite high , grippy tannins. With time this is beginning to show quite well , but will not doubt improve over the next 5 perhaps 10 years and last well a further 10 . Really quite classic and imposing in style , but detailed and complex. — 7 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Slightly lighter garnet core , lighter terracotta rim . Quite muted on the nose , quite herbal and spiced notes, some red plum and floral sous bois , black tea . After a while this opens up slightly , showing a bit more detail , but never jumps out and grabs your attention as other bottles have. On the palate this is better , with the roundness and slightly sweet , red plum , summer fruits , sous bois and lightly herbal , grafite tinged , saline finish of reasonable length . Quite refreshing acidity and suave tannins . On this basis drink now and over the next few years. However , there are better bottles out there . This was disappointing compared with other bottles I’ve had , though the palate was more sound and it wasn’t flawed. A bit of a perplexing bottle. — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Ruby core with quite wide garnet , terracotta rim . Quite deep and reserved at first , floral , red berry , strawberry, raspberry , red cherry , very fruit forward . On the palate this is also very primary , with lots of sweet strawberry , raspberry and cherry . Really fruit driven , so young . Bright acidity , quite strict tannin frame . This is a mineral saline note after a while , lots more complexity hidden underneath all plushness of the fruit . Perfectly balanced and proportioned with a long finish . Really promising and the finest of all the wines on this night but you will need to wait for the real fireworks to begin , a wine for the future . Wait 10 years and will probably show well a further 15 -20. — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Slightly more browning than the Rocche, more terracotta and garnet rim . Deeper and quite meaty in character , bit more porcini , cured meats , dark fruit , more mineral . More meaty and compact on the palate too , touch of anis and rose , porcini , mineral , dark fruits . Well balanced more gritty tannin and quite fresh acidity . Good iron filling , anis tinged finish . This is more sombre and dark in character less charming and more rustic than the Rocche . Drinking well now , but will continue to give pleasure over the next 8-10 years or so — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Medium light garnet core , wide light terracotta rim . This is quite evolved , with spiced old wood, touch of smoky dried meats , herbal hints , some sous bois , and dried wild strawberry . On the palate this shows more elegant red fruit focus , quite linear and refined , delicate raspberry , smoky anis tinged strawberry . High refreshing acidity and still noticeable but fine and sweet tannin . Good menthol , medicinal tinged finish . Drink now and over the next few years . — a year 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 . — 2 years ago