Andrew Cullimore

8.7

Quite deep ruby . Dark plum , dark cherry fruits with a herbal element , rosemary , thyme. On the palate , ripe blackcurrant and dark cherry, slightly sweet attack , medium body , ok acidity , rounded tannins , balanced alcohol . Bit short on the finish . Ok but nothing special , was expecting a bit more . Drink now and over the next 3 -4 years. — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Medium ruby with a bright ruby rim . Nice slightly spicy blackberry , blueberry , cassis touches with an earthy, grafite tinge . On the palate shows good balance , and quite high refreshing acidity , more red fruits , with cranberry and red currant complementing the blackberry, grafite and scorched earth notes . Quite saline on the palate with ripe tannins . Ok length not complex or intense but well judged. This is still quite young , enjoyable now though will hold perhaps a further 5-8 years . All considered this is an enjoyable and commendable 3rd wine. — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.5

Medium ruby , quite wide rim . Quite light spicy , peppery nose , redder fruits and less austere , slightly sweet oak note. Quite high fresh acidity , lighter profile , less austere with less rough tannins. Ok length , but quite noticeably different style from the wines before, lighter and certainly less classic /serious than the others . This is probably best drunk now and over the next few years, little improvement from here — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.2

Médium ruby /garnet slightly less bright that the first . Slightly spicier , less attractive nose than 1990. Less ripe fruit , more cedar , grafite notes, touch of volatility . Appears more mature also. Comes across slightly awkward , slightly pinched acidity , rather rustic tannin . Not enough fruit to cover the structure. Should be drunk now , will only go downhill from here — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Medium deep ruby , quite young looking . Some dry , wood spice at first then raspberry, red cherry . Quite sweet on the palate , cherry , touch of anis and mint . Quite rich and generous , firm gritty tannins , touch of alcohol warmth noticeable . Good balanced acidity . Showing pretty young still , s bit rustic in style , showing the warmth of the vintage . Needs a bit more time , better in 3–5 years and will last well a further 5-8 — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Deep ruby , garnet thinner rim . Quite deep fruits again . Spicy fruit darker in profile than the 1998 . But in style quite similar to the 1998, not the austerity or classic profile of the 1995 or 1996. Redder lighter fruits again , touch of spice and tobacco. A bit more stuffing than the 1998 , bit more tannin noticeable, with good acidity . This is better balanced than the preceding wine , has more complexity with quite good length on the slightly saline tinged finish. Certainly aromatically the youngest wine in the tasting , this can be drunk now though will improve over the 5 years perhaps and last well a further 5-10. — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Slightly deeper ruby garnet , narrower rim . Deeper and younger , touch of wood smoke then quite ripe black fruits , rounder with better definition on the nose than the 1994 . More degraded cassis and grafite noticeable than the wine before, tobacco , touch of seashell , marine influence comes though . On the palate the fruit fills out better than the 1994, quite dark and serious , grafite , tobacco and cedar , however the tannin is less rustic and better integrated . Nice balancing acidity. This has quite good length and is showing well now though could age a little longer. Probably is best drunk over the next few years — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium deep ruby , garnet rim. Quite floral , touch of dark cherry, black tea , anis , menthol and mineral touches . On the palate darker fruit , dark cherry , blackberry, orange rind, Quite refreshing acidity , rounded but noticeable tannin . Long mineral finish . Elegant and refined , still young . Better still in 5 years and will hold well a further 8-10 — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.8

This is the ‘vinification en grappes entières’ PN…ie whole bunch fermentation , which doesn’t exist on Delectable ..
Quite light ruby appearance . Fresh and quite floral nose with light red berry notes , cranberry , red currant and red cherry, an underlying herbaceous quality also. On the palate quite lean but fresh red fruits , red cherry and red currant predominately, with some red rose notes . Nice refreshing acidity and light tannins , with that slightly herbaceous tinge. Drink over the next few years . Nicely done with a lightness of touch to produce a drinkable , refreshing, uncomplicated style . — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Quite deep ruby slightly narrower rim . This is more closed than any of the previous wines . Quite austere and more mineral , grafite notes . Quite serious on the palate with mineral and dusty cassis , cedar . Good refreshing acidity , slightly dry gritty tannins noticeable . This probably shows the best balance of the 4 so far , all the parts seem better integrated. Dark cassis , cedar and grafite , though not the marine/seashell influence of the 1995. Better length than all the previous wines . This will go further and is probably in the middle of its drinking window, from now and onwards for another 10 years perhaps ? — a month ago