Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Quite light garnet core with a wide watery garnet rim . Quite reserved and closed at first , with light red currant , herbal wild strawberry , ripe red cherry and earthy , dry spices . On the palate this has quite a rustic , tannic profile for a simples Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits , with quite fresh acidity but has enough cool strawberry , raspberry , red currant and earthy sous bois to fill out on the palate . Balanced alcohol and reasonable length , with a hint of bitterness . Pretty old school and rustic in style but certainly individual and has personality. In this vintage at least there is just enough mid palate to deal with the extended aging in oak . This does need a little time to open up and requires food and arguably needs a little more time , though I do worry that with more time in bottle it will loose the little fruit that it still has . So drink now and over the next 5 years or so . Overall probably the best red I have had from Chateau de Villars Fontaine . — 8 hours ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Slightly deeper and brighter colour than the 2004 , younger looking . More ruby with a garnet rim . Really aromatic and floral , violet , mint , spiced red cherry , ripe raspberry , eucalyptus . Still really fresh and fruit driven . Some dried herbs and earthy notes in the background. On the palate this has lovely elegance and poise , with herbal red cherry , strawberry and slightly nutty notes. Quite ripe and juicy , but with fresh acidity and fine tannins . Long and fruit driven on the finish . Still young from now and over the next 10 years . — 2 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium copper salmon colour , with wide slightly yellow tinged rim . Toasty notes , with some dried herbs , orange rind , candle wax , toasted almonds , sea breeze, in some ways quite similar to the white reserva. On the palate this is quite intense and grippy again , with a nutty , spiced orange rind , dried red fruit . Good balanced acidity , good volume and decent length . This is ready and drinking well now but will probably last well over the next 5 -8 years, though I don’t see it improving — 2 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Not a port but a dry table wine. Quite deep garnet , medium thin garnet rim, slightly hazy appearance. Quite discreet at first , with some sweet plum , blackberry jam and spiced dark cherry notes., slightly herbal earthy touches , black tea after a while. On the palate this shows development with earthy dark cherry notes, blackberry notes , touch of liquorice and violets . Quite pinched , relatively high acidity and slightly gritty tannins , touch of alcohol noticable . Ok medium length with spiced dark cherry , cacau hints . This is at peak now , loosing a bit of freshness perhaps , though it will probably keep ok over the next few years I don’t see it improving . This is disappointing given the price . — a day ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium garnet with a medium terracotta rim . Herbal and dried flowers at first with some iodine , dried mushroom , sous bois . On the palate this is more elegant and evolved with light strawberry , raspberry , spiced cherry , herbal hints , old wood , black tea . Great balanced acidity and fine but present tannins . Long finish , with strawberry conserve , mineral hints . This is in it drinking window but will probably give a further 10 or so years of prime drinking . Slightly finer and small boned than the 2001, but lacks nothing in complexity — 2 days 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 — 2 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Quite yellow gold colour , wide light lemon rim. Shows quite a lot of development . Quite toasty with roasted nuts , candied citrus peel , candle wax , ginger , saffron, curry powder, sea breeze. On the palate this is structured and quite full bodied with the nutty character , ginger and candied lemon rind , great intensity and grip , salty , balanced acidity and very long and balanced on the finish . Drinking well now but needs time to open , will probably continue at this high level for another 5-10 years and maybe even improve further — 2 days 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 day ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Perhaps slightly deeper ruby than the 2004 , medium wide garnet rim , hint of terracotta . This has a little more development with some earthy herbal touches along with the cherry , cassis , floral and mineral , sea breeze notes . On the palate this has good fruit still , but more dried fruit notes , with hints of sous bois . Quite focused and linear , with higher acidity and quite gritty tannins . Good length with a slightly mineral , seaside hint . This is drinking well now but has lots of life ahead, drink from now over the next 15-20 years. — 2 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Medium ruby garnet quite narrow terracotta rim . Quite herbal , dried strawberry and red cherry nose , touch of iodine , sous bois , dried mushroom notes , discreet roasted coffee note after a while. Quite pretty red fruits on the palate with good freshness , strawberry , earthy cherry and a marine , iodine like note , sous bois underneath . Quite elegant and well balanced acidity with fine tannic grip . Good red fruit , earthy tinged finish . This is showing more advanced than the 2001 Reserva , and would like to try another bottle of this , as I suspect this half is a bit below par. On the basis of this bottle drink now and over the next 5 or so years . — 2 days ago