Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby , terracotta /garnet rim. Quite round and ripe , red plum , cigar and ripe blackberry, touch of soy . Touch of cocoa , blackberry and ripe dark cherry , black tea . Quite sweet , rich on the palate, generous for Las Cases , slightly dried fruit , fig and red plum . Pretty decent length , balanced but quite discreet acidity , rounded tannins . This is at peak now and I don’t see much up side from here , so best to drink over the next 5 years or so, though it did hold up in the glass quite well . Atypical for Las Cases with its ripe fruit, quite low acidity , sweet tannin: also this only has 42% Cabernet Sauvignon. Overall probably the least successful of the wines in this tasting , but the level overall was very high. — 5 months 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. — 6 months 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. — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium deep garnet with a wide terracotta rim . Quite funky at first which luckily blows off after a few minutes to reveal deep spiced dark cherry , meaty richness , touch of anis and menthol , with a ferrous quality . On the palate still good richness and with a dark spiced dark cherry , dried rose , black tea, earthy and ferrous note . Big and bold with grippy tannin and fresh acidity , balanced alcohol . Good length and saline , black tea tinged finish . Drink now and over the next 5 -8 years , I don’t see this improving markedly but certainly there is structure and fruit to continue to give pleasure for a while yet, firmly in the middle of its drinking window . — a year ago

Beth Hamilton

9.3

This is actually the pino blanc and it was wonderful. — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Quite deep ruby , garnet , terracotta rim . Quite a lot of spice , red cherry , balsamic touch with orange rind and , touch of porcini mushroom , dark tea . Quite big and bold with , menthol , dark fruit , quite extracted , drying tannin. Ok finish , with some roasted chestnut character coming through. Needs time, better in 5-10 years and last well a further 7-10. — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Quite deep ruby garnet with yellow terracotta rim . Quite closed at first quite mineral and reserved , darker fruit , orange rind, touch smoky after a while . On the palate quite compact but ripe tannin , sweet dark fruits , mineral touches , black tea , liquorice. Good acidity , long on the palate . This is starting to drink well now and will continue to do so for a further 8-10 years — 2 years 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 . — 5 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 . — 6 months 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. — 8 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 — 9 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Quite deep ruby with wide terracotta , garnet rim . Quite deep slightly funky , red focused sous bois . Tobacco , slightly herbal notes . Quite concentrated but slightly flat red fruited sous bois , tobacco tinged , mineral , grafite finish. Not the best bottle of this , a bit funky and lacks a little exuberance and clarity on the nose and palate. Drink now and over the next few years on this showing. A pity but that is sometimes the way the wine world works ! — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Quite deep ruby , wide terracotta rim . Lighter and more elegant on the nose than the Starderi, porcini , lighter floral and slightly medicinal notes . On the palate rounder generous red fruits , with touch of liquorice , slightly medicinal notes . Quite sweet tannins , and refreshing acidity , good liquorice stained length. This too would benefit from a little more time 3-5 years perhaps , and will last well a further decade — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Still ruby centre just, with terracotta rim. Quite ripe red fruits , spiced red cherry. On the palate quite mineral , and touches of liquorice , lovely red cherry and strawberry fruit . Sweet tannin and good balanced acidity . After a while a mineral , iron filing touch. Quite open and ready for business , good to drink now and over the next 10 years . — 2 years 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 — 6 months 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. — 6 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 — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium garnet , terracotta with medium terracotta rim . Quite a lot of furniture polish , balsamic spice , red fruited sous bois , herbal touches . On the palate more cherry fruit, with that slightly volatile balsamic spice and a very strong mineral , salty marine finish . Fresh acidity , medium bodied with quite gritty tannins . Very unique , really surprisingly enjoyable . Long on the palate. Obviously mature , but who know how long this can continue on for ! Now and over next 10 -15 years . — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Pretty light terracotta . Soft and warm dried fruits , spice and touch of coffee . On the palate dried red fruits , nicely judged acidity with soft tannins , velvety mouth feel and spice filled finish , reasonable length . Sunny and enticing. Unique and very pleasurable . — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Deeper ruby , thinner terracotta rim . Touch oxidative at first , porcini and quite mineral , iron filings. Darker fruits , touch of bovril , with good acidity and quite prominent tannin . Quite good length. This is ready and on the basis of this bottle , I wouldn’t leave it much longer — 2 years ago