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 — 7 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Quite deep ruby and , garnet terracotta rim. Quite spicy nose , slightly green touches , mix of red and dark fruit . On the palate fills out quite well , good acidity , slightly gritty tannins still with mineral , tobacco notes on the finish . Ok reasonable length . This comes across a bit greener than I remember it , so not sure how representative this bottle is , fine to drink now and over the next 10 years . 91

Second bottle medium deep ruby with garnet rim . Took a bit of time to open up , but very good definition , red and dark fruits, truffle , undergrowth, cigar box and grafite. On the palate quite charming sweet red fruits, red plum, cassis , dried spices, undergrowth , elegant for las cases , grafite and tobacco stained finish . Well balanced acidity and quite gritty but ripe tannin . This is lovely now with time in the decanter and over the next 10 -15 years . Completely different from first bottle . — 10 months ago

Paul T HB

9.5

Hard to beat the Estate version.
The 2021 Viognier Estate was mostly barrel fermented and matured, with the exception of a small portion of terracotta.
I’ll hold my last bottle a bit longer though. — a year ago

Alex Mutch

9.1

Bold juicy flavor and super unique. Easy drinking. — a year ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.1

Crisp, cool, tart, stemmy and fresh.
Raspberries, cranberries, mineral funk, peppery and spicy garrigue and cold rocks (if that makes any sense…), as opposed to the hot terracotta tiles I often get in many other Grenaches.
This has a very cool-climate feel to it, rather delicate and refreshing. Like a Bojo from Oz. Lovely! — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.6

The 2018 Bélair-Monange, so impressive out of barrel, delivers now that it finds itself incarcerated by glass. It is endowed with a seriously impressive nose, delivering blackberry and still that faint warm brick/terracotta scent, shaved black truffle and a touch of clove. You could lose yourself completely in this bouquet. The palate has firmed up a little, displaying more backbone than I recall. The dash of cracked black pepper liberally sprinkled over the finish curiously bears similarities to some of the Pomerols this vintage, and the Cabernet Franc feels much more prominent than its 2% contribution to the blend would suggest. I adore this Saint-Émilion and it is going to benefit from 8–10 years in the cellar... if you can resist temptation that long. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2021)
— 3 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

From magnum . Little darker ruby than the asili , slightly narrower garnet , terracotta rim . Darker quite ripe fruits , more medicinal , touch of tar and mineral length . Slightly more rustic tannin , good fresh acidity . Slightly darker anis tinged finish with good length. Quite austere and really young , needs time to open . Quite rustic , a bit of a brute ! Better in 5 years and will last a further 5-10. — 7 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Garnet with terracotta rim . Quite a lot of sous bois , mostly red fruits , earthy tobacco. Nicely rounded on the palate , touch of cassis , red currant sous bois, herbal touches on the finish . Nice refreshing acidity , slightly drying tannin , but still well balanced. Very enjoyable and in a perfect spot in this format, now and over the next 5 years . — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Garnet core , quite wide bricking terracotta rim . Quite Subtle on the nose , red fruits , orange rind , sous bois , spice , violets . On the palate very refined , crystal clear red fruits , raspberry , cherry , touch of black currant , black tea , pin point acidity , very fine tannins . Very long and complex. Drinking well though will go on for ages still and certainly improve over the next 10-15 years. — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium ruby garnet , terracotta rim . Slightly volatile nose , that does dissipate after a while , lots of funghi , truffle and beef stock . Not a lot of fruit left on this , especially on the nose . Quite strict and elegant on the palate, some red fruit, red cherry , cranberry, dried herbs , liquorice . Fills out well on the finish with rounded ripe tannins and nicely balanced acidity. Elegant and quite ‘Burgundian’ in style. This appears to be fully mature , though may stay at this level for a while 5-10 years — a year ago

Nicole Ruiz Hudson

8.9

N: strawberry, white pepper , slightly dried flower petals.
P: strawberry sauce and terracotta pot. White pepper, Stone, thyme and dried oregano. — 3 years ago

Matté

Manager The Wine Cellars

9.3

This is the Tibaani bottling.
On the nose there’s a wonderfully complex mix of treacle tart, apricot pastry, sticky toffee pudding, Manuka honey, warm terracotta pot, flapjack, gingerbread, yellow raisins and toasted almonds.
The palate shows spicy apricot, turmeric and gingerbread character, the tannins are sapid, firm but chalky and quite fine, certainly a wine that works best with food.
(Worked all with a chicken curry). — 3 years ago

Todd Abrams

9.3

The first whiff of a glass is that telltale Northern Rhône Syrah scent of red meat and flowers. It's a voluptuous set of aromatics over more nuanced shades of tarragon and sun-warmed terracotta. With time the scent of ripe berry fruits emerge. A sip is pure, spiced loganberry that slowly uncoils to a lengthy finish of light roast espresso. Fire up the (lump charcoal) grill and throw on the kebabs.
— 6 years 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 . — 10 months 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 — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Still ruby core medium deep , garnet terracotta rim. After a while more mineral crushed rocks. Meaty notes , quite earthy , sous bois , truffle , old wood . On the palate sweeter fruits , lovely spice , firm tannins , good acidity , great length . Young , needs time, another 5-10 years perhaps . — a year ago

Deborah M

9.2

2015 Renieri Brunello Di Montalcino - This wine gives lots of richness and structure. Tannins are still not fully integrated, but improved from my last try a couple years ago. FWIW, James Suckling gave this wine 100pts. This was my second time with this one, and while I still don’t see the 100pts, I do see it as delicious and for me that matters more than points.

Winemaker notes says it best - this wine opens with earthy aromas of bark, sand, truffles, graphite, rust, terracotta and sandalwood. Fruitier orange zest and lemon. Ripe, incense and with dense forest of aromas. Rich to the center palate, the fruit is vivacious and elegant. Robust and generous tannins. The finish is long, the after effects of the acidity unworldly. — a year ago

Nicole Ruiz Hudson

8.9

Warm black cherries and red plums with baking spices, oregano and terracotta.
Tart black cherries w some candied cherry notes, oregano, marjoram, pepper.

Had with lamb pizza w oregano and zahatar and wine really resonated w both of those flavors.

P.s. last bit leftover in the bottle held up surprisingly well stored in the fridge for over a week. — 3 years ago

Rob Sonogan

9.0

Although young it has all the hall marks of having great potential. Aged in Terracotta. It didn’t miss the oak saturation. — 6 years ago

Dan Groch

8.9

Intense musk stick,candied apricot and peach; honey and orange blossom nose. Temperature and time open up the palate to reveal some good texture and spice, along with orange pith and stone fruit flavours, maybe a touch of earth as well (courtesy of the terracotta, no doubt) — 6 years ago