Hello Roland. Let me get this straight, are you saying there is a putty fill on your castello? That's impossible. Of all castello pipes I've seen in my life, regardless of grades, there is not a single fill. I am very surprised. Could it be just a sandpit or natural flaw which is not uncommon of this brand, including their fiammata grades? If it is a putty fill, I strongly recommend you to send the pipe back to Castello Italy. The least they can do is to replace one of the same grade. You don't spend over $500 for a pipe with putty, period. Peace.
Oops! After checking with the pictures again, it seem the pipe you got is the year pipe from P&T magazine, correct? Regardless, putty fill is unacceptable on a castello. I stand my case. Peace.