Simon Field: Deep color, a serious purple—deep purple, even—and a very persuasive aroma of plum and damson. Crushed rock, graphite, and a hint of bay leaf—attractive, in other words, despite my feeble attempts to describe it. These positive notes carry effortlessly onto the palate; ripe and sweet, for sure, but refined and eloquent in its peroration, with good grip and firm acidity. What more could one want? A good, if young, example from a year that is currently hard to judge as it enters its teenage era. | 92

Andrew Jefford: Saturated, deep black-red, still just about opaque at its heart. Fresh, light, blackcurranty, and with some Cologne spice; attractive and enticing, though youthful, a touch grassy, and as yet unresolved. On the palate, this is deep and sweet-fruited but a bit brandied and raw, and with some of those grassy notes lingering. Perhaps it will settle down with time, but the rawness is disconcerting at this stage. | 88

Richard Mayson: Deep opaque center, thin purple rim; closed but dense on the nose, with underlying ripeness and intensity; big, ripe, and supple initially, plump fruit, with broad, ripe tannins to back it up and a long, dusty, tannic finish, with the purity of fruit once again showing through. Lovely balance and poise. | 94