Simon Field: Deep color, dense and maybe a little muddy... Maybe not; anyway, not quite luminous. Hints of leather and shoe polish on the nose; quite an uncompromising style in any event. The finish dries a little, tapering not with elegance but rather with heat and dust. | 86

Andrew Jefford: Dark black-red, just off-opaque at its heart. Powerfully if rather passively aromatic; the scent of tannin and hot vegetation almost seems to outweigh every other scent here, and certainly outweighs the scents of fruit. A little bit burned by comparison with some of its vintage peers. Almost a touch of South African tar pole (the “rubber” note). Very sweet and rich, and rather tannic, too, but a bit raw and indigestible. Monumental (it will still be here in 20 or 30 years) but lacks tenderness and succulence and freshness, which should also play their part in great Vintage Port profiles. A serious bottle nonetheless. | 87

Richard Mayson: Very deep, opaque, youthful color; open, ripe, and opulent on the nose, floral, gloriously rich both on the nose and on the palate, fleshy fruit and big, bold, tight-knit tannins, sweet berry fruit on the finish but not as yet showing much finesse. | 90