Stephen Brook | There’s density and power on the nose, which is packed with cherry and damson fruit, and there’s a gloss of sweet oak, too. Rich and voluptuous, this combines swagger with silkiness. Beautifully concentrated and spicy, this has impeccable fruitiness and depth of flavor without any excesses. Polished and long. | 94

Alex Hunt | Dusty, oxidative nose of dry biscuits. The entry has sickly chocolate-digestive oak, and then rapidly fades to a cereal flatness. | 76

Andrew Jefford | Dark, opaque black-red. (Bottle 2 for AJ alone) Meaty, dense, promising: a big spill of black and red berries snowed in crushed root spice. Exciting, alluring aromas, though the oak (sweet vanilla like snow on the cedar branches) is much in evidence, too. Luscious, sweet, and long on the palate: a red-berry and black-berry sleigh ride. Climb on and enjoy. | 89