Bruno Besa | Garnet to tawny. Closed nose, with small red fruits, earthy, with hints of cedarwood. Medium body, firm tannins not well supported by the slightly dried-up fruit. | 86

Stephen Brook | Stern cherry nose, quite floral, too. Rich and suave, with good weight of fruit, a creamy texture, and a solid tannic backbone. This has density and rigor, and is quite assertive and bold. It might be bland were it not for its grip and tension. This is long and imposing and should age well. | 92

Andrew Jefford | Clear red. Glowing red fruits, mushroom, chocolate, fine leather, and wild mushroom: glorious aromas. We need to note the touch of oak, too, but it doesn’t unbalance the wine. Complex, secondary, nuanced, and rewarding: the perfect profile for a ripe, fine red wine. On the palate, this is smooth, open, grippy, with the slight vintage emphasis on acidity and dry grip rather than inner richness, but the acidity here is ripe and perfumed. It’s just a touch drier than that magnificent aromatic repertoire suggested. Nonetheless, this is an excellent, lingering, discussable wine of poise, concentration, and finesse. | 93