Simon Field: Dense and brooding in colour and bouquet, slightly petulant, rather irritated at having been opened so soon. Palate quite nicely structured, with spice and fruit that teeters on the brink of surmaturite but an essential dryness that keeps the wine in check and presages a bright future. One for the long to very long term! 17.5

Richard Mayson: Dense, concentrated, with slightly rustic undertones. Big, very rich and powerful wine in the mouth, with a massive, foursquare finish. Very impressive. Big and well constructed. This will last and last. 17.5

Jancis Robinson: Blackish purple. Very intense and convincing - smells like purple velvet! So round and opulent that (a) you have to work at finding the tannins and (b) you could drink it young. The tannins are there, but the acidity is more obvious at the moment. Difficult wine to judge at this stage. Could be great or fall apart. 16