Simon Field: Smoky, powerful and pleasingly complex on the nose; an elegant and supremely well-balanced example. There is a purity of flavour behind the ripeness and an authority of fruit that is immediately evident and that promises a great deal. 17.5

Andrew Jefford: Classic red-black. Sweet and fresh, but not provocative, which a good 2000 probably should be at this stage. There is a lovely vivid quality of blackcurrant fruit here, with a very neat tannic structure behind that fruit. Overall purposeful and dense, with a power of peppery tannin to drive on into the finish. 17.5

Richard Mayson: Very good deep colour, with a crimson rim. Totally closed on the nose but dense and with underlying intensity. Big, ripe, round and massively fruity, with fantastically broad, ripe tannins to match. A massive wine. Very, very impressive. Bitter chocolate intensity. Wow! Complete! 19