Simon Field: A solid and pleasing colour, then a broad nose with hints of toffee and charcoal over a bed of cherries. The palate is elegant - at once ethereal and grounded, with taut acidity and bright, expressive fruit delivering much and promising even more. 18

Andrew Jefford: Another very dark, alluring wine. Great harmony here, and the blackcurrant fruits have already set off on their journey towards a warmly resonant maturity. Masterful and mouth-coating, almost salty, with shovelfuls of blackcurrant and coal-dust flavour. Commanding, with extraordinarily pure fruit flavours, this is another Vintage Port on the grand scale that lovers of this style won’t want to miss. The finish settles slowly, in a shower of cocoa, like the curtain coming down at the end of the opera. Outstanding. 17.5

Richard Mayson: Deep centre, purple rim. Opulent nose, quite rich and open. Soft, sweet and rather simple initially but with firm, spicy tannins rising in the mouth. Good tannic grip on the finish. A bit one-dimensional, but good. 14