Nicolas Belfrage: Very similar style to the 1997, but with the advantage of a year which gives more zip in the acids and less massive fruit-that is, better balance. Still pretty alcoholic, but the fruit stands up. Good drinking in two years, will last 12. 16

Simon Larkin : Aromatics here show little expression or freshness; a varnish-like quality (ethyl acetate?). The palate is tight with an almost raisiny edge to the fruit. There is a lack of subtlety in the structure of this wine, and the fruit seems reminiscent of stewy damson and plum. There is little precision or purity about this, and it ends quite coarse and unsophisticated. 14