Stephen Brook: There are hefty black fruits on the reticent nose. Formidable on the palate, this is dense and chewy, with assertive tannins, raw acidity, and a brutish quality. Tannat is often an exercise in masochism, and this is no exception. There’s too much extraction; perhaps the wine was selfextracting, but it’s hard to find much pleasure here. Curiously (for Virginia), the acidity seems modest, so it lacks drive and lift, and the finish is abrupt. Rusticity can have its appeal, but not in this case. 83

Andrew Jefford: Saturated red-black; the appearance is very true to the Madiran ideal. Sweet, warm, vivid— some oak here, but it has been well judged. The aromas underneath the oak have an animal warmth to them. Deep, textured, long, chewy, firm, concentrated, and driving: an excellent varietal Tannat that would ideally have a longer cellar slumber but could also deliver a lot of winter pleasure now with a vigorous decant. Elderberries and coal dust. This is surely a variety that has a great future here. 91

Peter Liem: The fleshy, berry-like flavors are backed by meaty undertones, though they lack focus on the palate. The aromas persist with quiet length on the finish, although the alcohol is overly prominent. 80