Stephen Brook: This showed a similar evolutionary stage in color to the 2000. The aromas were lush, with ample cherry fruit, yet there was no hint of baked or cooked fruit, and the nose had a welcome lift to it. However, the palate was dense and brawny, chewy and assertive; it didn’t lack acidity, but muscularity and density were the dominant impressions, and this didn’t seem to have the usual Margaux finesse. There was some heat on the finish, which, while far from short, lacked the length of the best vintages here. However, some other tasters admired the wine far more than I did. 16.5