Stephen Brook: Very deep red, close to opaque. Raisiny nose not disguised by the sweet oak. Rich, opulent, fleshy, full-bodied, and underpinned by firm but not harsh tannins. This is clearly overripe but it does have a lot of succulent fruit and sweetness from the oak, I suspect, to compensate for the lack of acidity and freshness. A sensual wine rather than an intellectual wine and none the worse for that. 16.5

Michael Schuster: Dark red; flat, rather stewed nose; palate similar, medium full, moderately tannic, but lacking acidity and freshness; finishes short. Drink soon! Not bad, but bland and dull. 11