Alex Hunt: Tiring nose of caramel and dry biscuits. A bit of citrussy vigor on the palate, but this feels like it has seen better days

Andrew Jefford: Deep burnished gold. The aromas, too, seem burnished and glowing: warm baked fruits, their juices a little caramelized; some mushroomy cellar warmth; warm brown leaves on the ground, waiting for the onset of winter; warm crème anglaise in a saucepan, ready for service. (To me, the second bottle seems worse than the first.) Deep, searching, relatively dry, and long, with a great long spear arc of acidity that soars through the mouth and can still be detected on the tongue 30 seconds later. Hugely concentrated and impressive, and yet there are other wines where the fruit flavors seem to cling and swarm over the acidity more resonantly. The aromas, indeed, suggested a slightly richer and more articulate palate; but you can’t fault its concentration and length, nor its nobility. It almost reminds me of lime juice, somehow, with a little citrus oil pooling on it. Fascinating and impressive. Hard to mark, though. The second bottle also has a worrying cardboardy note. Owing to a pouring mix-up, these last two wines were not tasted blind, but sighted. Score based on first bottle: 16

Mark Savage: A bright gleam to the gold here, and there is much to love about the aroma and flavor, too. More vigor than the other 1999 here without perhaps the extreme subtlety. Many would prefer, it and its charms are probably more obvious. Very fine - 17.5