Andrew Jefford: Deep, though clear red-black in color. Warm, sweet, and soft aromas—more blackberry than black cherry (though a bit of both), and with some secondary complexities. Virginia tobacco, freighted spice. Open your nose to the possibilities, and it is extremely attractive, though not perhaps what classicists would look for. The palate is soft, open, long; initially fleshy, and later rather dryer; more red fruit here than the black fruit that dominated the aromatic spectrum. Very slightly homogenous and uneventful, with some brimming alcoholic warmth at the end. (I only object to this when it is drily palpable—in other words, unsupported by the wine’s other components.) Not a major but a minor failing here. New Zealand? 14.5

Anthony Rose: Medium ruby in color; this is quite closed on the nose, with an element of strawberryish fruit and, equally, some quite attractively sweetly ripe strawberry fruitiness on the palate, backed by spicy vanillin oak and relatively supple juicy tannins, albeit with a slight chunky, dry, grippy feel. Finishes fresh and pretty well balanced. Australia. 16.5

Joanna Simon: Black fruit; a hint of Turkish delight and some savory aromas. Solid palate and supple, though also showing some acid and tannin; licoricey, savory black fruit. Some Burgundian character, but lacking a little fruit definition/precision. Australia? 14