Tim Atkin: Dense color. Oaky nose, with some sweet vanilla flavors. Smoky, slightly sweet palate, with pronounced alcohol and a dusting of oak. Sub-Crozes-Hermitage quality. Sweet, raspberry-jam flavors, with a hint of spice 14

Stephen Brook: Very deep red. A really classy nose, with poised blackberry and blueberry fruit, welljudged oak, and a hint of mocha. Mediumbodied but sleek and concentrated, with a lovely texture and abundant fruit. There are no excesses here, and the balance seems immaculate. Not that profound, perhaps, but it has harmony and elegance and an engaging silkiness. Good length 17.5

Alex Hunt: Very little aroma here; a bit of bramble, cream, and alcohol. The palate is similarly hollow, with disjointed acidity and some tarry notes but little aromatic character or fruit expression 12.5