Tim Atkin: Youthful purple/red. Faintly reductive nose, quite closed. Rich, oaky, and alcoholic, with red fruits, sweet tannins, lots of alcohol, and a drying finish. The fruit is rather simple here. Lacks depth and complexity 13

Stephen Brook: Very deep red. Sweet spicy nose, quite leathery, with tobacco and mocha notes, too. Fairly rich and suave, with an elegant texture, this has more refinement than depth but none the worse for that. It’s understated but has complexity and freshness. A bit more grip would be welcome. The balance suggests it should age reasonably well, but it still seems just about ready to drink 15

Alex Hunt: The color here lacks a little brightness compared to the other 2009s, and the nose, too, seems tired, Porty, and tending toward oxidation. The palate layers the dried-fruit character with cream, giving a heavy impression that clashes with the marked acidity. A rather tired, clumsy wine that is fatiguing to drink 12