BB | Deep garnet to tawny, pink rim. Mature, compact, and a touch rustic on the nose, with road tar, black fruits, black cherries, and prunes. Full-bodied, with big, powerful tannins, yet somehow balanced by the sweet black fruit. A long, muscular finish. 92
AJ | Lots of redness still in this eight-year-old wine; relatively dark-hued. Vivid, earthy, clean, and pungently fruity; sweet and warm. Lively and still in very good shape, with the wild-fruit, herb, citrus, and stone notes all coming together gratifyingly. Grand Etna classicism here. Dense, meaty, earthy, vital, almost elemental: a wine of huge character that still seems relatively unevolved. Grand power and pungency here, with prodigious and articulate tannins. Magnificent European fine wine that still needs some time, though it is not "an easy drink" and is the complete style opposite to a grand Napa Cab. But ... just try it! 94
MP | Earthy, complex, ripe, generous, intriguing nose, featuring rhubarb, beetroot, wine gums, violets, peonies, caramel, wet leaves, truffle, and cedar. The palate has ripe fruit, gently softened tannins, fine acidity, and a lovely balance between the constituent parts. Echoing mature Burgundy at times, this wine shows the rarely seen potential of this region. It's long, refined, and carefully etched. Drink now. 94