SF | Dense purple, a touch watery at the rim. Initial reduction burns off quickly, leaving cherries and sloe. A hint of graphite and then slate adds strata of mineral support, then wood smoke and resin. The palate re-joins the theme and adds soft spice, finely etched acidity and a discrete yet appreciable tannic backdrop, all nicely accomplished in a cool year. 89
DW | A slightly savoury, green, herbal edge to the nose: possibly a whole-bunch character, and with some quite lush and plump cherry and raspberry fruit giving way on the palate to something more incisive and dry with lots of energy and tartly attractive redcurrant-like fruit swelling and just a hint of red pepper sweetness on the finish. Drinkability and some complexity but perhaps just a touch of dilution.Drink Dates: 2024 - 2030. 89
AR | Deep in youthful ruby, there appears to be a small furry animal sitting on the rim of this glass, or at least an element of reduction mingling with French barrique notes; kinder on the palate, the oak fuses better with the fruit but a combination of quite substantial extraction of oak tannin leave a mid-palate whose hollow nature detracts from the enjoyability of the fruit, leaving the mouth dry.Drink Dates: 2024 - 2026. 88