SF | A powerful deep magenta colour, with the narrowest of rims, reluctant to betray age....nose is of boiled pastille and vegetables, then syrup and compote; less than entirely elegant in other words, angular and disjointed despite, or maybe because of , the high level of acidity. 88
AJ | Dark, dense black-red; still opaque. Gruff, earthy, many-layered; sweet, savoury, incense-like. Very complete and enticing, evoking moist exotic tobacco; vermouth herbs; fresh flowers; citrus peels ... amazing aromatic freight! What a fantastic vintage here, clearly (as it was in the Douro). A super-exciting Dao to smell. We have almost moved beyond wine here into a kind of unfortified-fortified realm: just so much going on on the palate, and so much inner power and energy. that it is almost hard to believe that nature has delivered this on her own. Certainly a wine for sipping and discussion -- and you can't say it is 'drinkable' in any normal sense. The only comparison that makes sense is with Amarone by now; nothing else can really have that level of intensity and bittersweet acerbic driving-frightening-scouring beauty. Amazing stuff: a monument, a reference. Very hard to score. I'm glad I've tasted it, but it would be just too much to drink for dinner. But ... respect.Drink Dates: 2028 - 2048. 95
RM | Very deep in colour, almost opaque; restrained but disjointed on the nose with ripe but rather soupy fruit and a more than a hint of oak; again rather soupy on the palate, fruit compote, lacking in definition with oaky tannins. Doesn't gell at all for me.Drink Dates: 2024 - 2032. 84