SF | Deep purple, with a faint less pronounced rim. Aromatics are dominated by loganberry, plum and a hint of thyme and white pepper. The palate is elegant, spicy , with its spirit nicely integrated and its tannins chalky and fine. A half bottle sample, one notes, therefore maybe a little more advance than some of tis peers, but this is all to the good and shows off an impressive potential. 89
AJ | Dark black-purple red, though not quite the same glass-staining power as the best of its peers. Sweet, fresh, lively: graceful blackcurrant and blueberry with a marmalade twist. Unassertive and not a blockbuster, but very attractive and well-drawn. After a while in the glass, it sinks back into a kind of vegetative torpor, but swirling will bring the fruits back up from the well. Close-grained, dense, tongue-staining and ... well, once it is on the tongue it is a little more secondary, powerful and provoking than some of its peers. Very good, actually. I wrote that it wasn't a 'blockbuster' as I sniffed but actually (on the palate) it isn't far short of that, in the vintage context: thrusting controlled fruits smoothed into an earthy textured bass-palate wealth. The fruits (still blacker than they seemed on the nose) aren't particularly acid-lifted, but very fine, masterful and ample tannins somehow propel them into perfumed grace. Exceptionally satisfying. Maybe in the end it will only be a medium-term wine, but it will be a very good one. It seems in the end more powerful and gravitational than its colours and aromas suggested. Just a touch fiery on the finish.Drink Dates: 2028 - 2040. 93
RM | Deep, opaque, still a bit withdrawn but underlying well defined spicy-berry fruit; fresh, with good purity of fruit on the palate, firm spicy angular tannins rising in the mouth and on to an attractive linear finish. Well- balanced, middle distance wine.Drink Dates: 2032 - 2050. 89