SF | An impressive example from a tricky year, plenty of extract and ripe fruit, supple tannins, satin rather than velvet and good balancing acidity. Very well made, the winery to take the credit, and clearly benefiting from judicious fruit selection and a well-judged ageing regime. 89
AJ | Saturated dense black-red: like all the 2014s, this has kept its cloak wrapped closely about it. A little dry and inarticulate at first, but with coaxing the wine disengages sweet black fruit scents, lavender and stone. Intriguing and draws you in though not 100% classical. OK: certainly the best and densest of the three 2014 wines we are looking at, and the only one of the three that still insists on further storage. This is in fact a remarkably dense, close-knit and serious single-quinta port, and the tannins underscore the fact that it will certainly last for another 15 years without problem. I'm also hugely impressed by the buried retronasal aromas that come charging out the wine when you hold it and warm it on the tongue. So what's the 'but'? Only the fact that the fruit quality is just a little green from top to bottom. It has profile, crispness, texture, depth and impact, but it doesn't glow, warm and smile. It will always be minor key and just a little bit mean, and in the final analysis I can't personally warm to meanness. This, though, would be a 2014 to seek out.Drink Dates: 2026 - 2037. 92
RM | Still deep and youthful in appearance; ripe not especially well defined aromas at this stage with a hint of menthol and dark chocolate concentration; reflected on the palate in ripe berry and stewed plum fruit backed by a firm tannic grip and a rather extractive, astringent finish, not as well balanced as some and i am not sure that the astringency will ever soften but vibrant and satisfying nonetheless.Drink Dates: now - 2050. 89