SF | Dense midnight black colour, soon to be contrasted with tell-tale La Garde indulgence; vanillin and compote, cassis and sandlewood. Made to measure; elegantly curated. The fruit is ripe but not overly so, but the oak, as usual, holds court, stylistically maybe too much for the purist, but certainly excecuted with aplomb and forging a style which will not want .... which does not want, for adherents. 91
AJ | Dark, dense black-red. Classic forest-fresh Pessac-Leognan, with redcurrant and cherry as well as blackcurrant. Exuberant in 'dejeuner sur l'herbe' style. Frank and unbridled on the palate, with acidity in the driving seat but plenty of fruit cling. Did the fruit drink quite enough warmth to attain full resonance? I'm not sure about that, but there is lots of density here so we have time for reassessment if necessary.Drink Dates: 2026 - 2036.