SF | First bottle ; subtle TCA. Cn TCA be subtle? The second bottle is untainted but hard; austerity etched into its stony heart and the ripe fruit, which is surely there somewhere, entirely subservient to the rigours of structure. Very tannic, in other words, and hard to love. ''A typical St Estephe' may be the rejoinder, but no, a typical St Estephe should.almost inpsite of itself, hint at the prospect of sunny uplands and patience rewarded. I'm not sure that this is the case here! 89
AJ | Dark, dense black-red. A touch of cinder here, as well as some herbaceous notes. A little less serenely ripe that the best of its peers. Ditto on the palate. It's concentrated and well-made, but the fruit is slightly rough-and-ready.Drink Dates: 2026 - 2031.